The UBC Long-distance Triathlon Adaptation Study
NCT Number: NCT06467656
Acronym: ULTRA
Status: RECRUITING
Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
Phases: NA
Conditions: Healthy Participants
Interventions: OTHER: Individualized, periodized endurance training for ultra-endurance triathlon.|OTHER: Time-Aligned Control
Sponsor: University of British Columbia
Sex: ALL
Age: ADULT
Enrollment: 60
Study Design: Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED|Intervention Model: PARALLEL|Masking: NONE|Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
Start Date: 2024-06-20
Completion Date: 2026-01-30
Locations: University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V1V7, Canada

Summary:
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.

Primary Outcome Measures: Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)., The change in VO2max from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 12 Months
Secondary Outcome Measures: Time-course of change in VO2max., The time-course of change in VO2max from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting left ventricular structure., The time-course of change in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in left ventricular structure during exercise., The time-course of change in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (via transthoracic echocardiography) during acute exercise from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in left ventricular structure with volume loading., The time-course of change in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to head down tilt from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in ventricular diameter to wall thickness, The time-course of change in the ratio of ventricular diameter to ventricular wall thickness (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in left ventricular mass, The time-course of change in left ventricular mass (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting right ventricular structure., The time-course of change in right ventricular area (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest, from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in right ventricular structure during exercise., The time-course of change in right ventricular area (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to exercise from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in right ventricular structure with volume loading., The time-course of change in right ventricular area (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to head-down tilt from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting left atrial structure., The time-course of change in resting left atrial phasic volumes (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in left atrial structure during exercise., The time-course of change in left atrial phasic volumes (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to exercise from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in left atrial structure with volume loading., The time-course of change in left atrial phasic volumes (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to head-down tilt from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting left ventricular function., The time-course of change in left ventricular stroke volume (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in left ventricular function during exercise., The time-course of change in left ventricular stroke volume (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to acute exercise from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in left ventricular function with volume loading., The time-course of change in left ventricular stroke volume (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to head-down tilt from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting left ventricular diastolic function., The time-course of change in the ratio of early to late left ventricular filling velocities (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting right ventricular function., The time-course of change in right ventricular fractional area change (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest, from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in right ventricular function during exercise., The time-course of change in right ventricular fractional area change (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to acute exercise, from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in right ventricular function with volume loading., The time-course of change in right ventricular fractional area change (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to head down tilt, from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting right ventricular strain., The time-course of change in right ventricular longitudinal strain (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest, from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in right ventricular strain during exercise., The time-course of change in right ventricular longitudinal strain (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to acute exercise, from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in right ventricular strain with volume loading., The time-course of change in right ventricular longitudinal strain (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to head down tilt, from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting left-atrial strain, The time-course of change in left atrial phasic strain (via transthoracic echocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in left-atrial strain during exercise., The time-course of change in left atrial phasic strain (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to acute exercise, from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in in left-atrial strain with volume loading., The time-course of change in left atrial phasic strain (via transthoracic echocardiography) in response to head down tilt, from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in p-wave duration., The time-course of change in p wave duration (by 12-lead electrocardiography and signal-averaged electrocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in p-wave amplitude, The time-course of change in p wave amplitude (by 12-lead electrocardiography and signal-averaged electrocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in p wave root mean square average, The time-course of change in p wave root mean square voltage (by signal-averaged electrocardiography) at rest from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Relationships between changes in cardiac electrical activity and left atrial volume., The relationship between p wave duration (by 12-lead electrocardiography and signal-averaged electrocardiography), amplitude (by 12-lead electrocardiography and signal-averaged electrocardiography) and root mean square voltage (by signalaveraged electrocardiography) with left atrial volume (via transthoracic echocardiography) from baseline to 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in blood volume., The time-course of change in blood volume (using the carbon monoxide re-breathe technique) from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise-training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Relationship between changes in blood volume and cardiac structure, The relationship between changes in blood volume and changes in cardiac structure (left ventricular end diastolic volume, ratio of ventricular diameter to ventricular wall thickness, ventricular mass, right ventricular area, left atrial volume; via transthoracic echocardiography) and function (stroke volume, right ventricular fractional area change, ratio of early to late left ventricular filling velocities, left ventricular longitudinal strain and left atrial strain; via transthoracic echocardiography) from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting upper body vascular structure., The time-course of change in upper body macrovascular structure by resting brachial artery diameter., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in upper body vascular structure., The time-course of change in upper body macrovascular