The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman Rest Day | TROY Recap & Stats, Addressing Criticism, Free Agency, + Road to Trail News
Jan 16, 2026
In this engaging chat with Tim Tollefson, a professional ultrarunner and trail-running expert, they delve into the Trail Runner of the Year voting process, uncovering surprises and what the results reveal about the sport. Tim addresses the recent criticism surrounding rankings and the complexities of free agency, highlighting athlete dynamics. They also explore the rising trend of 200-mile races and the implications of athletes transitioning from road to trail. Tollefson’s insights bring clarity to the evolving landscape of trail running.
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Weighted Voting Reduces Bias
- Trail Runner of the Year uses a weighted voting pool to balance fan, media, and expert views and reduce North American bias.
- 106 sophisticated voters hold 80% of voting power, with pros and media each representing ~40% influence.
Big Events Shape Perception
- Voters rewarded performances at world championships and UTMB World Final heavily when forming ballots.
- All world championship gold medalists made the top 10, showing event prestige drives recognition.
Mid-Distance Gains Respect
- The vote reflected a balance across distances: short, mid, and long course athletes all placed in top 10s.
- Mid-distance rise appears in top finishes, showing increasing respect for 50K–100K specialists.