Sage Canaday's passion for running goes back a long way. Born in Newberg, Oregon, Canaday competed in both track and cross country as a teenager. He wrapped up his high school running career with a 13th-place finish in the state cross country meet.
Canaday found continued success competing for Cornell University. In 2007, he won the Ivy League title in the 10k and represented Cornell at the NCAA Championships. The following year, he was the youngest participant in the US Olympic marathon trials.
After college, Canaday spent three years as a professional marathon runner before discovering ultramarathons in 2012. He quickly adapted to the longer distances, albeit with a rocky start. He missed a turn and took an eight-minute detour in his first 50k, but still managed to finish second.
After switching to ultramarathons and trail running, Canaday put his personal motto of “any surface, any distance” into action. For the past decade, he’s competed in half-marathons all the way up to 100k races, on terrain ranging from beachfront to the Pikes Peak Ascent.
The varied conditions did nothing to hold him back—he’s won more than fifteen races and taken the podium in many others. Canaday’s motto even carries over to the snow, as he spends winters SkiMo training in the Rocky Mountains.
Though quite accustomed to persisting through challenges, 2021 put this endurance athlete to the test. Canaday suffered a bilateral pulmonary embolism early in the year, casting doubt on his future. The injury forced him to spend months rehabilitating and rebuilding his strength.
Undeterred, Canaday continued to work towards participating in ultramarathons again. He made his return at the Canyons 100k in April 2022, finishing in the top 20 and proving he can still compete at top levels.
Recent health challenges forced Canady to reckon with life after racing, but running is sure to be a part of it. When he's not competing, he runs a coaching program with his partner. He's also an avid content creator, sharing everything from training tips to silly videos.
Sage’s persistence in the face of adversity is inspiring. We’re thrilled to have him in the CamelBak family, and we can’t wait to see what mountains he’ll tackle next, both on the trail and in life.
