Purpose: To investigate the effects of a sports specific maximal 6-week strength and conditioning program on Critical Velocity (CV), anaerobic running distance (ARD) and 5-km time trial performance (TT). Methods: 16 moderately trained, recreational endurance runners were tested for CV, ARD and TT performances on three separate occasions (baseline, mid and post study). Design: Participants were randomly allocated into a strength and conditioning group (S&C; n=8) and a comparison, endurance training only group (EO; n=8). During the first phase of the study (6 weeks), the S&C group performed a concurrent maximal strength and endurance training, whilst the EO group performed an endurance only training. After the re-test of all variables (mid study) both groups subsequently, during phase two, performed another 6 weeks of endurance only training which was followed by post study tests. Results: No significant change for CV was identified in either groups. The S&C group demonstrated a significant decrease for ARD values after the first and second phase of the study. TT performances were significantly different in the S&C group after the intervention with a performance improvement of 3.62%. This performance increase returned close to baseline after the 6-week endurance only training. Conclusion: combining a 6-week resistance training program with endurance training significantly improves 5-km time trial performance. Removing strength training results in some loss of those performance improvements
