Keep strong Sage, there’s a lot of people who watch you and listen to your advice. It’s videos like this to remind people that you are still human and make us connect better with you. Thank Sage!
Today someone will watch this and rather than quitting on a goal they are struggling to meet, they will keep going and eventually get there. Additionally, someone will be in a race and pull out in the best interest of their health bc this video gave them permission to do so. Sage doesn’t assign any external blame. Not a single breath of “the race organizers should have considered out health”. No defeatist statements about how “it would have been impossible for me to finish no matter what it did”. Just a really, really strong, objective self-assessment and ownership of outcome. Very impressive. That’s the stuff that separates sustainable, elite performers and guys talking about how “if coach had just put in at state we would have won the title” while they try to wing footballs over them mountains.
I've seen other elites stop mid-marathon too. Just pull their bib off and go to the sidelines! Sometimes you just have a bad day. For many reasons. Not enough sleep. Or couldn't sleep. Jet lagged. Overtrained. Race anxiety. Etc.
This is the most inspiring RUclips channel I follow. I learn so much and this episode about NOT completing a race is even more inspiring! Thanks for being so raw and genuine, Sage.
I agree. This video has inspired me to some great runs this week. I see an incredibly fit professional working themselves to exhaustion in the freezing cold, and I can't help but work my butt off in training.
when I finally got back to the Finish area (after taking a bus back) they also accidentally almost gave me a finisher medal. Of course I turned that down too!
I did start with a (flimsy)"parachute" jacket on...the mistake was taking it off at mile 2. Also, I was half joking with my buddy before the start that I should have had plastic surgeon gloves...I wish I did! I believe Desi (who won the women's race) had waterproof mitten shells on over her hands. I've run (finished) over 13 marathons and this was the only time I had even considered starting with long-sleeves on. Way worse than UTMB conditions and harder (for me) to try to finish.
I feel compelled to comment - thanks for posting and for sure, very bad luck with the weather but seriously, I think you set a terrible example of how to prepare and adapt to conditions - looked like the same gear you'd wear in 80 degrees, literally! Freezing rain is not to be messed with, you could easily suffer serious consequences. Also for someone with so much extreme / ultra experience, I thought you'd be well placed to exploit the hostile conditions. Missed opportunity? Anyway, better luck next time!
Ran the Boston marathon 2018, you had to be there to understand the terrible conditions. It was hard for runners and even for my family waiting for me. I did terrible mistakes ( no rain coat) etc. I finish the race and medical assistance were here to help me ( hypothermic)
I super appreciate hearing the breakdown of DNFs as well as when things go awesomely! Well done on your efforts regardless of exactly how it went down.
Thanks for the update Sage! I just want to say that as a 56-year old finding running again, you are a huge inspiration. Hypothermia is tough, and not everyone is created equal in fighting it off. You can't screw around with it. It's good that you realized the onset, as many just keep going and do real damage to their bodies. Keep it coming, and keep inspiring everyone to get better.
I think you're a very humble man. And it doesn't change anything about you. Thank you Sage. Keep it up. Great job!!👏👏👏 you should be proud of your self.
You're maturity and mental toughness is really admirable. Great athletes are the ones who work through days like the 2018 Boston Marathon. Keep the momentum going!
Thanks for sharing your difficult experience at 2018 Boston! It’s amazing how in marathon running things can change quickly from planning to PR to just finishing to just surviving… Thanks for sharing your wise perspective!
Hey sage, I’ve been watching ur videos for motivation on my cross country and track times this year in high school a ton. I saw you at the Boston marathon at mile 6 in Framingham! I saw you from an ambulance I was in from just passing out from being so cold from helping out with the water stations. Seeing you put a smile on my face. Even in the worst of times and cold seeing you made me really happy. Best of luck in the future. U are a role model to the Danvers Massachusetts boys Xc and track teams! We talk about ur videos at practice! Keep being you. Much love!
It was an honor to follow in your footsteps through those first 18 miles. Super tough day, so many went down with hypothermia. Those of us with a little more insulating body fat fared slightly better. You are a class act, Sage, thanks for breaking down the details of your race.
Sage perspective from Coach Sage. It takes a lot of courage to be so honest evaluating yourself. You're an inspiration for my own running (and many others), more so because of your willingness to share the sorrows as well as the victories. In a sense, a running season is a "marathon" and rather than stopping here, you're already using this to motivate yourself for the next segment/goal of the season. We'll be rooting for you!
Thanks sage, the weather can really take a toll on everyone. Mentally for myself that is the number one mind game: it’s fun to run when it’s 60 degrees and sunny! And it’s hell when it’s windy wet and cold! Thanks for showing the gritty side of racing.
I'm so very proud of you Sage! Not just for all your hard work, but also listening to your body and getting the help you needed, instead of pushing ahead. You totally made the right decision !
