Hot take: You can’t have a healthy life without community.
If you’re familiar with Blue Zones — the places in the world where people live the longest — you’ve probably heard that community and purpose are two of the biggest predictors of longevity.
And sometimes you have to experience it for yourself to get it.
Last year, Justin and I got to experience firsthand just how true that is.
We spent six months traveling the world on our own terms through Southeast Asia and Europe, eating our way through Italy, chasing beautiful hikes, and proving to ourselves that you could maintain your health while traveling.
And physically, we did.
We came home stronger runners, maintained muscle mass, and stayed consistent with our training almost the entire trip.
But zooming out, there was one part of health we completely underestimated: Community.
Some days on the road felt a little gray without regular connection, shared experiences, and people to grow alongside. Not because we didn’t love uninterrupted time together — we absolutely did — but because humans simply aren’t meant to live in a vacuum.
We need people.
That realization followed us home, and it became the foundation for what would eventually become Life Well Worth It retreats.
We wanted to take “Life Well Worth It” off of Substack and into real life.
Hike after hike on our trip, “lead a fitness retreat” kept coming up as a lofty goal, but every time we talked about it, it felt like something was missing. Then, finally, it clicked:
What if the HYROX race was just an excuse for the best group trip of your life?
Boom. That was it. Okay, fair, our idea of fun is different than most, but that’s the point.
HYROX might look intense from the outside, but at its core, it’s people challenging themselves together. And honestly? That energy is contagious.
If anything, do it for the plot. You only have one.
We wanted to build a fitness travel experience around challenge, connection, and unforgettable moments. And find fun, adventurous people willing to do hard sh*t together. Sound like you? Keep reading, we have something just for you.
So we started looking at HYROX race locations for 2026 and landed on Málaga, Spain — a coastal city in southern Spain with mountains, beaches, incredible food, and a pace of life that instantly felt aligned with everything we wanted this retreat to feel like.
Barcelona tempted us for name recognition, but one of the biggest lessons we learned from our trip: The mainstream cities weren’t always our favorite. So we took a bit of a risk to go for a lesser-known spot, but the pay-off for trusting our gut was huge.
So.. it’s decided we are going to Málaga, Spain!
We booked the house, built the itinerary, threw up some Instagram posts, and started asking all our friends to join us with our typical “we can pull this off” delusional confidence.
A few weeks after launching, we barely had any traction. Justin and I started spiraling into self-doubt.
Maybe the destination is too ambitious.
Maybe no one wants to race on vacation.
Maybe we should just cancel it…
Doing anything for the first time is uncomfortable. Especially when it’s attached to something you deeply care about. But we kept coming back to the mindset that shaped so much of our six months abroad:
Never try, never know.
So we kept going. We followed up with friends. Posted the trip again (and again). Sent photos of beaches and catamarans. Told people HYROX was “basically just a hard workout class.” Promised them this would be more than a race trip. Promised them that we’d be there to support them the whole way.
And eventually, nine people said yes.
The first Life Well Worth It Team will always be so special.
They trusted us to build a trip for them. And trusted us when we said racing on vacation would be really fun. The trip would push them out of their travel and life routines to uncover a version of themselves they don’t always get to bring on vacation.
The point wasn’t to check out or veg out, but tap into themselves, the location, and the people around them who wanted to see them win.
We had first-time racers and amazing humans who came to cheer their hearts out. By the end of it all, 100% of our team said they wanted to do a HYROX again, or try it for the first time, and 100% said they’d love to do another retreat with us.
And that’s the best compliment we could ask for.
Our 6 Day Málaga Fitness Race Retreat Itinerary
The HYROX Race was a cornerstone of the trip, but it was only one day! We had 5 more days planned, and so many meaningful moments had nothing to do with racing.
The Málaga Retreat was like contrast therapy.
High output, high adrenaline, push-your-limits energy…paired with slow afternoons, ocean swims, long meals, and meaningful conversations. The flow of the week was absolutely perfect.
Arrivals
HYROX Race Day
Explore Málaga & Sunset Cruise
Caminito del Rey Hike & Team Celebration Dinner
Recovery Sunday & Paella Night
Arrivals - Day 1
The first day always carries a little uncertainty. But within a few hours of everyone arriving at the villa, you could already feel the energy shifting. The team loved the house and joked that it was like staying in a three-story Spanish museum complete with outdoor dining, sunning deck, a library, and plenty of space to spread out.
After the long travel days, we headed out for a shakeout run through a nearby park lined with massive cactus gardens, followed by a mobility session to loosen up after flights.
That’s one of the things we care about most on these trips: helping people actually feel good while they travel.
For our first night, we had a chill dinner at the house with a nutritious race-ready meal cooked by our in-house chef, Justin. He puts the most thought and care into everyone’s meals, and it was his time to shine.
HYROX Race Day - Day 2
The day we’d been training for all winter was finally here! The group woke up early to a carb bar filled with exactly what they needed to feel their best: bananas, oats, rice cakes, honey, fruit, and electrolytes. After coffee and a mobility session, the energy started shifting up, but we told everyone: Don’t come out hot! You don’t want to burn out early in HYROX, and the same goes for Race Day.
Throughout race day, we had 4 doubles groups on the course: Cody & Cam; Leslie & Justin; Todd & MaryEvelyn; Ruth & Malachi
Each team had cheerleaders at every station - most importantly, Lauren and Kelly, who brought non-stop energy by the end of the day, were screaming the sled pull strategy. Full HYROX conversion in progress.
You could feel strangers becoming teammates in real time.
Everyone besides us was a first-time racer, and that was something special to witness.
