(CNN)You may think that sleep away camps are just for kids, but more and more adults are revisiting the childhood pastime, except now with a different goal in mind — to improve their running skills. Whether you're just starting to train for your first 5K or you're a seasoned marathoner, spending time in a majestic setting focusing on running, guided by expert coaches and in the company of like-minded people can do you good. You'll learn everything from pacing and nutrition to injury prevention and proper running form. And hopefully, you'll leave with a renewed sense of motivation and confidence.
We did our research and found our 11 running camp picks across the country designed for adults of all ages and abilities. With capacity limited to provide one-on-one attention, the majority of these camps fill up quickly, so hurry to reserve your spot. And don't worry — several camp directors assured us that it's not all running — there will be time for s'mores and ice cream socials, too.
Where: Blowing Rock, NC
When: June 18-21, 2015 Adult Running Vacation Weekend; July 5-10, 2015 The Bear Week; July 16-19, 2015 July Mini Camp, August 2-7, 2015 Marathon Week; and September 3-6, 205 Marathon Weekend
Everyone from beginners to Boston Marathon qualifiers flock to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains to attend ZAP Fitness running camps. Through daily jogs, seminars on topics such as race training and mental fitness, as well as individual video analysis, ZAP Fitness coaches and athletes share their love of the sport and aim to bridge the gap between elite and everyday runners. "The biggest thing that we can do for anybody is give them a good platform of knowledge to take with them, so they can apply it to whatever race they are training for, and to have a healthy life as a runner," says Ryan Warrenburg, camp director. Each summer session features a well-known guest speaker, such as former Olympian and American record holder in the marathon Bill Rodgers, chief running officer at Runner's World magazine Bart Yasso and former Olympian and national champion Carrie Tollefson, who meet campers and offer their expertise.
Cost: $645 for mini-camps and $895 for full-week camps.
Where: Greenville, SC
When: June 4-7, 2015
If you're a certified #runnerd, this retreat is for you. Spend a few days with the coaches and physiologists at the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training (FIRST) who created the Run Less Run Faster training progr