Done and Dusted: A Treadmill Adventure

In the first few hours of my 12 Hour Run

My watch alarm buzzed: 4:55 AM. It was time to get up and get ready for the adventure I’d been preparing for over the last few weeks—a 12-hour treadmill run in support of the Life Time Foundation.

This August, I’ll be returning to the Leadville 100 for my second attempt as a Foundation Athlete. My goal? To beat my previous time of 28 hours and earn the coveted big belt buckle with a sub-25-hour finish. It's a challenging goal, one that demands both physical readiness and mental strength. It also calls for smart strategy—when to run, when to hike, how long to stay at aid stations—as well as a dialed-in nutrition plan that my gut can handle under stress.

The treadmill felt like the perfect place to test where my training stands. It offered a controlled environment to experiment with fueling, support needs, and bathroom logistics—yes, even those matter in a 100-miler.

I set up a folding table next to my treadmill with everything I might need:

• A cooler stocked with watermelon, grapes, Gatorade, and tater tots

• A jug of icy electrolyte mix

• Squirrel’s Nut Butter for chafing prevention

• CBD cream for any aches and pains

• A small stack of towels

• A change of socks, shirt, and bra (which I never ended up needing)

Most importantly, I had a full roster of folks signed up to join me—hour by hour—on adjacent treadmills. Just knowing I'd have company throughout the day filled me with energy and motivation. Just behind the treadmill I had a sign set up with why I was running and the QR code for folks to donate throughout the day.

At 7:00 AM, I stepped onto the treadmill dressed in all yellow, feeling light, hopeful, and ready. Payton from the Life Time Foundation arrived to capture video and photos and also joined me for the first few miles. I was also joined by Dan from Life Time’s PR team, Mike from Experience Life Magazine, and my dear running friends Skye and Jon. Their presence grounded me and launched the day with joy.

My Strategy

Run/Walk Plan:I alternated 2–3 minutes of walking (~16:00 min/mi pace) with 20 minutes of running (~11:00–12:30 min/mi pace). I held this rhythm for 50 miles (!!), then closed the day with a 90-minute walk to cool down and reflect.

Nutrition Plan:I aimed for one gel per hour, alternating between a 30g carb Precision Fuel gel and a 21g carb + electrolyte SIS gel. I added real food during walk breaks when I could—though in the final hours, I relied mostly on the gels.

(You can also check out my interview with Fox9 for more on my mindset going into the day: “Ultramarathoner Barbara Powell running 100-mile race in August.”)

The Day Unfolds

The gym slowly came to life as Saturday regulars arrived for their workouts. Each hour, fresh faces appeared—members of the Life Time Foundation team (thank you Matt, Brynne, Payton, and Val!), Life Time team members (thank you Dan, Jacob, Sharma, Amy, Amber, Kate, Maggie, Emily, and Ben!), close friends (Skye, Hallie, Jon—thank you!), colleagues from Beem (shoutout to Ellie!), and of course, my wonderful partner and love of my life, Chris.

Every single person added to the atmosphere and fueled my mindset. We talked about Leadville, training, the current political trials in Minnesota, the No Kings protests, hormones, the male gaze, mentoring, our inner child, and everything in between. And when I needed to, I zoned in—headphones on, eyes on my reflection in the treadmill screen, syncing my breath to the rhythm of my arm swing.

Around hour 7 or 8, I started tripping over my feet—stubbing my toe and nearly falling a few times. I brushed it off at first, but when it happened repeatedly, I took the hint: time to stop chatting and refocus. I drew my attention inward and focused on lifting my feet, driving forward.

At 10.5 hours, I hit 50 miles and recorded a short video of the treadmill screen. Moments later, I dropped a gel and accidentally hit the emergency stop button while trying to grab it. The treadmill shut down and stopped tracking time and distance—devastating! But I laughed it off, thankful my watch was still collecting data.

In all, I paused the treadmill just three times for bathroom breaks, each about 2.5 to 3 minutes. I moved quickly and got back to business.

The Final Hour

I closed the day walking at a 16:00–16:30 pace, holding Chris’s hand, letting the gym’s energy quiet around us. It had been buzzing with life all day. Now, it was just me, the treadmill, and a deep sense of completion.

When I hit “stop” for the final time, it was beautifully anticlimactic. No big crowd. No fanfare. Just a simple stop and the quiet joy of knowing I had done exactly what I came to do. Chris wiped down the treadmill, packed up our supplies, and took everything home while I soaked in the hot tub and enjoyed a celebratory shower in the Life Time locker room.

That night, I didn’t sleep well—my body aching and twitching awake. But I got out for a gentle 2.5-mile walk the next morning and took a glorious 3-hour nap that afternoon. After celebrating Father’s Day with Chris’s family, I finally slept like a rock that night.

Reflections

This run was a powerful, positive stepping stone—not just in my training for the

Leadville 100, but in this wild, beautiful journey we call life. The power of community, connection, and support really do make the miles possible. This would have been a much different kind of day if I went out on the treadmill all alone grinding. Doing something bigger than myself for a cause I believe in truly made the day enjoyable and worthwhile.

I'm sure I'll do something like this again in the future!

Thank you to everyone who showed up with your time, energy, presence, donations, and love. These moments are made meaningful because they’re shared. Thank you to my coach Don for his ongoing support and insight on this training adventure.

With deep gratitude,

xo,

Barbara

👉 Support the Life Time Foundation here