What’s this newsletter all about?
“Colorado Mountain Running & Living” features personal essays with practical advice about trail running, mountain life, and midlife grit.
I started this newsletter, which comes out Wednesdays, in September 2021 to share training and life advice developed over 25-plus years as a dedicated long-distance runner and coach. More than a running newsletter, however, I write about leading a rustic, outdoor-oriented life in the San Juan Mountains and using the practice of mountain running to nurture health, adventure, and a connection with the natural world.
Who reads this newsletter? My audience tends to be: runners, especially mountain/ultra/trail runners; Colorado residents or those who wish they lived here; older runners who want to stay athletic; and anyone interested in healthy living and mountain life. They share a love of running or hiking on trails, an interest in country living, and a desire to escape to the mountains.
Whether or not you live in Colorado, whether or not you’ve graduated from 5Ks to ultra-distance running, whether or not you’re an over-50 woman like me—if you’re interested in running, if you care about wellness and longevity, and if you desire to read stories with advice and inspiration that transport you to a scenic corner of Colorado, then this newsletter is for you.
All subscribers receive a weekly post delivered by email. Those who subscribe at the supporting level ($6/month) also receive bonus content and an invitation to weekly online meetup where we discuss goals, training advice, and sometimes have a Q&A with a special guest.
About me
For eight years, I specialized in coaching scores of runners in mountain/ultra/trail running, and I wrote a book (The Trail Runner’s Companion) that has the information and inspiration one needs to effectively self-train. I’ve run over 100 ultras and marathons since my first marathon in 1994, including some of North America’s toughest 100-milers. In my prime, I won several 50Ks and earned podium spots and age-group awards in ultras of all distances. When I turned 50, I won the 170-mile self-supported Grand to Grand Ultra, considered one of the toughest ultras on the globe.
You can find out more about my background at sarahlavendersmith.com and LinkedIn. Follow me on twitter or Instagram @sarahrunning or on Facebook.
I’m a 53-year-old empty-nester (my son, 21, is in college in Boulder; my daughter, 24, is working as a product designer in LA). I’ve been married for 32 years to my best friend from high school, Morgan.
After two decades raising kids and developing careers in the East Bay Area of California, we started a new life outside of Telluride, where my family roots stretch back to the 1870s. We built a home from scratch and filled our empty nest with two horses, two dogs, a cat, and more than a dozen chickens.
This newsletter grew out of my decade-old blog, TheRunnersTrip.com. I’ve written for running and lifestyle magazines including Trail Runner and Telluride Magazine, and I’m a columnist for UltraRunning magazine.
Thanks for visiting, and I hope you’ll subscribe and share it with friends.
- Sarah
What You Get with a Paid Subscription
You can subscribe for free to receive the weekly newsletter.
Of course, I’d appreciate if you would join with a paid subscription of just $6 monthly or $60 annually to support this endeavor. Paid subscribers will get a bonus post each month with inspiration and recommendations, plus an invitation to join a monthly Zoom discussion, where I’ll host a Q&A for coaching advice and invite participants to talk about their running journey.
Supporters who join at the Patron level of $200 annually also will receive a signed, personalized copy of my book.
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