The Trailhead Sarah Lavender Smith Finds Meaning in Midlife and the Midpack
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Aug 19, 2025 Sarah Lavender Smith, a writer and passionate trail storyteller, shares her journey from journalism to the vibrant world of trail and ultrarunning. She discusses the transformative power of running during midlife and candidly explores her evolving relationship with alcohol. With laughter and reflective insights, Sarah recounts her experience finishing the Hardrock race at 56 and emphasizes the importance of acceptance in endurance. The conversation delves into family dynamics at races and her exciting project: a memoir capturing the essence of resilience through the trails.
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Career Shift Toward Purposeful Trail Writing
- Sarah Lavender Smith moved from hard news journalism to writing about trail running because the sport gave her meaning and a voice she enjoyed.
- She now writes a weekly Substack called Mountain Running and Living focused on personal essays, practical advice, and midlife grit.
Acceptance Over Chasing Youthful Performance
- Sarah reframes aging as acceptance rather than continuous self-improvement and strives to celebrate current abilities.
- She urges runners to find flow in their present pace rather than constantly chasing past performances.
Hardrock Finish Despite Gastric Disaster
- Sarah described finishing Hardrock at 56 despite severe vomiting and near-collapse, and she was deeply relieved to finish.
- She later diagnosed citric-acid triggers and vowed to tweak nutrition if she tries again.