Sage. I'm 51 yrs old...fairly new to running the long haul races and recently coming back of serious medical issue. You have been a role model to me for the last year in all of my training. In the last year, through your and other sources, I've self coached myself into a 3 event marathon season using self training built around your mentorship. I would say that I've had a meteoric season of PR's...UP UNTIL NIAGARA FALLS the past Sunday. I didn't follow my training and made the most basic of ego-driven mistakes which lead to a cascade of other mini-mistakes that caused a terrific crash & potty breaks, and worst finish line crossing time ever. It is so hard to NOT get down on ourselves and jump into a box of Honey Nut Cheerios and ice cream cake and take the long way around a room so that your running shoes don't see the depression and pathos in your eyes. What I want to say is since then, I've seen several videos from marathon and ultra runners having similar crashes that experienced the same post-race depression that I felt. Your Boston video being the last. IT IS SO IMPORTANT that these videos be watched by the common runner. We really need to know that even the best of the best of the best of us are human too, that what we are feeling is 'natural'. It took me a day or two to realize that (in fact) Niagara was one of the best races I ran, in the lessons it taught me in how to avoid it in the future and how to assimilate it's perceived failure into my overall development. As they say, we all have to run the mile we are on. The bad mile will lead into better miles later--and that a 'bad race' is ONLY a 'bad' mile' in our overall life long running race. It will get better. To prove it, we have to just keep running right?
Thank you for posting this video with your thoughts. You are such an inspiration. I was rooting for you but knew this weather was going to be rough. You are so upbeat and positive. I can't wait to see your mountain running this year.
Keep your chin up Sage. You’re doing great. The conditions were brutal and affected almost all the elites with light gear. Looking forward to hearing about your next races and achievements.
Your have a lot of class Sage. You learned from your misfortune so you did get something out of this experience. Your now ready for the next race more then ever.
Sage, I followed your marathon plan for Boston this past Monday (bummed I missed you at the expo). I was fortunately able to finish but I credit your plan for helping me get to Boylston Street. It was my second ever marathon and my second time following a plan of yours. Miles 17-21 were the toughest for me because I was feeling cold and the rain was the hardest around that point!
When did he say that? And more importantly when has he ever acted humble?! 😂 get some better role models mate, that guy is a coked up idiot who let success go straight to his head
Hard luck Sage. The conditions looked brutal. The finshing times of the lead runners were very telling. I'm looking forward to your mountain races this season. I reckon all this speed work for the marathon will have you crushing it back on the trails.
Tons of respect for listening to your body and DNF'ing for your health's sake. Followed your channel for almost a year now and love your honesty and great information. You will git'r dun Sage!!!
Much respect, Sage. I watched the marathon, and that weather was brutal. No shame in dropping. Good luck for the next OTQ race. Nice flat, fast race coming up in May in Cleveland, hint hint!
Thanks for sharing. I respect that you not only post and share the victories and accomplishments but you are also honest about the struggles. Well wishes your way.
Thanks for the recap! Hearing about your race helps put my result a little more in perspective for me. I managed to finish (and run a BQ) but was about 10 minutes off my goal time. I know that a significant part of it was the weather - those sheets of heavy rain were the absolute worse! I probably made a better decision on gear (light tights, thin wool long sleeve shirt, light jacket, gloves and hat) but the weather was still getting to me -- I ended up slowing significantly during/after the Newton hills and even had to walk briefly where the course takes that little dip under the road near the end. Glad that you were okay and that you're still going to be chasing the OTQ!
Wow. Love the candor, love the openness in sharing the details behind the day. RESPECT. Sage, you are a BOSS..... Glad to hear you're getting back to trails.... I do think that's your best niche..............
Thanks for this. I had a very similar experience and was only saved by a trash bag (and I ran a lot slower). Dropped my jacket at Mile 5 as it was holding a lot of water. I didn't bring a good shell. My tank top wasn't enough and by mile 16 I felt hypothermic. A volunteer gave me a trash bag, which really ended up trapping in the heat and blocking the freezing rain.
Congrats to you Sage, and we're excited to see what's next in the OTQ pursuit! Soooo wish that I could have been at Boston this year just to have met you in person!
Congrats on the great effort. We all learn and grow. I have watched many of your videos and learned a lot. I'm 45 and I just finished my first marathon at 3 hr 22 min. A young whippersnapper like you's got a lot of potential.
The conditions out there were absolutely crazy! Nobody could train for conditions like that. Only reason this race could even still be held was because of an amazing medical and emergency response personnel throughout. I also made the mistake of dropping gear early, thinking it wasn't that bad. I was really fortunate to finish. Love that you're still going after it in a few weeks.
you are still a badass runner man. I love following your training and running and it has inspired me to push myself harder in my own running. I live in the willamette valley in oregon and I hate the rain, its so hard to run in it. Keep up the good work man.
Good to hear that you're doing fine and already planning your next marathon. Hope you'll have more luck with the conditions, because you're definitely in great shape!
I'm sorry to hear what happened Sage. But I have no doubt that you'll pick yourself right back up and come back stronger than ever. You should take a lot of pride in the fact that dozens, if not hundreds of runners that started after you did on Monday would not have been there on the starting if not for the great advice, inspiration, and motivation that you put up online. Keep working hard and striving for greatness - it helps us all do the same :)
So sorry to see how your race went! Following your training on here was truly inspiring! Thanks for all you do for the running community. Just throwing it out there, but CO Marathon in Ft Collins on May 6th is a great race to run fast!
