From the rolling, heather-covered hills of the Wicklow Mountains to soaring Cliffs of Moher to Killarney’s majestic waterfalls, this retreat immerses you in Irish running culture, history and beauty
Our friends at Trail Running Ireland advised us on where to find hidden trail-running gems. Our daily runs, which vary in length from one to 3+ hours, take us along boardwalks, over rolling hills, along serene lakeshores and along breathtaking clifftops. Each day offers up something different: a lively lunch at a historic Irish pub, live traditional music, hearty meals and scenic drives through the Irish countryside.
And of course, to balance out the fun and adventure, we’ve also left time free for shopping, quiet contemplation or a relaxing spa treatment. Let this country’s warm hospitality, natural beauty and tonifying salty air fill your heart and invigorate your spirit.
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en if you’re new to trail running or don’t usually run consecutive days in a row, you’ll surprise yourself with how you feel when you employ the mindful running techniques offered by your retreat leader.
This fully guided running retreat frees you from the burden of having to think about navigating, planning meals or taking care of others, you are able to focus fully on your self and your well-being.
"If you're looking for a way to get to do what you love, which is run, and not worry about a thing, these retreats are for you! I ran Ireland and loved every second of it. Our retreat leader, Liz, was wonderful and always took care of us. We had to think about nothing - only enjoying ourselves. I left feeling refreshed and in awe of our experience."
--Amy M
"Everything about the retreat in Ireland surpassed my expectations! The food, the lodging and the incredible trails! Our guide, Liz, is not only a skilled runner but a wonderful and supportive person to have alongside you on the trails. This was my first retreat and I hope to attend another soon! Every detail was arranged, and you just need to pack your gear and enjoy this incredible adventure!
--Becky L.
This retreat is rated Level II. This means it’s suitable for you if:
Mindful Running is this retreat's defining experience. Your dedicated Retreat Leader will lead you through experiences on and off the trail that are designed to help you discover how to run with more ease and flow. And if you've never run trails before, you'll learn how to adapt your road running technique for this new terrain. And if you're an experienced trail runner, you'll take your running to a whole new level of efficiency and joy. Connect more deeply with nature, yourself and other women through this powerful practice that provides you with skills and insights to maximize the stress-reducing effects of running.
This retreat can be the kind of vacation that truly transforms your state of mind and body, if you're open to it. Our retreats are designed to support you as a whole woman, not just a runner. That means you can expect free time to yourself, away from the group. It means that there are wellness experiences included in your retreat package to support your nervous system reset. This is your chance to heal from the effects of stress and focus on doing the things that energize you, inspire you and feed your soul.
Ireland's vast landscape is characterized by agricultural lowlands, hills, lakes and bogs surrounded by coastal mountains. Known as the Emerald Isle for its lush vegetation, this is a diverse island of extraordinary natural beauty and has a deep artistic and historical heritage.
The weather in Ireland is mild and ideal for trail running, as the country typically avoids the extreme temperature fluctuations. In September, the temperatures are typically between 48 and 55 degrees. We undoubtedly will encounter wind and some rain, however. For this reason, we recommend carrying a light wind/rain shell jacket on every run.
We spend most of our time at sea level, so elevation is not a factor in this retreat. A couple of our runs do take us into the "mountains" though these are low mountains that take us no more than a few hundred feet above sea level. The trails we're running are well-established, and some have been in use for millennia. The trail surfaces include dirt road, wide dirt pathways, singletrack trail and boardwalks (to traverse the shoe-sucking mud bogs!).
The total run distance for this retreat will be between approximately 32 to 38 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 on some days.
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.
This hotel offers a traditional and warm Irish welcome in a truly magnificent setting. In the 1940’s Ms Hilda Huggard became the proprietor of The Lake Hotel and passed it to her four nephews in the late 1990’s, thus ensuring that her legacy of true Irish hospitality was carried on. Experience for yourself the stunning lakeside location and the friendly Irish welcome. In the afternoons, enjoy free time to visit the Lake Wellness Center, which offers a steam room, sauna and outdoor hot tub throughout your stay. Immerse yourself in tranquility and savor breathtaking views lake views from the comfort of the outdoor hot tub. Rest and recharge from our relaxation room with picture perfect surroundings.
The Falls Hotel & Spa in Ennistymon, is at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. This hotel passionately supports sustainable tourism and has been designated as a carbon-neutral property by Green Hospitality Ireland for its use of hydro electricity generated from the river running alongside it. The hotel is just 10 minutes' drive from the majestic Cliffs of Moher, and is the perfect base to explore this beautiful part of the country. The spacious rooms at the Falls Hotel are decorated in warm colors and feature flat-screen TVs. Duringo our stay we'll dine in Cascades Restaurant, which looks out at the river, and offers traditional as well as international dishes prepared from local produce with an emphasis on seafood from west Clare's Atlantic coastline.
