2012 Trail Running Camps

Wow! How’d it get to be 2012 already? Regardless, it’s time to pull out those new calendars and to start making plans. Whether you’re just coming into trail or ultrarunning or you’re a veteran looking for a new adventure with new friends, a running camp might be right up your alley. I’ve attended one camp as a drop-in coach and I had a blast. I got to meet so many new people, explore new trails, talk lots of running, and learn from those around me. Just in case this sounds like something that you’d like to check out, I wanted to share a couple camp options with you. If you’re ever looking for a camp, there’s always a link in the bottom of the righthand sidebar that will take you to iRunFar’s camp directory.

This year, you can start the year off right with the all-new All-Start Running Retreats in Las Vegas, Nevada. These trail running retreats are hosted by Ian Sharman, who’ll be joined by Geoff Roes and Devon Crosby-Helms in the initial offering. This truly all-star running cast will help guide your runs and discussions as well as possibly join you on some Las Vegas escapades… we won’t ask. The inaugural All-Star Running Retreat will be held February 16-19 with a $100 early bird discount if you register by January 15. It will be the first of many retreats.

Speaking of Geoff Roes, his Alaska Mountain Ultraunning Camps saw enough success in last summer’s inaugural outings that he’s added a third camp this summer. Who better to learn about rugged mountain running than Geoff? While you’re at it you’ll get to explore the mountain trails around Juneau with someone who knows them as well as anyone. We hear Geoff’s quite the cook, too! You can join him from May 28 to June 2, from June 8 to 14, and from July 24-30.

While their 2012 schedule is still being developed, I’ll point you in the direction of the Dreamchasers. The only running camp I’ve attended as an adult was one of theirs on the west side of the Teton Mountains and I loved it. This year, Dreamschasers will be hosting two general fitness camps, one in Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile in January and another in Tuscany, Italy in May. Not bad places to get moving.

If you’re a woman who’s looking to get more comfortable on the trails, I’d recommend you attend Elinor Fish’s Run Wild Retreat. Elinor is a former Trail Runner magazine editor, who’ll be putting on her third edition of the Retreat from August 16-19, 2012. Yoga is provided in addition to the trail runs and seminars you might expect at such a camp.

Although not quite a camp, I can now share that I’ll be joining Inca Runners as an ambassador for a 10-day tour in Peru from November 7-16. We’ll be learning Inca culture from Cusco while we acclimate for a few days. From there, we’ll tour the two lost cities of the Inca, Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. Lots more on this later!

Call for Comments

• Have you ever attended a running camp as an adult? If so, what did you think?
• Thinking of attending a camp in 2012? If so, which one(s)?

International Trail Running Camp Schedule

[If you direct a trail running or ultrarunning camp, please feel free to contact us to have your camp added to the schedule.]

Related articles:

1. Ultramarathon and Trail Running Camps A guide to trail running and ultramarathon camps for adults from around the world....
2. Go Back to Summer Camp, You Trail Runner! A roundup of a few trail running and ultramarathon camps for adults being held in 2010....
3. Geoff Roes’s Alaska Mountain Ultraruning Camps An interview with Geoff Roes about his upcoming Alaska Mountain Ultrarunning Camps...

Filed under Resources · Tagged with Devon Crosby-Helms, Geoff Roes, Ian Sharman

Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
All posts by Bryon Powell