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Zachary Ryan Friedley

@trailblader

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Pro Runner @hoka
Founder @borntoadapt
🏃@borntoruncoach
🦿@eastsideprosthetics @ossur.us
🏃@precisionfandh
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Funny where running can take you. What started as simply trying to see what was possible with one leg has taken me on a journey around the world, onto some pretty wild start lines, and into mountains, countries, and conversations I never imagined I'd be in. And now, it’s taken me here. Proud to officially say I'm a @hoka athlete 🪽 And while I'm incredibly excited about what this means for my own racing, what we're building together goes far beyond my running. There’s a much bigger vision behind this partnership. More on that soon. For now… damn, this feels good. #FlyHumanFly #ParaAthlete Photo credit @milozanecchia taken in Chamonix, France by @trailblader
75
a month ago
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A big part of my personal journey has been my willingness to get out of my own way and live a life outside of my comfort zone. This is where the magic and breakthroughs occur. Nearly 10 years ago, I moved away from my hometown and traveled the country in a bid to find myself. I ended up in Northern California, a place where I began to understand what it meant to feel at "home." Home for me meant surrounding myself with meaningful relationships, human connections, and wise mentors. For me, one of these people is Dr. Fred Mitouer. When I talk about Fred, I often describe him as the person you need at the time that you need him: a friend, mother, father, sibling, grandfather, guide. He is a shaman, and has been a witness to some of my darkest moments and most transformational breakthroughs. Fred meets each of us where we are in life, often showing up as the person our souls need most at the time. I started seeing Fred in the Spring of 2017, and began a process of deep, soulful work together that continues today. Together, Fred worked with me to peel back layer after layer, working through so much of the messy stuff that ultimately helped me find a place of self- love and forgiveness. Through this work I was able to go from surviving to thriving - Fred has made it possible for me to know that I am capable of chasing and achieving my biggest dreams in life. Everything that has happened in my life since I met him is a testament to this. Today, I’m delighted to share a project that Fred has been working on over the last few years to tell his story and that of his life's work around transformational healing. I invite you to learn more about Fred and his work, and if you feel inclined, to consider contributing to the IndieGogo campaign to support this fascinating production (link in bio) #adaptiveathlete #somatichealing #trailrunning #trailrunner #love 📸 @elscottjones taken in Gualala, California by @trailblader
13
3 years ago
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@mammothtrailfest is here! 🏔️ This is my 3rd year coming to this epic California event, and my first time not racing. This year, @borntoadapt is here to help make history: facilitating the first known Para cash-prize podium in trail running, made possible by @fractelrunning. This is a huge moment for the Para Trail community and another step toward creating real opportunity, recognition, and equity for Para athletes in our sport. I’m excited to see where this goes. Only up from here. 🚀 Good luck to all the athletes racing on Sunday! And if you’re around Mammoth this weekend, come by the @borntoadapt booth, say hi, and grab yourself a custom Born to Adapt hat. 🧢 See you out there! 🤘 Photo credit @ryanthrower taken in Mammoth Lakes, California by @trailblader
7
11 days ago
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Mammoth Trailfest Makes History for Para Athletes On September 25 to 27, 2026, The Mammoth Trailfest will make history by awarding the first para athlete prize purse at a trail running event. The event has partnered with Born to Adapt, adaptive athlete inclusion nonprofit (founder Zach Friedley), Paralympian Dani Aravich, as well as FRACTEL, a running apparel company founded by Matt Niutta, a legally blind para athlete ally. Read more in our bio @borntoadapt @mammothtrailfest @trailblader @theonearmdan @fractelrunning 📷 @brettyraw taken in Mammoth Lakes, California by @trailblader
5
13 days ago
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When we got to Le Tour, with 8 miles remaining, I knew that if we moved well, @bladerunner_ecuador was going to destroy the current OCC course record for a below-knee amputee. I was getting so excited the last 5km...and in my very broken Spanish, I attempted to motivate, do everything I could do get him through the last climb and down into Cham. It was so cool watching Jahir fight all day, but especially at the end as he charged his way to that damn finish line. One of the greatest gifts in sports is watching others achieve their goals and all of us witnessed that on Thursday 😍 Thank you to @trailblader and @borntoadapt for the incredible opportunity. And huge shout to our team: @milozanecchia for guiding with me for 18mi, speaking wayyyy better Spanish, and for capturing the amazing day, @eastsideprosthetics and @daniseykora for the exceptional crew support. To my bestie Webz and @kevinmer for the cheer squad at the Vallorcine lift, and to all the humans who sent encouraging messages/photos of us on UTMB Live, and who met us at the finish line. Love you all mucho and such a good group of humans 🫶🏼 #DreamOn 📸: @milozanecchia and @kevinmer taken in Chamonix, France by @trailblader