Sorry to hear about the DNF, but sensible choice in the conditions. I've only ever raced in Australia and therefore not experienced such temperatures during a race. I did a 22km trail run on the weekend with enormous gusts of wind - stronger than I'd ever run through. This was the first time I'd worn a t-shirt for a race instead of a singlet. Good luck for the next one, I hope to see you achieve that qualifying time real soon.
Everybody is different, like you and other trainers always say "listen to your body" you made the right choice and would not be considered a great coach if you had pushed yourself to collapsing on the road. Keep it up and keep the videos coming please.
Sage, you have my sympathy. I know it must be quite a disappointment after all that prep work, but you put forth an awesome effort, kudos to you for that. I can relate to your story a bit, as I DNF’d at the Big Sur Marathon last year. It was my very first marathon and I had to drop at mile 17 - such a bummer! But looking back I had asthma flaring up since mile 3, and my knee started to twinge.. then pull.. then hurt from mile 13 on. My biggest mistake was NOT wearing my Hokas! For some reason I thought wearing Nike Free Runs were a good idea that day (whyyy?!) Suffice it to say not finishing that day was a total blow. It wasnt just the 20 weeks of training, but the whole 8 years I’d been running up til then (a marathon was a goal I set for myself since my first months of running! So the pain I felt was a strong sense of I am never doing this again.. how can I try? I have 4 kids and finding time to run, let alone train is NOT easy. I did not run again for many months. But thanks to people like you who provide such inspiration! ... I am easing back into it again and might even go for a half marathon again later this year. Just wanted to share. xo
A marathon is a very long way to run. A more reasonable distance is the half marathon. I think you might enjoy that more. But you can of course complete the marathon too if that is your goal. I had often done home workouts when I was doing ultra marathons. And cross training, such as cycling. Helped to reduce the stress that I was putting on my joints. While still building cardiovascular fitness. I recall choosing some Hoka shoes over some others for a 100 miler I did, because they were a bit lighter and I didn't have the budget to go trail shoe shopping. And I didn't just want to finish the 100 miler. If I had used the other shoes that I had sitting in a box, most likely I would have finished. But that was not my goal. Though sure looking back it can be disappointing. Though I made the decision. In other words, realize the consequences of your decisions!
Thanks for posting! I was there running and did finish, faster than last year, but I was very conservative at the start due to the weather- I blew up last year in the heat. I kept checking for your results early today because I so wanted you to do well knowing it was going to be very difficult. I'm glad you made the decision to toe the starting line.
Sorry to hear of your dnf Sage, better luck next time. You should talk to Wim Hof. That guy runs marathon distance in freezing temps without a shirt on and he says his technique can easily be taught to others. Cheers!
Still respect you a ton and hope to meet you next year at Boston if you go back to kick it's butt! Keep on training hard, making these videos that inspire me to break 3 hours.
I can't believe you under estimated the conditions with all your knowledge from mountain/road running. Don't be a victim to the conditions! This is your full-time job bro.
you're all good man. People know you have trained hard and smart for many years... you can bring it... just take your time to get straight for another one...
I am sorry it did not work out for you in Boston this year. The conditions were horrible . It was a wise decision to drop out and search medical care. Just give it another try in a different race and you will hit your time goal! You have put all the hard work in and you will rock it! Wishing you all the best and good luck.🍀
well done sage... you did your best... everyone knew the weather was not favorable, even shalane flanagan i thought would finish top 3 finished 7th.. you are strong to reach 30km (i wander if i can survive that long). thumbs up bro....
I spectated for 3 hours in 2 coats and genuinely nearly ended up in the medical tent. Huge congrats to anybody who finished - and to you for making it to 18. Brutal conditions
Was confused at first how you could get that cold running at those speeds, even in cool rain. But when you add in the winds you mentioned it became pretty clear. Chilly wind is the worst. Tough day.
I have really enjoyed your marathon training vlog. Please keep going with this because these videos are great, and they really help motivate me in my own running. I'd love to see you take revenge on the Boston course next year. Just seeing you at the start line on live TV was exciting, even though I knew that poofy jacket wasn't going to be ideal.
Although a DNF can be frustrating it can be a valuable lesson for future races under similar conditions. I'm sure you will prepare for the worst possible conditions for big races here on out.
Saw you on this long downhill in Wellesley, you looked pretty strong. Good thing to read body signs in advance. Keep doing what you do, it’s really inspiring!
Thanks for the prompt recap! Sorry it didn't go as planned, what a freaky day it turned out to be! I have a request for a training talk...how to maintain fitness/endurance while recovering from a race. I've always been told to take 1 rest day for every mile raced before returning to hard training. This leaves me often feeling caught in the build-up to a race, and then losing fitness in the weeks following. It just seems ridiculous for anyone who's not completely green running their very first distance race.
Its very clear that even before the start you had already decided the outcome...you hate the cold but, thats precisely what you need to tackle!...no way around it! Wim Hof Way baby!
