For the past 13 years, I have posted some year-end ultrarunning awards. I would like to introduce the 14th annual AJW’s Taproom Year in Ultrarunning Awards for 2025.
You can see my awards from the end of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. I did something a little different in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are not scientific in any way, and the criteria are made up entirely by me. They represent a selection of North American athletes competing in ultramarathons in the United States and abroad. In making these selections, I adhere to the criteria spelled out in the “UltraRunning Magazine” annual awards.
“To be eligible, an athlete must be a full-time North American resident (regardless of their citizenship), or be a U.S., Canadian, or Mexican citizen (regardless of where they live).”
My rankings in no way represent an exhaustive study, nor do they pretend to be fully representative of all that occurred in 2025 — so take them or leave them. Here goes!
Women’s 2025 Ultrarunner of the Year
- Katie Schide
- Rachel Entrekin
- Careth Arnold
Careth Arnold arrives to Chamonix as the 2025 TDS women’s champion. Photo: UTMB
Men’s 2025 Ultrarunner of the Year
- Jim Walmsley
- Caleb Olson
- Hans Troyer
Hans Troyer winning the 2025 JFK 50 Mile. Photo: Greg Holder/H3 Photography
Women’s 2025 Performance of the Year
- Anne Flower’s course record at the 2025 Leadville 100 Mile
- Katie Schide’s course record at the 2025 Hardrock 100
- Tara Dower’s course record at the 2025 Javelina 100 Mile
Anne Flower on her way to setting a new women’s course record at the 2025 Leadville 100 Mile. Photo courtesy of Anne Flower.
Men’s 2025 Performance of the Year
- David Roche’s course record at the 2025 Leadville 100 Mile
- Caleb Olson’s win at the 2025 Western States 100
- Jim Walmsley’s win at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail
David Roche in the early miles of setting a new men’s course record at the 2025 Leadville 100 Mile. Photo: Life Time
Other 2025 Awards
[Author’s Note: For the purposes of my Rookie of the Year award, I consider a runner to be a rookie if 2025 was their first season racing ultra distances at a highly competitive level. In most cases, candidates considered for this award have completed a few races in prior years and/or at shorter distances, but 2025 marked the first time they made a significant impact on the national or international scene beyond a single race or two. For me, my “rookie” litmus-test example is Anton Krupicka in 2006 when he came out of nowhere and won the Leadville 100 Mile.]
- Women’s Rookie of the Year: Anne Flower
- Men’s Rookie of the Year: Will Murray
- Women’s Surprise Performance of the Year: Anne Flower breaking the 31-year-old Leadville 100 Mile course record
- Men’s Surprise Performance of the Year: Will Murray’s second place at the Black Canyon 100k
- Women’s FKT of the Year: Tara Dower’s overall supported Long Trail FKT
- Men’s FKT of the Year: Jeff Garmire’s men’s self-supported Appalachian Trail FKT
- Best Trail Running Film of the Year: “The Chase” by Dylan Harris
- Most Inspirational Person of the Year: Jamil Coury
Bottoms up!
Will Murray celebrating finishing second at the 2025 Black Canyon 100k. Photo: Grand Canaria World Trail Majors/Howie Stern
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Breakside Brewery in Portland, Oregon. Bayside IPA is a refreshingly fresh take on a classic West Coast IPA. Bayside was inspired by the classic IPAs of the San Francisco Bay Area, which the brewers at Breakside put their own unique spin on. It’s a fresh-tasting, smooth-drinking IPA!
Call for Comments
- Who else do you think should get awards?
