SUPPORTING RESEARCH TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE: UTMB WORLD SERIES LAUNCHES CALL FOR PROJECTS
Each year, the UTMB World Series serves as an open-air laboratory for researchers. Since 2007, more than 50 medical studies have been carried out, covering a wide range of health and environmental topics. Click here for the list of completed studies.
The aim? To help advance scientific knowledge, to better understand the effects of ultra-endurance on the human body and mind, and to measure the positive and negative impacts of events on host regions. These studies also enable the organisation to take meaningful action, backed by objective data and a robust, collectively validated scientific base.
HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT: TWO PRIORITY AREAS
Health – a long-standing and evolving focus Health was one of the very first subjects of study, beginning with research into the pathologies and disorders experienced by runners who were forced to withdraw. Today, studies address wider aspects of physiology: the impact of sleep deprivation on performance and safety, UV exposure, and the use of innovative technologies.
Since the first studies on the physical consequences of ultra-endurance for women in 2014, female health has become a key research priority. This has been driven by the growth of trail running and the voices of female athletes advocating for greater understanding. The research is essential to improving support for women in the sport, who remain under-represented, with only 29% participation at national level.
Broadening the scope – environment and local economic development
Research also examines the positive and negative impacts of the sport on host regions and their biodiversity. Examples include studying the effect of events on trails in North America, monitoring path use around Mont-Blanc, and tracking plastic residue in Alsace during the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB.
In France, trail-running events are a major focus of research in the Human and Social Sciences and in Ecology, with studies examining environmental impact, social acceptance, and their potential to diversify tourism.
In this context, UTMB Group welcomes Félicien Tenas, PhD student at the EDYTEM laboratory of the Université Savoie Mont-Blanc. His work is co-supervised by Clémence Perrin-Malterre (Associate Professor with HDR in Sociology at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc) and Fabien Hoblea, also an Associate Professor, both members of the EDYTEM laboratory.
“My thesis in Geography focuses on the social acceptance of major trail-running events, examining several complementary aspects:
The environmental, social and economic effects of large-scale trail events, combining an exhaustive literature review with fieldwork across a range of events in Europe.
The social acceptance of these events in host regions, through meetings with local stakeholders (elected representatives, residents, organisers, runners, etc.) to identify areas for improvement and ways forward.
“Taken together, this work helps identify concrete actions to reduce negative effects, enhance positive outcomes, and ultimately strengthen the social acceptance of events.”
"Collaborating with the UTMB Group gives me privileged access to various events around the world. This enables rich, insightful comparative analyses. For example, I’ll have the opportunity to go to Mallorca in November—an atypical island event that will allow for a differentiated analysis between various countries, geographical contexts, and cultures. From an action-research perspective, I have the chance to be at the heart of many discussions, allowing me to bring my critical perspective directly into the organization. This fosters stronger links between research and practice."
Félicien Tenas
4 QUESTIONS FOR CLÉMENCE PERRIN-MALTERRE
"Research thus provides the means to measure, analyze, and understand both the positive and negative consequences of this activity, forming an essential foundation for making informed decisions."
Why is it important to support research into trail running and its environmental, economic and social dimensions?
Supporting research in this field is essential. It is not purely an academic exercise; it also provides objective knowledge about the real effects of the sport across different dimensions. Without robust, evidence-based data, it is difficult to accurately assess the environmental, economic or social impact of trail running – and therefore to take meaningful action. Research provides the tools to measure, analyse and understand both the positive and negative consequences of the sport. This forms a crucial basis for informed decision-making. It also plays a key role in understanding the communities involved. Knowing who participates, what motivates them, and how they perceive nature and the mountain environment not only helps to tailor awareness messages but also makes those messages more effective. This is essential to fostering environmentally responsible behaviour. For organisers, research also provides insights to strengthen the social acceptability of events. In a context where races may face opposition, scientific results help highlight potential areas for action.
How do you perceive the evolution of trail running?
In the 1970s and 1980s, trail running (though it was not called that yet) was part of a counter-cultural movement, closely connected to climbing and other outdoor pursuits. Over time, this alternative ethos gave way to a performance-driven approach to the practice. This shift has gone hand in hand with the growing commercialisation of the sport – from specialist equipment to event organisation and the rise of trail-running tourism. Driven by strong social demand, this evolution reflects broader shifts in modern sporting practices. Today, trail running balances competition with conviviality, creating a wealth of hybrid formats.
What paradoxes and challenges characterise trail running today?
Trail running is an outdoor sport, yet it is practised mainly by people from relatively privileged backgrounds. The participant base is more socially diverse than in ski touring, for example, but the sport remains relatively selective.
Runners often express concern for environmental issues, but there is sometimes a gap between awareness and actual behaviour. Biodiversity conservation, for instance, is less often taken into account than carbon emissions. While awareness has increased – thanks in part to communication campaigns – this does not always translate into genuinely responsible practices.
In short, from its counter-cultural origins, trail running has evolved into a mainstream sporting phenomenon, defined by the coexistence of performance, conviviality, consumerism and environmental challenges. The challenge for events is to reconcile all these dimensions.
Your work focuses on stakeholders and regions involved in managing sports events. How can these events act as drivers of local development?
My research has mainly focused on trail stations which are permanent facilities dedicated to the sport. I carried out a comparative study between Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse and the Allevard region. The aim was to strengthen tourist appeal while also enhancing residential attractiveness by developing recreational activities for local residents.
In Allevard, some local stakeholders were more hesitant about supporting the sport’s growth. The town’s image, long tied to spa tourism, risked clashing with the promotion of sporting activities aimed at a younger, more dynamic audience.
By contrast, trail stations such as Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse are regarded as genuine drivers of local appeal. However, the presence of facilitators and effective activity programmes remains essential.
Finally, Félicien Tenas’ PhD thesis examines the social and environmental responsibility of events within UTMB Group. His research will provide valuable insights from an event perspective, particularly by analysing the economic, social and environmental impact of a flagship event such as the UTMB Mont-Blanc on its host region.
ABOUT
Clémence Perrin-Malterre is Associate Professor of Sociology at Université Savoie Mont-Blanc within the STAPS department and the EDYTEM laboratory, accredited to supervise PhD research. Her work focuses on outdoor mountain sports, regional governance and environmental management, particularly in mid-mountain regions. Her doctoral thesis, conducted in the Vercors and Bauges Regional Parks, analysed the interplay of local stakeholders in regional development and sporting activities. Today, she explores how these practices contribute to the diversification and transition of mountain regions, while also coexisting with other human activities and wildlife. Her research examines the balance between economic appeal, employment and the protection of natural environments and their biodiversity.
