inner

terrain

a weekend retreat for the creative athlete.

Move, make, and connect in Idaho Springs, CO · Oct 1-4

Camp for the athlete/artist

If a running retreat and art camp had a child, it’d be this.

Inner Terrain is a weekend experience that gathers people who find joy in moving and making. Together, we’ll explore Colorado mountain trails by foot and create along the way.

No portfolio required. No race results needed. Just a little curiosity and a willingness to play.

a space to move. a space to make. a space to explore.

a space to move. a space to make. a space to explore.

The experience

OCTOBER 1-4 2026

4 days, 3 nights in Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Join trail excursions in the Rocky mountains, with daily movement designed to play and inspire—plus plenty of space to rest, recover, and take it all in.

Move

Move through guided creative prompts throughout the weekend, on the trail and back at the cabin, with time carved out for personal creative exploration.

Make

Stay together in a creekside cabin in Idaho Springs, exploring what unfolds through shared meals, creativity, and conversation with a small, like-minded group.

Explore

Itinerary

  • Travel day. Arrive in Idaho Springs, Colorado. Get settled at the cabin with new friends over a welcome meal and activity.

  • We love slow mornings. We’ll ease in with coffee or tea, fueling up for our first mountain excursion. Together, we’ll head into the high country with a creative flare, enjoying lunch with a view.

    After our run, we’ll reset and regroup before diving into the second part of the creative process—hands-on play back at the cabin.

    We’ll end the day with a delicious meal, plus time for creek dips and hot tub hangs.

  • A new day, a new prompt. We’ll set out for our second excursion, romping through nature’s playground with a fresh daily theme.

    We’ll rinse and reset for our final afternoon together, with creative downtime for exploration—and space for deeper connection and sharing.

  • We’ll take a group pulse check- sunrise excursion or one last slow morning before we part ways.

    We’ll step back into our worlds with new insight into how we define our inner athlete-artist.

October 1 -4, 2026

Idaho Springs, Colorado

Investment:

Reserve your spot with a non-refundable $200 deposit (applied toward your total). Remaining balance will be charged August 1st. Room options below:

  • Twin Bunk/Shared Room: $655

  • Full Bunk/Shared Room: $685

  • King Bed/Private Room/Shared Bath: $825

    • Option to share w/ a friend: $655 per person

  • King Bed/Private Room/Private Bath: $1000

    • Option to share w/ a friend: $655 per person

What’s Included:

Included:

  • Creekside cabin lodging in Idaho Springs

  • All meals + shared dining experiences

  • Daily guided movement + creative activities

  • Thoughtful, miscellaneous goodies

  • Transportation to all planned activities throughout the weekend

Not Included:

  • Airfare

  • Transportation to Idaho Springs*

*Public transportation is available (see FAQ), and we’re happy to help you coordinate your travel plans.

Who we are

Courtney and Emma are two friends who love moving their bodies and making things. So much so that they carved out a weekend this year to do just that, and are inviting you to explore alongside them.

  • Courtney is Midwest-born and raised, but found a home— and eventually a career in the mountains. She is a professional trail runner for Brooks and a co-founder and coach at the Wild Strides coaching collective. Courtney is actively unraveling her creativity, exploring multiple mediums (including sock design—just wait).

    IG: @cpcop__

  • Emma is a Reno-raised, Colorado-based gal. She works in tech during the day before letting her creative hand loose after work. She’s a multi-medium artist who’s currently down an animation rabbit hole. She’s the co-founder of the creative small group Recess and DIY triathlon “Tres Race”. She finds joy in tea, line art, and leg circles on two wheels.

    IG: @emma_mcginnis_

You’ve got questions.

We’ve got answers.

(hopefully)

    • Expect to spend 1.5-3 hours each day romping around in the high country of the mountains at a pace that feels like “all day pace”. Expect lots of snack breaks, maybe a last minute dance-off, and places to play and be silly. 

    • If you are running or being active consistently 4-6 days a week, you will be fine. Don’t overthink this part. 

    • We will adjust for group size and ability given we will be at higher altitudes. We want to create a space where everyone has fun moving their bodies - focusing on the ritual of movement NOT training/“getting in the miles”.

    • We will also send out our specific route plans prior to the weekend so you know what you are getting yourself into! 

    • We’ll provide guidance through daily prompts and themes throughout the weekend, along with materials for each planned activity. Example activities include writing, doodling, collage, and more.

    • We also want to create space for you and your preferred medium. We encourage you to bring any materials or equipment that best support your creative outlet (e.g., camera, watercolors).

    • If you’re just beginning to explore your creative side, we’ll have plenty of materials to support your curiosity.

  • Inner Terrain is a place to explore not perform. For every good piece of art, there’s a bad piece first. In fact, we hope we make some bad art this weekend

  • Yep. This one’s a co-ed trip. We’ve got two guys involved on our planning team who will be a part of the weekend.

    • Jacket for cooler evenings

    • Swimsuit

    • Comfortable lounging clothes-nothing fancy here!

    • Running Clothing & Gear (water bottle/vest/belt)

    • Running shoes (trail recommended)

    • Sunscreen

    • Any creative materials/equipment that support your process

  • Public transportation is available to Idaho Springs. From Denver International Airport, take the RTD A Line to Union Station (~40 min), then transfer to the Bustang West Line to Idaho Springs (~45 min). It’s a simple, scenic route from airport to mountains— and we’re more than happy to help coordinate travel details as needed.

  • Each participant will pay a non refundable $200 deposit to secure their spot. On August 1, we will collect the remainder of each participant’s payment for their spot. 

    Aug 1 - Sep 15 — 50% refund of total paid, no deposit

    Sep 15-  October 1 — no refund, but allow the person to transfer their spot to someone else