Sept 5 to Sept 8, 2025
Nestled in majestic Adirondack Park, Lake Placid, NY, is one of the most beloved winter playgrounds in the U.S. Yet us runners (and hikers!) are convening in this alpine village at the tail end of summer when we can still run in a single layer of workout wear, open-water swim, stand-up paddleboard, kayak, hike, and enjoy drinks al fresco. Lake Placid has a charming, walkable downtown—where our retreat host hotel is located—yet you’re never far from nature. It offers easy access to Adirondack Park's breathtaking, unspoiled beauty—6.1 million acres of trails, rivers, streams, wildlife habitat, and more.
Our host hotel is at one end of lovely Main Street. Filled with so many unique restaurants, cafes, and shops, a walk around town is a fun way to spend time with friends old and new. The resort is also located on the banks of Mirror Lake, the beautiful in-town lake that is only accessible by human-powered crafts (meaning no power boats!). A 3-mile running/walking route, where we’ll do morning excursions, circles Mirror Lake.
Whether you want to learn running guidance and advice from experts; run and/or hike; swim in or paddle on Mirror Lake; enjoy a yoga session or two; be part of a podcast recording; croon karaoke at the farewell dinner; or befriend other women runners, you will be delighted by the extended-weekend offerings.
Join a bevy of women runners for this 4-day, 3-night Run + Refresh Retreat in Lake Placid, New York, from Friday, September 6 to Monday, September 9, 2024.
The location
The Adirondacks are the greatest natural playground on the East Coast, and Lake Placid is the center of the action! Surrounded by forests crisscrossed by tree-canopied trails and mountainous peaks, the village has a charming Main Street that backs up to boat-free Mirror Lake. A 3-mile loop around Mirror Lake lets visitors enjoy the lake from various vantage points, especially on our morning runs/walks! By gathering in early September, we will miss the summer crowds yet still get to enjoy warm temperatures and lake access.
An Olympic fanatic? Lake Placid was the site of two Winter Olympics Games in 1932 and 1980—which included the dramatic U.S. hockey victory over the Soviet Union, known as “The Miracle on Ice.” The area is home to several Olympic facilities, including Whiteface Mountain, the Olympic Oval, and the Olympic Jumping Complex.
We have cultivated a community of like-minded women with similar goals and challenges.
Lake Placid, New York, is an alpine village nestled in Adirondack Park. Lake Placid is an approximately two-hour drive from to international airports: Albany, New York (code: ALB) and Burlington, Vermont (code: BTV). If you fly to the retreat, your best option is to rent a car to drive to Albany or connect with other retreaters (via the private Facebook group you can join once you register for the retreat) and coordinate a carpool. Our host hotel is located in charming downtown Lake Placid on the banks of tranquil Mirror Lake.
$189/night for a king or queen single occupancy ($213 for double occupancy; $237 for triple; $261 for quad). Those rates include WiFi, a complimentary glass of sparkling wine at check-in, and more. The property has three buildings, and the majority (possibly all) retreaters will stay in the main building.
If you want to find a roommate to save $$ on accommodations, you can post on the retreat’s private Facebook page you’ll get invited to once you register. Loads of gals find roomiest that way!
Newbies to ultra-marathoners are all welcome. In order to get the most out of the retreat, it will be helpful if you can cover 3 miles in run/walk intervals, regardless of pace. Reminder: There is no race at this retreat.
Absolutely: You’ll meet and befriend numerous women from around the country (and possibly the globe), bonding over miles around Mirror Lake and on Adirondack trails, whether you opt to run, walk, or hike.
Along with the aforementioned BRFs (because you can never have too many!), you’ll learn from sessions led by running and self-care experts. You’ll experience trail running (if you so choose) on Adirondack trails or maybe slow your roll to a hike. The choice is yours!
Not at all (and thanks for asking!): All women runners are welcome. Nothing mother-specific about the retreat (except for the name of our brand!). At each of our retreats, we’ve had attendees who aren’t moms–and moms of older offspring who attend with a grown daughter or niece. We welcome all!
You mean other than being away from laundry-duties, having cooked food magically appear, and a bed all to yourself? All activities at the Retreat are optional–no judgment if you want to sleep until 10:00 (or stay up past midnight!), window-shop the local stores, taste-test local craft beers, or lounge by one of the host hotel’s four (4!) pools. We are also looking into having certified, vetted massage therapists give 50-minute massages on Sunday afternoon so you can set up an unwind session. (Not included in price of Retreat.)
Our host hotel has a 24-hour fitness center with cardio equipment, free weights, and more, plus a yoga room. We’ll offer one, possibly two, group yoga sessions during the weekend. We are talking to a pickleball pro to give group lessons at nearby courts.
Um, do we sweat when we run? Yes, yes, yes, attend solo! We promise, you’ll have a coterie of running buddies within the first mile—or actually, the first hours. At previous retreats, the majority of gals attended solo–but they weren’t alone. And it always seems like it’s the self-proclaimed introverts who laugh the loudest when they dance and sing karaoke at our retreats’ farewell parties! That said, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy some much-needed quiet in your room, strolling downtown, or exploring Lake Placid has to offer. If you attend solo but want to split cost of hotel room, the retreat’s private Facebook page can help you find a roomie. Loads of previous retreat attendees have gone this route–and come away with a new friend.
Yes, we want to ensure everyone has a memorable, meaningful experience, so we are limiting the retreat to 65 attendees.
The retreat welcome is at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 6, so plan on being at the High Peaks Resort, our host property, by that time, if possible. The hotel is a ~2-hour drive from both Albany and Burlington airports (codes: ALB + BVT).
Book a departing flight on Monday, September 9 at noon EDT or later, if possible, so you can say your farewells. (And not have to cut short Sunday night partying!)