Acadia's Premier Running Retreats
Explore New England's Running Paradise
Bar Harbor, Maine | Wabanaki Land
Thanks to everyone who joined our June retreat and made the weekend so special!
August Retreat: Thursday to Sunday, 08/01 to 08/04
Retreat Overview:
Join us for four days and three nights of running, dining, and relaxing in and around Acadia National Park. Our adventures will take us through the eastern deciduous and northern boreal forests of the park, on trails carpeted with moss and pine needles, and up bald peaks with sweeping views of the surrounding islands and ocean. All runs throughout the retreat will be designed to accommodate various paces and abilities with multiple distance/elevation options offered (runs are also no drop, meaning we will stop and regroup as needed at various points along the trail).
We will get the most out of the lovely weather by heading out into the heart of the park for runs each morning after breakfast. Post lunch, we will have time to rest, enjoy a yoga session or a workshop discussion, and go for a lake swim. Our retreat's educational workshops are offered to enhance your running knowledge and experience on the trails. Before dinner we will embark on a relaxed recovery run through the nearby network of carriage trails, and in the evening we can walk downtown for a cone of delicious ice cream or sit around a campfire by the ocean with s'mores and celebrate the day's big adventures. Your hosts will be on site throughout the entire weekend, to lead runs and workshops, provide local knowledge of the area, be an open book for any questions or discussions regarding trail running, and to enjoy the magical experience of sharing in the special community created through the simple and beautiful act of movement outdoors. We are so excited to meet you all!
We will get the most out of the lovely weather by heading out into the heart of the park for runs each morning after breakfast. Post lunch, we will have time to rest, enjoy a yoga session or a workshop discussion, and go for a lake swim. Our retreat's educational workshops are offered to enhance your running knowledge and experience on the trails. Before dinner we will embark on a relaxed recovery run through the nearby network of carriage trails, and in the evening we can walk downtown for a cone of delicious ice cream or sit around a campfire by the ocean with s'mores and celebrate the day's big adventures. Your hosts will be on site throughout the entire weekend, to lead runs and workshops, provide local knowledge of the area, be an open book for any questions or discussions regarding trail running, and to enjoy the magical experience of sharing in the special community created through the simple and beautiful act of movement outdoors. We are so excited to meet you all!
The Landscape:
Nestled into the coastline on Wabanaki land, Acadia is home to rugged granite mountains, verdant forests, and pristine lakes. With 158 miles of running and hiking trails and 45 miles of scenic, crushed stone carriage roads, you can connect and access the island's 26 major peaks and their special views. Standing tallest among these peaks is Cadillac Mountain, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, surrounding islands, and on many days of the year, the first sight of sunrise in the United States, which earned the mountain its Indigenous name “Wapuwoc” or "white mountain of the first light."
Running on Native lands gives us all the opportunity to connect with and reflect on the history of the land and the communities who have lived here for centuries. The Wabanaki are a confederacy of tribes that include the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot Nations. The Wabanaki have been here, in their homeland, for thousands of generations. This includes Pesamkuk, this place we now call Mount Desert Island and Frenchman Bay. You can read our land acknowledgment as well as find additional resources about the indigenous history and connections of the region here.
Who Is This For?
This retreat is for the adventurous athlete who is excited to spend quality time on the trails and connecting with peers while having everything else taken care of for them!
We aim to accommodate different running backgrounds and experience levels, and all runs are, of course, optional, although we hope you’ll be as thrilled as we are to explore all that Acadia National Park has to offer! Participants should be prepared to run up to three hours on rugged terrain, with breaks as needed (covering up to 12 miles). We will be guiding all runs and will allow for the possibility of splitting into two to three groups on our morning runs to accommodate different paces. If we split into groups, we will regroup at the summits and make sure to share the views together!
Our priority is to have fun and, in the process, to maybe help push the barriers of what we think we are capable of!
Have questions? We would love to hear from you!
We aim to accommodate different running backgrounds and experience levels, and all runs are, of course, optional, although we hope you’ll be as thrilled as we are to explore all that Acadia National Park has to offer! Participants should be prepared to run up to three hours on rugged terrain, with breaks as needed (covering up to 12 miles). We will be guiding all runs and will allow for the possibility of splitting into two to three groups on our morning runs to accommodate different paces. If we split into groups, we will regroup at the summits and make sure to share the views together!
Our priority is to have fun and, in the process, to maybe help push the barriers of what we think we are capable of!
Have questions? We would love to hear from you!
Meet Your Hosts:
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Patrick Caron (he/him/they/them): Patrick is a professional mountain, ultra, trail athlete who fell in love with running at an early age. Most weekends he can be found racing and adventuring throughout New England, as well as abroad on the international scene. He has been passionate about finding ways to give back to the greater community as well as the planet through his running. His inspiration and vision for launching Move Free revolved around bridging the gap between outdoor recreation and outdoor conservation, to help protect and preserve the landscapes and playgrounds we love for future generations. He is continually exploring the trails of Acadia and finding new ways to connect the landscape. You can connect with him here!
