For the past 11 years, I have posted some year-end ultrarunning awards. I would like to introduce the 12th annual AJW’s Taproom Year in Ultrarunning Awards for 2023. You can check out my awards from the end of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. I did something a little different in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are not scientific in any way, and the scoring system is made up entirely by me, but I borrowed some of the criteria from the “Ultrarunning Magazine” awards, which state: “This is a North American award. To be eligible for consideration, 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 2023 — so take them or leave them. Here goes!
Women’s Ultrarunner of the Year
- Courtney Dauwalter
- Katie Schide (U.S., lives in France)
- Emily Hawgood (Zimbabwe, lives in the U.S.)
- Tara Dower
Courtney Dauwalter climbs amongst the 2023 Hardrock 100 wildflowers. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Men’s Ultrarunner of the Year
- Jim Walmsley (U.S., lives part time in France)
- Zach Miller
- Tyler Green
- Mathieu Blanchard (Canada, lives in France)
Women’s Performance of the Year
- Courtney Dauwalter’s course record at the Western States 100 (interview)
- Katie Schide’s second place and under the prior course record at the Western States 100 (interview)
- Camille Herron’s course record at the Spartathlon
Men’s Performance of the Year
- Charlie Lawrence’s 50-mile world record at the Tunnel Hill 50 Mile (interview)
- Jim Walmsley’s course record at UTMB (interview)
- Jonathan Rea’s course record at the Javelina 100 Mile
On his fifth attempt, Jim Walmsley put together all the pieces of UTMB for a win and new course record. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
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 2023 was their first season racing at a highly competitive level. In most cases, the candidates considered for this award have completed a few races in prior years, but 2023 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.]
Men’s Rookie of the Year
Women’s Surprise of the Year
- The margin by which Courtney Dauwalter set a course record at the Western States 100
Men’s Surprise of the Year
- Charlie Lawrence’s 50-mile world record at the Tunnel Hill 50 Mile
A quick moment of aid for Charlie Lawrence en route to a new 50-mile world record at the 2023 Tunnel Hill 50 Mile. Photo: Zack Lever/@TrailLive
Women’s FKT of the Year
- Nina Bridges’s women’s supported FKT on the Colorado Trail in the east to west direction, using the Collegiate East variant
Men’s FKT of the Year
Best Trail Running Film of the Year
Most Inspirational Person of the Year
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Stone Brewing in San Diego, California. Their Stone Smoked Porter is a deep, dark, smoky porter with a creamy head and a delicious finish. With a hint of the typical chocolate and coffee flavors of most porters, Stone Smoked is unique and familiar all at once.
Call for Comments
Who would you pick for these awards?
