We collaborate with experienced athletes, coaches, guides and creatives to bring you clinics that will improve your skills, challenge your thinking, and change the way that you connect to the mountains.
Running Clinics.
Please get in touch with us if you are unsure if one of our clinics is a good fit for you and we will be happy to recommend the best option based on your goals and experience. While most of our introductory clinics are designed to accommodate everyone, some may be better suited to beginners.
Don’t see the clinic that you are looking for here? We are able to create custom programming based on you or your groups’ interests. We always welcome opportunities for collaboration with the ultimate goal of helping more people safely experience our backyard.
We aim to keep clinic pricing accessible. If cost is a barrier, or if you’re in a position to support someone else’s spot, please get in touch. We’ll do our best to help.
Ready to take your running beyond pavement and into the peaks? This three-session series is designed for trail and road runners who want to build the skills and confidence to tackle mountain terrain safely and to plan their own big adventures.
Each session builds on the last to give you a well-rounded foundation for running in the mountains, whether you head out solo or with a group.
Who it's for: Runners comfortable covering 15–20 km with up to 800 m of elevation gain within 6 hours who are ready to level up their mountain skills. Runners might have experience racing trails or roads and are looking to further develop their knowledge. To start, we will hike or slowly jog uphill, and we will enjoy easy running on the flats and the descents.
If you're wondering whether this program is a good fit, please send us a message.
What's included: Three fully guided, full day sessions in the Canmore and Kananaskis area, each focused on a core pillar of mountain running:
Session 1 – June 13, 9AM-3PM: Gear, Equipment & Safety — Canmore Area Trails. Start at the shop to learn what to carry, what to wear, and how to stay safe on mountain trails.
Session 2 – July 11, 9AM-3PM: Route Planning & Navigation — Tombstone & Elbow Valley. Learn to read terrain, plan routes, and make smart decisions in the field.
Session 3 – August 8, 9AM-3PM: Mountain Running Techniques — Centennial Ridge. Put it all together with guided practice on technical mountain terrain.
What goes up must come down (and up and down and up and down). This clinic focuses on the technical and physical skills that make climbing smoother and descending more controlled. Led by accomplished mountain athlete Emma-Cook Clarke and Front Ranges Guide Adam Mertens, this session will explore:
Efficient uphill movement, pacing, and breathing
When (and how) to power hike versus run
Downhill foot placement, body position, and line choice
Managing fatigue and fear on technical descents
Adapting technique to terrain, conditions, and distance
We will use repeated sections of trail to allow for focused practice, feedback, and refinement. This clinic is suitable for any runner looking to refine their uphill and downhill skills.
Clinic details:
Date: May 16, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Canmore, AB (exact location TBD)
Price: $40 per person
Distance: 8 KM and 500 M (approximate)
This clinic is currently full. Send us a message to join the waitlist!
Hiking Courses.
Meet Your Instructors
Adam Mertens | Founder + Lead Guide
Adam is a Canmore-based hiking guide, teacher, and mountain athlete. A lifelong runner, his passion for trail running truly took shape after moving to the Bow Valley in 2017. He quickly discovered that running offered one of the most rewarding ways to experience the grandeur of the Rockies. In a matter of a few hours, it allowed him to reach peaks and see places that would normally take entire days.
Since making the move to Canmore, Adam has found his greatest joy in sharing experiences in the mountains with others. The vibrant local running community continues to inspire him through stories, motivations, and the friendships that it fosters. Guiding people’s first experiences in the Rockies with The Howl Experience, Outward Bound Canada, and SkiUphill has been one of the most meaningful parts of his work.
Adam has been an ACMG Hiking Guide since 2018. He is also a certified Elementary Teacher and ambassador with Arc’teryx Alberta, combining education, mentorship, and adventure in all that he does.
Nikos Schwelm | Fast Light Photography
Nikos is a professional photographer, currently based out of Canmore, AB, on the edge of the Canadian Rockies. He thrives on moving quickly through the mountains with a camera, capturing authentic stories showcasing his friends and fellow mountain athletes. The perfect day would start with waking up well before dawn, packing up a bag of gear, then heading off on an all-day exploration with a few good friends, capturing candid shots as we go.
Nikos has found his life-long passion in the world of mountain sports photography. Trail running, Ski-touring, Mountaineering, and Backpacking have all captured the attention of his lens. He especially loves to explore the boundaries between various mountain sports, and tell the stories of those athletes who choose to find their own ways through the mountains, blurring the lines between those traditional mountain activities.
Nikos's approach to photography is taken directly from the activities that he loves to capture. Less is more. Speed is safety. Plan obsessively, adjust when necessary. Enjoy every moment.