The UBC Long-distance Triathlon Adaptation Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of 12-months of individualized endurance-training (swimming, cycling and running) on physiological and psychological adaptations in exercise naïve individuals. Due to the potential seasonal changes that naturally occur in individuals across a year (even without training) the investigators will also compare the exercise-trained group to a time-aligned control group.

Endurance training is well-accepted to lead to numerous positive physiological and psychological adaptations. However, many of the previous studies examining the benefits of endurance exercise on the human body have: 1) compared athletes with non-athletes using a cross-sectional design, 2) have employed training studies that are relatively short (e.g. weeks to months) in duration, 3) have primarily focused on male participants and not examined potential sex-differences, and 4) have not specifically recruited exercise naïve participants, as often participants are already engaged in ongoing recreational or competitive activities at the time of recruitment. As such, we have a limited understanding of the true time-course of adaptations that occur in exercise naïve individuals in response to training, or how physiological and psychological adaptations change beyond 4-6 months, and whether there are sex-specific differences in these adaptations.

This study is primarily designed to determine the time-course of adaptation and remodeling in females and males across multiple different physiological systems (i.e. cardiac, vascular, metabolic, respiratory, immune, and microbiome) and psychological measures at rest and in response to a range of provocations.

Forty healthy exercise-training naïve individuals (20 females: 20 males) will perform 12-months of individually prescribed, endurance training (including supplementary strengthening exercise for conditioning and injury prevention) designed to prepare participants for an ultra-endurance triathlon. A time-aligned control group of 20 healthy exercise-training naïve individuals (10 females: 10 males) will also be recruited to determine the natural change that occurs in each system across a year. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. Additionally, cardiovascular outcomes will also be assessed at 1 month and immune outcomes will be repeated at 3 months post intervention (15 months).

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria: Exercise Intervention Group

* Aged 19-39 years
* Non-smoker (quit \>6 months)
* Able to swim \>100 meters without stopping
* Have access to, or willingness, to obtain a road bicycle
* Are willing to commit to the research assessments and prescribed training program
* Currently performing \<120 minutes of structured endurance training per week
* Premenopausal

Inclusion Criteria: Control Group

* Aged 19-39 years
* Non-smoker (quit \>6 months)
* Are willing to commit to the research assessments
* Currently performing \<120 minutes of structured endurance training per week
* Premenopausal

Exclusion Criteria: Exercise Intervention Group and Control Group:

* History of heart disease
* History of lung disease (not including controlled asthma)
* History of metabolic disease
* History of cancer
* Chronic inflammatory conditions
* Blood pressure \> 140/90 mmHg
* Chronic antibiotic, antiviral, antimicrobial, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihistamine use
* Are a regular (more than 1/week) cannabis user
* Consume alcohol regularly: more than 6 standard drinks per week (e.g.14-20 ounces of beer and 5-8 ounces of wine)
* Have previously completed structured endurance exercise training for an extended period of time (such as training for a triathlon or running race)
* Have previously participated in competitive team sports with an aerobic component (e.g. soccer, basketball, rugby, field hockey) and sport-specific training (e.g. hockey, football) \>3 times per week within the previous 5 years
* Have prior experience of heavy structured resistance training \>3x/week within the last 2 years
* BMI\>32 kg/m2 or \<20 kg/m2
* Pregnancy within 12 months, or planning to become pregnant within the next 12 months
* Currently breast feeding (or having stopped within 6 months)
* Planning to be away from the Okanagan area for an extended period over the duration of the study