HEALTH POLICY
Sleep is one of the most studied themes at the UTMB. Since the first research in 2012 (Bruno Chenuel), numerous works have been carried out by Rémy Hurdiel and his team. They have explored sleep deprivation, hallucinatory disorders, cognitive performance and, more recently, the transmission of knowledge to runners through experiments and masterclasses. Sleep is now recognized as a key factor in performance and safety in ultra-trail.
2012 — Bruno Chenuel
Sleep and ultra-endurance study
2013 — M. Poussel, J. Laroppe, R. Hurdiel, J. Girard, L. Poletti, C. Thil, A. Didelot, B. Chenuel Combined effects of sleep deprivation and strenuous exercise on cognitive performance during the UTMB
2014 — Rémy Hurdiel
Hallucinatory disorders during the UTMB: description and effect of sleep debt
2019 — Rémy Hurdiel
Cross-sectional study of sleep and cognitive performance in ultra-trail runners >160 km
2022 — Pauline Baron, Éric Hermand, Charlotte Elsworth-Edelsten, Thierry Pezé, Valentin Bourlois, Benoît Mauvieux, Rémy Hurdiel
Sleep and Subjective Recovery in Amateur Trail Runners After the UTMB
2024 — Rémy Hurdiel, Charlotte Edelsten
Sleep & Performance
2025 — Rémy Hurdiel, Charlotte Edelsten
Sleep Masterclass
Women’s health has become a major research focus at the UTMB, as the physiological and pathological specificities of female athletes are still scarcely documented in ultra-endurance. As early as 2014, Marion Delespierre and Patrick Basset paved the way with a study on the consequences of ultra-endurance on the body of female athletes. More recently, in 2024, Cécile Vigne conducted a large-scale survey through a questionnaire, offering a unique perspective on the experience of women at the UTMB.
Research is also moving towards issues related to gynecological and hormonal health: in 2025, a study on the prevalence of female pathologies is planned, while Solène Cheval and Ines Verdier are focusing more specifically on postmenopausal women practicing trail running in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region.
This work reflects a strong awareness: women’s health in ultra-trail must be studied with as much attention as performance or recovery, in order to best support athletes in their practice.**
2014 – Marion Delespierre, Patrick Basset
The consequences of ultra-endurance on the body of female athletes
2024 – Cécile Vigne
Gynecological aspects in ultra-trail
2025 – Dr Volker & Patrick Basset
Prevalence of female pathologies
2025 – Solène Cheval & Ines Verdier
Postmenopausal women practicing trail running in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region
The UTMB is a unique setting to study extreme fatigue. As early as 2009, Guillaume Millet showed how ultra-trail affects neuromuscular function and generates both acute and chronic disorders. His work, extended in 2012 and 2019, explored the impact of sex and distance on fatigue and the nervous system. Other research has examined the evolution of running patterns, posture and muscular balance. These studies have helped identify physiological limits and better understand recovery mechanisms.
2009 — Guillaume Millet
Acute and chronic disorders associated with ultra-trail running
2009 — Guillaume Millet, Katja Tomazin, Samuel Vergès, Christopher Vincent & Vincent Martin
Fatigue and recovery of neuromuscular function during extreme effort: example of a mountain ultra-trail
2012 — Guillaume Millet
Acute disorders associated with ultra-trail running: effects of sex and consequences on the nervous system
2019 — Stéphane Vermand, Olivier Garsin, Frank-Jourdan Ferrari, Clément Potier, Fabienne Cherd
Evolution of running patterns during a mountain trail
2019 — Guillaume Millet, Léonard Feasson
Effects of sex and distance on fatigue induced by mountain ultra-marathon
2019 — Dr Rollier, Dr Le Masle
Impact of the flexor/extensor muscle ratio of the foot on running posture patterns during the UTMB
Nutrition and self-medication are central themes at the UTMB. In 2010, Romain Blondel studied the impact of nutritional choices on gastrointestinal disorders. That same year, Mélanie Arnaud highlighted the extent of self-medication. In 2017, the study by Paul Robach and Pierre Bouzat revealed the high prevalence of drug use, particularly anti-inflammatories, underlining the risks for kidney and digestive health.
2010 — Romain Blondel
Responsibility of strategic nutritional choices in gastrointestinal disorders during ultra-trails
2010 — Mélanie Arnaud & Marie-Alix Fauroux
Self-medication in ultra-trail runners
2016 — Anthony Berthou, Guillaume Blandin, Manon Blandin
Nutrition, micronutrition and sport
2017 — Paul Robach, Pierre Bouzat
Prevalence of drug use during the UTMB
The UTMB has also made it possible to explore the psychological and sociological aspects of trail running. In 2011, Élodie Gailledrat studied exercise dependence among trail runners. In 2012, the Ultratrail Wave 1 project (Bussière & Mathieu) analyzed motivations and the relationship to pushing one’s limits. In 2016, Patrick Basset approached ultra-endurance through the lens of sociology, highlighting the construction of a genuine community with its own codes and values.
2011 — Élodie Gailledrat
Exercise dependence in ultra-trail runners: myth or reality?
