New global Women’s Health Programme launched to support female Ultra-Trail Athletes by The Ultra Sports Health Lab

March 12, 2026

Having been announced at NEXT 24, Ultra Sports Science's Health Lab officially launched the initiative at the NEXT Conference 25, organised by France Outdoor, focusing on the specific theme of women and health.

March 12, 2026 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Having been announced at NEXT 24, Ultra Sports Science’s Health Lab officially launched the initiative at the NEXT Conference 25, organised by France Outdoor, focusing on the specific theme of women and health.

The pioneering Women’s Health Programme will 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 created by Ultra Sports Science and bloomUp, and supported by HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc, is a one-of-a-kind pilot project 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 issues in the female ultra-endurance runner: prevention & management strategies

The scientific direction is led by Dr. Patrick Basset and Dr. Volker Sheer, with the involvement of elite athletes including Marion Delespierre and Blandine L’Hirondel.

A Three-Pillar Programme for Maximum Impact 

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 gynaecology, sports medicine and physiology

Awareness & Education 

• Public sessions for the wider running community
• A dedicated communication group for elite female athletes
• Interviews, video content, and accessible dissemination of research outcomes

Risk Reduction & Athlete Support 

• Individualised 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 

Supported and hosted at the 2026 edition of the HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc, this programme benefits from the event’s long-standing presence and influence within the endurance community. As a leading participant 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 pool of athletes 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 with 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.

For further press information please contact:

Sabina Mollart Rogerson
sabina@seaclearcommunications.com | +44 7922 140 148

About Ultra Sports Science
Ultra Sports Science is a health endowment fund dedicated to scientific research, prevention, and education concerning health and performance in endurance and ultra-endurance sports. By collaborating with researchers, doctors, and sports organizations, the foundation conducts field studies during major competitions to improve understanding of the effects of prolonged effort on athlete health. Read more at Ultra Sports Science.

About bloomUp – Sustainability – Innovation – Impact

bloomUp is a global consultancy agency driving positive change through sustainability, innovation, and the promotion of active lifestyles. bloomUp supports organisations in designing strategies and implementing pragmatic, actionable and robust solutions that lead to a healthier, more inclusive and regenerative future.