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Love,
Ultrarunning
A site powered by self-love and good trails
Finding Leadville
by Barbara Powell
Experience the transformative power of running rooted in love, healing, and a willingness to say yes.
Join me on a journey to the 2023 Leadville 100 trail run where every step was a necessary one.
Little by little, bit by bit, let love be your super fuel.
I published this for my inner child, who knew she could write a book one day. For my teenage self who struggled with her body and place in the world. And for all of us who say YES to a starting line -- and in doing so, can heal something mighty along the way.
Exploring a Race (or any other victory) Through Storytelling
The 2023 Leadville 100 Runners train for and run races. Then, we can become storytellers. Running the Leadville 100 was not just a bucket...
Barbara Mary
19 hours ago3 min read
6 views
0 comments
Finding Leadville Bonus Content: Take on the Adventure
You can do that thing you’re thinking about. Yep, even that. Yes, even with all the things going on in life. That thing you’re drawn to,...
Barbara Mary
Mar 254 min read
14 views
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Finding Leadville Chapter 20: Coming Home
The author and her Chris adventuring in the Midwest Reframing I used to be afraid of bees from when I was three because a whole swarm...
Barbara Mary
Mar 248 min read
31 views
0 comments
Finding Leadville Chapter 19: Seeing Things (All the Way Through)
The author running with her pacer, Trapper, at Turquoise Lake, less than 12 miles to the Leadville 100 finish “Look up!” Trapper crowed. ...
Barbara Mary
Mar 2312 min read
36 views
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Finding Leadville Chapter 18: (un)Common Ground
The author and her dad, mid-marvel The week before the 100, my dad visited me in Colorado. When I was a child, we'd have our day...
Barbara Mary
Mar 228 min read
29 views
0 comments
Finding Leadville Chapter 17: Nuance
The author enjoying a waterfall near Hoosier Pass One morning at the cabin, the water stopped flowing. I was returning from a sunrise...
Barbara Mary
Mar 199 min read
22 views
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Finding Leadville Chapter 16: Women Endure
It was a bright summer morning and I'd waken up early. My legs had work to do. The Colorado Trail snaked off into the trees toward...
Barbara Mary
Mar 187 min read
32 views
0 comments
Finding Leadville Chapter 15: Crushing It
Running outbound into Twin Lakes; Trapper, the pacer, in the background cheering the author on Twin Lakes Aid Station Outbound Approx...
Barbara Mary
Mar 1610 min read
24 views
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Finding Leadville Chapter 14: Race Reports and Journal Entries
The author at the start line of the Leadville Trail Marathon, happy and healthy I signed up for a couple key races as training runs. Each...
Barbara Mary
Mar 169 min read
27 views
0 comments
Finding Leadville Chapter 13: The Day I Left my Body
The author on the Colorado Trail, fully reclaiming her body. Here, she is seen at home in herself. “No, no!” I thought I was shouting but...
Barbara Mary
Mar 158 min read
70 views
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Finding Leadville Chapter 12: My Body Belongs to Me
The author in the Colorado trails Approaching Outward Bound Aid Station 23.5 miles Elevation 9,520’ I barreled down the other side of...
Barbara Mary
Mar 129 min read
52 views
0 comments
Finding Leadville Chapter 11: The Deep Knowing Within
The author walking in Breckenridge BILL MOYERS: Do you ever have the sense of… being helped by hidden hands? JOSEPH CAMPBELL: All the...
Barbara Mary
Mar 118 min read
31 views
0 comments
Finding Leadville Chapter 10: Moving in and Holding On
The author upon arriving to her cabin home in Alma, CO and enjoying the view from the deck Letting Go I've taken on the form of a mighty...
Barbara Mary
Mar 1011 min read
46 views
1 comment
Finding Leadville Chapter 9: The Moment it Clicked
The author and her Chris right before her phone call in Hawaii Relationship Status If you took a sip of me today you'd realize how flat...
Barbara Mary
Mar 88 min read
47 views
1 comment
Finding Leadville Chapter 8: Ben Rolls with Jesus
The author and her friend Ben in the rain after a trail run together Pineapple smoothie escaped from its straw and dribbled onto my chin....
Barbara Mary
Mar 78 min read
44 views
1 comment
Finding Leadville Chapter 7: The Trees All Know my Name
The Rocky Mountains Mountain town I’ve never been, yet it’s a homecoming. The fog tipped peaks, signaling weather over trails that tuck...
Barbara Mary
Mar 68 min read
57 views
1 comment
Finding Leadville Chapter 6: The 4 AM Shotgun
The blur of the Leadville 100 starting line I slipped from one dream world to the next. In the black of night, up at 10,000 feet...
Barbara Mary
Mar 510 min read
32 views
1 comment
Finding Leadville Chapter 5: Love and Pizza
The author and her Chris in the first few months of dating Chris entered the scene not too long after that evening. Of course, he didn't...
Barbara Mary
Mar 47 min read
69 views
1 comment
Finding Leadville Chapter 4: Never Again
The author 5 years before running Leadville during the summer outlined in this chapter It was 5 years before Leadville. I was standing...
Barbara Mary
Mar 37 min read
63 views
1 comment
Finding Leadville Chapter 3: Meeting God
The author (left) as a toddler with one of her 6 sisters “Barbara,” the voice boomed. I froze, mid-wail, my chubby baby cheeks wet with...
Barbara Mary
Mar 15 min read
59 views
1 comment
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