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Jarly Bobadilla (he/him): Jarly started running in his thirties, shortly after arriving in Maine. Never taking a hobby too casually, he trained hard and ran several marathons until achieving a Boston qualifying time and running the race in 2019. Besides the excitement and thrill of racing, and the many fitness benefits, one of his favorite aspects of running is the deep conversations that spontaneously develop between running partners, giving way to meaningful human connection. In fact, that is how he and Patrick initially connected with one another on the island! Outside of running, Jarly balances other hobbies with a career in IT and his managing his homestead on the quiet side of Mount Desert Island, Maine. You can connect with him here!
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Accommodations:
We are excited to work with College of the Atlantic for our retreat's accommodations and for our guests' oceanside housing on their gorgeous campus. The campus abuts the Eden Shared Use Path and is just 0.5 miles from downtown Bar Harbor and the many shops the town has to offer. Participants and hosts will be residing in two of the new residences on campus, that are part of the Kathryn W. Davis Village, the school’s greenest housing complex. The buildings are heated entirely from renewable energy through the burning of sustainably harvested wood pellets, and the building designs make use of many recycled materials throughout.
Each of the two houses we will call home for the retreat has its own living room, kitchen, and dining area on the ground floor, replete with vibrant color schemes and comfy furniture for communal gathering. Upstairs are several triple, double, and single rooms with communal bathrooms boasting composting toilets. Scenic views of Frenchman Bay, Bar Island, and the nearby collection of Porcupine Islands are right out the window, and the backyard trail wanders down to the bucolic shoreline just steps out the home’s door. Access to Acadia National Park’s renowned carriage roads is only minutes away as are the summit ascents of several of the island's iconic peaks. Parking spots are available on site for all our participants.
Dining:
All our meals for the weekend will be provided by College of the Atlantic’s prestigious kitchen, lauded for its sustainability standards and its made from scratch international cuisine using local and organic ingredients whenever possible. Our meals will primarily be plant based with gluten free and vegan options available. Any allergies can be noted and planned for by completing the participant survey sent out after registration. Snacks will also be provided between meals, and participants are welcome to bring whatever special food or drink items they would like.
Breakfasts may look like quiche, frittatas, scrambled eggs, or mushroom spinach Swiss cheese hand pies, with toast, fruit, yogurt, and berry or cheese scones on the side! Both lunch and dinner may include Indian curry rice dal and naan, black bean and squash tacos with pico and guacamole, falafel and tabouli, pasta, or green thai curry, with brown rice, couscous, quinoa, fruit, and more on the side!
Breakfasts may look like quiche, frittatas, scrambled eggs, or mushroom spinach Swiss cheese hand pies, with toast, fruit, yogurt, and berry or cheese scones on the side! Both lunch and dinner may include Indian curry rice dal and naan, black bean and squash tacos with pico and guacamole, falafel and tabouli, pasta, or green thai curry, with brown rice, couscous, quinoa, fruit, and more on the side!
Itinerary:
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Day 1:
(Arrival time is flexible given individual travel plans) 2:30 pm ~ Arrival to accommodations 3:30 pm ~ Welcome/kickoff gathering 4:30 pm ~ Evening run (3 to 5 miles) 6:00 pm ~ Dinner and downtime 7:30 pm ~ Campfire, s'mores, icebreakers, & intentions |
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Day 2:
6:45 am ~ Breakfast and run prep 8:30 am ~ Mountain run with multiple summits 12:00 pm ~ Post run dip in the ocean 12:15 pm ~ Lunch 1:00 pm ~ Downtime 2:30 pm ~ Yoga outing 5:00 pm ~ Afternoon run/hike on the nearby carriage roads 6:00 pm ~ Dinner and downtime 7:00 pm ~ Walk into town for sunset and dessert at Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream |
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Day 3:
5:00 am ~ Optional sunrise hike 6:45 am ~ Breakfast and run prep 8:30 am ~ Mountain run with multiple summits 12:00 pm ~ Post run dip in the ocean 12:15 pm ~ Lunch 1:00 pm ~ Downtime 2:30 pm ~ Afternoon run/hike and option to swim 6:00 pm ~ Dinner and downtime 7:00 pm ~ Campfire, desert, and film night |
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Day 4:
(Departure time is flexible given individual travel plans) 7:00 am ~ Morning run in town 7:45 am ~ Post run dip in the ocean 8:00 am ~ Breakfast 9:00 am ~ Goodbyes & departure |
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Packing Recommendations:
- Running shoes for road & trail (multiple pairs recommended in case of wet conditions)
- Casual footwear like sandals for town and beach
- Warm fleece or jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- Long sleeve & short sleeve shirts
- Running shorts and tights/pants
- Running socks
- Beanie/buff & cap (we make some pretty nice ones!)
