Trail-Running and Ultramarathon: A Multidisciplinary Scoping Review

Abstract

Research on ultra-endurance trail-running is multiplying, a testament to this sport’s popularity. How does the scientific literature in human and social sciences contribute to the understanding of trail-running? How can trail running be defined as an object of study from the existing data and works? This article contributes understanding this societal trend from a multidisciplinary literature review of human and social sciences on ultra-trail running. A scoping qualitative analysis of their contents allows identifying three major themes: 1) Commitment and profiles of ultra-trail runners; 2) Embodiment and mental aspects; 3) Events and territories. These findings made it possible to summarize the work carried out to date and constitute a starting point for developing other approaches. It appears that beyond the disciplinary anchors, the results presented resonate with each other as much as they highlight a certain number of paradoxes, which is representative of the discipline itself. Considering these observations, some avenues can be explored to expand upon these approaches and studies.