Run Wild in West Cork
St Patrick's Weekend 2024
Join us for a weekend of running and spend three days with best-selling author and running coach Jonathan Cairns as he takes you out on the roads and trails around his home in beautiful and wild West Cork. While this is for all levels of runners, the mileage will be low so we can focus on the enjoyment of movement. Each of our afternoon sessions highlights ways to enhance and improve our running.
Whether you’re an old hand or a relative newcomer, we promise you a great running experience while you’re with us. Our retreats are designed around running, working up a sweat, having fun and sending you home a better runner. Residential and non-residential places available.
Our next retreat takes place Friday 15th - Monday 18th March 2024
BOOK ME IN!Who We Are
Jonathan & Fiona are a husband & wife running team that enjoys healthy food and being outdoors.
Over the weekend, they will be joined by Caleb Cairns, Body Alignment Specialist and Caroline Cumming, Pilates & Yoga Instructor.
Jonathan is all things running.
He writes, coaches and runs. His first book, The Plant-Based Runner is a personal guide to starting out as a runner. He shares his enthusiasm for movement and maintains that running his first 5km race was just as hard as running his first 100 mile race. His second book, From Marathon To Ultra takes you from marathon running to the world of ultra running.
He has completed 21 marathons and ultra marathons and has a background in sport psychology. When not running, he can often be found in the sea off West Cork.
A word from your coach, Jonathan
To enjoy running as a lifestyle I believe we need three vital ingredients.
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We need to regularly mix up our training and step outside our comfort zone. This keeps us fresh.
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We need to eat well and in a way that supports us, heals us and speeds our recovery.
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We need to strengthen our bodies with exercises and stretches that help us to remain uninjured.
During our weekend retreat, we run for sheer enjoyment, in a landscape that is wild and inspiring.
We learn about maintaining elasticity in our tendons and muscles and the importance of functional body movement in keeping us uninjured.
Through every meal, snack, juice and recovery drink we show you how to fuel an active body.
My hope is that when you depart on Sunday you will leave with a fresh appreciation for your running habit, armed with a backpack stuffed with practical tips & knowledge, to be used as required.
Caleb
Body Alignment Specialist and Strength & Conditioning coach, based in Schull in West Cork. Caleb's focus is on functional movement including biomechanics.
Caroline
Pilates & Yoga Instructor, Caroline is a physiotherapist with a special interest in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. Over 17 years experience in biomechanics and sports physiotherapy.
Fiona
Food Matters Nutrition coach and outdoor enthusiast, Fiona's running takes second place to her sea swimming adventures in the Atlantic Ocean that surrounds our location for this weekend retreat.
Home for the weekend
Your home for the weekend is our home on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in Schull, West Cork. Surrounded on three sides by the sea, there are spectacular sea views from every room in the house.
The house offers plenty of room to relax and recover after runs. Take a book from the library and sit back in the sunroom and enjoy the sunset or chat with other runners in the generous open-plan kitchen enjoying the open fire.
Nine miles from the house (out in the Atlantic) lies the Fastnet Lighthouse, the most southerly point of Ireland. Situated on the Wild Atlantic Way, you're perfectly placed to explore the surrounding areas. Mizen Head, Barleycove Beach, Schull, Bantry, Glengariff and Sheep's Head.
Take some time to explore the area and have a weekend you will remember for years to come.
Weekend Itinerary
Our timetable is designed around running, however this is not an endurance weekend. We will have one run each morning of between 5km and 10km, with a second optional run on Saturday afternoon.
This weekend is suitable for anyone who enjoys running and has run continuously for one hour and has completed a distance of at least 10km. We will be running on a mixture of roads and trails. Some of the routes are spectacular.
The focus is on running, learning, having fun, eating well and being around like minded people. Being a coffee lover, each day will include at least one coffee stop.
With years of experience working with runners of all abilities and aspirations, we will work with you to train smarter, race better and avoid niggling injuries.
We've built in plenty of down-time to just sit back and enjoy being in this wild & quiet landscape. If at any time you would prefer to take it easy or do your own thing, no problem. Your time is your own and all activities are optional.
West Cork is a beautiful place to get out and walk on the beach or in the mountains. If you have a friend or partner that would like to join you for the weekend, but skip the runs, non-runners are more than welcome to join us.
As your home for the weekend is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean we can bring anyone brave enough to get in for a sunrise swim each morning.
