Five Rut Questions With: Sage Canaday

It's that time of year where daylight is fleeting quickly, the air is crisp, and snow is threatening to fall in the high country.  It is Rut season.  On Sept 12th & 13th, hundreds of runners from across the globe will descend on Big Sky Resort to push their physical limits on the scree laden slopes of Lone Peak.  To give you insight into who will be running The Rut 50k and why they're excited to come to Montana, we've asked each elite runners five questions.  Leading up to the race we will post responses daily from world class runners such as Kilian Jornet, Anna Frost, Adam Campbell, Paul Hamilton, Ellie Greenwood, Rickey Gates, Luke Nelson, Sage Canaday, Emelie Forsberg, and others including Montana's finest ultra runners.  It is time for The Rut.

Sage Canaday - Photo Credit Paul Nelson

1.Have you ever been to Montana? If so, where?

Yeah, I've been to Yellowstone a couple times about 15 years ago. The family and I took a road trip out there from Oregon.I remember nice wide open spaces, herds of buffalo, and seeing a moose! 

2.Besides the Rut, what are you looking forward to most about coming to Montana?

For sure the beer!  I'd like to try some Big Sky Brewing stuff. I have a special place in my heart for really strong and hoppy IPAs, but any Moose Drool or even a nice crafted lager will do!

3.What are some of the highlights of your 2014 racing season?

I've got wins at the Tarawera Ultra, The Speedgoat 50km and the Pikes Peak Ascent. Then a lot of 3rd place finishes...

4.What is it about the Rut that made you sign up for this event?

Killian's coming to town...it's the Sky Running Ultra World Series Final...and I like the 50km distance in the mountains!

5. On a scale from 1-10 how much would you say you enjoy running off trail on slabs of talus the size of dinner plates that constantly slip and slide out from under your feet, or better yet, flip up and hit you really hard in the ankle bones and shin?

If I didn't have my HOKAs I'd put down a "0." However, I have a couple rules when it comes to racing on the mountains/trails: 1. Don't get lost, 2. Don't bonk, and 3. Don't break a bone. As long as the slabs of talus don't break me and I can avoid stitches I guess I'm feeling a 5+ on the scale...