This was my second Aire Libre experience and I could never have imagined how deeply and quickly I would connect with a place and all of the new people I met. My heart is more full than I ever hoped with community and culture and adventure. I can't wait to see what happens next time!

Wow! The Aire Libre team created such an incredible few days for us in Mexico City. We received enough information to be prepared for the days, but not enough to ruin all the surprises along the way. It was a transformational experience that had us immersed in an authentic CDMX experience. It's not a trip that will take you through the lists of top things to see in CDMX but you will leave with a strong sense of the history and culture of the people of CDMX. You’ll also leave with a good sense of the run culture in CDMX. The Aire Libre team was fantastic. They were responsive and helpful throughout. You can tell that they are passionate about what they do, and they put care each of the participants. They take care of all the little details so you can immerse yourself in the experience. Thanks for an unforgettable few days.

This was the most amazing experience I have been on in quite some time. I am beyond grateful to Mark Hemmings, Rose, and Koji for being wonderful tour guides, and now friends. I am beyond grateful to Leslie, Gero, and Mau for creating AireLibre's Philosophy and putting it into great practice with retreats such as this, and allowing me the opportunity to experience this journey. This experience would not have been possible without their knowledge, skills, kindness, and guidance. I have a word salad of a review! Upon arrival in Tokyo to connect with the AireLibre crew, Mark was waiting for us in the hotel lobby for check in. We were then sent to our rooms to unwind before returning downstairs for a 3km run around the city. Stopping at beautiful land marks and offering photography tips were just a few of the great benefits Mark had to offer, as he is a professional international photographer. The rest of the group was incredibly easy to get along with, and we all quickly became friends. These tips and secrets were continued throughout our entire stay. Mark connected us with local cuisine, culture, and the language. He encouraged all of us to experience everything we could, while being understanding if someone was tired and wanted to stay behind for a part of the day. Koji and Rose offered unique insight into Japanese culture as they both live there. I was able to learn about the local economy, customs, and interactions that happen daily. They taught us the proper ways to say hello, and which circumstances required no comments. Our trek up Mount Fuji started strong. We began at 1pm and ended around 3pm at our hut for the night. We stayed there for about six hours, eating and sleeping, before continuing the journey around 10pm. This was where their trusted leadership was absolutely necessary. For starters, the food on the mountain is limited. Mark had taken us to the Family Mart prior to our departure so he could buy us all of the snacks we would need for this hike. Thank goodness he did, because every snack I had brought, I ate. As I left the hut in the middle of the night, I knew I had absolutely, positively screwed up with the amount of clothing I brought. It simply was not enough. The next five hours were close to treacherous. I wanted to stop plenty of times, until one of the members of our group offered to buy everyone hot cocoa. Suddenly I could feel the blood return to my fingertips. In combination with the caffeine pill Mark gave me, I was on high alert when I noticed this particular hut sold gloves. Those gloves, Giammarco's kindness, and Mark's preparation are the only reasons I made it up that mountain. Rose stuck with me and she encouraged me the entire way up, even though I was completely nonverbal and crying. There are no words to explain the gratitude I have to everyone, including myself, in that moment for getting up the mountain. When I initially told my mom that I'd won a Global Running Day Experience in Japan and sent her the itinerary, she was worried. It sounded like Survivor. I had laughed and brushed it off, but she was correct. She stuck to the mandatory and recommended packing list, which was the greatest gift while I was out there. I had hiking sticks, nearly enough layers, hats, headlamps, and much more equipment that was absolutely necessary. I had packed four layers and while it was enough to prevent me from turning into an icicle, I absolutely would recommend bringing 2-3 more, or one more that was thicker. The sunrise was worth every step, every tear, every moment of weakness and anger. It was worth absolutely everything, and I would do it all over again to experience that sight. We then hiked two miles around the volcanic crater rim of the volcano before beginning the long journey down. When we got down, around noon, we went to our lakeside cabins where we would be relaxing for the next two and a half days before returning to our respective parts of the world. The water was so warm and felt wonderful against my aching muscles. Throughout this entire trip, we were blessed to have "The Magician" or Jeff, as he is more formally known. Jeff would take our bags into the van after we checked out of the hotel. Left with our daypacks, which included absolutely everything we could need in a day, he would then take our bags to the next hotel location. He would pop out at random moments on the trail with his camera and a smile, and none of us knew how he was teleporting right when we needed him most. He took care of the hotel check-ins, gathering all of our passports for a smooth flow of information. Mark was phenomenal with his knowledge and ability to organize this trip. I had asked him as we were nearing the end how this all came together. The perfect timings of meals, wonderful trails, glorious accommodation, and gathering of materials needed. He said he had spent over one hundred hours putting the entire experience together for us. We never had to wait, not even for a bus or a train. He had timed everything to the minuted. One moment we were walking, the next we were at the Onsen Bathhouse, where we could purchase our own private room. There was a day where we took a bus, then a train, then a cable car, a gondola, and a boat, all before taking a train to our next location. The amount of planning, time, and effort that goes into creating this magical experience should not go unnoticed. Mark seemed to know everyone at the restaurants he took us to, where the nearest Studio Ghibli store was at a moment's notice, and insider tips that kept us all intrigued to learn more. As I mentioned earlier, he is a professional international photographer. Of course the photos he got of us were spectacular, but what was even better was the fact that he shared these tips with us. He would show us how to get the best angle, lighting, and even how to make the waterfall look like a blur. It was a fun addition to an already incredible experience. Each run began with each person picking a stretch to take the group through, a volunteer to begin a breathing meditation, and "Gambate!" the word said when we are ready to face our minds on the trail. Koji is a friend I am grateful to have gained. He was with us for the majority of the trip, joining us on the second day and leaving on the sixth. He introduced us to some of his friends in Kamakura from his local run club, and we all ran the beach trail together. He is a natural leader. The two of us would often be alone in the front of the group when he would stop so people could catch up. Mark was always taking the tailend to ensure nobody got left behind. It was during this time that I had the opportunity to connect with Koji and ask him questions about his life in Japan. It was during these moments that him and Giammarco inspired me to begin trail running -- according to them, I am either a machine or a gazelle. It is only as deeply as we meet ourselves that we can meet others, and I feel that these trail runs offered me deeper insight into both myself and the people I was surrounded by. When I return to Japan following my college graduation, with my sister in tow, Koji will be there and we will run together. How cool is it to say that I have a friend in Japan now?!? Rose is the sweetest, kindest, most intelligent woman I had the pleasure of meeting on this trip. I first found her on social media and from seeing her posts, I knew we came from similar lifestyles. Working 9-5 can be soul and mentally draining. She reminded me that our job is not our identity, that we are so much more than the work we do for another. We are human, infinite and whole as we are. The work is something we do in order to do what we love. We work to run, eat to run, and live to run. We work to see the world and meet other people within this world. Work does not have to be so absolute that it takes our minds, or takes our freedoms. Seeing the world through Rose's eyes is a blessing. Being able to hear her speak of it was a gift I will take with me forever. She was such a supporter on the mountain, of all of us. Of me, the youngest, and Bob, the oldest. It seems Bob struck a chord in her heart as she is now working to get him to complete his life's dream of finishing a marathon in fifty countries -- he's already done all fifty states. He is the epitome of a life well lived. He is an inspiration to all, and he is who I want to be when I get older. The AireLibre Crew, Leslie, Gero, and Mau, thank you. This was an incredible journey filled with tears and laughter, sometimes in the same moment. Each of the people I met on this trip will stay with me for a lifetime. I am beyond grateful and so honored to have been chosen as the winner for your giveaway. You have offered me something so rare: a new perspective. I learned the same lessons the universe has been trying to teach me for ages, this time in a new language. I learned lessons I had never once considered before. You allowed me the opportunity to visit a country I had only heard of in books, from my mom, and on social media -- I never once considered the idea that I would ever make it there. I remember sitting by the lake under Mount Fuji alone on our final night. It was the first time in years I had seen the stars so clearly. I called my grandma, as I usually do, and we spoke of how beautiful life is. We spoke of how we couldn't wait for me to return home. This was the first trip I've taken that didn't feel as if I was running from something back home. In fact, I couldn't wait to run back home and tell my family and friends what I'd seen. That's a blessing not spoken of. So often we go on vacation and pray to never leave. We return home and yearn to go back to the place that made us feel whole. I am grateful to know that no matter where I go, there I am. That the happiness I felt in Japan is accessible in New Mexico, because the happiness was there before -- just for different reasons. There is no amount of gratitude that expresses the sheer joy I had in being home. Japan reminded me of so many things, but the most important one being that my home is one I can always return to. No matter how far I go, or what I see, there is no place like home, and nothing like the people who make it so. Japan was an incredible journey. It was not a vacation, it was an adventure, one that reminded me why it is so wonderful to be alive. Thank you, to everyone who made this experience possible. Thank you to everyone who made this journey unforgettable. Thank you for ensuring we were taken care of every step of the way. I would never climb Mount Fuji alone, but I would do it a million times over with all of you. Thank you! I'm excited to continue my story with AireLibre in Oaxaca, Mexico, and I encourage everyone to begin their story as soon as possible.