structure by maximal brachial artery diameter following ischemic hand-grip from baseline to 1,3, 6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in resting lower body vascular structure., The time-course of change in lower body macrovascular structure by resting superficial femoral artery diameter., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in upper body microvascular structure., The time-course of change in upper body microvascular structure from the maximal hyperemic response to hand-grip ischemic exercise from baseline to 1,3, 6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in upper body vascular function., The time-course of change in upper body macrovascular function by brachial artery flow mediated dilation from baseline to 1,3,6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in lower body vascular function., The time-course of change in lower body macrovascular function by superficial femoral artery flow mediated dilation from baseline to 1,3,6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in upper body microvascular function, The time-course of change in upper body microvascular function by the brachial artery reactive hyperemia response from baseline to 1,3,6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in lower body microvascular function., The time-course of change in lower body microvascular function by the superficial femoral artery reactive hyperemia response from baseline to 1,3,6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Time-course of change in arterial stiffness., Central arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity) from baseline to 1,3,6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1, 3, 6, and 12 months|Change in exercising ventilatory reserve, Change in ventilatory reserve (maximum ventilation / ventilatory capacity) from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 12 months|Change in expiratory flow limitation., Change in expiratory flow limitations (% overlap of the exercise flow-volume loop at max exercise with the maximum flow-volume envelope) from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 12 months|Change in work of breathing., Change in total work of breathing (measured as the combination of inspiratory resistive, inspiratory elastic, and expiratory resistive work of breathing assessed by modified Campbell diagram) at intensity-matched exercise from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 12 months|Change in ventilatory efficiency., Change in ventilatory efficiency (assessed by VE-VCO2 slope during graded exercise) from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 12 months|Change in lung volume., Change in operational lung volumes (assessed via IC maneuvers) during intensity-matched exercise from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 12 months|Change in dyspnea., Change in dyspnea (assessed via modified Borg scale) during intensity-matched exercise from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 12 months|Time course of change in exercising ventilatory reserve, Time course of change in ventilatory reserve (maximum ventilation / ventilatory capacity) from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Time course of change in expiratory flow limitation., Time course of change in the expiratory flow limitation (% overlap of the exercise flow-volume loop at max exercise with the maximum flow-volume envelope) from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Time course of change in work of breathing., Time course of change in total work of breathing (measured as the combination of inspiratory resistive, inspiratory elastic, and expiratory resistive work of breathing assessed by modified Campbell diagram) at intensity-matched exercise from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Time course of change in ventilatory efficiency., Time course of change in ventilatory efficiency (assessed by VE-VCO2 slope during graded exercise) from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Time course of change in lung volume., Time course of change in operational lung volumes (assessed via IC maneuvers) during intensity-matched exercise from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Time course of change in dyspnea., Time course of change in dyspnea (assessed via modified Borg scale) during intensity-matched exercise from baseline to 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Time course of change in chemoreflex sensitivity., Time course of change in chemoreflex sensitivity (ventilatory response to changes in inspired CO2 and O2) from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Gut microbiome composition and diversity., The time course of change in gut microbiome composition and diversity (microbial alpha and beta diversity by 16S rRNA gene sequencing or shotgun metagenomic sequencing), circulating metabolites \[plasma short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels\], and markers of inflammation (fecal calprotectin and plasma cytokines via ELISA) and gut permeability \[plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) via ELISA\] from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1,3, 6, and 12 months|Relationships between gut microbiome and exercise performance, The relationship (as assessed through regression analyses) between changes in the gut microbiome with improvements in exercise performance from baseline to 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1,3, 6, and 12 months|Relationships between gut microbiome and cardio metabolic health, The relationship (as assessed through regression analyses) between changes in the gut microbiome, microbiome-driven metabolites (SCFA and TMAO), markers of inflammation (fecal calprotectin and plasma cytokines), and indices of gut permeability (plasma LPS) relevant to cardiometabolic health from baseline to 1,3, 6 and 12 months of exercise training., 1,3, 6, and 12 months|Innate immune reprogramming., The change in epigenomic landscape and cell function (e.g., cytokine production, phagocytosis) of circulating monocytes from baseline to 12 months of exercise training and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 12 months|Innate immune memory., The change in epigenomic landscape and cell function (e.g., cytokine production, phagocytosis) of circulating monocytes from 12-month exercise training to 3 months post exercise cessation., 15 months|Affective response., The time course of changes in affective responses specifically exercise valence and arousal that people experience while exercising using a 1-item affect grid from baseline to 12 months and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 12 months|Affective processing., The time course of changes in affective processing (i.e pleasure-displeasure, energy-tired, calmness-tension, attraction-antipathy, pride/honour-guilt/shame, empowerment-damage) that people experience from baseline to 12 months and compared to the change in the time-aligned control group., 12 months|Relationships between affective responses, affective processing and other exercise and psychological variables., The relationships (as assessed through regression analyses) between affective responses, affective processing, incidental affect, exercise identity, competence, and adherence behaviours as well as cardiopulmonary fitness., 12 months|Time course of change in blood lactate., Change in blood lactate (fingertip lactate) during sustained moderate-high intensity exercise from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Time course of change in heart rate., Change in heart rate (telemetry) during sustained moderate-high intensity exercise from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months of exercise training., 3, 6, and 12 months|Time course of change in perceived exertion., Change in rating of perceived exertion (modified Borg scale) during sustained moderate-high intensity exercise from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months of exercise, 3, 6, and 12 months|Sex-difference in physiological adaptation., Sex-differences in the time course of change in physiological parameters associated with the primary and secondary outcomes., 1,3, 6, 12 and 15 months where applicable