The ballots are open, and it’s time to celebrate the trailblazers of 2024 with the Trail Runner of the Year award. Hosted by trail-running media community Freetrail, TROY is back for its third edition, and we have everything you need to know to cast your vote. You can also recognize the most jaw-dropping single feats for trail racing by submitting your pick for Trail Performance of the Year (TPOY).
How it works
TROY was created in 2022 as a global platform to honour elite trail athletes by ranking their performances across the racing season. The award considers all trail performances together, from VKs (vertical kilometre) to 200-milers, and focuses on head-to-head competition (excluding solo efforts, such as FKTs).
Unlike traditional awards that tend to focus on specific regions, TROY takes an inclusive, international approach to ensure the best athletes in the world get their due. For Canadian fans, 2024 was another banner year, with standout women like Jazmine Lowther, Jade Belzberg and Marianne Hogan making waves. Can’t decide on just one? No problem—voting allows you to rank your top 10 for TROY (top five for TPOY), with recognition extending to runners-up.
How to decide
Freetrail encourages voters to approach their ballots with thoughtfulness and research, taking a closer look at four key criteria:
Depth of competition: Who excelled in the toughest fields on the biggest stages? Consider the calibre of competitors and the significance of the events.
Consistency: Reward athletes who delivered impressive results throughout the season, balancing consistency with standout moments.
Versatility: This is a distance-agnostic award—think about who showed their prowess across different distances and terrains.
Global perspective: Trail running spans continents and cultures. Strive to recognize international performances, even if you’re more familiar with North American events.
Trail Performance of the Year
Trail Performance of the Year (TPOY) highlights the best single-day achievements of 2024. Voters can rank the top-five performances for both men and women—and have the option to vote for the same athlete multiple times, if you feel they truly dominated on different days.
Submit your picks
Voting is open now at fantasy.freetrail.com and will close at noon PST on Monday, Dec. 16. You’ll rank your top 10 athletes for both men and women, plus your pick for TPOY. Winners will be revealed, beginning with 10th place, starting on Jan. 1.
