Barbara Powell: Writer, Runner and Coach

Morning messages like this never not slap 🥹✨

And yes, open invite. Reach out anytime, I’d love to chat.

Revisiting one’s art well after completion is a mysterious, wondrous, moving thing. I just reread Chapter 22 Moving In and Holding On of my book Finding Leadville:My Story to a Hallowed Finish Line… and legit wept.

Thank you to past me for taking the generous time to create this. I hope the words I wrote impact someone for the better, like it did for me 💛

Collect miles ✅
Connect to nature ✅
Make friends ✅
Eat snacks often ✅
Feel exhilarated and alive ✅

Trail running is just so stinkin delightful. Love ya, trails.

Photos from the Blacks Grove Backyard ala

Vroom vroom 💛

A full, happy weekend as my body recovers from last weekend’s 42miles at the Blacks Grove Backyard Ultra.

Volunteered with via .foundation and played on the trails at Hyland.

Got to nap a few times, bike ride through the Twin Cities and along the Mississippi. Ate lots of food including the burger at Gus Gus 🤤 and Chris’s famous Cowboy Caviar. Sipped a little white wine and soaked up sunshine rays as I read in my backyard. And then all the puppy cuddles with my best boy, Blue.

Got a little twinge in my left foot that I’m paying love to; otherwise, a really great recovery one week out— big fun goals ahead!

Grateful that every race gives me more to reflect on 💛

Have you ever run a Backyard Ultra? Here are some of my thoughts after 11 yards at Blacks Grove a week ago.

My Origin Story

I was once water
tumbling
from mountaintops.
Forever in my belly:
the surge and urge
to move
forcefully
rushing
knowing
how to go
but not sure
where I’ll arrive.
I once tumbled
blindly
crashed into
rock and branch:
I didn’t linger,
I snaked obstacles,
forged on
trusting
the free fall.
The trees all
knew my name
watching gleefully
as I rushed
and gushed
toward home.

Happy Mother’s Day 💛

Are you curious how my race went this past weekend? Wondering how in the heck going 50 miles is still a DNF? Like to know what it's like to return to ultrarunning after a 6-ish month hiatus?

Read my Sunday Substack!
xo

DNF-ing the Elm Creek Backyard Ultra 12 Hours and 50 miles later

Sunday Substack

"It’s Spring here in Minnesota and I am high on the color green. There’s a fresh breeze coming in through the windows now and the staleness of winter cooped-up-energy is dissipating. I’m agog with all kinds of giddiness doing the simplest tasks: walking the dog has me squealing over buds peeking out on bare tree branches, shopping for groceries has me delighting over fresh vegetables bursting with life force, and coaching clients in my home office has me celebrating their growth, proverbial muck and mud and all."

The Color of Goddess Green Fueling my Backyard Ultra with the Divine Feminine