Each team ran across the finish line changed, more confident in their own abilities, and with a drive for what’s next and how to get better.
Our amazing photographer and team HYROX-pro, Donnie, raced the following day. A warm fuzzy was knowing the team showed up to make sure he felt as supported as on our race day. Getting it done is a team effort!
Recovery, Explore Málaga & Sunset Cruise - Day 3
The next morning, everyone woke up a little sore — no surprise there.
But we had a morning coffee walk, and a Málaga mosey planned through markets and the old town to shake out those legs. Everyone took their own pace for the day and did what was best for them.
We always try to have structure, but building in time for you to do what’s best for you is important to us.
In downtown Málaga, some went for tapas, some went for massages, others visited the cathedral, bought well-deserved donuts, and one group made a bold (but worth it!) choice to hike up to the top of the Alcazaba of Málaga to get a stunning view of the city.
Back home, siestas were in order before our sunset boat cruise. This dashing group of athletes understood the assignment and cleaned up for a “treat yourself” evening in Spain.
The sunset catamaran cruise ended the day on such a high note. People were swapping sunglasses, sharing wine, dancing to music, taking photos for each other, and laughing nonstop while the sky turned the most heavenly pink.
This is what you travel for! I mean, look at that sky!
Off the boat, the team rallied for some dancing and drinks out in downtown Benlemada. Honestly, impressed us with their energy. But one thing about us, we’re gonna have fun.
Caminito del Rey Hike & Team Celebration Dinner - Day 4
The Caminito del Rey — a wooden walkway bolted into the walls of a dramatic gorge. One of the most spectacular hikes in Spain and an absolute bucket list moment. We packed lunches, piled into the rental cars, and spent the day in the gorge.
That night, we had our team celebration dinner out in Málaga city at a local gem called En boca.
The atmosphere was exactly what everyone was hoping for: elevated yet homey, with the best possible Spanish fusion food and wine. In classic Euro fashion, we stayed for three hours enjoying a family-style meal with good conversation.
Our little secret: Justin and I tested the restaurant on our first night in Málaga to give it the seal of approval. Our waiter, Gaspar, made us feel like guests in his own home.
Recovery Sunday & Paella Night - Day 5
Sunday: The most relaxed day of the week on purpose.
Everyone chose their own adventure: some ran, some went to the beach, some just sat by the pool. This was really the perfect day to let the vacation feel like vacation.
Then in the evening, our private chefs arrived and prepared a three-course appetizer spread, sangria, and enormous paella.
The Paella Dinner became the heart of the whole trip.
We started talking about favorite moments from the week and what everyone was taking away from the experience. And we were blown away to hear their responses.
People talked about feeling more confident.
More inspired.
More connected.
More motivated to keep training, traveling, and saying yes to challenges.
At one point, Justin and I looked at each other and had the same thought:
This is what we’re supposed to be building.
Experiences that challenge people, connect people, and remind them how good life can feel when you’re fully in it.
Finding purpose and building a meaningful life isn’t linear. Justin and I have both gone through so many versions of ourselves, so much trial and error, and so many experiences that brought us to the dinner table in Málaga.
We shared the story of how close we came to canceling the trip before anyone had signed up.
And our friend Cam responded with something we’ll never forget:
“Imagine if you had canceled, you would have robbed us all of this unforgettable experience.”
Damn, dude, squeeze my heart! But he’s right.
When you’re building something you genuinely believe could positively impact people, don’t quit before you give it a chance to exist. Even if your idea impacts one single person, that’s one person who’s better, happier, or healthier because of your idea.
And that’s really what it’s all about.
So it’s safe to say, after Málaga, we knew this wouldn’t be a one-time thing…
Our next stop: Nice, France 🇫🇷
We’re heading to the French Riviera for our next HYROX Retreat this fall. After what the first trip became, we genuinely cannot wait to do it again with a new group of people.
We’re chasing a PB on the retreat experience. You don’t want to miss it.
If you’ve been craving:
more meaningful travel
performance-based fitness goals
new experiences
stronger connections
or simply a reason to say yes to something exciting again…
This is your sign to come with us to Nice this Fall.
You don’t need to be the fittest or the most-travelled. You don’t need to know anyone coming. Hell, you don’t even have to race. You just need to be the kind of person who’s willing to try new things and fully show up.
And trust us — that version of you is worth meeting.
🇫🇷 Join us in Nice France, Oct. 28 - Nov. 3rd! 🇫🇷
If you’re in, or even thinking about it, be sure to subscribe. This is the start of many more epic adventures. Not just for HYROX retreats, but for half-marathon trips, fun fitness racecations, stunning hikes, wellness weekend getaways, and simply experiences that will positively change your life.
What Our Guests Loved About Their First Retreat ❤️ 💬
Meaningful Connections
“My concerns about going on a trip with so many people I didn’t know quickly vanished as soon as we arrived and met everyone. The hosts knocked it out of the park, and it was fun to make so many memories with newfound friends.”
A Sense of Achievement
“Centering the trip around a fitness goal was a very rewarding experience. It provided a great sense of self-accomplishment, and it allowed the excursions of the trip to be even better due to knowing we had just accomplished something, a challenging feat. It was great being around like-minded individuals during the trip.”
Inspired & Energized
“I loved connecting with like-minded people and constantly being motivated and inspired by others in the group. The combination of good food, wellness-related activities, and adventure was perfect!”
Refreshed & Confident
“This trip was an amazing change of pace that we needed for traveling. The first time I have come back from a trip not feeling exhausted, broke, or as if I gained weight. Highly recommend to anyone wanting a positive travel and lifestyle change!”