One more comment: as runners we have nutrition strategies, pacing strategies and then weather strategies such as trying to train for hot or cold. It’s really tough to say ok, I’m wearing this coat, these gloves,etc because it comes down to how will all these layers affect my pacing, my body heat etc.! Thanks sage for talking about how you thought through your plan, but sometimes plans go awry.
I had one DNF in 2016 cold rain, I suffer from anxiety so sleep was at 0 and bad, I was rolling around the whole night thinking...Not to mention the organizers at the race in NYC were really rude for only completing 8.47 miles for that Half Marathon, I dropped out from being in the lead by 7 minutes. Musles were tight, stomach was aching, felt lactic build up faster than usual and then after that day could not run for a month, just got beat up badly. Reality is I hate cold to the max, running, what helped me cope with rainy conditions is slow pace at half way points just following 1 or two min behind to avoid fatigue. As for you man, you pulled through 18 miles bro that's crazy!
Thanks for the race recap. We totally understand those were rough conditions. Cincinnati marathon is in 17 days if that suits your schedule. Fun race with lots of crowd support.
Looks to be a real shocker of a day weather wise. I'd imagine that was almost as tough as it gets. Hard luck dude but you'll be back no doubt. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for doing this summary talk of the Boston experience. You covered it all well. Glad to hear you're going to use your long fought build up to give it another go at qualifying. It would be a shame not to. After you qualify for Olympics I'll be anxiously tuned in to your trail running. Should be a damned good transition for you. I predict that you'll be really tough to beat in those races after having rebuilt your speed to add on to your trail talent and skills.
I followed the race on whatever online feed I found. I really hoped you would reach your goal. But then I saw the weather. I knew you would not make it, but I think your pursuit of this OTQ is awesome. You clearly love the 100 miles, and your best distances are 50-100K. But still, the marathon is something else. And it is trying, for all of us, at all levels of performance. Two weeks ago, I hit the wall hard, and finished 12 minutes slower than my PB (Manchester marathon). 4 days after, I registered for the 2019 one . My best age-rankings are done on the 5K-half, and what I really like are ultras, my best overall positions being at 100K. I am shit at marathons. But still, this is the thing to beat right? No stop, not food station, no little jog to keep going for tens of hours. We have to go fast, for a long time, and it fucking hurts. It is physically trying and mentally trying. But sooo rewarding ... when it goes well.
Brutal! Good attitude...always a learning Experience...The event was so much fun to watch, wish we had televised Elite marathons every week ..on tv. What a beast and the USA ladies Rock!! and CA...heck-they all do as does all who finished and/or Gave their all in such conditions-----water was flowing in some of the streets,crazy.
Keep strong Sage, there’s a lot of people who watch you and listen to your advice. It’s videos like this to remind people that you are still human and make us connect better with you. Thank Sage!
word!
Today someone will watch this and rather than quitting on a goal they are struggling to meet, they will keep going and eventually get there. Additionally, someone will be in a race and pull out in the best interest of their health bc this video gave them permission to do so. Sage doesn’t assign any external blame. Not a single breath of “the race organizers should have considered out health”. No defeatist statements about how “it would have been impossible for me to finish no matter what it did”. Just a really, really strong, objective self-assessment and ownership of outcome. Very impressive. That’s the stuff that separates sustainable, elite performers and guys talking about how “if coach had just put in at state we would have won the title” while they try to wing footballs over them mountains.
I've seen other elites stop mid-marathon too. Just pull their bib off and go to the sidelines! Sometimes you just have a bad day. For many reasons. Not enough sleep. Or couldn't sleep. Jet lagged. Overtrained. Race anxiety. Etc.
This is the most inspiring RUclips channel I follow. I learn so much and this episode about NOT completing a race is even more inspiring! Thanks for being so raw and genuine, Sage.
I agree. This video has inspired me to some great runs this week. I see an incredibly fit professional working themselves to exhaustion in the freezing cold, and I can't help but work my butt off in training.
So weird you don't have a checkmark, Mr Ramsey. Love your work, sir!
I ran Boston 2018 and all I got was this rectal thermometer
Moose meat
when I finally got back to the Finish area (after taking a bus back) they also accidentally almost gave me a finisher medal. Of course I turned that down too!
CX
Cx
😂😂😂
I can't believe you were in a tank top at the Newton hills. More layers Sage!
I did start with a (flimsy)"parachute" jacket on...the mistake was taking it off at mile 2. Also, I was half joking with my buddy before the start that I should have had plastic surgeon gloves...I wish I did! I believe Desi (who won the women's race) had waterproof mitten shells on over her hands. I've run (finished) over 13 marathons and this was the only time I had even considered starting with long-sleeves on. Way worse than UTMB conditions and harder (for me) to try to finish.
Vo2maxProductions perhaps one of those rain jackets that you can regulate body temp with, ya know with the pit zips and all that fancy stuff
Yes, Sage you should had known better with your trail running experience and dealing with Mother Nature.
