Confidence in Action: Becoming an Unstoppable Woman
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
By Marie “Lootie” Leautey
In September 2022, I arrived in Sydney, Australia, having completed one of the most profound journeys of my life—running around the world. For two and a half years, I crossed continents on foot, running nearly a marathon every single day. I covered almost 30,000 kilometers and earned the world record for the fastest woman to run around the globe.
And yet, I’ll say this without hesitation: I am not an elite athlete. I am not a champion in the traditional sense. I don’t possess extraordinary physical abilities. I am an ordinary woman, driven by an extraordinary will. A will that remained unshaken across deserts, through snowstorms, in blistering heat and bone-chilling cold. That will was born from something simple, yet profoundly powerful: a desire that could not be silenced.
This journey wasn’t fueled by talent alone—it was powered by purpose. A deep, lifelong desire to see the world. A hunger for freedom. And a belief I’ve carried with me always: that being a woman is never a limitation.
I grew up in the 70s and 80s, when nearly all the adventurers I saw were men. Women in endurance sports were almost invisible. It’s startling to remember that it was only in the 1970s when the first woman fought for the right to run a marathon. Until then, we were deemed too fragile, too unfit. But I never subscribed to that narrative.
With no female role models to look to, I followed the compass of my own heart. At 20, I left my home country to study abroad—and I never looked back. The world was calling, and I couldn’t resist. I lived and worked in many countries, became fluent in four languages, and embraced every new culture and challenge with joy. I didn’t just travel the world—I belonged to it.
What set me apart, I came to realize, was not bravery or strength, but the absence of fear. I didn’t fear the unknown. I didn’t fear being different. I didn’t fear being a woman alone in the world. I believed, and still believe, that awareness and attentiveness—not fear—are our best tools for safety.
By the age of 40, I was living in Southeast Asia, working as a CFO, and enjoying a life of comfort and security. But deep inside, a spark was stirring. A question emerged from the stillness: What if I ran around the world?
The idea was wild, overwhelming—and yet, undeniable. That very night, I searched online. When I discovered that five men and only one woman had completed the feat, I knew: it was possible. And if it was possible, then why not me?
For two years, I prepared while working full-time. I trained, planned, and saved. I had no sponsors—after all, I wasn’t a known athlete with a record to show. So I invested my own savings. That only deepened my commitment. I had skin in the game. Heart in the game. Everything.
I didn’t set out chasing a world record. I chased a dream. I chased meaning. I chased the world itself. The record came along the way—an unexpected but welcome companion.
What I hope to show through my journey is this: you don’t need to be extraordinary to do something extraordinary. You simply need to want it deeply, to believe in yourself fiercely, and to act with intention, courage, and joy.
Above all, I reaffirm this with all my heart: being a woman is not a limitation. Not in how far we can go, how high we can reach, or how boldly we can dream. The only real limits are the ones we accept. And when we shed them, we become unstoppable.
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