give your project the spotlight it deserves.
Award categories for the Trail Running Awards
Why apply for the Trail Running Awards?
🌟 Visibility
Each applicant benefits from a visibility campaign across the Mile & Stone newsletter, official website, and social media: a direct spotlight right at the heart of the trail ecosystem, even if you aren't the final winner.
👀 Recognition
Present your initiative to a jury composed of influential figures in trail running: athletes, brands, media, equipment manufacturers, and organizers. Get a professional, recognized perspective on your work and innovations.
🤝 Experience
Each entry includes 2 invitations to the Awards evening (value €200 excl. VAT), to celebrate, network, and build lasting connections during a unique evening in Annecy.
🚀 Impact
Winners benefit from lasting recognition, enhanced media visibility, and official visual assets to boost their credibility with partners, clients, and the media.
📢Communication Campaign of the Year
This category highlights the creativity and effectiveness of the communication campaigns and partnership activations that have left their mark on the trail running world.
It rewards initiatives capable of capturing attention, creating emotion, and generating measurable impact among the public and the community.
Concept originality, message relevance, activation strength, and results achieved are all criteria that honor the work of brands, agencies, and partners who have broken the mold to engage their audience in an innovative and sustainable way.
The 2025 Winner
SPK agency was recognized for implementing a highly original and creative activation campaign during the UTMB Mont-Blanc. The project "La Laverie by runpack" was cited for its ability to stand out in a saturated competitive landscape.
👟Product of the year
This category highlights the most outstanding trail running gear released in 2026.
It recognizes products that bring real added value to runners, pushing the boundaries of performance, comfort, safety, or sustainability.
Technical excellence, innovative character, influence on the sport, and inspiration for the community are all dimensions that underline the essential role of brands in the evolution of trail running.
The 2025 Winner
Compressport receives the Product of the Year award for the Feelfree Seamless Bra. This technical product, the result of development led by, with, and for women, was judged to be a complete success. The jury highlighted that its impact goes beyond comfort, as it actively contributes to the development and ease of women's participation in trail running.
⚙️SERVICE of the year
The Service of the Year award recognizes initiatives that redefine how trail running is experienced and practiced.
This award recognizes solutions that provide tangible support to athletes, whether in the areas of technology, nutrition, health, coaching, or enhancing the racing experience.
Values highlighted include innovation, the quality of the service offered, measurable benefits for runners, and a positive impact on the trail community and ecosystem.
The 2025 Winner
École de Trail was recognized for its mission to structure and make trail running accessible to the widest possible audience. The organization's initiatives have a direct impact on runners as well as coaches. The jury highlighted École de Trail’s essential contribution to teaching and spreading a rapidly growing sport.
💼STARTUP of the year
This category highlights young companies under five years old that are reinventing trail running through their innovations.
It honors start-ups capable of offering products, services, or technological solutions that bring genuine added value to runners and industry stakeholders.
Creativity, growth potential, relevance of solutions, and ecosystem impact are among the main selection criteria for this award.
The 2025 Winner
Valone stood out by offering a fresh approach to footwear, focused on responsibility and sustainability. The company won over the jury by proving that technical performance and longevity are not mutually exclusive. Valone was particularly noted for its commitment to the repairability of its trail shoes, offering the replacement of key components such as the outsole.
🍃POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award recognizes the most inspiring trail running initiative with a tangible impact on environmental preservation, social progress, or inclusion.
Whether focused on minimizing organizational or production footprints, or on inclusion and awareness projects, this award honors actions that make a real difference on the ground.
Criteria include originality, measurable positive impact, overall consistency, and the ripple effect on the community and other stakeholders.
The 2025 Winners
Protect Our Winters (POW) was awarded for developing My Event Impact. The jury emphasized the effectiveness and utility of this free, simple, and practical tool made available to the community. This tool enables race organizers to take control of their event management and concretely implement their CSR programs, thereby democratizing environmental impact measurement. The Club Outdoor Alpin is recognized for its project "From Asphalt to Summit – Trail & Inclusion Academy". The jury praised a concrete and inclusive initiative that uses trail running as a powerful lever for social integration among youth. By dedicating itself to young people from underserved neighborhoods, Club Outdoor Alpin is building the future of trail running by making it accessible and positioning it as a tool for empowerment.
HESITATING TO APPLY? WE HAVE THE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS 👇
-
Applying means stepping into the spotlight of the trail ecosystem. All participants benefit from visibility via the Mile & Stone newsletter, official website, and social media. It is also an opportunity to introduce your project to a panel of experts, gain a professional perspective, and meet the community during the ceremony. Each application includes 2 invitations to the Awards evening (valued at €100 excl. VAT each), a privileged opportunity to network, celebrate, and build lasting connections.
-
Being a winner means securing strong and lasting recognition in the world of trail running. Winners enjoy enhanced media exposure, dedicated communication in the Mile & Stone newsletters, and official visual assets to use across their channels. Their project is showcased as an industry benchmark, offering increased credibility with partners, clients, and the media. It is also a visibility accelerator and a long-term branding lever that goes far beyond the ceremony.
-
Don't worry: the application process is simple and guided. A clear form walks you through step-by-step to present your project, your goals, and your impacts. It's not about putting together a complex file, but rather telling your story and your approach in a sincere, structured way.
-
Many share this feeling, but there's no need to. The Trail Running Awards celebrate innovation, impact, and authenticity, not the size of the organization or the marketing budget. Young brands, associations, and emerging projects already shone during the first edition. If your initiative brings something new or inspiring to the world of trail running, you belong here.
-
The Trail Running Awards require a fee to ensure the smooth running and high quality of the process. This fee covers application management, file formatting and analysis, promotion of nominees, and the visibility granted to candidates before, during, and after the ceremony. It also guarantees a transparent and professional operation, with an independent jury evaluating each project based on precise and fair criteria.
-
Absolutely. The jury is independent of the organization and composed of recognized figures in trail running and the outdoor industry. Each member is selected for their expertise, and in the event of a conflict of interest, they abstain from voting. Decisions are made collectively, based on public criteria (impact, innovation, consistency). At the Trail Running Awards, it's not about size or brand awareness, but the value of the project.
APPLY FOR THE TRAIL RUNNING AWARDS
Applications from non-profit organizations such as associations, NGOs, and similar bodies will be free of charge.
Start-ups (companies under 5 years old) will receive a 50% discount.
Proof of seniority and/or the organization's legal status (e.g., bylaws, proof of registration) must be emailed to contact@mileandstone.com.
For the Start-up of the Year award, the discount is already applied in the form above.
Key dates:
August 18, 2026: Applications open
November 6, 2026: Application deadline
December 2, 2026: Awards Ceremony
🎥Content Creator of the Year
This award recognizes the most outstanding content creator in the field of trail running.
They stand out through the creation of a film, the writing of a book, the production of a podcast, or their ability to inspire and unite the community on social media.