Discover the Magic of Costa Brava: A Wellness and Adventure Getaway
Discover the awe-inspiring nature of Costa Brava's forest and coastal trails.11-15 October
+44 (0)20 8080 1676
Gray Caws – Retreat Coach
Escape the mundane routine of daily life and embark on an adventure holiday like no other with me Gray Caws, Elaine Jackson, and Pablo Rodriguez.
Get ready to discover the beauty of the Costa Brava, one of Europe’s most picturesque regions, and take part in rejuvenating activities like Qigong and OA® breathwork.
Whether you’re looking for personal challenge or simply some good old-fashioned fun, this is the perfect opportunity to unwind, de-stress, and indulge in some much-needed self-care.
Join us for an experience of a lifetime and leave feeling refreshed, invigorated, and inspired.
Late summer in the Costa Brava offers endless opportunities for adventure, to enjoy running, walking, and hiking. Immerse yourself in the fresh forests, rugged coastline, and picturesque medieval villages that await exploration.
This is the perfect adventure holiday to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and breathe in the fresh sea air while discovering vast open spaces on foot.
Don’t miss this opportunity to embark on a thrilling journey and make unforgettable memories in one of Europe’s most stunning regions!
Who is this Retreat For?
- Anyone looking to take time out relax, enjoy and challenge themselves
- Those who love non-competative running, walking and hiking
- Those looking to meet new people and explore new places
- Anyone wanting to de-stress and feel a sense of achievement after completing a marathon distance on foot moving together as a happy band of explorers!
Build a stronger, more empowered, and confident self
Reduce stress and improve mood
Enhance focus and performance
Challenge mind and body
Enjoy, have fun, and finish with a real sense of achievement!
What’s Included
- 4 nights quality accommodation
- 3 days of adventure
- Outdoor qigong practice
- Guided trails with expert local guide
- Trail running technique coaching
- Relaxing breathwork and meditation at the end of each day
- Breakfast, lunch, and evening meals
- Airport transfers from Girona Costa Brava Airport (Wednesday & Sunday)
Special bonuses
- Private Facebook Group
- Coaching call with the retreat leader
- 6-month Premium Membership of Breathe. Balance. Move. Bi-weekly classes with Gray
Not included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Drinks and snacks
The adventure begins with welcome drinks and dinner on the Wednesday evening and concludes on the Sunday morning.
Your Investment
From £1497.00 per person.
Our accomodation is quality hotels on each night. We can arrange double, shared, and single rooms all with ensuite bathoorms. Breakfast, lunch and evening meals are included (Wednesday eve to Sunday morning).
Use Klarna to split the payment over 3 months.
11-15 October
Your Coaches
Gray Caws
I’m running coach, breath coach with a master certification in the Oxygen Advantage and Buteyko methods, and a specialist personal trainer. I’m also a teacher of qigong, training with Lee Holden.
Back in 2012 I met the amazing Pablo Rodriguez. Pablo had just left his IT job, deciding to build a business around his passion for trail running.
He invited me to his family home on the Costa Brava to explore the trails that he was running with the view to us setting up a Costa Brava Trail Running Adventure.
I immediately fell in love with trail running, the Catalan coastline and its culture. I made new life-long friends in Pablo, Cristina (his wife) and their young family.
We knew that this would be a fantastic experience to share. Hence we started planning our unique, amazing adventure that I just knew everyone would enjoy and get a real sense of achievement from.
Every year since then (apart from 2020) I’ve been taking small groups back to the Costa Brava. It’s is a true highlight of my year and a real joy to share the trails with like-minded people.
We have fun, go exploring, enjoy the good weather, the food, the people, and the amazing environment.
We are a four-strong team. Pablo perfectly embodies the true spirit of this adventure, Elaine Jackson, a seasoned trail runner and a truly fantastic coach has a knack of putting you at ease with her natural coaching style, a Cristina who looks after us all and organises our accomodations.
So please join us if you feel this is for you. We can guarantee you a fantastic, fun-filled adventure of a lifetime!
Elaine Jackson
I’m Elaine and I’m delighted to be coaching on the Costa Brava with Gray and Pablo.
With a background in dance teaching, I started running to enhance my fitness but very quickly realised it was more than that.
I found a sense of freedom and space, which was always welcome at the end of a day in school!
Over the years I’ve taken part in various events from 5k to the London Marathon in 2016, and subsequently qualified as a running coach in 2017.
My passion lies in helping others to progress, to achieve their own aims but more importantly, enjoy the journey along the way.
I joined Gray as a client on the Costa Brava in 2018 and I’m still telling everyone about it now!
I was then over the moon when Gray asked me to join the 2021 adventure as a coach and what a magical time we all had! The scenery, the people, the camaraderie and fun make it an adventure never to forget.
I’m really looking forward to experiencing this again, I hope you’ll join us.
Pablo Rodriguez
Every year I look forward to welcoming the fantastic group of people that Gray and the team bring over to the Costa Brava.
A little bit about me, I’m often referred to as the mountain goat! I’m not quite sure why but Gray says it could be something to do with the way I leave him standing on the steeper downhill trails!
But do not fear! Here in the Costa Brava we take things at our own pace – often stopping for coffee (or a beer) along the way.