- Sunglasses
- Towel(s) for the beach
- Towel(s) for showering
- Toiletries
- Sunblock
- Insect Repellent
- Headlamp and/or flashlight
- Hydration vest or belt
- Personal snacks/fuel for runs and between meals
- Electrolytes for runs/hydration
- Yoga mat (if you own one)
- Bike for optional rides
- Hiking poles (optional)
- Portable camera (optional)
Transportation:
Our friends at the Mount Desert Island Marathon have put together an awesome travel guide for getting to Bar Harbor from all directions, driving and flying, which you can access here.
Weather:
The weather in in Acadia from June to September is lovely for spending time outside! The coastal climate is fairly moderate throughout much of the year. Mornings and evenings can be in the mid 40s to low 50s with daytime temperatures reaching 70 to 80°F on the warmer of days. Be prepared for the possibility of precipitation as well as the humidity that is common throughout much of the region.
We will also be graced with many hours of daylight, and that means more time enjoying the outdoors! For reference, on June 21, the longest day of the year, the sun rises at 4:48 am and sets 15 hours, 32 minutes later, at 8:20 pm, while on December 22, the shortest day of the year, it rises at 7:06 am and sets 8 hours, 50 minutes later, at 3:56 pm.
We will also be graced with many hours of daylight, and that means more time enjoying the outdoors! For reference, on June 21, the longest day of the year, the sun rises at 4:48 am and sets 15 hours, 32 minutes later, at 8:20 pm, while on December 22, the shortest day of the year, it rises at 7:06 am and sets 8 hours, 50 minutes later, at 3:56 pm.
Resources:
- Move Free's Guide to Running in Downeast Maine (coming soon)
- Acadia Routes
- Acadia FKTs
- Acadia Summits & Ascent/Descent Records
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is included?
When is arrival and departure?
Have more questions?
- 4 days of adventures on Mount Desert Island
- 3 nights of accommodations at College of the Atlantic
- All meals for the duration of the stay (Friday dinner to Monday breakfast)
- TPiN Vector Foam Roller ("the Swiss Army knife of rollers")
- One Juneberry Tabletop Fire
- Kinetik drinks (exogenous ketone drink cans and concentrate)
- Additional products from our generous sponsors
When is arrival and departure?
- Arrival for our June retreat is on Friday, June 14 anytime after 2:30 pm and departure is on Monday, June 17 anytime before 9:00 am. Arrival and departure times are flexible depending on individual travel plans (it is okay to arrive later in the afternoon/evening and depart earlier in the morning).
- Arrival for our August retreat is on Thursday, August 1 anytime after 2:30 pm and departure is on Sunday, August 4 anytime before 9:00 am. Arrival and departure times are flexible depending on individual travel plans (it is okay to arrive later in the afternoon/evening and depart earlier in the morning).
- We are happy to provide recommendations for places to stay and additional activities to explore if you plan to extend your stay on either side of the retreat.
Have more questions?
- We have answers! Please reach out!
Pricing:
4 Days/3 Nights Single Room: $1,499
4 Days/3 Nights Shared Room: $1,299
Our Acadia Running Retreats include all accommodations, meals, guided runs, workshops, swag, and more!
The $400 deposit confirms your booking and the remaining payment must be made one month before your retreat start date.
We are offering two retreat scholarships that will allow participants to join us for discounted rates. Our hope is to help remove some of the financial barriers that exist within the running and outdoor communities. Please apply via this form if you would benefit from this financial support and retreat opportunity.
- $400 deposit confirms booking
- Remainder due one month before retreat: $1,099
4 Days/3 Nights Shared Room: $1,299
- $400 deposit confirms booking
- Remainder due one month before retreat: $899
Our Acadia Running Retreats include all accommodations, meals, guided runs, workshops, swag, and more!
The $400 deposit confirms your booking and the remaining payment must be made one month before your retreat start date.
We are offering two retreat scholarships that will allow participants to join us for discounted rates. Our hope is to help remove some of the financial barriers that exist within the running and outdoor communities. Please apply via this form if you would benefit from this financial support and retreat opportunity.
Sponsors:
Stay tuned for more announcements on our awesome sponsors and partners!
Is your brand interested in supporting the retreat?
We would love to connect and explore partnerships.
Is your brand interested in supporting the retreat?
We would love to connect and explore partnerships.
Testimonials:
This retreat recaptured a childhood like experience that is very hard to to find in adulthood in terms of meeting other people who are new and doing activities outside together and that was really special."
I benefited from hearing other peoples experiences and stories and that reminded me that running is not just an isolated activity but a part of a life as a whole and that was just a really timely reminder for me."
It's kind of immeasurably valuable to have guides who know the area so well and who know the trails so well and in returning we have so much knowledge about where to go and what a lot of the paths are like and it’s not something you can get without other people."
I’m leaving with a newfound appreciation for this park that somehow manages to combine the ocean and forests and mountains and I really really want to come back."
