Problems Associated With Ultramarathon

Acute physiological consequences of ultramarathon running are still unknown, particularly in women. Results from the investigators first studies conducted in 2009 have shown that a large part of fatigue induced by a mountain ultramarathon could be attributed to central fatigue. The investigators have investigated the biological consequences and neuromuscular fatigue only in male runners. Data from the literature suggest that amplitude and etiology of fatigue after prolonged exercise might be gender-dependant.The main purpose of the present project is thus to quantify supraspinal central fatigue and associated changes in cortical excitability after an extreme exercise such as a mountain ultramarathon: the Ultra-Trail du Mont-blanc, by using TMS.