The research objectives

One of the main goal of the project is to organize a scientific research monitoring the psychological and physical acute and chronic effects arising from the preparation and participation in the toughest endurance race in the world.

TRM will have the opportunity to provide the scientific community with an important unique new research regarding the sport of trail running, based on the same parameters of other similar researches, such as the one conducted during the Tor des Géants by the University of Verona and Lausanne and by the IFC and IBFM CNR, extending the scientific study also to: “pre” and “post race” analysis and to the “nutrition” and “energetic mechanism” aspects.

The acquisition of scientific knowledge, both theoretical and empirical, will support the development of a “new training methodology” tested on field and useful for ultra trailers who whish face races over 330km and up to 1.000km.

Furthermore the project will, indirectly, promote worldwide Research Institutes, sport and health Wearable Devices Manufacturers and endurance sport products and service Partners / Sponsors. 

The tests on athletes

Up to 50 trail runners will be examined throughout the race with non-invasive tests carried out by a medical staff. Each test session will last 20 minutes.

The test on the 50 volunteers are organized as followed:

• within the 2 days before the starting of the race. France, XX at starting line
• during the competition (2 life bases + 1 at the finish line). France, xxx during race and finish line
• in the post race recovery phase (t.b.d. August or September). Italy, Aosta city

Beside the above test, the TRM Endurance Team Is also monitored before the race:

• at the beginning of the new TRM Training Program with TRM Methodology in order to determine the initial physical state (eg. blood examination, pressure, cardio values…)
• in the preparatory period and training (during training sessions and races)

During the researches special extra light “wearable” extra light weight devices are used in order to minimize impact during competitive performance.

The Scientific Medical Research of the CNR

The aim of the study is to investigate the acute effects related with the intense and prolonged effort associated with the alterations of the sleep-wake cycle during the race and if this could cause cognitive impairment and cardiovascular dysfunction, but also assess the contribution of other factors: oxidative stress , the response of the autonomic system and the state of hydration.

The team of researchers is composed of 6 experts who will conduct the tests on the athletes in 4 Check Points along the 898km race trail track.

The tests performed on athletes are as follows:

• Cognitive assessment
• Olfactory Rating
• Study of autonomic response
• State of hydration Rating
• Study of oxidative stress markers
• Cardiac remodeling Rating
• Study of vascular function
• Study of flow and oxidative energy metabolism

Nutrition Scientific Research

It is known that nutrition plays a key role in endurance sports. That’s why to the study of psycho-physical parameters, axis brain-heart-lungs, edited by CNR, it was decided to add a scientific research on nutrition and energy mechanisms of the human body during sport performance.

The protocol is edited by Dr. Biorci and his Team. The study is divided into two parts and conducted on two different clusters.

The 50 athletes volunteers participating to the race:

• Nutritional assessment last week pre-race
• Relationship between nutritional variables investigated and the performance
• Relationship of the investigated nutritional variables and injuries
• Anthropometric characteristics at the start (baseline) and on arrival or interruption.

The 2 certified coaches and professional athletes of the TRM Endurance Team:

• Evaluation of the glycemia index during the race, with readings every 60 “
• Rating spectrophotometric oxidative status
• Rating nutritional and fluids before and during the race
• Evaluation of the correlation between macronutrients, performance and injuries
• Assessment of the correlation between hydration, performance and injuries
• Dehydration intra and extra cellular and performance

Furthermore a questionnaire will be sent to all 350 athletes participating to the TransPyrenea Race in order to understand their sport and personal profile.