Celebrate the run community with us! Nominate a friend and vote, and earn the chance to win the grand prize!
This year, UltraSignup is proud to celebrate the 5th annual Keep Trail Running Weird Awards. The awards are an annual tradition that aims to celebrate the free-spirited and independent nature of the trail running community. It’s fun to watch the sport evolve as the front of the pack gets faster and new shoe technology drops daily. There are awards to celebrate the fastest trail runners of the year, and the industry’s innovations, but these awards are here to celebrate all of you. We consider the Keep Trail Running Werid awards a ‘podium finish’ for the everyday runner, honoring the community.
Since 2021, we have recognized 5 award categories that are nominated and voted on by the community and 5 award categories where the winners are selected based on UltraSignup data. Read on to learn about this year’s award categories and nominate your friends.
The 10 winners of the Keep Trail Running Weird Awards will receive a $100 Running Warehouse Gift Card, $100 in UltraSignup race credits, a special Keep Trail Running Weird podium award, and an UltraSignup swag pack!
When you nominate or vote for the KTRW Awards you will be eligible for our Grand Prize drawing (some exclusions apply). One person will be randomly selected to win a free trail running vacation from Run the Alps (terms and conditions apply, see bottom of page) and a $500 Running Warehouse Gift Card. We are so grateful for each of these wonderful partners for supporting the contest!
Do you have a friend who is the best ambassador for trail running? They run with joy and determination, they are at the heart of their community, lifting others up and encouraging everyone to be their best self. That’s who this award is for and it’s time to share that friend with the world. Nominate your local inspiration and they’ll inspire others.
Pacing is hard work. It requires a certain finesse, physical preparedness, a poker face, and at times a silver tongue to keep a runner moving in the darkest points in their race. Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for their pacing skills? Nominate them today.
One person’s weirdo is another person’s idol. There are lots of weirdos in trail running and we love that for us. Tell us about the runner who unfailingly makes you say “seriously?!” Maybe it’s their nutrition plan, their race day kit, or their training style, maybe it’s their unconventional outlook on life. Tell us who this person is to you and why they are so dang loveable.
Not a lot of explanation needed. Who biffed it best? Who has the story that will go down in running history? The ultimate bonk, the injury you just have to laugh about, the best of all Type II fun. Tell us about it.
Trail runner style should have it’s own fashion week. Who do you think consistently looks the smartest, the flyest, the most “Keep Trail Running Weird Awards” magazine cover issue worthy?
We are excited to partner with Run the Alps to offer our Grand Prize winner one spot on a 2026 Run the Alps trip! Imagine flower-covered high pastures. Centuries old herders huts. The distant cacophony of cow bells. Hut caretakers with mugs of fresh café au lait. And, all around, rugged peaks piercing Europe’s rooftop. It’s hard to write about the Alps without sounding like a string of guidebook clichés. The thing is…it’s all true. Trail running in the Alps is hard to beat, and our partners at Run the Alps are the experts over there! So if you’re looking for a guided, or self-guided trip of a lifetime – check them out now!
(Where our data scientist 🤓 pulls the data from UltraSignup.com and crunches the numbers to find the stand-out runners.)
Some runners pick one big race a year, maybe a couple of tune-ups. Other runners love the joy of community events and spend their weekends traveling local races. That kind of community support is so valuable, the more you race local, the more you contribute to the trail run community.
Sometimes it’s not about getting to the finish line first. This award celebrates the runner who spent the most time out on race courses this year.
This category never ceases to amaze us all! You might think the 200 mile specialists have an edge, but it’s often the fixed time runners and the multi-disciplinarians who have the edge.
We love to see the runners that discover trail races and never look back. This award is for those of you who made a splash in your “debut season.” This category celebrates the runner who posted their first race on UltraSignup in 2025 and went on to complete the most races of all new runners.
Whether you’re chasing races in every state or simply indulging your wanderlust, this award celebrates the runner who has explored the most places in 2025. From mountains to deserts, your miles inspire us to see the world one stride at a time.
Running Warehouse is a premier online retailer specializing in running shoes, apparel, and gear for runners of all levels. Known for their exceptional customer service, expert advice, and wide selection, they cater to road runners, trail enthusiasts, and everyone in between. We’re proud to partner with Running Warehouse for the Keep Trail Running Weird Awards, celebrating the unique spirit of the trail running community.
Anyone who participates in the awards by nominating or voting may be eligible for the Grand Prize. The winner will be randomly selected at the conclusion of the contest. In 2025, the winner of the Grand Prize will receive one spot on a trip with Run the Alps and a $500 gift card to Running Warehouse!
The Keep Trail Running Weird Awards Grand Prize Contest is open to legal residents of the United States and Canada, age 18 or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Contest runs from December 13, 2025 through December 30, 2025.
By entering, you agree to receive email communications from UltraSignup and contest partners (you may unsubscribe at any time) and to the full Terms & Conditions.
Prize is non-transferable. Winner must complete required waivers and comply with Run the Alps’ terms and conditions. Taxes are winner’s sole responsibility.
Odds depend on number of entries.
No purchase necessary.
