Event-Specific Adaptations to CrossFit and Running-Based HIIT in Elite Distance Runners at Moderate Altitude

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of two high-intensity training programs on physical performance and physiological adaptations in elite male middle- and long-distance runners aged 25 to 35 years who live and train at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 meters above sea level).

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does running-based high-intensity interval training improve aerobic fitness and race performance in elite distance runners? Does CrossFit training improve muscle strength, power, and physiological markers in elite distance runners? Researchers will compare running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with CrossFit training to determine how each program affects aerobic capacity, strength, running performance, and selected blood markers.

Participants will:

Be randomly assigned to either a running-based HIIT program or a CrossFit training program Train five days per week for six weeks under supervision Complete exercise testing before and after the training period, including treadmill fitness testing and timed running trials Provide blood samples before and after the intervention to measure selected physiological markers

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Athletic Performance; Adaptation Reaction; Physical Endurance; Neuromuscular Performance; Aerobic Capacity; Altitude Training Adaptation; Exercise-Induced Inflammation
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Running-Based High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT); Behavioral: CrossFit-Based High-Intensity Training (CF)

Detailed Description

Background and Rationale:

Altitude training is widely employed by elite middle- and long-distance runners to stimulate key physiological adaptations, including erythropoietic upregulation, expansion of oxygen transport capacity, mitochondrial biogenesis, and skeletal muscle capillarization. These adaptations are considered central mechanisms through which hypoxic exposure enhances endurance performance. Despite the growing adoption of both running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and multimodal CrossFit (CF) as primary high-intensity training modalities in elite endurance sport, no study has directly compared their respective physiological, neuromuscular, performance, and biomarker effects in runners residing and training at moderate altitude. Moreover, the extent to which event specialization (middle-distance: 800-3,000 m vs. long-distance: ≥5,000 m) moderates modality-specific training adaptations remains unexamined. This study is designed to address these gaps by providing the first direct empirical comparison of these two high-intensity training modalities in elite altitude-resident runners, stratified by competitive event specialization.

Study Design:

This is a six-week stratified quasi-experimental study employing a 2×2 factorial design with pre- and post-intervention assessments, conducted during the general preparatory phase of the competitive season at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m above sea level) in Zahedan, Iran. The two independent factors are training modality (HIIT vs. CF) and event specialization (middle-distance vs. long-distance). The study protocol has received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of the University of Sistan and Baluchestan (Approval No. IR.USB.REC.1400.021) and will be conducted in full accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent amendments. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to any study-related procedures.

Randomization and Allocation Concealment:

Eligible participants will be stratified by primary event specialization and randomly allocated to one of two training modalities using computer-generated variable block randomization with block sizes of four and eight, conducted by an independent investigator using R software (version 4.2.1; R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). Allocation concealment will be maintained through the use of sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes, which will be opened only after the completion of all baseline assessments. Baseline equivalence across groups will be confirmed using propensity score matching prior to the commencement of the intervention.

Training Interventions:

All participants will complete five fully supervised training sessions per week for six weeks, with each session lasting 60-75 minutes. All sessions will be conducted at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m) on a standard 400-m synthetic track. Exercise intensity will be continuously monitored throughout all sessions using Polar H10 chest-strap heart rate sensors (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland), with real-time data transmitted to the coaching staff via the Polar Team application.

Intervention 1 - Running-Based High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT):

Each HIIT session will consist of 4-6 work intervals of 2-4 minutes duration performed at 90-95% of maximum heart rate (HRmax), interspersed with 2-3 minutes of active recovery at approximately 50% HRmax. Participants will self-select their running pace to maintain heart rate within the prescribed target zone throughout each work bout.

Intervention 2 - Multimodal CrossFit Training (CF):

Each CF session will follow a structured four-part format:

Dynamic warm-up incorporating mobility exercises and movement preparation (10-15 minutes) Strength and skill development targeting foundational lifting patterns and gymnastic movements (15-20 minutes) High-intensity Workout of the Day (WOD) maintained at 85-95% HRmax (10-20 minutes) Cool-down consisting of static stretching and controlled breathing exercises (5-10 minutes) WODs will be selected from the official CrossFit programming archive (2021-2023) and individually scaled by a Level 2 CrossFit-certified coach to ensure appropriate and safe loading for each participant. Loading for barbell movements will be prescribed at 30-85% of each participant's baseline one-repetition maximum (1RM) values. Bodyweight and kettlebell movements will be regulated by repetition targets and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) of 14-18 on the Borg 6-20 scale. Progressive overload will be systematically applied biweekly through incremental increases of 5-10% in load, repetitions, and movement complexity.

Blinding:

Given the inherently observable nature of the training interventions, participant blinding is not feasible in this study. However, all outcome assessors and data analysts will remain masked to group assignment throughout the study period to ensure objective and unbiased evaluation of all outcome measures.