15
a month ago
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In April @trailblader asked if I could guide Zamy Jahir Ramos for OCC (61km, 11,500ft). I did not have a qualifier this year for the @utmbmontblanc World Finals due to my bilateral hamstring tendon tears last summer, which made guiding duties my main mission for UTMB week. Jahir's goals were to run faster than he did last year and chase the course record set by a below-knee amputee. Not only did Jahir run 1hr faster than he did last year on a longer course, he set the course record in 11:13:10! Guiding Jahir was one of the coolest experiences of my life and I am absolutely honored that he trusted me to join him on his journey. Such a good freaking day 💃 #DreamOn 📸: @milozanecchia who joined us for 18mi, capturing all the content of Jahir and speaking wayyyy better Spanish than me 🫶🏼 taken in Chamonix, France by @trailblader
10
a month ago
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For the second year in a row, our athlete @trailblader and his organization @borntoadapt supported Zamy “Jahir” Ramos on his journey to OCC, 60 km through the Swiss and French Alps. From getting to Chamonix to providing the resources needed to train, prepare and compete at this level, Born to Adapt helped make the opportunity possible. And Jahir made it count. He completed the OCC in 11 hours and 13 minutes, setting a new Para course record for a below-knee amputee runner. This is what sport looks like when a community comes together to break barriers. Keep adapting. Keep pushing. Keep going. 📸 @milozanecchia @borntoadapt by @trailblader
3
a month ago
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Athletes of the Week: Zachary Friedley & Zamy “Jahir” Ramos 🤝 It didn’t feel right to shout out Zachary as Athlete of the Week without spotlighting Jahir, who returned to race OCC for his second consecutive year, taking on 60 kilometers through the Swiss and French Alps. Born to Adapt (founded by Zachary) helped cover Jahir’s journey to Chamonix, along with many of the resources required for him to train, prepare, and compete at this level. That kind of opportunity runs on community support, and @borntoadapt makes it happen. And this year, Jahir made history. He completed OCC in 11 hours and 13 minutes, setting a new Para course record for a below-knee amputee runner. In other big news, Zachary just announced he’s officially a HOKA athlete, with a bigger vision behind the partnership still to come. Check out his full kit on Rendezvu (we’ll get Jahir to create a profile next 😉). 🔗 in bio rendezvu.co/zachary-friedley 📸 @milozanecchia taken in Chamonix, France by @trailblader
9
a month ago
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It's a fine line, but it makes a difference. What are your thoughts on inspiration and representing the disabled community? . . #disabledandproud #disablityawareness #disabledrights by @trailblader
1
a month ago
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Yesterday, Zamy Jahir Ramos @bladerunner_ecuador toed the line for his second consecutive UTMB OCC 60K through the Swiss and French Alps. Jahir and his pacer, professional runner @samkeliiahonui, came into the day with a goal: go faster than last year and chase the fastest time ever run on the OCC course by a below-knee amputee a mark set by Australian Para legend @sachstroy at OCC in 2023 (although a different OCC course) Jahir achieved this course record in 11:13:10 But this story is bigger than a time on a clock. Jahir has dreams of becoming a sponsored professional runner and racing on the biggest stages around the world. And these images are just a glimpse of what it takes to chase that dream. What you see is hard work. Dedication. Sacrifice. Belief. And the love and support of so many people coming together to give an athlete the opportunity to show what he is capable of. This is what happens when Para athletes are given access, opportunity, and a place on the starting line. Para Trail is here to stay. These athletes belong on the world’s biggest stages. These athletes are ELITE. And with @borntoadapt, @utmbmontblanc @utmbworldseries, and a growing community behind this movement, we’re going to keep pushing until opportunities like this aren’t the exception, they’re simply part of the sport. The future of trail running includes Para athletes. 🌎⛰️ Photo credit @milozanecchia #UTMB #trailrunning Collab with @borntoadapt Tags @trailblader @bladerunner_ecuador @borntoadapt @samkeliiahonui taken in Chamonix, France by @trailblader
37
a month ago
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It starts today! UTMB 2026, one of the most epic trail running races in the world. Follow 👉 @borntoadapt to join the journey. #utmb #utmbworldseries #trailrunninglife #pararunning taken in UTMB Chamonix by @trailblader
22
a month ago
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We're gearing up for UTMB OCC 60K. If you're new to the sport of trail running, this mega race is known worldwide as one of the most rugged races in the world. 60 kilometers through mountains, rain, heat and snow. And, if that wasn't impressive enough, imagine running this race on one leg. That's exactly what our athletes have been training for. @bladerunner_ecuador will be running OCC 60k on on his prosthetic blade. 🦿 Follow 👉 @borntoadapt to witness history. taken in Chamonix, France by @trailblader
4
2 months ago
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