Hosting our first running retreat in Oaxaca and the Sierra Norte with Aire Libre was an experience I’ll never forget. We brought a group of 17 people from our running community, The Herd, with different backgrounds, personalities, and paces, and Aire Libre helped us create an experience that felt adventurous, intentional, and incredibly well cared for from beginning to end. What impressed me most was the balance. We were able to experience Oaxaca City, run through landscapes in the Sierra Norte that most travelers would never get to see, move from pueblo to pueblo with local guides, jump into rivers, share meals, learn from the communities we visited, and still have space for conversations, reflection, and connection as a group. As a host, there are a million little things you’re thinking about behind the scenes. Transportation, timing, different running abilities, food, safety, weather, and making sure everyone is actually enjoying themselves. Having Aire Libre as a partner allowed me to focus much more on our people and the experience we wanted to create because their team understood the terrain and handled the logistics with so much care. What I appreciated most was that it never felt like a packaged tour. It felt immersive, human, and connected to the place. The local guides, the people we met along the way, the food, the trails, and the hospitality of the Sierra Norte were just as important as the running itself. We came for an adventure, but left feeling like we had experienced something much bigger. Our group became closer, people challenged themselves, and we created memories that I know will stay with us for a very long time. For anyone looking to experience Oaxaca beyond the surface and connect with its landscapes, communities, and culture through movement, I couldn’t recommend Aire Libre enough. Already dreaming about where we can go together next.

Amazing time, experience and people. Perhaps I would just change the location of day 1, from Shinjuku area to the imperial palace.