Over her 17-year career in running and wellness, her articles, programs, workshops and retreats have helped thousands of runners make their running a mindfulness practice to reduce their stress and bring their best selves to their roles as parents, professionals, caregivers and leaders. Ten years ago, she founded Run Wild Retreats + Wellness, a travel company that specializes in women's running and wellness retreats around the world…gradually growing it to an international tour operation employing five dynamite women and a network of running guides around the world.
Elinor is a Canadian ex-pat who now lives in the Colorado Rocky Mountains with her husband and son. She moved from Canada to the U.S. 15 years ago to work on staff at Trail Runner magazine, during a time when her own competitive running was reaching new heights, and she was competing in events of up to 100 miles and running in places like Patagonia and the Swiss Alps.
Yet, Elinor’s relationship to running hasn’t always been about competition and adventure. Running has also served as the means by which she has coped with a chronic auto-immune disease for over two decades, survived the tragic loss of a loved one and overcame adrenal fatigue and chronic stress.
These difficult, life-changing experiences made her curious about exactly what it is about running that can be so healing, transformative, de-stressing and uplifting, even under the most difficult of circumstances. These experiences were the inspiration behind Run Wild Retreats + Wellness. Elinor is also the founder of the Healthy Runners' Community, an online space that bring the practice of mindful running to even more runners around the world.
Action Steps:
1. Name your triggers. Create a pause by using your body to help your mind process before you respond. This will help you show up in the way you want to be in the world.
2. Running can be self care, but don’t make exercise your only form of self care.
3. Listen to your body. In order to do this, you have to slow down enough.
4. Perfection is not required and usually not that helpful.
5. Decide what works for you.
6. Carve out moments where you recognize what you need so you can perform better.
7. Simplify and focus. Put yourself first and then focus on the needs of others.
8. Take alone time.
9. Marry the right person but distribute your stress among people who understand your unique situation.
10. Continue learning from others in your own area of expertise.
Health Runners Community and Run Wild Retreats: https://runwildretreats.com/community/