Trail Running Retreats Target Midlife Women
Trail & Bloom launched beginner-friendly trail running retreats for midlife women (30s-50s) in the Cotswolds, featuring guided runs, strength training, nutrition for hormonal changes, yoga, and community stays. Bookings are open for 2026 with podcast insights from founders Catherine and Pippa. The retreats address the specific needs of women navigating hormonal changes while building fitness and community connections through outdoor activities.
- Women's participation in trail races has surged, growing from just 13% of participants in 1997 to 46% by 2022. - The retreat is located in the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that contains the 102-mile (164 km) Cotswold Way, a National Trail that hosts numerous running events like the Race to the Tower and the Broadway Marathon. - This type of retreat fits into a larger trend of women-only wellness travel in the UK, which addresses topics like menopause, nutrition, and holistic health. - While women's participation in trail running is growing, a gender gap persists, with issues like safety concerns cited as a reason that has deterred 72% of women from signing up for a race, according to a 2022 survey. - The Cotswolds offers a varied landscape for runners, from rolling pastures and beech woodlands to steep climbs, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced trail runners. - The focus on community addresses a known barrier in the sport; women-only running groups and spaces are often created to counter feelings of being "slow" or "holding others back" in mixed groups.
