Crewing Sage Canaday at the TDS ultramarathon

In this edition of "Not Another Running Vlog!":
• A behind-the-scenes look at crewing an ultramarathon for HOKA athlete and Higher Running founder, Sage Canaday, as he runs nearly 100 miles with 28,000ft of vert at the 2023 TDS, the most technical race in the UTMB race series
• Navigating the surprises of the UTMB bus system
• Highlights of Sage's race
Follow Sage's channel: ‪@Vo2maxProductions‬
Check out Higher Running: www.higherrunn...
Thank you to Colin Belisle for the finish-line photos!
#running #ultramarathon #trailrunning
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[@Vo2maxProductions]

Thanks so much for being out there....all night and day (and night!). A true friend! Also of note it's extra hard to crew, support and get the video shots....so thanks for that too!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Anytime, anywhere.

[@cpruns4501]

You are a serious friend! Very well done on the crewing and being there for Sage.

[@caye74]

Nice to see real behind the scenes footage. So happy for Sage! He is a real insipiration!

[@davidgoggin7921]

Thanks for supporting Sage! Great job overcoming the many obstacles! So glad Sage had a great race! 😊 Thanks again for sharing the adventure with those of us who can't attend!

[@hansmaulwurf5692]

You look more tired than Sage at the end. 😅

[@Lalo_Runs]

It was those damn buses 😂

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Many people told me this 🤣

[@arrell]

Must say, I do enjoy the combination of Serious Runner content with the IRL stuff.

[@TheSeriousRunner]

I appreciate you saying that. I often struggle with the question of "do people really care about the non-serious runner videos?"

[@MNP208]

This was so fun to watch! Who knew there were so many buses involved? What a great friend!

[@LuisBecerra79]

No one says waiting is easy. But on a race like this it’s definitely stressful when transportation is out of your hands. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼. Thanks for sharing this side of the race.

[@hcronos]

I need a friend like a Serious Runner 😢

[@christopherbrand5360]

Course technicality includes sheep 🐑. Crewing technicality dominated by late, absent, and colliding busses. Crew are the heroes of the ultra running world! You are awesome Stephen! So glad Sage had a good race :)

[@ejgaming87]

Congrats! Great job fellas..

[@UltraTrailSteven]

Man those busses were horrible! Lol what an experience

[@TheSeriousRunner]

an experience indeed

[@scott_strool]

More bus riding than running, great behind the scene story.

[@PatrickLipke]

Great V-Log 😉 well done, even with all the problems!

[@jeffreythomas815]

Thanks so much!!! Great vlog!!! I've been following Sage since he was just a text blog and I think this is the most relatable behind the scenes video I've seen. Awesome 🙂

[@teetertotter5787]

JUMPING ELECTRIC FENCES????? That can't really be part of the course????? Also why doesn't the race provide regular shuttles for the crew?

[@TheSeriousRunner]

The race does provide shuttles... they just didn't happen to be exactly regular.

[@ricodelavega4511]

love these budding running bromance stories.

[@kvErsatz]

Crewing TDS is apparently worse than running TDS 😬 great meeting you in front of Moody's!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Great to meet you!

[@Kelly_Ben]

Hooooly crap, great job Sage! And kudos to you for being the patient supportive crew to help him do it! I can't imagine how tired and stiff you were with all the waiting. I hope they can get their bus system down a little better... I would have thought the major wrinkles would have been ironed out already!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

I do think that the bus system would work better for crewing someone more mid-pack. It doesn't seem timed great for the front of the race

[@runningwithjane]

Loved this! True friendship. Awesome crewing, and amazing performance, Sage!

[@nberkel]

What a journey! Do you get a finisher medal for crewing too??!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

No, but Sage bought me a beer? so, even better

[@FilmMyRun]

Oh I make an appearance right at the end interviewing Sage! Great run dude. Such a tough course. Well done. Good work on the filming Stephen

[@TheSeriousRunner]

you're famous, behind and in front of the camera

[@FilmMyRun]

@@TheSeriousRunner I wish we’d had more time to chat but I release you were completely shattered at the time!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

@@FilmMyRun next time! I won't be surprised if our paths cross again

[@agilesamus]

Ultra (Late) Buses Du Mount Blanc?

