A short film on ultrarunner Sarah Ostaszewski and her dog Freddy.
This short film highlights the unique story of Sarah Ostaszewski, a mountain ultrarunner and coach with 65+ ultras to her name, including wins at Cocodona 250 and Moab 240. And her dog Freddy. From Freddy's clumsy first steps to summiting Moab peaks, the connection grows stronger with every mile.
“When Freddy has been at big races, and I’ll come into an aid station, he’s the happiest dog on Earth.”
Sarah says it simply, but anyone who runs knows what that means. Aid stations are loud, chaotic, and raw. You’re cracked open. Then you see your dog. Tail going. Eyes locked. Full-body joy.
To see a dog love somebody that much is heartwarming. It also resets you. It brings you back to what matters.
Puppy to athlete. From first miles to full speed days.
Sarah first saw Freddy through Parker’s Animal Rescue. Freddy’s brother had a bunch of applications and Freddy had none. “So I put in an application.”
When she met him in person, he ran straight into her lap. He was about three months old. “I just knew that I was going to be taking him home that day.” That kind of clarity comes with responsibility. Sarah knew it, too.
“There was something special about him, so I chose to take it on, and I was going to do whatever it took to have him have the best life that he could possibly have.”
Training changed, because Freddy mattered
“Everyone tells you you shouldn’t run with your dog until they’re like a year at least.” So they didn’t. They started with small loops in Flagstaff. Freddy was shy, scared, unsure what was happening. Then he got older. “As he got older, he just took off.”
Sarah adjusted her training around him.
“I have kind of catered my training more to Freddy. That’s what he needed. He needed the freedom to run and just be himself outside.” Single track. Mountains. Snow. Rolling around. Digging. Not perfect. Real.
“It makes the whole thing worth it for me.”
A dog at the finish line changes the whole day
“My passion in life is trail running.” Sarah has run as far as 250 miles in a single race. She jokes that maybe you have to be a little crazy to do it. But her reason is not complicated.
“I just like to be outside, so trail running is a great way to be doing that. And now that I have Freddy, it’s like the perfect way to spend time together.”
Sarah and Freddy didn’t build their rhythm in a weekend. They built it through loops, seasons, and finish lines. “He’s actually crossed a few finish lines with me. So that’s been like the best feeling ever.”
