Acadia Running Retreat
"New England's Running Paradise"
Bar Harbor, Maine | Wabanaki Land
June 16 to June 19, 2023
Retreat Overview:
Join us for four days and three nights of running, dining, and relaxing in and around Acadia National Park. We will get the most out of the lovely June weather by heading out into the heart of the park for a long run each morning. 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. Post lunch, we will have time to rest, enjoy a yoga session or a workshop discussion, and go for a lake swim. 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 tell our favorite stories (maybe even sing songs!) around a campfire by the ocean.
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. 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 in the mountains with peers and who is eager to have the opportunity to focus on running 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 10 to 15 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!
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 10 to 15 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!
Meet Your Hosts:
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Patrick Caron: 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: 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.
Itinerary:
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Friday:
2:30 pm ~ Arrival to accommodations 3:30 pm ~ Welcome/kickoff meeting 4:30 pm ~ Evening run to Bar Island (3 to 5 miles) 6:00 pm ~ Dinner and downtime 7:00 pm ~ Walk into town and Shore Path 8:00 pm ~ Campfire, s'mores, icebreakers, & intentions |
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Saturday:
6:45 am ~ Breakfast and run prep 8:30 am ~ Mountain run with multiple summits 12:00 pm ~ Lunch 1:00 pm ~ Downtime 2:30 pm ~ Yoga/Stretching for Runners Workshop 3:30 pm ~ Fueling/Nutrition for Runners Workshop 4:30 pm ~ Run on the nearby carriage roads (3 to 6 miles) 6:00 pm ~ Dinner and downtime 7:00 pm ~ Campfire, dessert, & film night |
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Sunday:
5:00 am ~ Sunrise hike/drive on Cadillac Mountain 6:45 am ~ Breakfast and run prep 9:00 am ~ Mountain run on the island's West Side 12:00 pm ~ Lunch 1:00 pm ~ Downtime 2:30 pm ~ Lakewood hike and option to swim 4:00 pm ~ Run on the nearby carriage roads (3 to 6 miles) 6:00 pm ~ Dinner and downtime 7:00 pm ~ Walk into downtown Bar Harbor for sunset on the Shore Path and dessert at Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream |
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Monday:
6:45 am ~ Breakfast 7:15 am ~ Goal setting and giving back workshop 7:45 am ~ Sand Beach and Great Head run/hike 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!)
- Gloves (mornings can be chilly!)
- Sunglasses
- Towel(s) for the beach (shower towels supplied)
- Sunblock
- Insect Repellent
- Headlamp and/or flashlight
- Hydration vest or belt
- Personal snacks for runs and between meals
- Yoga mat (if you own one)
- 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 June is often prime for spending time outside! The coastal climate is fairly moderate throughout much of the year. The daily high temperatures in June increase by 7°F, from 63°F to 71°F, rarely falling below 54°F or exceeding 79°F. The daily low temperatures increase by 7°F, from 48°F to 55°F, rarely falling below 41°F or exceeding 61°F. 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 am, 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 am.
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 am, 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 am.
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?
- 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 pair of Drymax Socks
- One Juneberry Tabletop Fire
- UnTapped product
- Salomon demo shoes to try out on runs
- Additional products from our generous sponsors
When is arrival and departure?
- Arrival is on Friday, June 16 anytime after 2:30 pm and departure is on Monday, June 19 anytime before 9:00 am.
Pricing:
4 Days/3 Nights Single Room: $1,499
4 Days/3 Nights Double Room: $1,299
4 Days/3 Nights Triple Room: $1,149
Our Acadia Running Retreat includes all accommodations, meals, guided runs, workshops, swag, and more!
The $400 deposit confirms your booking and the remaining payment must be made by May 19, 2023.
- $400 deposit confirms booking
- Remainder due by 05/19: $1,099
4 Days/3 Nights Double Room: $1,299
- $400 deposit confirms booking
- Remainder due by 05/19: $899
4 Days/3 Nights Triple Room: $1,149
- $400 deposit confirms booking
- Remainder due by 05/19: $749
Our Acadia Running Retreat includes all accommodations, meals, guided runs, workshops, swag, and more!
The $400 deposit confirms your booking and the remaining payment must be made by May 19, 2023.
Sponsors:
Stay tuned for more announcements on our awesome sponsors and partners!