Dietary and Environmental Controls:

All participants will adhere to a standardized nutritional plan of approximately 2,800 ± 150 kcal·day-¹ with a macronutrient distribution of approximately 55% carbohydrates, 25% protein, and 20% fat, supervised and monitored by a registered sports nutritionist. Dietary intake will be assessed using validated three-day food logs at baseline, week 3, and week 6, and records will be analyzed using Nutritionist Pro software (version 7.0; Axxya Systems LLC, Redmond, WA, USA). The introduction of new nutritional supplements will be prohibited throughout the study period, and dietary compliance will be verified weekly via structured interviews. Caffeine consumption will be withheld for a minimum of 24 hours prior to all testing sessions.

All training and testing sessions will be conducted under standardized and monitored environmental conditions (ambient temperature: 25-30°C; relative humidity: 40-50%; wind speed: <2 m·s-¹), measured using a handheld anemometer (Kestrel 3000; Nielsen-Kellerman Co., Boothwyn, PA, USA) prior to each outdoor session. Sleep duration will be maintained at a minimum of seven hours per night, and subjective recovery status will be monitored daily using a validated five-point Likert scale (1 = very poor; 5 = very good).

Statistical Analysis Plan:

Linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) will serve as the primary analytical framework, implemented using the lme4 package in R (version 4.2.1). Models will incorporate fixed effects for group, time, and group × time interaction, with random intercepts specified for individual participants to account for within-subject correlation. Model selection will be guided by the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), with emphasis on model parsimony. Residual diagnostics will be performed to validate the assumptions of normality, homoscedasticity, and independence.

Between-group differences in change scores will be further examined using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), adjusting for age, baseline values, and training history. Effect sizes will be quantified using Cohen's d and interpreted as small (0.2), moderate (0.5), or large (0.8). All observed changes will be evaluated against predefined minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds to facilitate meaningful clinical interpretation. The significance level will be set at α = 0.05 for all statistical comparisons.

Sample size was determined a priori using G*Power (version 3.1; Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany). Calculations indicated that a minimum of nine participants per group would provide greater than 80% statistical power to detect a moderate-to-large effect size in the primary outcome of maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max; α = 0.05; Cohen's d = 0.6; intraclass correlation coefficient r = 0.70).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Iran
  • Sistan and Baluchestan
    • Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran, 98135-986
      • Sport Sciences Department, University of Sistan and Baluchestan

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Nationally ranked elite male middle- or long-distance runner
• Ranked within the national top 10 in their respective primary competitive event
• Aged between 25 and 35 years
• Minimum of six months of structured high-intensity training prior to enrollment, defined as more than five supervised sessions per week
• Living and training year-round at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m) in Zahedan, Iran
• Competing in one of the following event categories: middle-distance (800-3,000 m) or long-distance (≥5,000 m)
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent prior to participation
• Able to commit to five supervised training sessions per week for the full six-week intervention period

Exclusion Criteria:

• Musculoskeletal injury within the three months preceding enrollment
• Current or recent use of performance-enhancing substances
• Use of new nutritional supplements during the study period
• Any medical condition or physical limitation that could interfere with safe participation in high-intensity exercise training
• Inability to complete the required number of training sessions due to scheduling conflicts or other commitments
• Incomplete study application or failure to meet all inclusion criteria