I feel compelled to comment - thanks for posting and for sure, very bad luck with the weather but seriously, I think you set a terrible example of how to prepare and adapt to conditions - looked like the same gear you'd wear in 80 degrees, literally! Freezing rain is not to be messed with, you could easily suffer serious consequences. Also for someone with so much extreme / ultra experience, I thought you'd be well placed to exploit the hostile conditions. Missed opportunity? Anyway, better luck next time!
@@bentimmermans7441 You wear armsleeves, gloves and a hat in 80 degrees? Sage was wearing pretty much the same gear as the winner Yuki.
"I was coherent enough to refuse that"
Lol.... 🤣
Sage - You are such a stand-up guy. If every American had your sense of responsibility and accountability, we would already be Great.
Ran the Boston marathon 2018, you had to be there to understand the terrible conditions. It was hard for runners and even for my family waiting for me. I did terrible mistakes ( no rain coat) etc. I finish the race and medical assistance were here to help me ( hypothermic)
I super appreciate hearing the breakdown of DNFs as well as when things go awesomely! Well done on your efforts regardless of exactly how it went down.
Thanks for the update Sage! I just want to say that as a 56-year old finding running again, you are a huge inspiration. Hypothermia is tough, and not everyone is created equal in fighting it off. You can't screw around with it. It's good that you realized the onset, as many just keep going and do real damage to their bodies. Keep it coming, and keep inspiring everyone to get better.
Was a pleasure meeting you on the road and at the expo. Finished the race, but not without a fight. Hope to see you OTQ in the next few weeks.
I think you're a very humble man. And it doesn't change anything about you. Thank you Sage. Keep it up. Great job!!👏👏👏 you should be proud of your self.
You're maturity and mental toughness is really admirable. Great athletes are the ones who work through days like the 2018 Boston Marathon. Keep the momentum going!
Thanks for sharing your difficult experience at 2018 Boston!
It’s amazing how in marathon running things can change quickly from planning to PR to just finishing to just surviving… Thanks for sharing your wise perspective!
Hey sage, I’ve been watching ur videos for motivation on my cross country and track times this year in high school a ton. I saw you at the Boston marathon at mile 6 in Framingham! I saw you from an ambulance I was in from just passing out from being so cold from helping out with the water stations. Seeing you put a smile on my face. Even in the worst of times and cold seeing you made me really happy. Best of luck in the future. U are a role model to the Danvers Massachusetts boys Xc and track teams! We talk about ur videos at practice! Keep being you. Much love!
It was an honor to follow in your footsteps through those first 18 miles. Super tough day, so many went down with hypothermia. Those of us with a little more insulating body fat fared slightly better. You are a class act, Sage, thanks for breaking down the details of your race.
Sage perspective from Coach Sage. It takes a lot of courage to be so honest evaluating yourself. You're an inspiration for my own running (and many others), more so because of your willingness to share the sorrows as well as the victories. In a sense, a running season is a "marathon" and rather than stopping here, you're already using this to motivate yourself for the next segment/goal of the season. We'll be rooting for you!
Thanks sage, the weather can really take a toll on everyone. Mentally for myself that is the number one mind game: it’s fun to run when it’s 60 degrees and sunny! And it’s hell when it’s windy wet and cold! Thanks for showing the gritty side of racing.
Soooo happy youre wil’ be doing a marathon soon!!! Would be great to see you run the Eugeune Marathon, with Nick Symmons and Ryan Trahan
thanks for posting so soon.
You're still an inspiration Sage! I ran my first half marathon a couple days ago with the help of your informational videos!
I'm glad to see you're not giving up on your goal. You're an inspiration to a lot of runners!
I'm so very proud of you Sage! Not just for all your hard work, but also listening to your body and getting the help you needed, instead of pushing ahead. You totally made the right decision !
So proud of you Sage! You made the best decision for your long-term goals and for your own well being. Keep pushing forward.
Sage. I'm 51 yrs old...fairly new to running the long haul races and recently coming back of serious medical issue. You have been a role model to me for the last year in all of my training. In the last year, through your and other sources, I've self coached myself into a 3 event marathon season using self training built around your mentorship. I would say that I've had a meteoric season of PR's...UP UNTIL NIAGARA FALLS the past Sunday. I didn't follow my training and made the most basic of ego-driven mistakes which lead to a cascade of other mini-mistakes that caused a terrific crash & potty breaks, and worst finish line crossing time ever. It is so hard to NOT get down on ourselves and jump into a box of Honey Nut Cheerios and ice cream cake and take the long way around a room so that your running shoes don't see the depression and pathos in your eyes. What I want to say is since then, I've seen several videos from marathon and ultra runners having similar crashes that experienced the same post-race depression that I felt. Your Boston video being the last. IT IS SO IMPORTANT that these videos be watched by the common runner. We really need to know that even the best of the best of the best of us are human too, that what we are feeling is 'natural'. It took me a day or two to realize that (in fact) Niagara was one of the best races I ran, in the lessons it taught me in how to avoid it in the future and how to assimilate it's perceived failure into my overall development. As they say, we all have to run the mile we are on. The bad mile will lead into better miles later--and that a 'bad race' is ONLY a 'bad' mile' in our overall life long running race. It will get better. To prove it, we have to just keep running right?
