The days follow a simple rhythm: train, eat, recover, repeat. Mornings usually start with a HYROX-style session built around the race stations: sled push and pull, farmer's carries, wall balls and running intervals. Later in the day there's a second block, which might be strength and conditioning, running technique and endurance work, or mobility and injury-prevention work to keep you training well through the week. Sessions often end the way Melissa's regular classes do: a short cooldown, a coffee or protein shake, and a few minutes of rest to bring the heart rate down.

What sets this apart from a general fitness holiday is the HYROX focus. You won't just get fitter in a broad sense. You'll work on race strategy and pacing, how to manage the switch from running to a station and back, and how to combine running and strength training in your normal week at home. The nutrition and performance workshops cover what to eat around training and racing, and how to recover between hard sessions.

The group is women only and kept small, so the coach can actually watch your technique and adjust things for you. Most people come on their own, so you won't be the only one who doesn't know anyone. There are partner workouts and team challenges built in, which tends to break the ice quickly. If you need a break, skip a session and lie by the pool. Nobody will mind.

Your coach is Melissa, the trainer behind VitalaVida. She works with private clients and group classes on the Costa Blanca, much of it outdoors. Her reviews mention two things again and again. One is how far she gets people to push. The other is how closely she pays attention to what each person needs, including adapting a programme to someone's existing training. One past retreat guest wrote that Melissa tailored each session to their routine and shared coaching techniques they could take home.

The base is a private villa in Jávea with its own pool and an outdoor training area, about a ten-minute walk from the beach. Jávea sits on the northern Costa Blanca between the Montgó massif and the sea, and the weather stays mild even in winter, which is part of why training outdoors here works so well. Alicante airport is the closest, and the team will help sort out how you get from there to the villa.

One evening is set aside for a group dinner at a local restaurant, which makes for a good break from training-camp food. Early arrival or extra nights at the villa can usually be arranged if you want to make a longer trip of it.

What's included

- 4 nights in a private villa in Jávea - Shared room with one other participant (your own bed) - All meals at the villa - Healthy snacks and drinks - One group dinner at a local restaurant - Daily HYROX training sessions - Strength, conditioning and running coaching - Mobility and injury-prevention sessions - Recovery sessions - Nutrition and performance workshops - Use of the private pool and outdoor training area - Premium goodie bag - Fully organised programme

What's not included

- Flights - Airport transfers (the team can help coordinate these) - Travel insurance - Extra nights before or after the retreat - Personal expenses - Meals and drinks outside the programme