CrossFit vs. running intervals: which boosts elite runner performance at altitude?
NCT ID NCT07675577
First seen Jun 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial compares two high-intensity training programs—CrossFit and running-based HIIT—in elite male distance runners who live and train at moderate altitude. Over six weeks, participants train five days per week and undergo tests for aerobic fitness, strength, and blood markers. The goal is to see which approach better improves race performance and physiological adaptations.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- CrossFit training and running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- What this could lead to
- If one program proves superior, it could help coaches tailor training for elite runners to boost both endurance and strength.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in a very specific group (elite male runners at altitude), so results may not apply to other athletes or conditions.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Sport Sciences Department, University of Sistan and Baluchestan
Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan, 98135-986, Iran
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