[@TheSeriousRunner]

🤣

[@noelting2006]

Happy to see what happens behind the prep and the time leading up to the UTMB race itself.

[@1519Spring]

Just so we're clear, this race was TDS, not UTMB itself, although TDS is one of the UTMB week races. It's confusing.

[@Draddar]

I never realised how stressful crewing is. I get the long hours of waiting and commute, but not knowing if the next bus will show up, if you'll make it to the checkpoint in time ... I would have thought that during UTMB week they'd make extra sure everything is running on time.

[@1519Spring]

There are three separate countries involved (France, Italy, and Switzerland) as well as the fact that the "Superbowl of UltraRunning" has outgrown the carrying capacity of these tiny mountain villages and towns. People are trying, but it's a circus. The race entry lists are capped, but there's no way to limit the spectators who want to line the route and jam the roads.

[@MNP208]

Makes sense. Reminds me of Lake Placid during the 1980 Olympics.

[@madmaf6011]

Thanks Stephen, great vid in trying circumstances.

[@TheSeriousRunner]

thanks! yeah, the buses just kinda wrote their own narrative.

[@AlexReimerTrail]

I was on one of the busses that arrived later in Courmayeur for the start. You can't imagine how stressed people were inside the bus, we thought we would miss the start and not take part in the race. 🤣 In the end it was all OK. I finished in 36h, just took me a bit longer than Sage 😂

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Congrats on your race! All things considered, I think it was better to be at the start waiting in the cold than wondering if we missed it.

[@RunningWildSandi]

Great video!

[@randomknowitall]

Didn’t recognise you without the Van Cortland on

[@TheSeriousRunner]

🤣 can't be seen at a hiking and eating event wearing that.

[@today-nl]

Congratulations to serious runners!

[@aemkeiiR]

Maybe a stupid question but: How does a runner know/feel that he or she is taking in too much salt? Would love to know. Great video as always!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Sage is working on a post-race vlog, I'm guessing this will be addressed there... but his nutrition plan was based on the heat (more like for the weather during OCC, CCC, and UTMB) so had to adjust.

[@carlruns]

Serious Buses.

[@franritchie4233]

Wow you had your own ultra in supporting! Very interesting to see this side of it

[@TheSeriousRunner]

It was definitely the same amount of sleep as doing an ultra 🤣

[@colinbelisle9027]

Solid!

[@GeorgiosA]

What an awesome video - thanks for sharing and well done to both of you!

[@ianbritton7534]

He looked fresher than you on the finish line 😊

[@TheSeriousRunner]

lots of people told me that 😬

[@runningforviews]

Huge congrats to Sage and AMAZING crewing job!

[@90MichaelTaylor]

I think Sage might have had the easier end of the deal because he didnt have to deal with the busses

[@Dora-bmrwarrior]

New subscriber here (I thought I was already subcribed so who knows what stupid thing I did lol). Well done video, nice work! That bus situation - good grief I hope they get that figured out for next year. Your choice of music and and your commentary about the bus thing had me laughing pretty good 🙂

[@ozenfant_ozn]

amazacré!!

[@petraalma29]

Brilliant job! Crewing is harder than running in the race, in a way! The logistics, the responsibility 😮 especially with the unreliability of the buses.

[@Sanko1960]

With all the waiting for buses, crewing seems very stressful. Sage, however, seemed so calm throughout even as he was telling about the snow and mud and technicality. Sage ran so well. What a great accomplishment. He is so impressive and inspiring. Thank you for this wonderful video.

[@TheSeriousRunner]

I think he had the easier job that day lol. Yeah, he did great!

[@svenja5596]

Wanted: friend who will stay up all night for me and take a series of unreliable buses 😄👍

[@TheSeriousRunner]

and when you find that person, hold onto them tight

[@markwt2680]

Awesome effort both of you. Truely impressed with 12th place and your supporting him. 👍

[@mmk82758]

Thanks for this behind-the-scenes look at the race. Crewing it seems so stressful!

[@Mikeandthedyslexicunicorns]

I hope Sage appreciates all the effort you put in while waiting for him 😂😂 great stuff! You guys rock🪨 😎👍🏼

[@Stevenc1984]

Those are some great photos at the end! 📸

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Yah. The one of Sage sitting on the bench sums things up nicely.