Sample itinerary for our three day running retreat * 👉
* We offer a non-residential option too. If you would like to take part in the weekend, but don't need to stay, you can join us for everything but the bed & breakfast.
FRIDAY:
- Check in from 4pm
- Evening Meal
SATURDAY:
- Brave Souls Sunrise Swim
- Breakfast
- Morning Run
- Lunch
- Workshop with Caleb, Body Alignment Specialist:
How to Avoid Injury - Evening Meal
SUNDAY:
- Brave Souls Sunrise Swim
- Breakfast
- Morning Run
- Lunch
- Workshop with Jonathan:
The Psychology of Running - Afternoon Run / Mountain Hike (weather dependent)
- Evening Meal in local restaurant (cost not included)
MONDAY:
- Yoga with Caroline:
Morning Yoga - Breakfast
- Morning Run
- Lunch
- Depart for Home
Nutritious & Delicious
We have devised a delicious and nutritious menu (featuring local produce where available) specifically selected to support your running and recovery. There’ll also be home-baked goodies to enjoy to keep those energy levels topped up.
As we are both plant-based, we will be serving all homemade, delicious vegetarian meals with vegan options. All food is gluten-free.
We serve a larger meal at lunchtime and a lighter meal in the evening to aid recovery post-run and support sleep. But don't worry, you won't go hungry. Dip into the snacks on offer and the overflowing fruit bowl at any time. We also have a wide selection of herbal teas, regular tea and locally roasted coffee and decaf coffee for you to enjoy at any time.
Sample menu for our three day running retreat 👉
BREAKFAST:
- Homemade Granola
- Fresh Fruit Salad
- Scrambled Tofu & Homemade Oatbread
POST-RUN SNACK:
- Chocolate Protein Shake
LUNCH:
- Pad Thai with Tofu & Vegtables
- Salad
- Raw Blueberry Cheesecake
AFTERNOON SNACK:
- Green Smoothie
- Selection of Dips served with Corn Cakes, Oat Cakes and Tortilla Chips
EVENING MEAL:
- Soup
- Salad
- Homemade Oatbread
- Baked Potatoes
Accommodation
There are five rooms in the house. There are two shared bathrooms for all guests.
Booking Policy
Payment is taken in full at time of booking.
Refund in full is available until two weeks before the event to give us an opportunity to re-book.
If you cancel after this date, and we manage to re-book, we will return your payment minus a €50 admin fee.
What's included
The Cost Includes:
Three nights accommodation
Three days of running coaching and support with Jonathan
- Four guided runs (optional) of varying lengths
- Workshop with Caleb: How to Avoid Injury
- Workshop with Jonathan: The Psychology of Running
- Yoga with Caroline: Morning Yoga
- Two Brave Souls Sunrise Swims (optional)
Delicious food to keep you full of energy and feeling great:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Evening Meal
- Snacks, smoothies, tea & coffee
What's not included
The Cost Doesn’t Include:
- Transport to and from the retreat venue
- Saturday evening meal in the local village
- Optional Body Alignment treatment
- We will try and pool cars rather than get local taxis
Non-residential guests
If you would like to take part in the weekend, but don't need to stay, you can join us for everything but the bed & breakfast.
Gear
There's one thing you can be sure of when you live on the Atlantic coast - you can't rely on the weather. We suggest you pack for all seasons, and bring plenty of spare running gear.
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Enough running gear for four runs
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Trail running shoes required for trail runs
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Waterproof jacket
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Running hat and gloves
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Reflective jacket / bib
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Head torch (helpful if you fancy an evening walk as local roads are unlit)
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Hiking boots or shoes (these will allow us to get out on the mountain trail - weather permitting)
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Beach towel & swim gear if you plan on sea swimming (we will provide bed linen and towels for showers)
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Sun visor, sun glasses & suncream (well we can dream, can't we?)
What They're Saying About Jonathan's Books
Jonathan is best-selling author of The Plant-Based Runner and he recently published his second book From Marathon to Ultra.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an age limit?
I’m coeliac, do you cater for different food requirements?
Is it okay that I am a slow runner? Will I get left behind?
Will there be alone time during the weekend?
I’m not a great swimmer but I would love to try early morning swims.
Have you a refund policy?
Are dogs allowed?
Will this be a serious or a fun weekend?
Where is the retreat taking place?
Is your query not answered here?
I'd like to, but these dates don't suit me
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