Camp Chaski Flagstaff - High Desert Retreat
Camp Chaski Flagstaff - High Desert Retreat
Trail and road runners of all abilities are welcome for this 4-day retreat!
Flagstaff has the highest density of elite athletes in the US for a reason. Train in the heart of the US running world, learn from the best endurance athletes in the world, relax under the desert sun with a Mother Road beer or steaming coffee. If you've got a bit more time, you can even tack on an adventure to the Grand Canyon
Details
Trip Length: June 6 - 9, 2024 (4 days, 3 nights)
Price
- $1,170 (Chaski Athlete Price)
- $1,500 (Standard Price)
- $265 single supplement (if you want your own room)
Difficulty: Choose your challenge!
Group Size: 8-24
Leaders: 2-4 athlete-coach trip-leaders (available 24/7) and various professional runners as guest speakers and run-leaders.
Who should come? Any trail or road runner aged 13-701 or fan of the sport who enjoys being active outdoors2
- Contact us if you’re over 70 and interested in coming or want to bring someone under 13.
- Is this trip only for runners? Nope! We’re going to talk a LOT about running, meet some amazing runners, and (obviously) have the opportunity to do a lot of running; but, if you’re just a fan of endurance sport or just getting into running from another sport, you’ll still get a ton out of this weekend!
Trip overview
Get ready for a long weekend jam-packed with running adventures, inspiring and educational workshops, and evenings of fun and relaxation in the heart of US distance running, Flagstaff, Arizona.
Flag, as it’s colloquially known, is home to more elite endurance athletes per capita than anywhere else in the US for a reason. The small city -- which feels more like a friendly town -- boasts the widest and most diverse array of running routes in the States. From steep, technical single-track in the north of town, to perfectly imperfect dirt fire-roads, with trails branching out in all directions, to the world famous Lake Mary Road, with its wide paved shoulder (marked every 400m for 20 miles), there's no doubt why so many athletes want to call Flagstaff home.
Did we mention we’re at 7,000 ft? Or that Flag enjoys nearly year-round sunshine?
Our four-day retreat will include guided daily running options for both trail and road runners, strength and mobility classes, masterclasses on mental performance, nutrition, and more, as well as meet and greets with professional athletes. You’ll get to test yourself on some of the same world-famous routes run by the professionals and head home with the knowledge and experience to take your training to a new level.
Training runs will be guided and built around your goals and ability in terms of speed, duration, and terrain. We’ll finish the trip out with a long-run on one of the iconic Flagstaff roads/trails: the A1 loop for our road runners and the Mt. Elden Loop for our trail folks.
Finally, bid farewell to your trip mates and leaders and head home with all the knowledge and fitness you’ve gained from your retreat.
Note - if you’re planning an extension for the Grand Canyon Adventure or any other add-on, you’ll stay in Flagstaff an extra night and begin on Day 5.
Did You Know?
Okay, So, What Do I Get?
With your payment, you get:
- 24 hour support and access from your trip leaders on-the-ground and USA-based support crew
- Private transportation from the moment you arrive in Flagstaff until the end of your trip
- Local, high-end and high-quality food, three meals per day on full days (plus dinner on Day 1 and breakfast/lunch on Day 4)
- 3 nights lodging (shared rooms, with optional private rooms available)
- Guided runs and hikes during the entire trip, regardless of your level
- Daily workout classes, Q&As, and seminars on strength training, biomechanics, nutrition, and more
- Meet and greet with local professional athletes and/or coaches
- All entry fees associated with group activities (National Parks, museums, etc.)
- Help from your leaders to organize any free time activities/excursions
- Support from Chaski staff ahead of your trip including training advice, packing lists, and more
- Chaski merch item of your choice - up to $50 value
- 50% discount on Full Year of Chaski Community Membership - $100 value
- Discounts on future Chaski Programs and partner brands
What Else Do I Have to Pay for?
- Flights and travel to Flagstaff, Arizona
- Visa charges (for international travelers), overweight baggage fees
- Personal travel insurance (recommended)
- Personal souvenirs
- Activities outside the groups’ itinerary
- Tips for your drivers, leaders, or anyone else outside of restaurants
- Alcoholic drinks and food/drinks outside of meals
- Single occupancy (i.e. if you’d like a room to yourself or for you and your partner), $165 extra for private house room or $300 for private hotel room
- Optional 4th night of lodging if you’d like to depart on the morning of day 5.
- Optional add-ons to the trip, like the Grand Canyon Adventure (see below)
Extend Your Adventure
Optional Add-ons
Got a little more time? I mean, you’ve come this far already!
Flagstaff (and the surrounding area) has tons to offer and while Camp Chaski will be fully packed with awesome runs and sight-seeing, there's only so much we can cover in 4 days.
We highly recommend you stick around for a trip to the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Sedona, Black Canyon, or any of the other amazing natural wonders in Northern Arizona.
Chaski is more than happy to help you figure out what to do with your extra time and can even pair you with a professional guide/coach if you're interested.
Please contact us with any questions or for any help with planning your trip!
