Runner, Coach & Writer
Welcome! I’m a running coach and author, and this site spotlights my coaching and writing.
Weekly Newsletter
In 2021, I launched a weekly newsletter, “Colorado Mountain Running & Living,” as an outgrowth of my blog. The weekly post shares training advice and midlife musings from my perspective as an over-50 longtime mountain/trail/ultra runner living in southwest Colorado. Check it out and subscribe here.
Book Release
In 2017, Falcon Guides published my book, The Trail Runner’s Companion: A Step-by-Step Guide to Trail Running and Racing, from 5Ks to Ultras. You can order it here. Kaci Lickteig, named 2016 UltraRunner of the Year, called the book, “a must-have for all trail runners, both new and experienced. It brings a wealth of knowledge and entertaining stories to keep you engaged in the valuable content of the book.” Please visit this Schedule/Media page on my blog for media coverage of the book and events related to it.
Thanks to my book and coaching, REI’s blog recognized me in mid-2018 for successfully encouraging trail running among women. Check out the article, “These Six Women Are Getting More Women Into Trail Running.”
Featured Race Reports
In September 2019, I was the female champion and finished 10th overall in the Grand to Grand Ultra, a 170-mile self-supported stage race recognized as one of the world’s most challenging ultramarathons. You can read my race report here and also read an article about it here. For more reports on ultra stage racing, visit this category of my blog.
Featured Coaching Podcasts
Blister.com’s “Off the Couch” podcast interviewed me about my background and coaching.
“Trail Running 101 with Sarah Lavender Smith”: HeartlandRunning.com interviewed me about trail running.
“Author & Coach Sarah Lavender Smith”: The Just Curious Show interviewed me about coaching, alternative career paths, parenting and round-the-world travel.
“Moving On Up in Distance: A Q&A with Sarah and Eric”: UltraRunnerPodcast.com host Eric Schranz and I answered listener questions about ultrarunning. See additional samples of podcasts on this page.
Running & Coaching Background
I began running seriously in the mid-1990s, during graduate school, and in the two decades since completed more than 90 marathons and ultras, with wins and top finishes at several. I began coaching clients professionally in early 2015 and have helped dozens of clients reach their goals through custom, personalized training. Together, we build specific skills and fitness, structure training seasons, and carefully plan and execute races. Here’s my list of running credentials & racing highlights.
Featured Published Article
“Coronavirus Hits a Colorado Trail-Running Family”: Trail Runner magazine published my first-person account of our household’s life-threatening experience with COVID-19. See additional samples of published work.
Family Adventure & Travel Writing
My most important job is being a mom to my two teenagers. As a family, we love adventurous and authentic travel, believing it’s the best form of education. (This photo shows us during an eight-day Colorado River rafting and camping trip.) In 2009 when the kids were 11 and 8, we went on a year-long trip around the world, during which we reduced our belongings to one bag each and taught the kids the equivalent of 6th and 3rd grade on the road. For samples of my travel writing, see my portfolio or my blog’s destinations category.
A Bit More About Me …
To learn more about my professional background, please view my LinkedIn profile. This family photo from 2019 shows my son Kyle (now 19) at his graduation from The Thacher School (where I served on the Board of Trustees), my daughter Colly (22) and my husband of almost 30 years, Morgan. I’m originally from Ojai in Southern California, and I lived in the East Bay Area (Berkeley, Piedmont and Oakland) for most of my adult life. In 2018, we built a home from scratch near Telluride, Colorado, and moved there.
