Tuesday, 29 November 2022

A running retreat or running school

Imagine a week or a weekend during which you didn’t have to work. Days were spent running, meeting good people, eating, sleeping, and learning. In addition, you find yourself motivated for months afterward. This is the essence of what we do during our Galloway running retreats. Many of our participants tell me that the retreat was their reward for staying with their running program for three months, six months a year.

Others needed motivation improves after a layoff. More than a few times a year, Barbara and I conduct beach weekend retreats at Blue Mountain Beach, FL. Not only is there a beautiful white sand beach, but due to its location, there is a series of state parks and a forest preserve, which means hundreds of miles of beautiful trails that wind through pine forests. More often than not during the middle of July, we conduct a weeklong program in the Lake Tahoe area of California.

During each retreat, there are clinics on building endurance, nutrition, fat-burning, getting faster, motivation, shoes, strength, and more. Individual questions are asked constantly, and problem-solving situations are welcomed. Interacting with others results in new friendships and a lot of fun.

Joy Johnson is one of our long-term friends who inspire us every year. She has won her age group many times in the Boston and New York marathons. But that’s not the main source of inspiration. Last year, while on a hike, Joy slipped and hurt her leg so badly that she didn’t know that she would be able to run again.

When one is over eighty, the healing is much slower, but Joy was determined. One year later, Joy was back at Tahoe, training for the next marathon. She is also a beautiful person with a lot of determination. Each participant can receive an individualized running form evaluation. Suggestions are given for those who have challenges. Several form drills are taught to help improve running mechanics. Running schools are three-hour to five-hour focused sessions that cover the content areas taught at running retreats.

These are held in about twenty locations around the United States each year. During each session, I can cut through the conflicting advice, help design a focused training program, and deal with individual problems. I personally conduct each of these sessions. Sign up now and you’ll be motivated leading up to the retreat/school, with a boost for months afterward.