Hans Troyer, one of the fastest rising stars in American ultrarunning, proved his prowess once again with his win at the 2025 JFK 50 Mile race in Washington County, Maryland. Since 1963, this historic race, “America’s oldest ultramarathon,” has attracted many of the best athletes in the sport including Ellie Greenwood, Rachel Drake, Kaci Lickteig, Jennifer Lichter, Kimber Mattox, Jim Walmsley, Zach Miller, Eli Hemming, David Sinclair, Max King and many more. Troyer, age 25, raced the JFK 50 Mile for the first time this year, proving that his talent is indeed on pace with the greats of the past who have pushed the sport to new limits on this highly contested course. Featured photo courtesy Samuel Robbins.
JFK 50 Mile course
The JFK 50 Mile presents runners with a unique blend of speed and technical challenges. In addition to the extreme 50 mile distance, the point-to-point course tests runners with a steep 1,172-foot climb at the beginning of the race. During this section, participants navigate technical, rocky singletrack on the iconic Appalachian Trail. Near mile fifteen, the course descends into the infamous “Canal Section.” While the canal is no longer technical, runners must hold faster paces for nearly twenty-five miles on a smooth dirt/gravel path before finishing the final eight miles on rolling county roads. Race champions, such as Troyer, must prove their mastery of speed, endurance, strength and technical expertise. It’s no easy blend of skills, even for the most talented athletes in the sport.
Near the finish line at JFK 50 Mile. Photo: Samuel Robbins
In the following Q/A style interview, Troyer, shares his experience running the JFK 50 Mile race. Troyer discusses his goal setting, race strategy, gear choices, diet, and thoughts on becoming champion of one of our sport’s greatest races.
[TAYTE POLLMANN] Growing up, you were nicknamed “Hans the Destroyer Troyer.” Could you give us a little background on this nickname? How do you feel about it now and do you think it still applies?
[HANS TROYER] I was kind of non stop when I was really young and had a tendency to break things around the house. My mom nicknamed me Hans the Destroyer Troyer and that stuck through most of my athletics.
[TAYTE] You’re not afraid to share big goals publicly about your racing. You said beforehand that you were looking for a win at the JFK 50 Mile. What are your thoughts about speaking on your goals to the public? Do you ever get nervous when sharing these goals or does it help you to speak these goals aloud?
[HANS] The best shows have the biggest audiences, and I like to put on a show. It definitely adds some unneeded pressure, but I don’t think it is too overwhelming for me. It’s great practice for bigger stages later down the road in trail.
[TAYTE] Another question on running goals. How do you set goals for yourself? How do you find the right balance of challenge and being realistic?
[HANS] Most things I thought impossible just a few years ago have become realistic rather recently. Because of this, I’m setting goals that seem even crazy to me, but I keep surprising myself and I certainly don’t want to sell myself short of what I’m actually capable of doing. I know I’m not gonna be winning Olympic gold in the 100m dash or anything, but winning the Western States 100 multiple times doesn’t seem impossible.
[TAYTE] Let’s talk more about JFK. You battled with course record holder David Sinclair for a large part of the race. What was it like to challenge the record holder and ultimately come away with the win and second fastest time in course history?
[HANS] I had been studying his performance from last year pretty closely, and really picturing battling it out with him for weeks leading up to the race. In the early miles I was looking around a lot to make sure I had eyes on him, but when we were almost done with the AT I realized that he didn’t necessarily want to lead this race early so I made a big move on the field and was quite excited when it was David who matched the move and ran with me down into Weaverton. After that, my game plan changed drastically and I just decided to try and run the legs off everybody including David.
Jade Belzberg and Hans Troyer, champions at JFK 50 Mile. Photo: Samuel Robbins
[TAYTE] JFK is a course where many greats of the sport have tested themselves and shown their talents. Were there particular athletes or performances from years past you were inspired by or sought to challenge?
[HANS] Absolutely. David’s performance last year was nothing short of excellent and a real testimony to just how fast trail running is getting. Of course, I had also looked back on many of the greats like Jim Walmsley and Hayden Hawks who have run very fast times themselves on the course and I was excited just to share the same trails even though the sport has changed so much that the races from 10 years ago are not very compatible.
[TAYTE] You wore the Altra Vanish Carbon 2 during the JFK 50 (and didn’t change shoes as many runners do during the race). How important is gear to you when it comes to running at your best? Do you find yourself more often in trail or road shoes?
[HANS] The gear is obviously very important. I have used a great variety of shoes with Altra this year, but for this race in particular I wasn’t very scared of the technical trails and I made a decision to save the extra 40 seconds at Weaverton (the aid station where most athletes switch shoes) and start the race in a road shoe. I was definitely slipping around the trail, but it was still very manageable and I’m happy with my decision. It ended up being a big determining factor in the race.
Troyer’s shoe choice for JFK 50 Mile. Photo: Samuel Robbins
[TAYTE] Fifteen months after running your first ultra you placed top ten at the 2025 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. What reflections do you have now on your rapid progression in distance?
[HANS] I always joke around and say that I have the perfect race plan going into a race and as soon as it’s over I realize ten more things I could have done better. It’s been a wild couple of years, but I like to think I’m a student of the sport and have been able to use not only my failures, but studied some failures of others to learn very quickly. I am very thankful to be where I’m at in the sport, but I still feel like I have a ton of room for improvement and I’m very excited to see what I’ll be capable of ten years from now.
[TAYTE] The JFK 50 Mile is such a classic race, as are many that you have raced such as Black Canyon 100K, Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run and the Bandera 100K. What draws you to the classic races such as these?
[HANS] The competition primarily. I want to get the best out of myself and I think I can only find that racing the best trail runners in the world. As we talked about before, I’m setting my goals extremely high, and I need practice at the top level.
[TAYTE] Let’s talk about your carbohydrate-rich diet. You have a reputation for feasting on Walmart bread and scoring cheap grocery store food deals. Do you have any favorite recipes? Overall, what is your take on the ideal diet for yourself to train at your best?
[HANS] My favorite recipe is whatever they use to make Tony’s pepperoni pizza. I love that pizza. Overall, when it comes to diet, I’m a big believer in fueling the work you’re doing and for me that means lots of bread, pizza, rice, pizza rolls, and all the other easy carbs out there. I do still try to eat lots of fruits and vegetables though. I just try to eat as much as I can, and that means simple foods a lot of the time.
[TAYTE] In 2026, you are signed up for two races you have run before—the Black Canyon 100K and the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. What excites you most about these races being back on your schedule?
[HANS] Both races certainly have unfinished business, and I think the thing that excites me the most is that I know I didn’t get the best out of myself in running them in the past. There is so much room for improvement, and that just excites me so much. I like to think I’m great at failing, meaning that I come back stronger. I like to think both will be great races for me next year.
[TAYTE] What does it take to be a champion of a race such as the JFK 50? How much does it come down to training vs. mental strength? What factors do you view as most key to your success at this race?
[HANS] JFK is a really cool race because it tests a variety of skills. For me, technical trails come pretty naturally. I spent tons of time on the roads getting some speed in my legs getting ready for this race to make sure I could perform on the canal more than anything. Mentally, it’s important to prepare to be pushing at a high level for a long time. Many trail races go up, down, left, and right, but that 35 mile stretch on the path is a test of raw fitness. Mentally prepare to push the limits of your fitness for a long time.
Troyer with ATRA president Adam Chase and ATRA Executive Director Nancy Hobbs at The Running Event in San Antonio, TX 2025.
Follow Troyer on his YouTube channel here or on his Instagram @hanstroyer.
