Immediate, Residual, and Cumulative Effects of Fartlek, Hill Circuit, and Roll-On Training in Long-Distance Runners

Summary

This randomized controlled trial will compare Fartlek, hill circuit, and roll-on training in well-trained long-distance runners. Twenty-one eligible runners will be randomly assigned to one of three training groups and will complete a 12-week intervention comprising 24 prescribed training sessions. The study will evaluate immediate responses to conditioning, 24-hour recovery responses, and cumulative changes in running performance, aerobic fitness, and training-related responses. Outcomes will include heart rate, blood lactate concentration, rating of perceived exertion, delayed-onset muscle soreness, recovery and wellness indicators, internal training load, 5-km time-trial performance, and VO₂max. The findings will provide evidence regarding the comparative responses to these three conditioning modalities in well-trained long-distance runners.

Conditions

• Long Distance Running

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Fartlek training

A structured variable-intensity running intervention administered for 12 weeks to trained long-distance runners. Each prescribed session includes standardized warm-up and cool-down periods, alternating faster and slower running at prescribed intensities, and prescribed recovery periods. Running duration, intensity, repetitions, recovery intervals, and workload progression are standardized according to the study protocol. Training sessions are supervised, and exercise intensity is monitored using heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, running pace, and prescribed workload.

BEHAVIORAL

Hill Circuit

A structured hill-running and circuit-based training intervention administered for 12 weeks to trained long-distance runners. Each prescribed session includes standardized warm-up and cool-down periods, repeated uphill running bouts, running-based circuit exercises, and prescribed recovery intervals. Hill gradient, running duration, repetitions, exercise intensity, recovery intervals, and workload progression are standardized according to the study protocol. Exercise intensity is monitored using heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, running pace, and prescribed workload.

BEHAVIORAL

Roll-On

A structured progressive running intervention administered for 12 weeks to trained long-distance runners. Each prescribed session includes standardized warm-up and cool-down periods, controlled running with planned gradual increases and decreases in running speed, and prescribed recovery periods where applicable. Running duration, speed progression, intensity, repetitions, recovery intervals, and workload progression are standardized according to the study protocol. Exercise intensity is monitored using heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, running pace, and prescribed workload.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bahir Dar University

  collaborator OTHER

• Debre Markos University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Alemayehu, PHd · University of Gonder

• Gashaw, PHd · Bahir Dar University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-09-21

Primary Completion

2026-09-24

Completion

2026-11-26