The Running Kind and Metta Performance are uniting to bring runners together in a small group setting for a guided coaching experience in the Catskill mountains.

The Catskills are located just over 100 miles north of New York City and are home to a variety of terrain. In one run you can experience technical scrambles, runnable ridgelines, and long vertical climbs. These trails are stunning, isolated, and the perfect training grounds for trail runners looking to up their game.

The Running Kind and Metta Performance have designed specific programming to enhance your trail running skills in the mountains. Not only will you be provided with on trail experience over challenging terrain, but you will also have the option to participate in mental performance discussions. By curating a small group setting, our coaches are able to provide individual attention to each runner throughout the weekend. It is the goal of this training camp that you leave feeling connected, physically and mentally, to yourself and ready to take on your next adventure!

phoenicia, ny

may 22-24 2026

register here

camp details

This camp can be best experienced by runners who are healthy and in good fitness with experience on the trails. We recommend this camp for road runners who can cover a half marathon in 2 hours or trail runners with at least one year of experience. At this time Spring Training Camp is not open to runners under the age of 21.
- Lodging for Friday & Saturday evening
- Running and mental performance coaching from Metta Performance & The Running Kind
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner on Saturday
- Breakfast & lunch on Saturday
- 25% off race entry to Climb It For Climate
- Swag item
This camp is purposely positioned to prepare runners for a variety of mountainous trail races that take place in the Catskill Mountains including:
- Manitou's Revenge
- Escarpment Trail Race
- Climb It For Climate
- The Cat’s Tail
Are you preparing for another mountainous trail race and want to be part of the experience? We want you here!
Friday May 22
- Arrival
- Social connecting with coaches and campers
- Intention setting for the weekend
- Metta Performance led session
Saturday May 23
- Breakfast at cabins
- Long run (Prepare for about 13 miles & 5000 ft)
- Post run lunch and cold plunge
- Metta Performance led session
- Individual coaching discussions
- Dinner at cabins
Sunday May 24
- Breakfast at cabins
- Shorter run (Prepare for 8 miles & 3000ft)
- Metta Performance led session
- Departure
This is a zero carbon event, meaning we take into account the emissions released in relation to hosting this trail race. The Running Kind will be subsidizing the cost to offset the event, however there is a fee included in your registration specifically for this cost. This will offset the carbon emissions for your personal travel to and from the event. We are excited to partner with the Change Climate Project to support a carbon offset project we believe in. In addition to going zero carbon at this event, The Running Kind will be collecting monetary donations for The Catskills Center.

Aimee, founder of The Running Kind, has a passion for sustainability, not only in regard to environmentalism, but also in symbiosis with training.

Aimee takes a values based approach with her athletes to ensure that each individual is goal setting with intent. She finds importance in establishing a “why” behind the goal and connecting it back to the values held by each athlete to build drive in the daily grind.

She has always had a curiosity for the physiology of running and an interest in applying that curiosity to training. Her background in biological studies has allowed her to hone the skills of building a training plan through the understanding of the physiological components of running. Aimee currently holds a USATF Level I Coaching Certification.

Her racing experience is vast though is currently concentrated in mid-distance mountain racing. Over the last five years of trail running she has spent most of her time tackling mountainous events from VK up to 25K.

aimee

Industrial-organizational psychologist, former professional triathlete, elite swimmer, rower, runner.

Holly Benner is a peak performance geek, passionate about coaching others to achieve goals through transformative experiences. She is a former professional triathlete, elite swimmer, rower, runner, and Industrial-Organizational Psychologist. Under her guidance, Holly’s athletes have recorded personal best performances, podiums, and victories in a variety of cycling, triathlon, and running events.

Holly’s coaching methodology focuses on maintaining happy, healthy, and hungry athletes through a holistic mind, body, and soul approach: The Metta Performance Method.

Holly is also a mentor for the World Triathlon Organization, where she engages with triathlon coaches in developing countries. In her free time, Holly enjoys spending time with her husband Matt and their two cats in Macungie, PA.