I am a former professional triathlete who has turned my passion for running into my job. I enjoyed competing but felt I was missing out on a whole other aspect of trail running where you are not judging yourself by time and distance but rather enjoying the moment! Or indeed many moments.
In 2011, along with my wife Cristina, I founded Running Costa Brava and then Run The World Adventures in an effort to bring running back to its origins, as a means of transportation, exploration and joy!
I look forward to welcoming you to my world!
I can now officially conclude that this has been the best holiday of my life. And there are lots of factors that go into that… The location was breathtaking. Every peak, twist and turn of the Catalonian countryside left me gasping in awe. The skies so clear, the sun so warm, the seas so blue and the landscapes so vivid. And in running I really felt like I saw parts of this wonderful place that even the locals don’t know exist… After so many weeks and months of trying – I really feel like I have found my stride.
Adventure is at the heart of this experience.
You’ll spend each day outdoors surrounded by beautiful scenery traveling through medieval towns, forest, and coastal paths.
You’ll stay in quality accommodation, sample excellent local cuisine, experience true Catalan culture, and enjoy the company of like-minded people.
Each morning starts with qigong practice before heading out onto the trails.
We aim to travel up to a marathon distance over the three days. Therefore we recommend that you are able to comfortably run 10 miles at your own easy pace. There are plenty of opportunities to walk and it is certainly not a race!
Each day will conclude with a restorative practice to help relax and restore the body before our wholesome evening meal.
This adventure is suitable for all ages. We don’t worry about speed, we are about traveling together on foot. We are a tribe of adventurers, moving at a different pace sometimes but no one is left behind. This is not a place for ego or competition.
You are joining an adventure that holds the essence of true Catalonian philosophy. You are a traveler rather than a tourist. Enjoy the experience, discover a true sense of joy and freedom.
Places are limited to ensure complete personal attention.
It’s beautiful, it’s unbelievable. I’ve run from Sant Roc Hotel all the way down the coast south about three miles. And I just keep having to stop, take photographs, pinch myself and enjoy the views. But the running is just unbelievable. Yes. And you’ve seen just a little piece of it. I want to run all day. I don’t want to stop. Yeah, I’m afraid of missing something. No, no, all of it’s beautiful. Yeah, I love it.
Is this Adventure for You?
I want to enjoy running but it hurts too much and I’m plagued with niggles and injuries.
With anywhere between 30-80% of runners affected by injury it’s no wonder it has a bad reputation but this adventure will teach you a different approach to running.
You’ll experience running with the intention to travel rather than exercise or to get fit, burn calories or get faster. Often just this change in mindset makes a huge difference to how you run.
The Qigong flow practice each morning will relate directly to improved power in your running, exploring how ease of movement comes first through relaxation.
With the unique combination of Qigong and Oxygen Advantage breath awareness, you’ll soon get to experience that by doing less you can actually achieve much more.
You’ll also get practical sessions to help rest, restore, and repair the body.
I’m an experienced runner looking for a new challenge.
We aim to cover about 7-13 miles each day and complete approximately 26 miles over the three days.
There are also different levels of trail, so expect to spend some time scrambling over rough and steep ground.
Whatever your level of running or fitness, expect to be challenged. Pablo also leads day-long marathon running adventures to Costa Rica and Morocco so he knows first-hand how to encourage his team.
You’ll also learn how Qigong flow practice can lead to increased strength and power in your running. You’ll get exercises too in breathing techniques to improve energy efficiency, and relaxation techniques to help rest and restore the body.
I’m new to running.
We believe that easeful running (not sprinting or running a race) is the most efficient mode of transportation to get to know a new place. Having this as your intention is a great way to start with no pressure at all to cover a certain distance.
Whilst we aim to cover 26 miles over the three days, there are plenty of options for you to run a shorter distance with no-one being left behind or feeling held back. We guarantee this!
From past experience, many new runners have run far more than they expected, simply by setting an intention to ‘travel’ rather than ‘exercise’. And since there is so much to see, time goes quickly and before you know it you’ve covered several miles.
Our expert coaches will make sure that you keep a steady pace so that you don’t tire too soon.
I’m looking for a way to take a break from the stresses of everyday life.
Life can certainly be stressful at times. Everybody needs some ‘me-time’. This adventure is a great opportunity to get away from it all, meet new people and enjoy time outdoors.
Numerous studies show that being active and outdoors is a proven way of reducing stress.
We’ll spend time in the forest drawing on the therapeutic powers of nature and connecting with the natural environment.
Qigong practice will focus on efficient movement and breath, with an emphasis on rest and restoration of the mind and body.
At the end of the adventure, you’ll feel a sense of enormous achievement, more body awareness, and greater clarity of mind.
I like to meet new people and explore new places.
This adventure is the perfect way to meet new people and see new places.
We journey from town to coast by running, walking and hiking – giving you time to explore, absorb the atmosphere and the amazing scenery.
You’ll meet like-minded people from different walks of life with a common purpose of enjoying the outdoors and working together as a team rather than in competition.
The small group ensures no-one feels overwhelmed or left out.
The coaches and the group make for a wonderful experience whether you are on the trail, during qigong session or enjoying breakfast, there is great synergy with this group. Catalonia and Costa Brava have great energy, history and beauty.
