Last summer I had the joy of attending Oiselle’s annual running camp. I had the best time ever and it was a wonderful long weekend of running, friends, conversation and fun. Since the Oiselle team has since expanded, the focus has been on regional camps so that more women could get a chance to experience the awesomeness that is camp. This year, I marked my calendar for Oiselle’s Southern Bird Camp which was held at an actual running camp, Zap Fitness. It was a wonderful experience.
I trekked down to Blowing Rock, NC with two of my DC Oiselle teammates (Emily and Prianka). We arrived Thursday afternoon, settled in and then got ready for the best running vacation ever.
Basically our schedule was this: wake up, breakfast (I never ate before our runs but it was there), head out to run, back for a session or yoga, lunch, sessions or activities then dinner then another session or activity. It was jam packed in the best way possible. Our first run was four easy miles – but made not so easy due to the elevation in the mountains (about 4000 feet and the incline on the way out). We were also running after traveling – us DC gals had spent about 6.5 hours driving that morning / early afternoon, so it was a shake out run in the best sense of the phrase. It was during this run that many of us found our “people” – the gals we’d spend most of our runs chatting with. It worked out so that we all pretty much had people to run with all the time which was the best! I did all my runs at camp alongside Valerie (who is peeking over my right shoulder in the pic below) and Ashley (who is in the fresh green top with brown hair in the pic below) and the three of us had a blast. They are both VA gals – Valerie lives in Charlottesville (!!!! one of my favorite places) – and is a UVA Law alum as well- and Ashley lives right outside of Richmond (and is training for an Ironman – she’s incredible). Also pictured below are the amazing Allison from NJ (who I actually met in Richmond last year), Alejandra, Martha, Steph and Zika (far right of the pic and a Zap owner).
Camp isn’t camp without some fun swag, right? We were so fortunate and received lots of fun goodies from a Picky Bar to a Hank Orange headband to Stance socks and more. I’m in love with the Bird Camp designed items and also especially fond of our Oiselle customized “Head Up Wings Out” momentum bracelets. So fun!
So what else did we do at camp other than run? (And we did run every day – it was awesome!). Well I’ll share a few pictures below and look out later this week for a few more details on some of the sessions we attended – we learned so much while at camp! In short, we enjoyed the view, a campfire, celebrated birthdays (3 of them!!), danced, did some yoga, relaxed, and had the best time ever.
the lake that we ran around for our first two runs
yoga!
dance party night – maybbbbbeeee the most fun night!
interval work in the big city of boone.
because wine is never wrong. and NC is WAYYYY cheaper than DC!
Have you ever been to a running camp? Would you consider going?
I’m so glad that you were able to attend camp, Courtney, and I’m so excited for my turn in October!!!
You’re gonna have the best time!!
OOH! I’ve wanted to go to Bird Camp, but haven’t found one that works with my schedule. Hopefully next year!
Yes – make it work. It’s worth it!
Ah! Sounds like SO much fun! I’ve always wanted to go to a running camp. Maybe some day!
You would love Zap!!! It’s so relaxing and you learn so much!
It looks like you had a great time, Courtney! I never even went to summer camp as a kid so if I got the opportunity to go to a running camp, I would so take it up. Glad you got to travel and run somewhere new too, that is always fun :).
Amy Lauren, you’d love it. The soft surfaces we ran on we’re amazing! Such fun!
It looks awesome! Glad you had a great time!
It was pretty great! 🙂
Sounds like so much fun! I have never been to a running camp, but it looks like such a good time!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…2016 Run to Remember Race Report
You’d love it – it was awesome!
Running camp sounds like so much fun! Maybe I’ll have to consider something like this in the spring next year!
There are a number of camps across the country – definitely check one out!
Great recap. It was fun to follow everyone’s Instagram posts. I’m really looking forward to Great Lake BC in August!
aw, i’m going to great lakes in September (bc i’m crazy and love camp) – sad to miss you! but you’re gonna have a blast!
I have never heard of this kind of thing. I must try one!
This was through the Oiselle team but Zap runs camps year round!