Join Me for the Mindful Marathon Silent Circle in Barcelona, Spain
A 12hr Journey - Walk, Jog, Write
Remember when you were young and the end of the year filled you with nervous excitement? Anything could happen the following year and everything was possible. As you get older, your world begins to get smaller and your social circles contract. There are many wonderful things about the comfort and routine of adult life; but sometimes, you get stuck and need to break the mold to set the stage for a new chapter.
What if, to end this year, you were to meet up with a group of strangers and walk or jog in a circle, in silence, for an entire day, for an entire marathon, in the middle of nowhere, and journal your thoughts as you go? What a crazy but amazing idea!
Here’s How it Works:
Friday, Dec 27th. Fly into Barcelona, Spain, and we’ll meet you at 3pm at Trafalgar Street, 56 (close to Arc de Triomf) in the city center. Together, a group of us will then take a one-hour shuttle bus to Monastery Sant Benet. This is a beautiful, restored sacred site, with a 4-star hotel where you’ll have a private room. That first night, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the monastery, share a meal, get to know each other, and prepare ourselves for marathon day.
Saturday, Dec 28th. Breakfast is served from 5am, and since we will have taken a vow of silence the previous night, we’ll drink coffee and eat together, but without conversation. At 6am, the bell rings and we begin the first walk/jog loop of our Mindful Marathon. Half marathon attendees complete one loop, full marathoners complete two. The trail loops around the monastery and down a quiet path and back.
It’s still dark at 6am, so we’ll give you a flashlight and guide you every step of the way. At 6:45, we’ll meet in the Mindful Hall to write our first of 12 journal assignments. We’ll have a bite to eat, use the bathroom, and at 7am the bell will ring again for the next loop.
Every hour, on the hour, we’ll walk/jog, rest, and write, again and again until we’re done. Believe it or not, the time will fly by. Throughout the day you’ll experience moments of elation and joy. You’ll almost certainly have struggles and doubts, too. Some of the journal assignments will feel easy and fun, others challenging. This is all part of the process.
By 6pm, we’ll be done. We’ll break the silence, have dinner, share our experiences, and celebrate together. The next morning, we’ll gather for a group yoga class before breakfast, then head back to Barcelona by 12:30pm. It’s two days and two nights, but it will feel like we’ve spent a week together.
You’ll make new friends and expand your horizons for sure, but the biggest takeaway will be the insights you’ll gain about yourself and your life from your time alone.
Why This Event?
The Mindful Marathon is a full day of physical movement, journaling, connection, and introspection. Nothing offers perspective quite like the awe of nature and the clarity of mind that comes from long physical endeavors in the company of like-minded people, all of whom have come together for the same reason: growth. And there’s no better time to do it than as the year draws to a close and you get ready to start a new one.
What to Expect:
- Mental and physical challenges
- Positive people and a supportive, non-competitive, accessible environment
- A safe, supportive, and gentle approach to walking or jogging
- Zero competition, zero focus on performance, zero judgement or expectation
Silence and No Phone Rules:
- Silence from 27 December after dinner (10pm) until 28 December after we finish (around 7pm)
- No phones, smartwatches, screens, or devices from 27 December after dinner (10pm) until 28 December after we finish (around 7pm)
Qualifications:
- If you can easily walk for 6 miles (10 km) on any given day, you can likely finish the half marathon distance
- If you can easily walk for 13 miles (21 km) on any given day, you can likely finish the full marathon distance
- No matter what your level of fitness, this will be a very challenging day
- Not sure if you’re ready? This weekend, go for a monster walk and see how you feel during it and afterwards
- Still not sure? Email us support@yogabody.com
Required Gear (must have to join):
- Walking or jogging shoes that you’ve already broken in
- Layered clothing
- Hat for sun protection
- Super lightweight raincoat, just in case
- Water bottle
- 2,500 calories worth of snacks
- Mental and physical challenges
Optional Gear:
- Small blanket (for Mindful Hall journaling)
- Vaseline / petroleum jelly
- Sunscreen
- A change of clothes (socks/underwear are key)
Registration
19 Spaces Left!
Included in Registration
Not Included
This event is a passion project, not a business venture. With that in mind, we’ve attempted to make the price as affordable as possible to make it more accessible to a larger audience.
1, 5, 6, 7: Mindful Marathon, May 2024, Costa Brava, Spain ; 2 & 3: Mindful Marathon, September 2023, Barcelona, Spain ; 4: Mindful Marathon, March 2023, Georgia, USA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Participant Testimonials
★★★★★
"Still on a high"
Still on a high from this adventure. It was exactly what I needed. Such an impactful and amazing event I will never forget. It was wonderful to challenge myself and do something hard in such a beautiful place.
– Irene (MM, May 24)
★★★★★
"A humbling privilege I will never forget"
To run 30 miles in one day was a new edge for me. I’m immensely grateful to reconnect with such a passion and love of mine and believe I can do it again and more! And to witness others, from the fastest to the slowest, all equal, pushing through our own limits. A humbling privilege I will never forget.
– Daniel (MM, September 23)
★★★★★
"I didn’t know I had this much power in me"
How beautiful, powerful, and inspiring it was to have done this with a group of strangers with whom I’ll forever share this connection. I didn’t know I had this much power in me, but this trip has certainly lit a fire under me!
– Arna (MM, May 24)
★★★★★
"It provided lessons and deep connections"
This gave me the gift of presence. It provided me with lessons, laughter, and deep connections. These are the important moments in life. I’m forever grateful.
– Renee (MM, May 24)
★★★★★
"Far exceeded my expectations"
Often my path is mostly flat. From there I can only see one horizon. This weekend I turned to the hills and discovered a new horizon at every peak. Unexpected strength, endurance, connection, healing, and possibility. A much-needed experience that far exceeded my expectations.
– Kevin (MM, May 24)
★★★★★
"A lot of value for money"
The Mindful Marathon in Costa Brava was an amazing experience, so well organized, an amazing group of people both from participants and YOGABODY team and lot of value for money. Lucas and the team are stellar!
– Joakim (Mindful Marathon, May 24)
"Still on a high"
Still on a high from this adventure. It was exactly what I needed. Such an impactful and amazing event I will never forget. It was wonderful to challenge myself and do something hard in such a beautiful place.
– Irene (MM, May 24)
"A humbling privilege I will never forget"
To run 30 miles in one day was a new edge for me. I’m immensely grateful to reconnect with such a passion and love of mine and believe I can do it again and more! And to witness others, from the fastest to the slowest, all equal, pushing through our own limits. A humbling privilege I will never forget.
– Daniel (MM, September 23)
"I didn’t know I had this much power in me"
How beautiful, powerful, and inspiring it was to have done this with a group of strangers with whom I’ll forever share this connection. I didn’t know I had this much power in me, but this trip has certainly lit a fire under me!
– Arna (MM, May 24)
"It provided lessons and deep connections"
This gave me the gift of presence. It provided me with lessons, laughter, and deep connections. These are the important moments in life. I’m forever grateful.
– Renee (MM, May 24)
"Far exceeded my expectations"
Often my path is mostly flat. From there I can only see one horizon. This weekend I turned to the hills and discovered a new horizon at every peak. Unexpected strength, endurance, connection, healing, and possibility. A much-needed experience that far exceeded my expectations.
– Kevin (MM, May 24)
"A lot of value for money"
The Mindful Marathon in Costa Brava was an amazing experience, so well organized, an amazing group of people both from participants and YOGABODY team and lot of value for money. Lucas and the team are stellar!
– Joakim (Mindful Marathon, May 24)