In This Episode:

midlife podcast, midlife transformation, women over 40, endurance events, personal growth, 29029 trail, everesting challenge, finding purpose in midlife, grief and growth, self-discovery journey

🎙️ Show Notes:

What happens when you voluntarily climb the equivalent of three mountain marathons in three days? You cry, curse, question your life choices… and maybe, just maybe, find out what you’re really made of.

In this episode of The School of Midlife podcast, Laurie takes us on the trail with her at the 29029 TRAIL Challenge in Park City, Utah. From a 4:45 a.m. wake-up call to a literal emotional breakdown when she realizes it’s her late father’s birthday, Laurie brings you with her—every painful, beautiful, sweaty, soul-expanding step of the way.

You’ll hear:

• How training for six months changed her body and her brain
• The emotional gut punch of racing on the anniversary of her father's retirement… the day he never got to enjoy
• The unexpected power of community on the trail (hello, Team LFG!)
• Why doing hard things on purpose is a non-negotiable part of midlife growth

This is not just a story about hiking. It’s a story about healing, honoring, and showing up for the life you say you want—even when it hurts. Especially when it hurts.

Resources & Mentions:

• Ep. 123: The Real Midlife Crisis? Thinking You Have More Time
• Best Life Retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho

Takeaways:

• "Preparation is the event. What happens before the start line is where the real transformation begins."
• "You don’t need to be the fastest—you just need to keep going."
• "Midlife isn’t too late. It’s the exact moment you start climbing your own mountain."

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