Penyagolosa Trail Saludable 2025 (PTS2025)

Universitat Jaume I

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Exercise

Treatments: Other: Single Ultramarathon runners

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06969898

PTS2025 CEISH/103/2024

Details and patient eligibility

About

The research team leading this project frames it within the objective of advancing knowledge about what happens to this group of athletes who participate in Ultratrail events, with the particularity of studying them during the race itself. To achieve this, the study aims to address four key perspectives.

First, it seeks to understand the training habits of male and female Ultratrail runners. Second, it aims to assess their physical condition and analyze how uphill and downhill segments affect their muscle performance, running efficiency, and strength levels. Third, it investigates the key factors that determine the prediction of race performance for both male and female runners. Finally, the fourth objective is to examine sex differences as a conditioning factor in physiological processes.

Full description

There is a category of sporting events held in natural environments over very long distances, classified as Ultratrail races. These races have grown in popularity, attracting an increasing number of participants.

Such races induce states of exhaustion and fatigue, with performance being influenced by numerous factors (environmental conditions, terrain, course profile, etc.), in addition to the athlete's individual characteristics. Scientific interest in these events has surged, and the research community is closely monitoring the health status of participants and their involvement in such races. The aim is to identify the factors influencing performance in a 106 km race (Castelló-Penyagolosa of Penyagolosa Trails) and to assess the physiological impact of participating in this type of endurance event.

To conduct this study, data collection took place before the race, during the race, and within the 48-hour post-race recovery phase.

Before the race, two laboratory sessions were conducted to analyze the athlete's physical condition and assess muscle damage under conditions of both uphill and downhill running. Blood samples were taken before and after these tests.

On race day, measurements included strength loss, weight, dehydration levels, race nutrition, and the evolution of physiological parameters through blood and urine analyses conducted before and after the race.

Finally, blood samples were collected at 24-hours and 48-hours post-race to track the progression of physiological parameters during the recovery phase.

Enrollment: 37 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults healthy with 18-60 years
• Must have completed at least two races of 65 km or longer.
• Must be registered as a participant in the CSP 2025 race

Exclusion criteria

• Having heart disease
• Having kidney disease
• Taking a medication on an ongoing basis

Trial design

37 participants in 1 patient group

Single Ultramarathon runners

Description:

All participants underwent the same protocol: two laboratory assessments, a 106 km race, and post-race physiological parameter evaluations at 24 hours and 48 hours.

Treatment:

Other: Single Ultramarathon runners