Thank you for posting this video with your thoughts. You are such an inspiration. I was rooting for you but knew this weather was going to be rough. You are so upbeat and positive. I can't wait to see your mountain running this year.
Keep your chin up Sage. You’re doing great. The conditions were brutal and affected almost all the elites with light gear. Looking forward to hearing about your next races and achievements.
I always appreciate your authentic expression of yourself. You always have my full support and respect! Go Sage!!!!
Your have a lot of class Sage. You learned from your misfortune so you did get something out of this experience. Your now ready for the next race more then ever.
Can’t wait to hear what’s next!! My fiancé also came down with hypothermia because he, too, left his yellow windbreaker behind!
Sage, I followed your marathon plan for Boston this past Monday (bummed I missed you at the expo). I was fortunately able to finish but I credit your plan for helping me get to Boylston Street. It was my second ever marathon and my second time following a plan of yours. Miles 17-21 were the toughest for me because I was feeling cold and the rain was the hardest around that point!
You gave an amazing effort, and that’s all that matters. Great job! We can’t wait to see what you do next!
It's like what Conor Mcgregor in MMA says "Humble in victory or defeat". Good job Sage!
When did he say that? And more importantly when has he ever acted humble?! 😂 get some better role models mate, that guy is a coked up idiot who let success go straight to his head
Hard luck Sage. The conditions looked brutal. The finshing times of the lead runners were very telling.
I'm looking forward to your mountain races this season. I reckon all this speed work for the marathon will have you crushing it back on the trails.
i understand how debilitating cold and those kinds of conditions can be. i'm glad you lived to fight another day.
My respect to you Sage. Things sometimes don't go the way we expect and this is part of the adventure. Thank you for sharing your experience with us 😊
Tons of respect for listening to your body and DNF'ing for your health's sake. Followed your channel for almost a year now and love your honesty and great information. You will git'r dun Sage!!!
Much respect, Sage. I watched the marathon, and that weather was brutal. No shame in dropping. Good luck for the next OTQ race. Nice flat, fast race coming up in May in Cleveland, hint hint!
Well done man! You still rocked the race ! was tracking you and was getting worried when i saw you stop.. glad you're okay now !
Thanks for sharing. I respect that you not only post and share the victories and accomplishments but you are also honest about the struggles. Well wishes your way.
You did your best and was smart about getting to the med tent. And you are Staying so Positive !!! You are Totally Inspiring !!!
Thanks for the recap! Hearing about your race helps put my result a little more in perspective for me. I managed to finish (and run a BQ) but was about 10 minutes off my goal time. I know that a significant part of it was the weather - those sheets of heavy rain were the absolute worse! I probably made a better decision on gear (light tights, thin wool long sleeve shirt, light jacket, gloves and hat) but the weather was still getting to me -- I ended up slowing significantly during/after the Newton hills and even had to walk briefly where the course takes that little dip under the road near the end. Glad that you were okay and that you're still going to be chasing the OTQ!
Wow. Love the candor, love the openness in sharing the details behind the day. RESPECT. Sage, you are a BOSS..... Glad to hear you're getting back to trails.... I do think that's your best niche..............
Thanks for this. I had a very similar experience and was only saved by a trash bag (and I ran a lot slower). Dropped my jacket at Mile 5 as it was holding a lot of water. I didn't bring a good shell. My tank top wasn't enough and by mile 16 I felt hypothermic. A volunteer gave me a trash bag, which really ended up trapping in the heat and blocking the freezing rain.
thanks for your honesty Sage your an inspiration , it was impossible to run 2.18 but fair balls for you giving it a bash.
Congrats to you Sage, and we're excited to see what's next in the OTQ pursuit! Soooo wish that I could have been at Boston this year just to have met you in person!
It was a marathon I will never forget. Glad I finished but it was brutal. Love all you content can't wait to see what is next for you.
Congrats on the great effort. We all learn and grow. I have watched many of your videos and learned a lot. I'm 45 and I just finished my first marathon at 3 hr 22 min. A young whippersnapper like you's got a lot of potential.
Potential? Sage's been a pro runner for 20 years. Nothing to prove.
The conditions out there were absolutely crazy! Nobody could train for conditions like that. Only reason this race could even still be held was because of an amazing medical and emergency response personnel throughout. I also made the mistake of dropping gear early, thinking it wasn't that bad. I was really fortunate to finish. Love that you're still going after it in a few weeks.
Learned so much for this. Was concerned when i didnt see you out there. Thank God you are healthy and safe! Praise the Lord!
you are still a badass runner man. I love following your training and running and it has inspired me to push myself harder in my own running. I live in the willamette valley in oregon and I hate the rain, its so hard to run in it. Keep up the good work man.
Good to hear that you're doing fine and already planning your next marathon. Hope you'll have more luck with the conditions, because you're definitely in great shape!
