Guided Trail Runs | Mindful Running Workshops | Restorative Yoga | Desert Beauty | Natural Running Form Clinics
Book March 26 - 29, 2020Book October 22 - 25, 2020During the four-day, three-night Moab Mindful Running Retreat, situated in a stunning desert landscape of red rock, soaring cliffs and delicate natural arches, you’ll tune in to what drives you—in running and in life—and make sure that your energy is going into the activities that most feed your soul.
Each day’s run offers a new challenge, and therefore opportunity, to learn something new and take your running to a whole new level because it is possible to be the runner you want to be without having to train harder and push yourself to exhaustion. While it’s not necessary to have run trails before, this retreat is recommended for runners who can comfortably run 8 miles or more on the road. With the support of your retreat leader and running guides, you’ll be able run at your own pace, without needing to keep up with anyone else. You’ll stop frequently to soak up the views, snack and hydrate and savor each mindful moment.
Through our practical clinics, informative discussions, mindful movement and free time for quiet contemplation, you’ll stop the energy drains and divert your energy back into your running. Become a durable, strong, motivated runner using these tools and techniques that will keep you healthy and injury free. Immerse yourself in the powerful healing energy of this vibrant desert landscape as you run scenic, challenging trails at a pace that is playful, relaxed and social.
Day 1 Thursday | Powerful Posture
Our program begins at 2:00 pm at Red Cliffs Lodge with the official welcome orientation meeting, during which your retreat leader will review what’s in store for the upcoming days and meet your fellow retreat participants. After the meeting, you will be able to check into your rooms and drop off your belongings. We ask for volunteers to carpool to a nearby trail for our first group run. After a short warm up, we’ll introduce the Power Posture, after which we’ll put these tips into practice during our relaxed shake-out run of about an hour. After freshening up back at the lodge, we’ll enjoy a classic southwestern meal at the Red Cliffs Lodge’s Cowboy Grill.
Time on trail (including stops and clinic): 90 minutes to 2 hours
Day 2 Friday | A Run Through Time
We begin the day with breakfast at the lodge, then meet our guides and drive to the trailhead of today’s run that will eventually take us along the Colorado River. Near the run’s start, our second Natural Running Form Clinic will give you the secret to using breath to regulate pace and efficiency while running uphill. These simple techniques will help us during today’s scenic and rewarding trail run past ancient petroglyphs carved into the rock by the Anasazi people. Upon finishing, we’ll enjoy a casual picnic lunch, then drive back to the Red Cliffs Lodge for some downtime. Late afternoon is our first Mindful Running Workshops, during which you’ll uncover the truth about what’s holding you back from running and feeling your best. After the workshop, we’ll ask for new volunteers to help us carpool into town for a restorative yoga class for runners (no experience necessary!), followed by dinner at one of Moab’s trendiest downtown restaurants.
Time on trail (including stops): 3 – 4 hours
Day 3 Saturday | Mindful Form at Navajo Rocks
After breakfast at the lodge, we’ll meet our guides again and drive with them to the Navajo Rocks Trails. Upon arrival at the trailhead, we’ll have our third Natural Running Form clinic, then begin our loop run through some of Moab’s icon landscapes, including cliffs, monoliths and sage brush. At the halfway point, you may opt to end your run here, or continue you run to complete the full loop. Once we return to Red Cliffs Lodge, we’ll have lunch on the River Deck, followed by free time to freshen up. Before dinner is the last workshop with your retreat leader, during which you’ll also have an opportunity to purchase items from the Mindful Running shop. Tonight we’re in for a special treat at a neighboring ranch (asking one last time for a few volunteers to carpool for the 5-minute drive), where we’ll enjoy a three-course farm-to-table gastronomic feast.
Time on trail (including stops): 2.5 – 3.5 hours
Day 4 Sunday | Feeling Fine at Fisher Towers
Over a light continental breakfast, we’ll dive right into our final Mindful Running Workshop, which is all about cultivating confidence and breaking through the mental blocks that keep us stuck in familiar yet not always healthy routines. Shortly afterwards, it’s a short drive with our guides to our final trail run that is truly a celebration in the simple joy and adventure of running for our own health and happiness. During this out-and-back run, we take our time to soak up the views and see the soaring Fisher Towers. Upon our return to the lodge, we enjoy a Utah-sized brunch buffet before our final wrap-up and farewells by 1:30p.m.
Time on trail: 2 – 2.5 hours
This program operates under a special recreation permit with the Bureau of Land Management Moab Field Office.
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The total run distance for this retreat will be between approximately 22 and 28 miles. Each day’s run in this itinerary is represented by time spent on the trail rather than miles run because the mileage covered will depend largely on your run pace. Faster runners will cover more mileage than slower runners in some cases. These run times include breaks to enjoy the views, take photos, eat and drink. The precise route and trails run may change due to changes to trail routes, weather conditions, guide recommendations and other safety considerations.
Wellness Workshops
How mindful running helps you stress less and run morePart I: Stress and Runners
Where does your energy go? Do you ever feel too tired to run? Do you ever feel so overwhelmed at the prospect of starting a training plan that you give up before you’ve begun? Do your long runs or hard workouts so wiped out that you’re pretty much useless the rest of the day? Discover what feeds your energy and what depletes your energy and how to stop the energy leaks.
