Hans Troyer

Hans Troyer didn’t follow the usual path into professional ultrarunning. He trained out of a camper on a friend’s property in Augusta, Georgia, while finishing a master’s degree in kinesiology — running twice a day through punishing Southern heat, logging 120-mile weeks, reading training books, and listening to running podcasts on a loop.

His debut at the Bandera 100K in January 2024 was a statement. He set the course record. Second place was over an hour behind.

What came next nearly ended everything. At the Black Canyon 100K, Hans shot into the solo lead in front of a full professional field. His body shut down. Complete kidney failure. Two weeks hospitalized. Most careers end there.

He came back stronger.

In 2025, he earned a Golden Ticket at the Canyons 100K with a second-place finish, then ran Western States 100 for the first time — finishing 8th in the most competitive field in ultrarunning. In February 2026, he returned to Black Canyon and won the 100K outright. His UTMB Index stands at 922.

His 2025 documentary “THE KID” chronicles the whole journey — from unknown Georgia camper-dweller to one of the youngest elite professionals in the sport. Honest, raw, and impossible to look away from.

He trains on the trails of Georgia, sponsors Altra and Coros, and runs with one driving conviction: glory to God.