Good luck for the Golden Trail - hope to see you here in SA for the Otter
I'm sorry to hear what happened Sage. But I have no doubt that you'll pick yourself right back up and come back stronger than ever. You should take a lot of pride in the fact that dozens, if not hundreds of runners that started after you did on Monday would not have been there on the starting if not for the great advice, inspiration, and motivation that you put up online. Keep working hard and striving for greatness - it helps us all do the same :)
So sorry to see how your race went! Following your training on here was truly inspiring! Thanks for all you do for the running community. Just throwing it out there, but CO Marathon in Ft Collins on May 6th is a great race to run fast!
Sorry to hear about the DNF, but sensible choice in the conditions. I've only ever raced in Australia and therefore not experienced such temperatures during a race. I did a 22km trail run on the weekend with enormous gusts of wind - stronger than I'd ever run through. This was the first time I'd worn a t-shirt for a race instead of a singlet.
Good luck for the next one, I hope to see you achieve that qualifying time real soon.
Everybody is different, like you and other trainers always say "listen to your body" you made the right choice and would not be considered a great coach if you had pushed yourself to collapsing on the road. Keep it up and keep the videos coming please.
Sage my great friend/training partner was in the cot next to you at the medical tent! No shame! You both gave it all you had!
Anxious to know where you will be running next. Thanks for being an inspiration!
Sage, you have my sympathy. I know it must be quite a disappointment after all that prep work, but you put forth an awesome effort, kudos to you for that.
I can relate to your story a bit, as I DNF’d at the Big Sur Marathon last year. It was my very first marathon and I had to drop at mile 17 - such a bummer!
But looking back I had asthma flaring up since mile 3, and my knee started to twinge.. then pull.. then hurt from mile 13 on. My biggest mistake was NOT wearing my Hokas! For some reason I thought wearing Nike Free Runs were a good idea that day (whyyy?!)
Suffice it to say not finishing that day was a total blow. It wasnt just the 20 weeks of training, but the whole 8 years I’d been running up til then (a marathon was a goal I set for myself since my first months of running! So the pain I felt was a strong sense of I am never doing this again.. how can I try? I have 4 kids and finding time to run, let alone train is NOT easy.
I did not run again for many months.
But thanks to people like you who provide such inspiration! ... I am easing back into it again and might even go for a half marathon again later this year.
Just wanted to share. xo
A marathon is a very long way to run. A more reasonable distance is the half marathon. I think you might enjoy that more. But you can of course complete the marathon too if that is your goal. I had often done home workouts when I was doing ultra marathons. And cross training, such as cycling. Helped to reduce the stress that I was putting on my joints. While still building cardiovascular fitness.
I recall choosing some Hoka shoes over some others for a 100 miler I did, because they were a bit lighter and I didn't have the budget to go trail shoe shopping. And I didn't just want to finish the 100 miler. If I had used the other shoes that I had sitting in a box, most likely I would have finished. But that was not my goal. Though sure looking back it can be disappointing. Though I made the decision. In other words, realize the consequences of your decisions!
Great to hear you aren't giving up sage, nothign you could of done about the conditions! Well done!
Thanks for posting! I was there running and did finish, faster than last year, but I was very conservative at the start due to the weather- I blew up last year in the heat. I kept checking for your results early today because I so wanted you to do well knowing it was going to be very difficult. I'm glad you made the decision to toe the starting line.
Sorry to hear of your dnf Sage, better luck next time. You should talk to Wim Hof. That guy runs marathon distance in freezing temps without a shirt on and he says his technique can easily be taught to others. Cheers!
Still respect you a ton and hope to meet you next year at Boston if you go back to kick it's butt! Keep on training hard, making these videos that inspire me to break 3 hours.
Sage, keep showing up and I know you’ll get it!
I can't believe you under estimated the conditions with all your knowledge from mountain/road running. Don't be a victim to the conditions! This is your full-time job bro.
pure class from Sage, yet again ... maybe Prague or Copenhagen if you are willing to make the trip?
you're all good man. People know you have trained hard and smart for many years... you can bring it... just take your time to get straight for another one...
I am sorry it did not work out for you in Boston this year. The conditions were horrible . It was a wise decision to drop out and search medical care. Just give it another try in a different race and you will hit your time goal! You have put all the hard work in and you will rock it! Wishing you all the best and good luck.🍀
Great debrief Sage, thank you. Excited to see which next marathon you choose, and all the best with it.
well done sage... you did your best... everyone knew the weather was not favorable, even shalane flanagan i thought would finish top 3 finished 7th..
you are strong to reach 30km (i wander if i can survive that long). thumbs up bro....
Nice job Sage! Sorry you had a tough time. Good luck with OTQ and mountain running! You are a real inspiration
I spectated for 3 hours in 2 coats and genuinely nearly ended up in the medical tent. Huge congrats to anybody who finished - and to you for making it to 18. Brutal conditions
Thanks Sage! You work hard and you give us all a lot of great lessons... keep it up! We’re all gonna get there!
Was confused at first how you could get that cold running at those speeds, even in cool rain. But when you add in the winds you mentioned it became pretty clear. Chilly wind is the worst. Tough day.
