TrailRunAdvisor Presents the Crystal Peak Prize
Celebrating Trail Running's Top Athletes of 2024 🏆
Trail running continues to conquer hearts and mountains, and 2024 has been an impressive year for the sport. TrailRunAdvisor is proud to present the Crystal Peak Prize, an award honoring the best trail running athletes of the year.
Key Data
Categories:
The awards were divided into two exciting categories:
-Short/Medium distances and Skyrunning: Up to marathon.
-Long and Ultra Distances: Beyond the marathon.
Awards: Awards were given to the Best Male and Female Athlete in each category.
Voting Panel:
A select group of trail running experts and organizations from around the world chose the winners:
TrailRunning channel
Trail Territory
American Trail Running Association
Tejas Trail
Destination Trail
Swiss Alps
A côté de mes pommes
Jogging International
Editions Mons
Belgium Running
Asia Trail Master
Ultra X
TB Press
Tempo
Lusa
Sterrato Gang
Sport di Montagna
Trail Chasers
Paraty by UTMB
Project Trail Running
World Trail Races
Skyrunning Federation Bulgaria
Voting Period:
From December 1 to December 14, 2024
🏆 Winners: Long and Ultra Distances
Male Category:
🥇 Vincent Bouillard – His tenacity and skill in extreme terrain put him at the top.
🥈 Ludovic Pommeret – A legend who continues to set the standard in endurance racing.
🥉 Jim Walmsley – The American runner continues to make his mark in the ultra trails.
Women’s Category:
🥇 Courtney Dauwalter – Considered one of the best ultramarathoners of all time.
🥈 Katie Schide – Her consistency and style positioned her as a strong contender.
🥉 Jasmin Paris – A runner whose determination inspires the trail community.
🏆 Winners: Short/Medium Distances and Skyrunning
Male Category:
🥇 Kilian Jornet – The undisputed king of skyrunning reaffirms his dominance in 2024.
🥈 Elhoussine Elhazzaoui – His speed and precision led him to second place.
🥉 Patrick Kipngeno – A promise that continues to excel at altitude.
Women’s Category:
🥇 Judith Wyder – Her talent and passion shone brightly this year.
🥈 Joyce Njeru – A name that resonates strongly in the short distance circuits.
🥉 Anaëlle Bondoux – A revelation in the world of skyrunning.
Give it up for the Best Athletes of the Year! 🎉
2024 left us with epic moments and unforgettable races. We congratulate the winners and all the finalists who with their efforts have elevated this sport to new heights.
Who will be the next to reach the summit of success in 2025? The race is on!

Trail running training plan: how to build a strong base at the start of the year
Starting the year without a clear structure is one of the most common mistakes in trail running. Motivation is high, races feel close, and intensity often arrives too early. A well-designed trail running training plan helps you avoid injuries, build durability, and prepare your body for the demands of technical terrain and elevation gain. The goal of the preseason is not speed. It is preparation. A strong base allows everything else to work later. This article explains how to structure your preseason into three complementary blocks: strength, volume, and technique. Why starting the season with a structured trail running training plan matters Trail running is not road running on dirt. It requires strength, stability, coordination, and long-term resilience. Without a base, intensity becomes risky. With

Ultra Trail Guara Somontano: Inside One of Spain’s Most Authentic Trail Races – Interview with Organizer Santi Santamaria
Ultra Trail Guara Somontano (UTGS) has quietly become one of Spain’s most respected trail running events — not by joining major international circuits, but by staying true to its roots. Set in the spectacular landscapes of the Sierra de Guara and the Somontano region, UTGS offers runners a raw and authentic trail experience: rocky terrain, deep canyons, historic villages, and a strong sense of community. Created more than 17 years ago by a group of passionate local runners, the race has grown steadily while remaining focused on what matters most — the runner, the territory, and the people behind the event. In this interview with Santi Santamaria, one of the organizers of Ultra Trail Guara Somontano, we explore what makes UTGS different from large international

Winter Spine Race: Antonio Codina on Finishing One of the Toughest Ultra Races in the World
The Winter Spine Race is widely regarded as one of the toughest ultra-trail races in the world. Covering 268 miles along the Pennine Way, in the heart of a British winter, it demands total self-sufficiency, navigation skills, resilience to cold, darkness, sleep deprivation, and the ability to keep moving when conditions become truly extreme. Finishing the Winter Spine Race 2025 is not simply a sporting result — it is a profound physical and psychological achievement. In this interview, we speak with Antonio Codina, a multiple-time Winter Spine Race finisher, who has completed both the Challenger and the full 268-mile race across several editions, including Spine Race 2025. Drawing on years of experience, Antonio shares what it really takes to survive one of the world’s most

Trail running race calendar 2026 – the first 10 races of the year
The opening months of a trail running season are rarely about peak performance. Instead, January to March are about rhythm, adaptation, and building a competitive base that will support bigger objectives later in the year. Weather variability, terrain diversity, and limited daylight make early races demanding, but also extremely valuable. This trail running race calendar for 2026 focuses on ten established European races traditionally held in the first quarter of the year. All of them are events that runners use to test fitness, regain race sharpness, or prepare strategically for spring and summer goals. The selection covers Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy, regions that consistently offer reliable winter and early spring trail racing. How this calendar was selected Rather than chasing novelty, this calendar prioritises