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Endurance-HIIT; Elite male runners specializing in long-distance events (≥5,000 m) who performed running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) five days per week for six weeks at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m). Each session consisted of 4-6 intervals of 2-4 minutes at 90-95% HRmax, interspersed with 2-3 minutes of active recovery at approximately 50% HRmax.	Behavioral: Running-Based High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT); Participants performed five supervised HIIT sessions per week for six weeks at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m) in Zahedan, Iran. Each session lasted 60-75 minutes and was conducted on a standard 400-m synthetic track. Sessions consisted of 4-6 intervals of 2-4 minutes duration performed at 90-95% of maximum heart rate (HRmax), interspersed with 2-3 minutes of active recovery at approximately 50% HRmax. Participants self-selected their interval pace to maintain heart rate within the prescribed target zone throughout each work bout. Exercise intensity was continuously monitored using Polar H10 chest-strap heart rate sensors. Progressive overload was applied throughout the intervention period.; Other Names: Endurance-HIIT
Experimental: Endurance-CF; Elite male runners specializing in long-distance events (≥5,000 m) who performed multimodal CrossFit-based high-intensity training five days per week for six weeks at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m). Each session included a dynamic warm-up, strength and skill work, a high-intensity Workout of the Day (WOD) at 85-95% HRmax, and a cool-down period.	Behavioral: CrossFit-Based High-Intensity Training (CF); Participants performed five supervised CrossFit sessions per week for six weeks at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m) in Zahedan, Iran. Each session lasted 60-75 minutes and followed a structured four-part format: (i) Dynamic warm-up incorporating mobility exercises and movement preparation (10-15 minutes); (ii) Strength and skill work targeting foundational lifting patterns and gymnastic movements (15-20 minutes); (iii) High-intensity Workout of the Day (WOD) at 85-95% HRmax (10-20 minutes); (iv) Cool-down consisting of static stretching and controlled breathing exercises (5-10 minutes). WODs were selected from the official CrossFit programming archive (2021-2023) and individually scaled by a Level 2 CrossFit-certified coach. Loading for barbell movements was prescribed at 30-85% of baseline 1RM values. Bodyweight and kettlebell movements were regulated by repetition targets and RPE scores of 14-18 on the Borg 6-20 scale. Progressive overload was applied biweekly through increa; Other Names: Endurance-CF
Experimental: SemiEnd-HIIT; Elite male runners specializing in middle-distance events (800-3,000 m) who performed running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) five days per week for six weeks at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m). Each session consisted of 4-6 intervals of 2-4 minutes at 90-95% HRmax, interspersed with 2-3 minutes of active recovery at approximately 50% HRmax.	Behavioral: Running-Based High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT); Participants performed five supervised HIIT sessions per week for six weeks at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m) in Zahedan, Iran. Each session lasted 60-75 minutes and was conducted on a standard 400-m synthetic track. Sessions consisted of 4-6 intervals of 2-4 minutes duration performed at 90-95% of maximum heart rate (HRmax), interspersed with 2-3 minutes of active recovery at approximately 50% HRmax. Participants self-selected their interval pace to maintain heart rate within the prescribed target zone throughout each work bout. Exercise intensity was continuously monitored using Polar H10 chest-strap heart rate sensors. Progressive overload was applied throughout the intervention period.; Other Names: Endurance-HIIT
Experimental: SemiEnd-CF; Elite male runners specializing in middle-distance events (800-3,000 m) who performed multimodal CrossFit-based high-intensity training five days per week for six weeks at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m). Each session included a dynamic warm-up, strength and skill work, a high-intensity Workout of the Day (WOD) at 85-95% HRmax, and a cool-down period.	Behavioral: CrossFit-Based High-Intensity Training (CF); Participants performed five supervised CrossFit sessions per week for six weeks at moderate altitude (approximately 1,400 m) in Zahedan, Iran. Each session lasted 60-75 minutes and followed a structured four-part format: (i) Dynamic warm-up incorporating mobility exercises and movement preparation (10-15 minutes); (ii) Strength and skill work targeting foundational lifting patterns and gymnastic movements (15-20 minutes); (iii) High-intensity Workout of the Day (WOD) at 85-95% HRmax (10-20 minutes); (iv) Cool-down consisting of static stretching and controlled breathing exercises (5-10 minutes). WODs were selected from the official CrossFit programming archive (2021-2023) and individually scaled by a Level 2 CrossFit-certified coach. Loading for barbell movements was prescribed at 30-85% of baseline 1RM values. Bodyweight and kettlebell movements were regulated by repetition targets and RPE scores of 14-18 on the Borg 6-20 scale. Progressive overload was applied biweekly through increa; Other Names: Endurance-CF

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lactate Threshold (LT)	Lactate threshold determined from a graded treadmill test using capillary blood lactate sampling and the modified Dmax method.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO₂max)	VO₂max assessed by automated breath-by-breath cardiopulmonary exercise testing during an incremental running protocol to volitional exhaustion.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
1,500-Meter Time Trial Performance	Time to complete a 1,500-meter maximal effort run on a standardized 400-meter synthetic track, recorded using an infrared timing system.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
5,000-Meter Time Trial Performance	Time to complete a 5,000-meter maximal effort run on a standardized 400-meter synthetic track, recorded using an infrared timing system.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Peak Power Output (PPO)	Peak mechanical power output measured during a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test on a mechanically braked cycle ergometer.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Deadlift One-Repetition Maximum (1RM)	Maximal strength assessed as the highest successfully completed deadlift load using a standardized progressive loading protocol.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Hemoglobin Concentration	Hemoglobin concentration measured from venous blood samples using an automated hematology analyzer.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Erythropoietin (EPO) Concentration	Circulating erythropoietin measured in venous blood samples using duplicate ELISA analysis.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Creatine Kinase (CK) Activity	Serum creatine kinase activity measured as a biomarker of muscle damage using an enzymatic colorimetric assay.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Concentration	Circulating IL-6 measured in venous blood samples using duplicate ELISA analysis.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) Concentration	Circulating TNF-α measured in venous blood samples using duplicate ELISA analysis.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Back Squat One-Repetition Maximum (1RM)	Maximal lower-body strength assessed using a standardized back squat 1RM protocol with progressive loading.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Sistan and Baluchestan
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mohammadreza Rezaeipour, University of Sistan and Baluchestan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 15, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): October 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 22, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 26, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Erythropoietin; Hemoglobin; TNF-alpha; HIIT; High-Intensity Interval Training; Interleukin-6; Creatine Kinase; CrossFit; Exercise Physiology; Endurance Performance; Neuromuscular Adaptation; Lactate Threshold; VO₂max; Distance Running; Elite Runners; Moderate Altitude; Peak Power Output; Middle-Distance Running; Long-Distance Running; Altitude Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: IR.USB.REC.1400.021

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after de-identification (text, tables, figures, and appendices), will be shared.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Data will become available immediately following publication and will be accessible for a period of five years.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Data will be shared with researchers who provide a statistically sound proposal and sign a data access agreement. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author at rezaeipour@ped.usb.ac.ir.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No