AMR + Rancho La Puerta

Head just south of the border to join AMR founders Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea at Rancho La Puerta, a world-class resort & spa in beautiful, surprisingly lush Baja, Mexico. After successfully leading Become a Runner sessions at RLP during a week in November 2021, Dimity and Sarah have been asked to return to complement the fitness team again as specialty presenters for the week of October 22-29, 2022. Join Dimity and Sarah at the track, on on the trails, and in the studio for sessions that’ll make running easy, simple, and injury-free—or play pickleball with the duo or opt for several of the 50 (!) classes offered each day.

THE Location

Rancho La Puerta (RLP) translates to “Ranch of the Door.” An RLP vacation invites you to “open your door” to a healthier, more balanced life. We embrace that mantra at Another Mother Runner and can’t wait to return to “the Ranch” to lead running- and recovery-related sessions. Choose from 50 (!!) daily classes for all fitness levels including yoga, hikes, Pilates, dance, art, H2O boot camp, pickleball, and more!

THE Property

The all-inclusive*, per-person prices for the Rancho la Puerta Retreat are the following:  

7 nights (due to popularity of this week, there are no partial-week options)
Junior Villa Single $4,950 + 17.65% tax [max. of 2 singles] Junior Villa Double $4,200 + tax, per person
Villa Studio Triple $3,250 + tax, per person
Villa Suite Quad $3,550 + tax, per person [2 BR, 2 BA]

*includes lodging; all meals; all classes; shuttle service from San Diego airport to RLP and back; $150 resort credit (which can be used toward spa treatments, or anything from Bazar or Mercado)

The Details

Unlike AMR Retreats, there will not be organized, AMR-only activities except (except!!) for a welcome dinner on the evening of Saturday, October 22, and a farewell dinner on Friday, October 28. Dimity and Sarah will lead several active, informative sessions, and they will be taking part in many of the amazing classes and sessions the Ranch has to offer, so your paths will cross numerous times.

Due to the popularity of visiting the Ranch in October, guests can only visit for the full week—no partial weeks. After spending 4 days at the Ranch two years in a row, then getting to spend an entire week there in 2021, Sarah can honestly say the Ranch experience is truly best lived for an entire week: Seven versus four days allows you to truly luxuriate in the beauty and harmony of the Ranch. Something magical happens, and you are transported.

*NOTE: To register and get the AMR group rate, please contact Donna Sher (RLP representative extraordinaire) either via email at dsher52 [at] hotmail [dot] com or via mobile phone at (858) 449-3672. In addition to getting the group discount, you will also receive a $150 resort credit (which can be used for spa treatments—ahhhhh!— or anything from Bazar or Mercado).

FAQ

October 22-29, 2022. Unlike in previous years, due to the popularity of the week at the Ranch, there are no partial week options in 2022.

At Rancho La Puerta, one of the world’s leading destinations for change and renewal. Or, as Sarah thinks: It’s Heaven on Earth. The Ranch’s 4,000 acres are a high-desert oasis with lush, mature landscaping lining walking paths leading to casitas, the dining hall, fitness studios, and other charming buildings dotting the property. Trails surround the property, which is nestled in a valley and overlooked by Mount Kuchumaa, long considered an “exalted high place” by locals.

The climate is ideal: In October, it’s usually warm and dry. Typically temps are in the mid-70s (Fahrenheit) by day, dropping down to the high 40s at night. Rancho La Puerta is located just about 25 miles “as the crow flies” from the Pacific Ocean (near San Diego, California) in a town called Tecate at an elevation of 1,700 feet. You’ll want to bring light gloves and a beanie for morning hikes.

The Ranch is your oyster, proverbially speaking: Your time there is COMPLETELY up to you. Every day there are 50 (fifty!!) different classes to choose from: nutrition, mindfulness, running, cooking, hiking, yoga, sound healing, aqua fitness, pickleball (Sarah’s favorite!)…we could go on and on. Here is a sample schedule to give you a feel for what is on tap. Dimity and Sarah will be leading active demonstrations and sessions related to running and injury-prevention. Like guests, Dimity and Sarah will be taking part in the myriad offerings at the Ranch.

Absolutely: All women runners are welcome. Dimity and Sarah are presenting running and recovery clinics for any Ranch guests who wishes to attend. Most likely, the sessions will be small enough to offer some individual attention, and each participant gets a printout (or PDF, if you prefer) of AMR’s 8-week Become a Runner training program.

Yes: There are single, double, triple, and quad casitas, and the RLP rep, Donna, can pair you with one or more (female) guests.

The more the merrier: The resort has single, double, triple, and quad casitas.

EVERYTHING. Your room; all meals (3 healthy squares a day + twice/day snacks: ALL SO TASTY!); all hikes, presentations, runs, classes (50+ daily); $150 resort credit (can be used toward spa treatements!!); and round-trip shuttle from the San Diego Airport. Airfare is not provided, and neither are additional spa services (e.g. facial, herbal wraps, reflexology, etc.).

Yes, ma’am! Our representative at RLP, Donna Sher, is a pro, so she’s handling the bookings. dsher52 [at] hotmail [dot] com or 858-449-3672.

ASAP! You can arrive as early as you like to get a jump on all the activities (or to claim your poolside lounge chair). Sarah and Dimity often fly to San Diego International Airport a day early and stay at a nearby hotel in order to catch the first shuttle on Saturday morning. Airport shuttles run on Saturday at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.

At the time of registration, a non-refundable payment of $500 is due, with the remainder due by July 15, 2022 (giving you time to save up!).

Other questions? Email the RLP rep, Donna Sher: dsher52 [at] hotmail [dot] com