[@JohnBirtchetSharpe]

A great video, you both did brilliantly , thanks for showing us the race from the other side (what a faff they dont make it easy )

[@tomrankin4530]

That was really fun to watch. I am really happy for Sage. Thank you both for persevering.

[@dinicti]

That was inspirational from both sides of lens!!

[@sandstromj]

Crewing is some serious runn.. no bus’ing.

[@adamtorres109]

Really cool to see how the logistics work/don't work. So stressful !

[@marcthespark82]

how did sage know he was taking in too much salt?

[@Shevock]

Great job crewing through adverse conditions! You're a great friend.

[@fritz4345]

That's sounds quite the bus race!

[@paci]

brutal after what he went through not long ago, a legend!

[@leeloohad]

Children of Dune ❤

[@RunningOtaku]

What a great friend you are. Congrats to Sage and kudos to you!

Thanks Steven for these insights! Definitely crewing + filming is quite a challenge. Was very happy to meet you there, best of luck for your next goals!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Great to meet you and thanks for the coffee! ☕️ Hopefully, I'll have a reason to go to Chamonix next year and see you there!

[@FirstLast-bi8xi]

All that cash that UTMB gets and no reliable buses...

[@MNP208]

It’s probably a learning experience for them. Maybe they will make some improvements?

[@user-rl3ef4ju9k]

But it's an established event so these things should go butter smooth already.

[@MNP208]

@@user-rl3ef4ju9k True, but the number of fans is increasing exponentially. Especially with Courtney running. Maybe they will figure it out 🤷‍♀

[@user-rl3ef4ju9k]

@@MNP208 It did not seem as there were too few buses compared to potential passengers but some were just missing completely! Anyway, rather compete than spectate or crew ;).

[@MNP208]

@@user-rl3ef4ju9k Ah! Do you think they are short bus drivers just like the rest of us are short-staffed everywhere? 🤣

[@drtimoneill]

Great effort both of you! I hate buses too.

[@Mr1spookster]

Nice work Stephen. The buses sound like a nightmare this year. Thanks for the Serious Runner selfie in Chamonix on Friday. You can't put a price on epicness!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Great to meet you!

[@kerry_runs]

What a great comeback by sage!

[@michaelhaney1357]

Thanks for making this!

[@macsmachine]

That’s absolutely awesome.

[@bennyytube]

Great video on what a ultra race really looks like.

[@eileenfcosta]

Merde!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Oui!

[@thekwameasante]

Great job. Well done to you two

[@ScottTuscher]

That was awesome to see!

[@mombug4451]

Amazing! Congrats to Sage!

[@tadde948]

Promo`SM

[@TheMoonSeesMe]

Go Sage!!! So glad to see him running well again

[@TheSeriousRunner]

me too!

[@gregandsusanhouston497]

Well done Sage!

[@levandmarthapolyakin-aaron2183]

This is so fun to watch while comfortable and dry on myTM! Huge congrats to Sage and enormous kudos to you for all the dedication and rough logistics as his crew and videographer 🎉. Sage, I’m so happy for you-I was just in Boulder and I think of you guys every time I see that condo…ugh. You’ve been through so much.

[@woutermolevelt1507]

Thanks for crewing Sage, for the "Sage" footage.. and your own "bus" adventures. Had my family crewing some years ago, they too had to endure the ever changing back and forth of buses

[@mhurley782]

Fantastic.

[@Mr80Miles]

Loved watching that vid!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

I love that you watched it 🙏

[@jeremycahill]

Like a REAL serious runner, I’ll be running the 5th Ave Mile. Can you come crew and hand me a bottle of Maurten with 400m to go?

[@1519Spring]

You need bottle claus!

[@TheSeriousRunner]

typical serious runner -- ignoring USATF rules on outside assistance.

[@macau.friend]

Congrats to Sage! And kudos to you for supporting him all the way! But after knowing how stressful it is, I dare not ask my friends to crew me anymore 😂

[@shawnat8799]

This video needs to be longer.

[@TheSeriousRunner]

Really? It’s already one of my longest videos