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No visit to Ireland is complete without experience an authentic Irish pub--or two--so that's exactly what we do! With verdant green hills and pastures, there’s a huge opportunity for locally grown produce as well as some of the best beef, pork, and lamb in the world. There’s also some amazing seafood to be eaten, and not just fish and chips. Irish dishes include more than just meat, potatoes, and cabbage. We've sought out some of the coziest, renowned Irish pubs along our travel route for lunches and dinners that don't just satiate but also immerse us in the culture and history that make Irish pubs so cherished the world over.
Most meals are included in your retreat package. We make every effort to accommodate your dietary preferences and restrictions. However, there are occasions when we may face limitations. You'll have a chance to indicate your specific dietary requirements in the retreat participant intake form. Please note that alcoholic drinks are excluded, and snacks and beverages outside of meals are not included.
One of the best ways to deepen your experience with mindfulness during and after your retreat is to add the Transformational Travel Journal to your package. This co-branded journal by Run Wild Retreats in partnership with the Transformational Travel Journal provides an intentional space to write, draw, sketch and otherwise creatively express what meaning this travel experience has for you. Filled with thoughtful writing prompts, inspirational quotes and mindfulness-inspired ideas, we highly recommend using this journal to help you enhance your mindful running experience.
Dublin, Ireland 
We recommend flying to Dublin International Airport the day before the retreat begins, or the morning of Day 1. If you fly in on Day 1, our driver (who will be holding a Run Wild Retreats sign) will meet you at the Arrivals Hall of the airport at 12:30 p.m. at Terminal 1’s Currency Exchange Desk. If you arrived the previous day, we will rendez-vous at the Clarence Hotel located at 6-8 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 
Our retreat begins in Dublin City, where we'll pick you up at a central location at 1 p.m. and drive 75 minutes south to County Wicklow, where our retreat program begins. Upon arrival, we'll check into our rooms at a family-owned hotel nestled in the wooded valley of Glendalough. 
After breakfast, meet in the main lobby in your running clothes (including a light jacket!), your hydration pack plus a warm jacket you can leave in the bus during the run, but will be grateful to have at the run’s end. We’ll drive about 25 minutes along Wicklow’s winding, narrow country roads to the trailhead at Crones, where our retreat leader will lead us through the power posture, our first mindful running clinic, to set the stage for the deeper mindful running experiences to come.
After an early light breakfast at the Wicklow Heather House, we’ll meet up for our final run in Wicklow on a rewarding route along the Spinc Trail ("spinc" being Irish for "pointed hill"). We’ll take a short drive to the shore of Lake Glendalough, then hop on the crushed gravel trails that take us past Poulnass waterfall, then begin a long, gradual ascent (hiking is the best way to pace yourself here), to hilltop Upper Glendalough Lake.
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After breakfast at The Falls Hotel, meet in the lobby wearing your running clothes and hydration pack plus a daypack with a change of clothes for after the run, since you won’t have access to your luggage until late afternoon when we arrive at The Lake Hotel.
After breakfast at The Lake Hotel, we have a 25-minute drive to Kate Kearney's Cottage at the mouth of the Gap of Dunloe, a narrow mountain pass forged between the MacGillycuddy Reeks and Purple Mountain.
You're in for a real treat at the award-winning Spa at Muckross, a Gothic-inspired wellness space offering ultimate tranquility and relaxation. Designed to reflect the unique nature of our surroundings, nothing has been spared in the luxurious layout of contemporary monastic elegance. You'll begin with an hour to enjoy the serenity of the Vitality Suite, a sacred space features an indoor swimming pool, steam room, jacuzzi, ice fountain, herbal steam room and more. Includes a 50-minute full-body massage. We will arrange your transportation to and from the hotel to the spa for a seamless experience. 
Our final group run serves as a celebration of how far you’ve come, not just physically to Ireland, but internally. Today’s route, which we fondly call the “Waterfall Run” gives you the space to tune in to your body and remember how you felt on day one of this retreat versus today. 
This afternoon you have the option to take a guided tour of Ross Castle, which sits on the edge of Lough Leane, Killarney’s lower lake, not far from the Lake Hotel. This medieval tower house was built by O’Donoghue Mór in the 15th century, and then later was occupied by the Brownes, who became the Earls of Kenmare and owned an extensive portion of the lands that are now part of Killarney National Park. On this tour, you'll get a fascinating peek into what life was like in Ireland at this time and the lengths that landowners had to go to protect their families from attackers. (Exact time of the tour will depend on availability).
This morning, you’ll have the option to participate in an early pre-breakfast run from the hotel that takes you through the hauntingly beautiful ruins of Muckross Abbey. This run is no more than an hour and is a great way to get in a few more miles before the day’s long drive back to the city. You'll return to the hotel in plenty of time to have a hearty breakfast, shower and pack up.
