Retreat Recap
Málaga
2026
We took 9 people to a villa in Southern Spain, raced Hyrox Málaga, hiked a gorge, sailed at sunset, and ate paella made by a private chef. Here's how it went.
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We took 9 people to a villa in Southern Spain, raced Hyrox Málaga, hiked a gorge, sailed at sunset, and ate paella made by a private chef. Here's how it went.
The pitch was simple: what if a Hyrox race was actually just an excuse for the best group trip of your life? A 6-bedroom villa. Nine people. One race. And everything else in between.
We booked a stunning villa in Benalmádena, a short walk from the beach, with a pool and ocean views. We organized the Caminito del Rey gorge hike, a sunset catamaran, a private chef paella night, group dinners, and fitness sessions. Then we filled 9 spots and went.
It sold out. Everyone showed up. And nobody wanted to leave.
This is that story.
Arrivals. First look at the villa — ocean views, pool, the kind of place that immediately makes you feel like you made the right call. We shook out our legs after the flights, ran through a group mobility session to decompress, and sat down for the first of many dinners together.
Race day. This is what we'd been training for all winter. The group gathered early, ran through a final mobility session, then headed to Hyrox Málaga. The energy at the venue was electric — thousands of athletes, all chasing the same finish line. We ran together, cheered each other on, and every single person who started crossed the finish.
Recovery day — the best kind. A morning coffee walk, a pit stop at Taberna Merlot for breakfast sandwiches, then we explored Málaga's markets and architecture (the Picasso Museum, the Cathedral, the old city). The highlight: a sunset catamaran cruise along the coast with boat bites. We ended the night in Benalmádena.
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, a group dinner out in Málaga city. Long table. Great wine. The kind of dinner that goes until midnight.
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. Then in the evening, our private chef arrived and cooked an enormous paella in the garden. That dinner became the heart of the whole trip. No agenda. No rush. Just the group, the food, and the last night together.
An easy morning run, then checkout. The group chat started before we'd even reached the airport. Everyone was already asking about the next one.
"I've done group trips before, but nothing like this. The combination of actually competing together and then unwinding in a beautiful house created a bond I didn't expect. Already signed up for the next one."
"The organization was seamless. I just had to show up — everything else was handled. The training leading up to it and the race itself were the perfect challenge. Worth every penny."
"I was nervous — I'd never done a Hyrox before. The group energy on race day was something else. We all pushed each other. I finished stronger than I thought possible."
"Came as strangers, left as a group chat that still fires off memes daily. The retreat paid for itself in memories alone — the race was just the icing on top."
"I travel constantly and always struggle to maintain training. This trip solved both — a proper adventure AND fitness accountability. Genuinely life-changing."
"The house was stunning, the food was incredible, and the race was the hardest thing I've done in years. This is exactly what fitness travel should look like."
Málaga sold out. Nice (Oct 28–Nov 3) and Nashville (Dec 9–13) are open now. Spots are limited and go to the waitlist first.
