Developing physiological resilience through endurance and strength training – take part in the study!

We are recruiting participants for a study investigating how physiological resilience can be developed through additional endurance or strength training in recreational runners. Physiological resilience refers to the ability to maintain factors that determine endurance performance—such as maximal oxygen uptake and running economy—during prolonged endurance performance.
Published
25.3.2026

The study includes a four-week monitoring period during which participants continue their usual training as normal. After this period, participants will be divided into three groups for a 10-week intervention phase. One group will increase their endurance training volume by approximately 30%, another group will add two maximal strength training sessions per week to their program, and the third group will continue training as usual.

Laboratory measurements will be conducted before the monitoring period, after the monitoring period, and after the intervention period. These measurements will assess strength characteristics, maximal oxygen uptake, threshold characteristics, and physiological resilience. At each measurement point, participants will visit the laboratory on three separate days within one week. Measurement times can be scheduled flexibly.

Endurance training will be carried out independently during the study period, but the strength training intervention will take place at the University of Jyväskylä’s Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences laboratory facilities.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are 18–45 years old
  • Have run a half marathon in under two hours within the past year
  • Have trained regularly in running during the past three months (at least 3 times per week)
  • Have not engaged in systematic strength training during the previous six months
  • Do not have cardiovascular diseases and are not taking medication that may affect endurance performance

During the study, you will receive information about your endurance performance (maximal oxygen uptake, threshold zones and heart rates, physiological resilience) as well as a training program that can help you prepare for autumn running events.

The study requires commitment over several months and modification of your training if you are assigned to one of the intervention groups. Throughout the study, participants will use either their own or a university-provided sports watch to monitor training and sleep.

The first measurements will be conducted during weeks 18–20.

Laboratory measurements (at three time points)

The measurements will be scheduled so that all tests for each participant are completed within one week at each time point.

1st visit (approx. 1 hour total)

  • Resting ECG (only during the first visit)
  • Body composition (InBody)
  • Maximal strength tests (leg press and jump tests)
  • Muscle size measurements (ultrasound and 3D scanning)

2nd visit (approx. 1 hour total)

  • Direct maximal oxygen uptake test
  • Determination of threshold characteristics

3rd visit (approx. 2 hours total)

  • 1.5-hour steady-state endurance session, during which performance changes are monitored
  • A short maximal test after the session to assess changes in maximal oxygen uptake

Data collection for the study will take place between April and September 2026.

If you are interested in participating, please contact us by email or phone. When contacting us, please include your age and training background. All interested individuals will receive a more detailed preliminary questionnaire, based on which participants will be selected.

Additional information and registration

Timi Malinen, Doctoral Researcher
Phone: +358 40 032 3157
Email: timi.t.malinen@jyu.fi