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