The Efficacy of a Digital Mindset Intervention to Improve Race Performance, Training Outcomes, and Recovery in Recreational Half Marathon Runners: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test whether a brief digital mindset training program can improve performance among recreational runners training for a half marathon in New Zealand in 2025. The study will recruit healthy adult participants who are registered for an upcoming half-marathon event. The study aims to answer two main questions: 1. Does the mindset training program - designed to reframe common physical symptoms like fatigue or muscle soreness as signs of progress - help more runners complete the race and improve their official times, compared to standard training advice? 2. Does it support better training (e.g., longer peak training weeks) and faster physical recovery after the race? Researchers will compare participants who receive the mindset training program to those who receive widely followed half-marathon training content and a group who receive no study content, to see whether the mindset training leads to better half-marathon performance and training outcomes. Participants will: * Complete a brief online survey at the start of the study * Receive and engage with four pieces of digital content across nine weeks before the half-marathon race (if assigned to a training group) * Complete a follow-up survey after the half-marathon

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Be aged 18 years or older

• Be registered to run (not walk) in a 2025 half marathon in New Zealand

• Be running their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd half marathon

• Be able to complete the half-marathon without physical assistance or aids

• Be able to read and understand English

• Have regular access to email or an internet-connected device

Locations
Other Locations
New Zealand
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland
RECRUITING
Auckland
Contact Information
Primary
Michelle Taylorson, Health Psychology Masters Stud
mtay322@aucklanduni.ac.nz
+64 21 230 8053
Backup
Rachael Yielder, Health Psychology PhD Candidat
rachael.yielder@auckland.ac.nz
+64 21 032 2113
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-05-15
Estimated Completion Date: 2025-09
Participants
Target number of participants: 207
Treatments
Experimental: Mindset Intervention
Participants in this arm are assigned to receive a digital mindset intervention designed to improve training experiences by targeting core beliefs about mindsets, and exercise symptoms such as discomfort and fatigue. This arm allows testing of the effects of mindset-focused content compared to standard training and control. Participants receive 4 brief digital modules over 9 weeks via app or email. The modules include mindset theory, reframing of physical symptoms, and race-day mental preparation.
Active_comparator: Marathon Performance Training
Participants in this arm are assigned to receive standard half-marathon performance training content. This arm serves as an attentional control, allowing comparison with the mindset intervention arm. Participants receive 4 brief digital modules over 9 weeks via app or email. The modules are based on publicly available running guidance and do not include any mindset-related material.
No_intervention: Control
Participants in the control group will not receive any digital training or mindset content during the study period. They will continue their usual preparation for the half-marathon without additional input from the research team. This group serves as a no-intervention comparator to assess the added effects of both the mindset intervention and the marathon performance training content.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: University of Auckland, New Zealand

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov