After having announced it at Next event in 2024, we have officially launched the initiative at the NEXT Conference 25, organised by France Outdoor, focusing on the specific theme of women and health.
This pioneering Women’s Health Programme is being launched to advance the safety, well-being, and long-term participation of female athletes in ultra-endurance trail running. As women’s participation continues to rise worldwide, this initiative addresses a critical need for research and medical support tailored specifically to female athletes competing in extreme endurance environments.
The programme is created by Ultra Sports Science, and supported by HOKA UTMB MONT-BLANC. A one-of-a-kind pilot poject bringing together leading medical experts, researchers, and elite athletes.
Addressing an Urgent Knowledge Gap
Despite increasing involvement in ultra-trail running, scientific understanding of female-specific physiological challenges remains limited. The programme transforms major international races into a “living laboratory,” enabling real-time athlete monitoring supported by controlled laboratory-based research.
Key research areas include:
- Menstrual health and amenorrhea
- Pregnancy and postpartum considerations
- Menopause and athletic performance
- Pelvic floor function
- Hormonal and bone health in relation to fat loss
- Hydration and water-absorption dynamics specific to female athletes
- Gut issue in the female ultra-endurance runner- prevention & management strategies
The scientific direction is led by Dr. Patrick Basset and Dr. Cécile Vigne, with the involvement of elite athletes such as Marion Delespierre and Blandine L’Hirondel.
Three-Pillar Programme for Maximum Impact
1. Research & Science 🔬
- On-site athlete monitoring and medical questionnaires
- Laboratory-based physiological and hormonal studies
- A dedicated Women’s Health Day integrated into a major scientific congress planned for 2026
- Contributions from global leaders in gynecology, sports medicine, and physiology
2. Awareness & Education 📳
- Public sessions for the broader running community
- A dedicated communication group for elite female athletes
- Interviews, video content, and accessible dissemination of research outcomes
3. Risk Reduction & Athlete Support 🏃♀️
- Individualized medical guidance
- Adaptation and testing of medical equipment to better serve female athletes
- Development of accident-prevention and health-protection protocols tailored to women
A Long-term Platform for Change
A strategic opportunity for partners
Supported and hosted at the 2026 edition of the HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc, this programme leverages the event’s long-standing presence and influence within the territory and its endurance community. As a leading reference in the discipline, HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc represents the ideal open-air laboratory itself to launch such a project, enabling access to a highly diverse and representative participant pool while allowing large-scale data collection and cross-cultural analysis.
With the support of HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc, this initiative will drive meaningful scientific progress in women’s endurance health. The programme is designed to expand beyond a single event by engaging other major sporting competitions, ultimately creating a global, open-source data platform dedicated to advancing research and innovation in this field.
Organisations partnering with the Women’s Health Programme gain:
- Visibility within a global, premium sports community
- Alignment with innovation, health, and athlete safety
- Strong impact storytelling and scientific credibility through international research output
Committed to Health, Sustainability, and Innovation
The Women’s Health Programme is part of a broader mission to promote safe, sustainable participation in endurance sports, empower women athletes, and expand access to vital health knowledge.
Contacts
Ultra Sports Health Lab
Anne-Cécile Turner, Co-Founder
bloomUp
annececile.turner@bloomup.world
Ultra Sports Science
Dr. Patrick Basset
p.basset@ultrasportsscience.org
s.nail-billaud@ultrasportsscience.org
Supported by HOKA UTMB MONT-BLANC