NCT06972121

Digital Mindset Intervention for Half Marathon Performance

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
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 207 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Auckland, New Zealand · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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

Detailed description

This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether a brief digital mindset intervention can improve performance and training outcomes among recreational runners training for a half marathon. The intervention is grounded in psychological theories of mindsets, expectation, placebo effects, and effort perception, which suggest that how individuals interpret physical symptoms during exercise-such as fatigue or muscle soreness-can influence motivation, persistence, and overall outcomes. The intervention aims to reframe mild physical symptoms experienced during training as signs of physiological adaptation rather than negative signals, helping participants develop more adaptive mindsets about effort and endurance. Intervention content includes brief digital modules that introduce the concept of meta-mindsets (beliefs about how mindsets influence experiences and outcomes) and provide applied strategies for interpreting discomfort as a normal and constructive part of the endurance training process. The digital modules are delivered over a nine-week period leading up to the participant's half marathon and are designed to be time-efficient and accessible. To ensure comparability, participants assigned to the active control group receive parallel-format digital modules that focus on widely followed training advice, without any mindset-related material. Participants in the control group do not receive digital content during the study period. All intervention content is delivered via the Intervengine platform or email. Participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three study arms. Randomization is conducted independently using a computer-generated allocation sequence. The study follows an intention-to-treat analysis approach, with additional per-protocol analyses among participants who complete the intervention and race. Statistical analyses will include ANOVA and mixed-model approaches to assess group differences in primary and secondary outcomes over time. Missing data will be addressed using multiple imputation techniques. All eligibility criteria, outcome measures, and intervention details are specified in the relevant sections of the clinical trial registration record. This trial contributes to a growing body of research examining scalable psychological interventions that support physical activity adherence and performance. It explores whether brief mindset-focused training can enhance endurance outcomes in real-world, non-clinical athletic contexts.

Conditions

• Healthy
• Exercise
• Psychological Intervention

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Mindset Intervention	The mindset intervention includes 4 brief digital modules over 9 weeks (once every 3 weeks) via app or email, prior to the half-marathon race. The content introduces meta-mindsets (beliefs about how mindsets shape experiences and outcomes) and reframes non-severe physical symptoms (e.g., muscle soreness, fatigue) as signs of physiological adaptation. Modules cover: (1) what mindsets are and how they affect performance; (2) how to interpret normal training symptoms as positive signals; (3) how to maintain adaptive mindsets during peak training; and (4) race-day mindset preparation. Each module includes brief text, visuals, and reflection questions and takes approximately five minutes to complete.
BEHAVIORAL	Marathon Performance Training	The marathon performance training intervention includes 4 brief digital modules over 9 weeks (once every 3 weeks) via app or email, prior to the half-marathon race. Content is based on publicly available half-marathon training guidance and excludes any mindset-related material. Modules cover: (1) setting race goals and structuring training plans; (2) training tips and best practices (e.g., pacing, injury prevention); (3) navigating peak training periods (e.g., distance increases, rest and recovery); and (4) practical race-day preparation strategies (e.g., pacing, fueling, warm-up routines). Each module includes concise text, visuals, and actionable tips designed to take approximately five minutes to complete.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-15
• Primary completion: 2025-09-01
• Completion: 2025-09-01
• First posted: 2025-05-14
• Last updated: 2025-05-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: New Zealand