We are requiring all ZAP Endurance Running Vacation attendees to be fully vaccinated this summer. All of our staff and athletes will be vaccinated as well. There will still be times during your vacation where you will be asked to wear a mask, at a minimum to comply with facility guidelines. We will not require mask wearing while running. We will follow the facility policies as well as CDC guidelines in implementing mask wearing during the week / weekend. We will provide more details on this as we get closer to the dates for each session.

All your food and lodging are included with the price. Not included in the price are the optional massage or chiropractic work. If you would like a single room there is an additional $185 charge that can be selected during registration as long as the single rooms are available. Optional services such as massage & spa treatments will be additional costs. We will be offering an airport shuttle service to and from the Charlotte airport for $40 each way, or $80 round trip. The shuttle will depart the Charlotte airport at 12:45pm on the day the session begins and will depart for the airport at 10:00am on the final day of the session. The airport is approximately 1hr 45min from Blowing Rock.

Our capacity for each session is between 28-34 people.

I have attended eight ZAP Fitness camps or its predecessor, Maine Running Camp. The first year I attended I kept notes from each lecture or seminar I attended. With all my previous running experience, I could not believe how much I learned. Eight years later, I have the same notebook. It is filled with notes from every talk from each year’s camp. I’ll take it with me when I return this July.

Because of the magnificent mountain trails, the running is invigorating and relaxing. All runs are flexible to meet the needs of each runner.

With the running, seminars and other activities, there is still plenty of time to relax and enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains and Blackberry Canyon. Although there are plenty of activities to keep you busy, nothing is mandatory, not even the runs. You set your own schedule and no one bothers you. I always find time for a late afternoon nap in the hammock. Remember, it is a vacation.

I had taken some time off from running and I was looking for something to get me started back. The scenery around the camp looked beautiful and the dirt carriage running trails were inviting. The price was extremely affordable. The pleasant surprise was the amount I learned about running, fitness, diet, strength and stretching, and race tactics. The most unforeseen plus was the friendships I made with other campers. At the Rocket City Marathon last December I ran into a member of the camp staff from 1999. I immediately started recalling his talk on running and aging and how his points had come true as I have gotten older. I travel a great deal on business and I occasionally get to run with someone I met from camp who lives in another state. I have even been in the wedding party of a couple I met at camp.

Listening to running greats like Bill Rodgers and legendary coaches who attended ZAP, I have improved my running and fitness. Two years ago I learned a new approach to running hills and it has helped my racing. Also, I am better at avoiding injury. I have developed a better understanding of the history of the sport and a keener sense of its perspective.

The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. At the end of camp, each person sits with one of the coaches and develops a personalized running program.

Also, I have a network of running friends throughout the world that I keep in touch with or get a chance to visit on occasion.

The purpose of camp is to improve your running. Your goal could be anything from setting PR’s to qualifying for the Boston Marathon to running your first 5K. Many people think they are not good enough to attend a running camp. At ZAP it is not about how good you are, it’s about how good you want to be. Take a look at the camp photos on the ZAP website. You’ll find someone in those pictures who resembles you.