Running My Own Race in Copper Canyon
Last weekend I ran the Ultra Caballo Blanco Marathon in Copper Canyon, Mexico.
I was calm at the starting line. Not because the distance was easy. Not because I felt invincible.
But because I had trained for months.
I knew that if I simply kept going, I would finish.
Over those months, I developed a clear strategy for the race.
Walk the ascents.
Run the descents.
Jog the flats as long as possible.
Do not burn out early.
Ignore what other runners are doing.
I wasn’t there to compete with anyone else. I was there to execute my plan.
Throughout the race, I kept my focus small. Not on the total miles left. Just the next aid station. The next bend in the canyon. The next small win.
That mental discipline mattered more than speed.
But here’s what surprised me.
Even with a plan, I had to be flexible.
The day before the race, the forecast showed full sun and temperatures in the 90s with very little shade.
Originally, I planned to run with a hydration pack. But at the last minute, I changed course.
I ditched the pack.
Minimal clothing.
Just a waist belt and one water bottle.
I trusted the aid stations. I trusted my training. And most importantly, I trusted myself to adjust.
The shift didn’t feel chaotic. It felt grounded.
My mantra throughout the race was simple:
“I am grounded and stable in this race because I can trust myself to carry out my plan and make decisions on the fly as the situation warrants.”
That sentence carried me more than any piece of gear.
When I crossed the finish line, I didn’t feel dramatic or emotional.
I felt quiet satisfaction.
I did my best.
I honored my plan.
I adjusted when necessary.
And the results followed.
Kristen Marks at the finish line of the 2026 Caballo Blanco marathon.
Not pictured is her son who also ran the marathon. Both her son & husband were waiting to cheer Kristen on at the finish line.
There is a leadership lesson in that experience that applies far beyond the trail.
Most women law firm owners are not struggling because they lack intelligence or work ethic. They struggle because leadership often feels reactive and chaotic. Every decision feels urgent. Every new challenge creates pressure to push harder or move faster.
But sustainable leadership works differently.
It requires identity stability.
The ability to hold a clear plan, pace yourself strategically, ignore unnecessary comparison, and focus on the next right decision. It also requires the steadiness to adjust when circumstances change without losing your footing.
A hydration pack works in some races.
In 90-degree heat with little shade, it doesn’t (so long as there are ample aid stations to rehydrate along the course).
A hiring strategy may work in one season of business.
In another season, it may need to shift.
Calm leaders are not rigid.
They are steady.
They trust their preparation. They trust their judgment. And they trust themselves to respond in real time.
That kind of grounded flexibility is not personality. It is identity. It is the internal stability that allows a leader to move through pressure without becoming reactive or overwhelmed.
Copper Canyon reminded me that strength is not about pushing harder.
It is about being stable enough to execute your plan and flexible enough to adjust when reality shifts.
On the trail, that looks like walking the ascents and running the descents.
In business, it looks like leading without panic.
Both require the same thing.
Trusting yourself.
Trusting yourself is not just an endurance skill. It is a leadership skill.
If you’re a woman law firm owner navigating the pressures of running a firm, you can subscribe here to receive my occasional reflections on leading with clarity, confidence, and steadiness.