Did You Know?
Itinerary
Note: We’ll try to stick as closely as possible to this schedule but exact running routes and masterclasses/seminars may have to move things slightly due to weather and scheduling.
Day 1 - Welcome to Flag!
Today is the day you’ll arrive in Flagstaff! Meet your leaders at your group’s home-base before heading out on your first run through the spectacular ponderosa pines, followed by a short mobility session. We’ll have a welcome dinner for the group and our first evening seminar Masterclass on mental performance from Chaski’s own Tyler Andrews.
Sleep: Chaski Flagstaff Retreat Center
Meals: Dinner
Max Altitude: 7,000 ft
Run: 30-60 min easy run, trail or dirt roads
Workout: Short mobility session
Learn: Mental performance with Tyler Andrews
Day 2 - Immerse yourself.
We’ll get up and, after breakfast, head out for our daily training session, with options for a “fartlek” speed workout or a hills workout at the spectacular Buffalo Park -- both sessions are great for our trail and road athletes alike! After the run, we’ll enjoy a group strength session, focusing on functional training specific to runners and targeting areas where runners often experience weakness and injury. Back home, we’ll have a group lunch before an afternoon masterclass on biomechanics and strength training for injury prevention, building off our morning session. We’ll have time for an optional afternoon shakeout run before a group dinner and evening second masterclass on nutrition and fueling.
Sleep: Chaski Flagstaff Retreat Center
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Max Altitude: 7,000 ft
Run: Fartlek or hill session, 4-10+ miles, Buffalo Park.
Workout: Functional strength training for injury prevention
Learn: Biomechanics and injury prevention and/or (2) Nutrition and fueling
Day 3 - Long run day!
It’s everyone’s favorite day! Our road runners will head out to the famous A1 loop (various distances on rolling dirt-roads from 14-21+ miles) while our trail runners will head to the spectacular Mt Elden Loop (various distances on mostly single-track from 8-20+ miles with 2300 ft+ of vert). We’ll meet back at our “Casa Chaski” home base for a great recovery meal. In the afternoon, we'll run through Chaski's Yoga for Runners routine, with a focus on recovery and balance -- don’t worry if you’ve never done yoga before! Finally, we’ll wrap up our last full day with a masterclass on goal-setting and motivation, led by several Chaski coaches, just the inspiration you need on your last night in Flag.
Sleep: Chaski Flagstaff Retreat Center
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Max Altitude: 7,000 - 9300 ft
Run: 8-20+ miles dirt roads (A1 Loop) or trail (Elden Loop)
Workout: Yoga for runners
Learn: Goal setting and motivation, varied Chaski Coaches
Day 4 - One last run and see you next time!
In the morning, we’ll have a last early run on soft surfaces to shake-out the legs before your travel home. Before leaving, we’ll have a wrap-up session, including a review of everything we’ve gone over and how to stay in touch after you get home. Finally, say goodbye to your trip-mates and leaders and hit the road, feeling fitter and more knowledgeable than ever before.
Sleep: At home!
Meals: Breakfast
Max Altitude: 7,000 ft
Run: 30-40 min easy run, trail or dirt roads
Learn: Wrap-up and review
Did You Know?
FaqS
As of this writing, all participants will be required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination at least two weeks before departure from your home country. There are no exceptions to this requirement. As of this writing, there are no travel restrictions in place for vaccinated individuals inside Phoenix, though masks are still required in many public spaces.
You do not need to be an elite athlete to join this retreat. In fact, you could simply be a fan of the sport or a coach, and get an enormous amount from this retreat. Our trip leaders are accustomed to working with athletes of all abilities, ages and experience levels. That said, we will talk a lot about running and do a lot of running (though exactly what “a lot of running” means will be relative to you and your ability), so it’s less about your ability and more about your interest in and passion for endurance sport. If you are super fit and want to push yourself, well, don’t you worry about that. We’ve got you covered.
Definitely! They are more than welcome to stay in our group accommodations and join us for any activities/sessions they like or simply enjoy your exercise time as their own free time to explore the beautiful town and surrounding area.
Lodging at Camp Chaski's home base in Phoenix will be in a beautiful, comfortable house with shared and private rooms. If you’d like a private room for you/your family, this can be arranged for an extra fee. You can also stay at a nearby hotel if you'd like more space!
Yes! Vegetarian options will always be accessible both at restaurants and any catered meals in Phoenix.
We’ll have a mix of meals at restaurants and catered meals at Chaski HQ. There will always be options and plenty of calories to keep you going for the whole retreat!
Nope!
We’ve prepared a jam-packed retreat and don’t expect everyone to take part in every run and masterclass and strength session. We encourage you to go at your own pace and take an afternoon off if you need it to relax, check out the town on your own, etc.
In terms of meals and free time, you’re always welcome to take a meal for yourself. Our staff are here to help make your experience as awesome as possible and are happy to make recommendations. Note, any meals or activities done on your own will be at your expense, though.
Absolutely! We’ve been doing this for a long time and know the best routes and airlines and are happy to help you select the right routing and get you set up.