Join us at Born to Adapt

DID YOU KNOW that $1 from every GO Sleeves order is donated to Zachary Friedley’s Born to Adapt project? We are so proud to once again partner with Born to Adapt alongside the Born to Run festival in beautiful Los Olivos, CA on Saturday, April 15th 2023. GO Sleeves and Born to Adapt will be joining camps, hosting some great events throughout the race weekend!

Join GO Sleeves athlete Zachary Friedley as he, and other adaptive athletes, take on the Los Olivos hills during the Born to Run Marathon for a 4-day trail race featuring 100-mile, 50-mile, 30-mile and 10-mile runs. This inclusive trail event has been specifically designed to welcome disabled or “adaptive” athletes to the outdoors. Whether you’re a seasoned adaptive athlete, or wanting to try out adaptive trail running for the first time, all are welcome to participate. You can also join virtually by signing up for the virtual 5k! Virtual participants of any ability are welcome - your contributions help us sponsor and support adaptive athletes at future Born to Adapt events.

Want to join us? Sign up for the Born to Run Ultra Marathons here. You can also learn more and sign up for Born to Adapt at this link. Check out this award winning documentary about last year’s Born to Adapt event. 

Athlete and Born to Adapt Founder Zachary Friedley

I created Born to Adapt to promote visibility and inclusion is my life’s work. As a disabled kid growing up in Missouri in the 80s and 90s, I didn’t know anyone else who looked like me. I didn’t know that people who used prosthetics and wheelchairs, or people who were vision impaired, or people who moved through the world being physically or neurologically “different” were even able to access races that allowed us to run outdoor trails. Disabled people were simply not celebrated in the mainstream - I had no idea that being a professional para- or adaptive athlete was even a possibility.

I ran my first 10 mile race at Born to Run in 2019. It was an experience that profoundly changed and opened up my life to endless possibilities, and I realized that I wanted everyone to be able to feel that sense of freedom and excitement that I felt getting out into nature as a disabled athlete. I created Born to Adapt so that all people have the opportunity to experience being out on a trail as the norm, and not the exception. Whether you are interested in crushing a 30 mile trail run or coming to challenge yourself to see how far you might be able to go, everyone is welcome at this event. 

This year, I’ll be partnering again with my sponsor, GO Sleeves, to offer an awesome “Recovery Station” for athletes participating in both Born to Adapt and Born to Run trail races. Be sure to drop in to meet us and learn more about GO Sleeves over the trail event weekend! If you aren’t able to be with us in person, remember that you can participate and support our work by signing up for the virtual 5k! 

This year’s event is going to be one for the history books! See you out on the trails.