That weather was UNREAL. You gave us so much information, thank you! And, inspiration!!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
this is what we all do, we make mistakes, we learn, we come back stronger. kind regards from germany
I have really enjoyed your marathon training vlog. Please keep going with this because these videos are great, and they really help motivate me in my own running. I'd love to see you take revenge on the Boston course next year. Just seeing you at the start line on live TV was exciting, even though I knew that poofy jacket wasn't going to be ideal.
You will get it.
You have a very clear vision and you are consistent with it.
Stay wise.
Although a DNF can be frustrating it can be a valuable lesson for future races under similar conditions. I'm sure you will prepare for the worst possible conditions for big races here on out.
Conditions seemed awful! Thanks for sharing your experience and giving it a go.
Most honest video by an elite runner.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and so much of yourself on this channel.
Keep strong Sage! Nice to hear you are coming to Zegama, is really close to my home! Hope I can go and see you there
Saw you on this long downhill in Wellesley, you looked pretty strong. Good thing to read body signs in advance. Keep doing what you do, it’s really inspiring!
Thanks for the prompt recap! Sorry it didn't go as planned, what a freaky day it turned out to be! I have a request for a training talk...how to maintain fitness/endurance while recovering from a race. I've always been told to take 1 rest day for every mile raced before returning to hard training. This leaves me often feeling caught in the build-up to a race, and then losing fitness in the weeks following. It just seems ridiculous for anyone who's not completely green running their very first distance race.
More layers means greater air resistance especially if its baggy. It would have wasted energy. That was crazy weather though. Keep up the good work!
Its very clear that even before the start you had already decided the outcome...you hate the cold but, thats precisely what you need to tackle!...no way around it! Wim Hof Way baby!
One more comment: as runners we have nutrition strategies, pacing strategies and then weather strategies such as trying to train for hot or cold. It’s really tough to say ok, I’m wearing this coat, these gloves,etc because it comes down to how will all these layers affect my pacing, my body heat etc.! Thanks sage for talking about how you thought through your plan, but sometimes plans go awry.
You hit it right on the head Sage, you already accomplished an OTQ in your life. Therefore, just follow your heart which is MUT running!
I had one DNF in 2016 cold rain, I suffer from anxiety so sleep was at 0 and bad, I was rolling around the whole night thinking...Not to mention the organizers at the race in NYC were really rude for only completing 8.47 miles for that Half Marathon, I dropped out from being in the lead by 7 minutes. Musles were tight, stomach was aching, felt lactic build up faster than usual and then after that day could not run for a month, just got beat up badly. Reality is I hate cold to the max, running, what helped me cope with rainy conditions is slow pace at half way points just following 1 or two min behind to avoid fatigue. As for you man, you pulled through 18 miles bro that's crazy!
Totally appreciate you bro! My condolences, big time. I know you can do it!!! I know you'll regroup. Let's go baby!!!
That was no joke out there! I had to wait around for about 20 minutes after finishing to find my family. I too have never been so cold ever before.
Thanks for the race recap. We totally understand those were rough conditions. Cincinnati marathon is in 17 days if that suits your schedule. Fun race with lots of crowd support.
i2istudios Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon sold out. But maybe they will still accept elite/professional runners like Sage🤞🏻
Looks to be a real shocker of a day weather wise. I'd imagine that was almost as tough as it gets. Hard luck dude but you'll be back no doubt. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for doing this summary talk of the Boston experience. You covered it all well. Glad to hear you're going to use your long fought build up to give it another go at qualifying. It would be a shame not to. After you qualify for Olympics I'll be anxiously tuned in to your trail running. Should be a damned good transition for you. I predict that you'll be really tough to beat in those races after having rebuilt your speed to add on to your trail talent and skills.
I followed the race on whatever online feed I found. I really hoped you would reach your goal. But then I saw the weather. I knew you would not make it, but I think your pursuit of this OTQ is awesome. You clearly love the 100 miles, and your best distances are 50-100K. But still, the marathon is something else. And it is trying, for all of us, at all levels of performance. Two weeks ago, I hit the wall hard, and finished 12 minutes slower than my PB (Manchester marathon). 4 days after, I registered for the 2019 one . My best age-rankings are done on the 5K-half, and what I really like are ultras, my best overall positions being at 100K. I am shit at marathons. But still, this is the thing to beat right? No stop, not food station, no little jog to keep going for tens of hours. We have to go fast, for a long time, and it fucking hurts. It is physically trying and mentally trying. But sooo rewarding ... when it goes well.
been binging loads of your videos recently and this intro is my favorite so far! awesome haha :-D
Hi Sage, tough conditions chap. Like your honesty about how the race went.
Great vlog
Brutal! Good attitude...always a learning Experience...The event was so much fun to watch, wish we had televised Elite marathons every week ..on tv. What a beast and the USA ladies Rock!! and CA...heck-they all do as does all who finished and/or Gave their all in such conditions-----water was flowing in some of the streets,crazy.
Another awesome and very honest video. I'd had hypothermia too and it's easily done! I love your channel.