EmpowerHER Retreat at East Fork

April 26-28, East Fork EmpowerHER Trail Running Retreat


Curious about our East Fork races and want to see parts of the course and get tips about running, cross training, and recovery?
Join us for a trail running retreat at East Fork State Park!
In our efforts to make the retreat more affordable for all women we have more basic housing this year as well as a day camp option for local runners. The lodging will be at Woodland Lakes Christian Camp (only 3 miles from East Fork trails). The camp accommodations are bunkhouse style. We will have a large bunkhouse with 4 separate bunk rooms and an indoor gathering place, a kitchen, bathrooms, and dorm-style showers, all in the same building. This will be a fun, summer, camp-like experience! Beautiful wooded premises with a climbing wall, zipline, rope course, fire pit, swings etc. Come make trail running memories with us!
We will also have guided yoga classes geared specifically for runners, a presentation about thru-hiking, and trail running adventures out west, and trail safety by Megan Beitzel. Megan is an experienced ultrarunner, thru-hiker, yogi, and EMS responder.
*Bring your own twin bedding (or sleeping bag) and pillows.
**No alcohol is allowed per camp rules.

Financial Investment

We are striving to make this retreat as affordable as possible.
Included with your registration is a swag bag with over $100 worth of merchandise including a high-quality rabbit EmpowerHER shirt and a BOCO hat plus other goodies from our supporters. All activities (zipline, ropes course, wall climbing, group runs, and yoga) are included in the price as well as bunkhouse style accommodations and meals.
Registraion is $295 if you register before February 15, $325 before March 1, and $350 for everthing after March 1.

Local to Cincinnati and don't plan to spend the night?
You can join our day camp (all activities and meals included) for $50 off. Please enter the code DAYCAMP when checking out.
We have a limited number of scholarship funds available. If you would like to attend but cannot make a financial commitment please reach out. We can also trade some of the fees for volunteer hours at our events. Message us to discuss.

Tentative Schedule

Friday
3-4 pm - Check in
4:15 pm - Leave for the trail run (3 mile easy run @East Fork)
6 pm - Dinner in the bunkhouse, introductions, info about East Fork races
7:30 pm - Guided 30 min meditation with Megan

Saturday
7 - 8 am - Breakfast
8:15 am - Leave for the trail run @ East Fork (approximately 10 mi run on parts of East Fork Trail Races course (all paces welcome, no runners left behind, shorter distance options available upon request)
11:30 pm - Picnic lunch at the shelter, Q and A about East Fork
1 pm - 5 pm - Afternoon activities (choose any or all!)
- Zipline & rope course
- Climbing wall
- Yoga class with Megan
5:30 pm - 7 pm - Dinner & Presentations
- Megan's presentation about her thru-hiking adventures on AT, PCT, and beyond, and wildness safety.
- Tips for success for summer running by Nettie Zeppettella and Jennifer Russo
7pm -8:30 pm - Sunset hike
Sunday
7am - 8 am Breakfast
8:15 am - Leave for East Fork (easy 4 mile run at East Fork)
10 am - Yoga with Megan and closing notes from Nettie and Jennifer
11:30 am - Checkout

Presenters

Aneta (Nettie) Zeppettella - Nettie is a co-owner of Empower Ultras. Originally from Poland, Nettie has lived in the US for close to 25 years. Nettie has almost a decade of race directing experience and has been fortunate enough to experience some of the most iconic 100 mile and beyond races. Nettie finished Western States 100, is a three time finisher of HURT 100 in Hawaii, finished Badwater 135, Fat Dog 120, Buckeye 200, Potawatomi 200, and over 20 other 100-mile races. Nettie has a lot of experience with running in the heat and humidity. Additionally Nettie is a volunteer chapter leader for Trail Sisters Dayton, having founded and lead the chapter for almost six years.

Jennifer Russo - Jennifer is a co-owner of Empower Ultras, a Women World Record Holder in Backyard Ultra (308 mi at Capital Backyard in 2023), she competed in Big’s Backyard Championships three times representing United States. Additionally she is Tahoe 200 and Bigfoot 200 finisher, as well as winner of Burning River 100 and Mohican 100. She is great at running in heat and humidity. She has an extensive marketing experience and is a high school cross country coach. Jennifer is a Cincinnati native and East Fork is her home trail.

Megan Beitzel - Megan has been an endurance athlete since 2016. She’s an ultra runner, a triathlete, an equestrian and an avid Thru-Hiker. She’s completed America’s Triple Crown of long distance hiking, among others, totaling over 14,000 career hiking miles. Megan has hiked the width of the country, border to border, 4 times across 25 states. She holds multiple 100mi ultramarathon buckles, even winning 1st place female at Tuscazoar in 2019. Megan turned to yoga to help correct imbalances in her body caused by years of overtraining. Through yoga she has learned to cultivate a stronger mind, body and spirit within herself and others. She loves offering safe, yet challenging flow classes filled with breath, movement and empowerment. Megan obtained her Yoga Alliance RYT 200 via Be Yogasara Vinyasa Yoga School in Dover, OH. Additionally, she is a nationally certified and registered Emergency Medical Technician through NREMT, a certified Wilderness First Responder through NOLS, and is an American Red Cross CPR/BLS Instructor.

Packing List

- Twin bedding or sleeping bag and pillow for the cabin
- Towels
- Yoga mat
- Headlamp
- Running clothes and shoes (preferably trail shoes and if possible two pairs if the course is muddy)
- Rain jacket/ warm layers/ hoodie etc
- Nutrition for the run, water bottle for running
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- Comfortable clothes
- Snacks
- Optional camp chair

What Is Provided:

- Five meals (Friday dinner, three meals on Saturday, and Sunday breakfast)
- Retreat swag from Empower Ultras and our supporters valued at over $100 (including goodies from Rabbit)
- Yoga classes, guided runs, important tips about wilderness safety and summer racing, zipline and rope course, and climbing wall
- Camaraderie, lots of laughs and bonding with similar, adventure-minded ladies

Event's current local time: 2:49 AM ET