For the past 12 years, I have posted some year-end ultrarunning awards. I would like to introduce the 13th annual AJW’s Taproom Year in Ultrarunning Awards for 2024.
You can check out my awards from the end of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. 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 adhered 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 2024 — so take them or leave them. Here goes!
Women’s Ultrarunner of the Year
Katie Schide, 2024 Western States 100 champion. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Men’s Ultrarunner of the Year
Women’s Performance of the Year
- Katie Schide’s win at the 2024 Western States 100
- Courtney Dauwalter’s course record at the 2024 Hardrock 100
- Katie Schide’s course record at the 2024 UTMB
Men’s Performance of the Year
- David Roche’s course record at the 2024 Leadville 100 Mile
- David Sinclair’s course record at the 2024 JFK 50 Mile
- Jim Walmsley’s win at the 2024 Western States 100
David Roche winning the 2024 Leadville 100 Mile and setting a new course record. Photo: Life Time
Women’s Rookie of the Year
[Author’s Note: For the purposes of my Rookie of the Year award, I consider a runner to be a rookie if 2024 was their first season racing ultra distances at a highly competitive level. In most cases, the candidates considered for this award have completed a few races in prior years and/or at shorter distances, but 2024 marked the first time they made an impact on the national or international scene beyond a 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.]
- Mary Denholm
Men’s Rookie of the Year
- Eli Hemming
Women’s Surprise of the Year
Men’s Surprise of the Year
Women’s FKT of the Year
Tara Dower, after setting an overall supported fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail. Photo: Pete Schreiner/@schreinertrailphotography
Men’s FKT of the Year
Best Trail Running Film of the Year
- “Like a Lead Balloon,” by Billy Yang (Technically it was released in latest 2023, but we’re including it in this article since it came out after these awards were last celebrated.)
Most Inspirational Person of the Year
Bottoms up!
William Barkan finishing the 2024 Western States 100 just 31 seconds after the cutoff. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Fogtown Brewing Company in Ellsworth, Maine. Foglight Maine Pilsner is a crisp and refreshing beer, brewed with just the right amount of hops. As belies its name, it pours crisp and clear and is best enjoyed alongside some classic Maine shellfish.
Call for Comments
Who is your ultrarunner of the year? And have you any suggestions for the other award categories?
