One Mom, 100 Miles.

Hello! I’m Kristel. Wife. Mother. Outdoor enthusiasts. Athlete. Bowhunter. Lover of all things Harry Potter. ✨ Ultra Runner. ✨ Chasing Leadville Trail 100 8.22.26. ⛰️

They say you don’t find Leadville. That Leadville finds you.

I first saw it on a screen while newly pregnant, sitting at camp with my husband and our then 1-year-old playing at our feet. Mornings at camp were slow and sacred, with coffee in hand and YouTube videos of ultra runners chasing impossible distances playing in the background. 

And that’s when Leadville appeared. 

A spark lit inside me that only grew brighter. It stirred a feeling I hadn’t felt since racing Ironmans more than a decade ago. A part of me I hadn’t met in years.

Through pregnancy, the dream quietly waited. I always knew I’d chase Leadville one day. I just didn’t know it would come calling so soon.

Now, I’m running the Leadville Trail 100 to remind myself that I can still do hard things. That I am more than just a mom. But this isn’t only about grit. It’s about showing my children what happens when you show up for yourself every day. What it means to keep going when life gets hard. And what’s possible when you lead with consistency and dare to dream big.

When I learned about the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation, I knew fundraising was the way I wanted to run. I get to pursue something I love and give back to a community that inspires me.

Every dollar you donate supports REAL families in Leadville!  The Legacy Foundation awards a $2,000 scholarships to every Lake County high school graduate pursuing college or a trade school. As well as funding an annual Children's Holiday Party with gifts and food so that every Leadville child may know the magic of Christmas. Support towards youth sports programs. Improvements to local parks and outdoor recreation areas. Grants given to other local needs, such as transportation. I couldn’t think of a better Foundation to stand (run) behind.

Leadville’s grit mirrors my own, and I’m running these 100 miles to honor both. This isn’t just a race, it’s a way home to myself.  Running has always helped me remember, and now rediscover, who I am. And it’s giving me the opportunity to serve something bigger.

Thank you for being a part of this journey! With love, with purpose, and with every step.