We had the good fortune of connecting with Elinor Fish and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I started Run Wild Retreats + Wellness, I was the managing editor of a running magazine, and really wanted to get more women into the sport of trail running specifically. So I started organization small running retreats in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, but quickly recognized that what made the experiences so special was the connection and conversations between the women.

As the business has grown over the past 13 years from a one-women operation to a global travel company, I’ve learned a lot about the value of health as a leadership strategy. In order for me to fully show up and lead my team, I need to be present, healthy nad have a lot of energy to engage with my team and work out creative solutions.

My mindfulness practice has become an essential part of my daily routine, which is why it’s a central principle of all of our women’s running and wellness retreats. Whether we’re running in the deserts of Arizona, old-growth rainforests of British Columbia or among the temples of Bhutan, we create opportunities to practice mindful running, listening to one’s body and to run by feel instead of the clock.

As a result, many of the women who come on the retreats tell us that they came away feeling so energized and inspired. Without the exhausting effects of stress weighing them down, they had more energy, not only for running, but for all aspects of their lives. Especially as we age, we have to be more proactive about self care and recognizing the impacts of daily stress on one’s body and mind.

So our retreats have evolved from being about how to run on trails to how to make running a mindfulness practice that not only builds fitness, but reverses the effects of stress by rebalancing hormones, cultivating present-moment awareness and quieting a busy mind. Plus, our retreats have the added bonus of creating incredible interpersonal connections between the women who participate, even if they’ve never met before! It’s wonderful to see how quickly friendships are formed.

 

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of our favorite spots to run and hang out is in Carefree; with its funky bars and cafes and fabulous restaurants, and easy access to really scenic trails that are great for running and hiking! The ideal day would start with a trail run at Cave Creek from the Spur Cross Trailhead, then have lunch at the Grotto Cafe, which has a shady, lush patio. Then go enjoy some wellness classes and the spa at Civana Wellness Resort + Spa. I’d recommend yoga on the lawn, then getting a soothing massage and enjoying the relaxing spa amenities for a few hours.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The travel industry is full of really incredible people doing fantastic work all around the world, and I just love the mix of cultures, perspectives, languages and heritage you find in travel. I want to give a shoutout to the Transformational Travel Council in particular, which was co-founded by Jake Haupert and Michael Bennett about five years ago. Before I met them, I wasn’t even familiar with the term “transformational travel” but realized that’s exactly what had been doing for about a decade at Run Wild Retreats + Wellness. This organization has grown so quickly in the past few years I think because we truly are entering an age in which people want to travel in a way that is deeply meaningful to them, and has the potential to transform them and the communities they visit in a positive way. I love being part of a community of travel advisors and tour operators that share a passion for creating trips that are not just about completing bucket lists, but rather, are about connecting, growing, learning and transforming.

Website: https://www.runwildretreats.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/run.wild.retreats/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elinorfish/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/runwildretreats

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOV_9su65jKozWU1qRaCkQ

Image Credits
please credit Run Wild Retreats + Wellness

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