Zach Friedley is used to being told he can’t do things, and then doing them anyway.

In the summer of 2022, he set his eyes on one of trail running’s most prestigious events: the UTMB MCC race, an epic run through the Alps that stretches 40km with 2300m of elevation change. But Zach didn’t just want to compete for himself; he wanted to show the world that adaptive athletes belong on the trail. And they are here to compete.

In “Trail Blader,” a documentary sponsored by On Running, I captured Zach’s journey to UTMB, the events that led him to it and all that he envisions for the future of trail running.

Making this film was a challenge, an education and a spirit-expanding experience. In making a new friend, I was also exposed to a story I grew deeply connected to, and as we made our way across multiple countries, I became profoundly invested in Zach’s confrontation of the status quo in the historically insular world of trail running.

Director: Dan Buyanovsky

Producer: Christina Burchard

Editor: Shannon C Griffin

Albion Team

DP: Matt Clarke

AC: Ryan Fagan

Audio: Michael Clifford

Drone Op: Travis Geske

PA: Gee Moloi

Zurich Team

DP: Simon Almers

Chamonix Team