Part II: Mitigating the Effects of Stress
How do you know if you're doing enough to build your fitness and reach your goals, but not so much that you're becoming depleted and at risk of over extending yourself? You’ll design your own mindful running practice that will allow you to fulfill your goals and run with confidence. Discover how mindful breathing improves your running efficiency and dial down the stress response in any situation.
Part III: Values Inform Intentions
Running is an important part of your personal self-care routine, and yet, it can be so hard to prioritize sometimes. Fulfilling your potential is about living in alignment with your values. These mindful intention-setting exercises allows you to align your approach to running with you values around wellness, self care and fitness. Come away with a clear approach to balancing health with life's demands.
Natural Running Form Clinics
Use mindful running to run more efficiently and prevent injuryPart I: Power Posture
Use proper alignment to make gravity do more of the work. This reduces the muscular force involved with running so it feels easier and less strenuous on muscles and joints.
Part II: Focus on Efficiency
Use natural running techniques to drastically improve efficiency. You'll practice changing stride length, cadence and tempo on various types of terrain.
Part III: Find Flow
Put the pieces together to achieve the ultimate trail running experience. Learn to cultivate the circumstances for flow to occur by being relaxed and mindful.
About Your Retreat Leader, Kirsten Horning
Kirsten Horning is a well-traveled, well-read runner with a background in teaching and an itch to share her passion for the outdoors with others. She has a Masters in Educational Leadership and Human Resources and a Bachelors’ Degree in German. Kirsten worked for Outward Bound as an instructor and course director for six years, during which she led mountaineering courses through the Sierra and Rocky Mountains.
Her love of connecting with different people and places has led her to live two years in Germany, and travel extensively from Nepal to Guatemala to Hawaii and many places in between. She loves running for its simplicity, the deep sense of community it can facilitate, and the ways in which she has witnessed running help her and others grow. Kirsten believes people must reach deep within themselves in physically demanding situations to find a sense of purpose, personal motivation and strength. She lives and runs in Telluride, Colorado with her husband and three children.
Participant Photos + Testimonials
Details About Your Four-Day, Three-Night Package
Moab Mindful Running Retreat| Retreat Group Size: | Running Level | Price Per Person (Shared double occupancy suite): |
Price Per Person (Private suite bedroom): |
Deposit: | Duration: |
| 18 | II | $1,995 USD | $2,395 USD | $600 USD | 4 Days |
- What's Included
- Exclusions
- Getting to Moab
- Other Important Things to Know
- Is This Retreat Right for You?
• Three nights’ accommodation at the Red Cliffs Lodge
• Meals from dinner on Thursday through lunch on Sunday
• Daily guided runs
• Mindful Running workshops
• One restorative yoga class for runners
• Natural Running Form clinics
• Trail snacks/energy food and drinks
• Private group within the Healthy Runners’ Community
• Run Wild Retreats gift bag
- Flights
- Transportation to/from the airport
- Alcoholic drinks
- Other incidentals
- Guide gratuity
- Some ground transportation
- Travel/cancellation insurance
- Anything else not listed under “What’s Included”
Another good choice is the Salt Lake City International Airport (a 4.5-hour drive from Moab).
We are usually able to coordinate retreat participants who fly into these airports so they can share rental cars for the drive to Moab. Otherwise, shuttle services are available.
The Moab Airport (called Canyonlands Field) is located just 10 miles from Moab, and currently has flights from Salt Lake City and Denver. Taxi service is available from the Moab Airport to the Red Cliffs Lodge through these providers:
If you book your retreat with a deposit, the balance payment will be due approximately 3 months before the retreat begins. After that time, full payment is needed at time of booking to secure your spot. Click here for the booking and cancellation policy.
About the Accommodations
We will be staying in suites at Moab’s Red Cliffs Lodge. Every room at Red Cliffs Lodge has a soothing view of either the Colorado River (just 100 feet away) or Castle Creek, which runs through the property. Every luxury room is a mini suite featuring:
• Separate kitchenette • Coffee pot • Refrigerator • Microwave • Toaster • Air-conditioner • Separate dining area • Fully tiled bathrooms with bathtub/showers • Carpet/Mexican Satillo Tile On-site facilities also include outdoor pool, hot tub and exercise room.
Special Dietary Needs
We can accommodate those with special diets, including vegetarians, gluten-free and vegan, though meal options may be limited for some meals. When you register for the retreat, you can indicate your special dietary needs in your Retreat Participants Intake Form.
- This retreat is rated Level II, which means we recommend you have a base fitness level that allows you to run up to 8 miles at a time on roads. It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you run–really!
- Daily runs at this retreat range from 5 miles to 9 miles on singletrack trails.
- Two guides accompany the group to support the different pace groups, so there’s no pressure to run faster than you’re comfortable.
- Trail running experience isn’t necessary. Your retreat leader provides trail-running tips for running in this terrain.
- You’ll encounter trails with loose rocks, and some exposure to heights. You can walk/hike trail sections as you need.
- Trail running shoes are required.