|
| Click here if you are unable to read this letter |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Without contrivance
L'Ultra, is a school of self-investigation. Runners, you would like to cross passes and to rush down mountains without pain but hurting yourself is also part of the game. The body sends information to the brain: ouch…. and then, you have to handle this information. To transform ones suffering, to master it, or to find your way out of it, you have the choice. And your choice is always respectable, although it literally respects the rules. For us, the choice of courage and humility when facing difficulty consists of respecting the rules also in the right spirit. Is to end a race with great reinforcements from pain-killers, even if they are authorized, the image which we wish to give our discipline? Not sure. To deny pain, is to refuse progress, it is joining in the short-term a single race while ultra teaches one to continue ….. to continue in life. Of course, we would wish that all of you will all be finishers. It is a beautiful reward for any organiser to see the enjoyment at the finishing line. But especially we would like everybody to end with dignity, by accepting their limits when they are asserting themselves in an evident way, by playing with them with without contrivance, by assuming their weaknesses, by accepting that "their" finishing line is not in the same place as that of the organiser's. Because ultra, yes, it can hurt but especially because ultra, can be a tremendous success when we arrive at the end with enough lucidity and self-respect to appreciate the victory.
 |
How to know you?
If a very long distance is the objective of Ultra-Trailer, what means does he give himself in order to endure it as long as possible? |
|
Results of the 2010 study on auto-medication:
Many of you participated in a big study on auto-medication in 2010, the subject of a pharmacy thesis supported by Dr Mélanie Arnaud.
Concerning oral medicines used, there are 3 types in the lead:
- Paracetamol with 12 to 13 % of users
- Homoeopathy with 12 % of users before the race and 9 % during the race
- Anti-inflammatory drugs with more than 10 % of users before the race and more than 12 % during the race.
Moreover, aspirin is used by 7% of runners before the race and 4% during the race, corticoids by 0.44% of runners before the race and 0.38% during the race. Medicines treating digestive symptoms also represent a not insignificant part of the auto-medication.
In total, paracetamol is thus the most used analgesic before and during the race, which is logical because it is the medicine which presents the best profit-risk rapport.
We note however the important use of anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin, the analgesic power of which is often considered by the runners as superior to that of paracetamol but the consumption of which can produce numerous risks.
Finally, it is necessary to underline that corticoids figure on the official drug products list and that their use must be reserved for emergencies under prescription from the race doctor and that the result for a runner so treated is the termination of his race.
Our advice:
- Generally, do not give in, at all costs, to all pains which are signs of alert from your body and must be respected. Analgesic medicines can mask a serious problem, for example those runners presenting a rhabdomyolysis (muscular destruction which produces a renal deficiency, in some cases severe)·
-
In case of aches, for preference take paracetamol. It is the analgesic to choose to put into a first-aid kit during the participation in a race of this kind. Please, however, respect the dosage and the interval between 2 doses.
-
It is desirable to avoid taking an anti-inflammatory which can be toxic for the kidneys (and favour the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis), the stomach, but also have noxious effects on the muscular-skeleton structure when consumed regularly.
-
Taking aspirin (which also is part of the family of anti-inflammatories : above all don't mix the 2 !) is, also not advised during the practice of ultra-endurance, because it increases the risk of digestive problems, of haemorrhaging in the case of a fall or a wound and can equally give rise to rhabdomyolysis.
-
Corticoids are classed as drugs and as such are forbidden in competitive sporting events. · - Concerning digestive problems : we would like to remind you the prevention of these disorders during the race rest above all on training and an adapted diet
o Anti-diarrhoea medicines : it is better to use a diosmectite in the first instance or an intestinal anti-secretory, and to keep stronger blockers for the acute and invalidating episodes
o Anti-vomit medicines : domperidone is the preferred medicine due to its good tolerance and its anti-reflux
o Anti-reflux medicines : appropriate food will allow for good gastric draining from the beginning of the race, but if necessary it is possible to take an anti-secretory.
And homeopathy? Numerous homeopathic substances can be used in prevention or in treatment of the osteo-tendinous, articular, muscular, digestive disorders … They are not disapproved of.
And above all : If you have to consult a medical post during the ultra - trail du Mont Blanc, do not forget to specify, to the doctor or nurse, the names and doses of medicines which you might possibly have taken: it is indispensable so that we can, indeed, look after you! !
|
|
 
 
 
|
 |
 |
|
 |
| Sleep
Sleep is essential to maintain a good physical return during the race, to regenerate you at both the psychological and physical levels, do not neglect it! Some simple rules will allow you to best reconcile your sleep and performance (to know more about it, click here)
Nutrition
Nutrition is doubly important for runners because it prepares the body for effort and to optimize its performance, but also to recuperate once the race is over. To become better informed on the subject, consult the page on our web-site drafted by Corinne PEIRANO, dietician and nutritionist by clicking here. |
|
| 2011 Conferences
The Ultra-Trail® Salon once again this year hosts a space dedicated to diverse conferences (in French). Several of them offer themes linked to the medical approach to the Ultra-Trail®, such as
- Recuperation and Nutrition
- Keys to good recuperation after an Ultra-Trail®
- Kinesiotaping: the real effects. 24 & 25 August 2011, admission free.
Complete conference programme, click here.
Charte de l'Ultra-Trail®
In 2010, runners were incited to sign the Charter of Ultra-Trail by ticking a box in their runner's file. This year, in order to continue to make progress in the protection of runner's health and the anti-doping fight, the charter is an integral part of the regulations (art. Preventative initiative concerning health matters) to which each runner freely agreed to adhere to, when registering for one of the Ultra-Trail of Mont Blanc® races. You will receive more information on this subject in a future email.
|
|
| 2011 medical studies
A podiatric study will take place during the 2011 UTMB® on the theme: modifications of the stabilometric parameters according to race time and shoes. For this project we need volunteers! If you are interested in participating in it, contact Olivier Garcin (o.garcin@yahoo.fr)
Kinesiotaping: A test of preventative action will be realized on runners of the 2011 UTMB® presenting a known pathology and recurrence during long races. If you want to be a part of this study, rendezvous at the kinesiotaping stand at the race-bib distribution Friday, August 26th!
Infos Ultra-Trail®
For all up to date information concerning the evolution of the races, around Mont-Blanc.
• News
• Newsletters
• Forum |
|
| I will be a finisher...
Ultrafondus Magazine, UCPAandTerre d'Aventure for several years have been organising preparation courses for the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® agreed by the organisation. They are led by mountain professionals and ultra-trailers of a high level. The key to becoming a Finisher.
• For more information, click here
With the family
For family holidays or reconnaissance trips, Touristra Vacances will help you to organise yourselves. Leisure time with the family, child care, the discovery of the route from an accompanying person's view point, the specialists are there for you.
Safety
The carte d'assistance annuelle Multi-Endurances, created by Ultrafondus, has for four years, covered some of the best trailers with Europ Assistance. Especially adapted for the UTMB®, events it includes repatriation by helicopter, it is for multi-sports world-wide, competition and leisure. Group tariffs available. |
|
|
|
|