2022 — Quentin Hallez, Marine Paucsik, Guillaume Tachon, Rebecca Shankland, Fanny Marteau-Chasserieau, Mathilde Plard
How physical activity and passion color the passage of time: A response with ultra-trail runners
Injuries and podiatry represent an important field. From graduation theses (2011) to recent physiotherapy research (2024), numerous studies have focused on kinesio taping, podiatric pathologies, postural stability and the evolution of the foot. This work helps improve injury prevention and adapt treatment approaches.
2011 — Kinesio France
Kinesio taping before and during the race
2011 — Olivier Garcin
Study on pedicure and podiatric pathologies at the UTMB (podiatry thesis)
2013 — Olivier Broglin, Grégoire Millet
Typology of musculoskeletal injuries: comparison of four ultra-trail distances
2013 — Kinesio France
Kinesio taping study
2014 — Olivier Garcin, Alexandre Gély
Ultra endurance and postural stability
2016 — Ferrari FJ, Vermand S, Garcin O
Evolution of the foot and postural balance during an ultra-endurance event: morphostatic and stabilometric study
2016 — JL Le Masle Lastiolas, O. Garcin, A. Castillo
Echo-muscular research
2019 — Olivier Garcin, Mellie Lavenant
Evolution of pelvic stability during an ultra-trail
2024 — Audrey Milon, supervised by Aurélie Castillo
Physiotherapy: prevalence of chronic ankle instabilities
Performance prediction is a major challenge in ultra-endurance. In 2011, Guillaume Millet studied the subjective and objective parameters that can predict success in a UTMB-type race. This work laid the foundations for performance analysis in very long-distance trail running.
2011 — Guillaume Millet
Subjective or objective parameters predictive of performance in an endurance race
Some studies have focused on specific populations or particular risks. In 2019, Julien Berdat & Dr JC Vauthier conducted the DIATRAIL study on diabetic runners. In 2025, a project on UV exposure is planned, illustrating the desire to further expand research towards new health issues.
2019 — Julien Berdat, Dr JC Vauthier
DIATRAIL Study – Diabetic runners
2025 — Andrew Nowak, Stéphanie Leclerc Mercier
Study on UV exposure in trail runners (upcoming)
The cardiovascular system is one of the first fields explored at the UTMB. As early as 2007, a large survey helped to better understand athlete profiles, training habits and the perception of cardiovascular risk. Subsequent research analyzed cardiac fatigue after an ultra-trail, venous ultrasound markers, as well as the effect of progressive compression. This work has made it possible to better identify the heart’s ability to adapt to extreme effort and highlight areas of vigilance for runner health.
2007 — CMBCS
Heart and sport survey: athlete profiles, training habits, motivations, causes of withdrawal, perception of cardiovascular risk, perception of doping
2009 — Guillaume Millet & Stéphane Nottin
Is the heart fatigued after an ultra-trail?
2012 — Serge Couzan
Venous ultrasound risk markers in athletes and progressive compression
2018 — Mayo Clinic, Patrick Basset, Glenn Stewart & Bruce Johnson
Cardiopulmonary consequences of participation in the UTMB and impact of progressive compression (PEMF)
The analysis of the causes of withdrawal and acute risks has been at the heart of UTMB research since 2008. Studies conducted by Laurence Poletti and the CMBCS have described the main reasons for withdrawal, as well as the pathologies observed post-race. They highlighted the diversity of complications: digestive disorders, musculoskeletal injuries or metabolic disturbances, contributing to strengthening medical prevention in ultra-trail.
2008 — CMBCS, Laurence Poletti
Study No. 1 on race withdrawals
2009 — CMBCS, Laurence Poletti, Sylvain Isnardon
Study No. 2 on race withdrawals
2012 — Laurence Poletti & CMBCS
Study on pathologies responsible for race withdrawals and occurring post-race
2013 — Laurence Poletti, Sébastien Baillieul
Study on post-race pathologies
Research on biomarkers has highlighted the metabolic consequences of ultra-endurance. They have documented hemolysis, traumatic and metabolic pathologies, musculoskeletal disorders, as well as renal biomarkers allowing the identification of runners at risk of acute kidney injury. The Natritrail project focused on sodium balance and exercise-induced hyponatremia. This work has helped anticipate and prevent serious complications in ultra-trail.
2009 — Paul Robach
Hemolysis induced by a mountain ultra-marathon: consequence on total hemoglobin mass
2009 — Romain Blondel
Traumatic and metabolic pathologies during a mountain ultra-marathon: the example of the 2009 UTMB
2009 — Julien Girard & Benjamin Leujeune
Musculoskeletal pathology in trail runners
2013 — Patrick Basset & Martin Hoffman
Renal biomarkers for identifying runners at risk of acute kidney injury
2009 — Dr Gergele, Dr Maillard, Pr Millet & C. Francou
Ultra-trail and severe complications: search for risk factors and prevalence survey
The first surveys conducted at the UTMB, as early as 2007, had an epidemiological approach: they focused on athlete profiles, training habits and causes of race withdrawal. These data form the basis of scientific research on trail running, shedding light on the frequency of pathologies and runner behaviors.
2007 — CMBCS
Heart and sport survey: athlete profiles, training habits, motivations, causes of withdrawal, perception of cardiovascular risk, perception of doping
2008 — CMBCS, Laurence Poletti
Study on race withdrawals
2010 — Mélanie Arnaud & Marie-Alix Fauroux
Self-medication in ultra-trail runners
