10 Coolest Fitness and Foodie Events in Philly This Month: October 2016

Wanderlust 108 Brooklyn 2015 | Photo via Wanderlust

If you’ve been thinking, “How the heck am I going to spend my October?” you can stop thinking about that now — we’ve done all the planning for you. It wasn’t hard, either: This month is filled with awesome fitness events, and a good chunk of them won’t cost you a dime. All you’ve got to do is fill in your calendar!

1. Wanderlust 108
When: Saturday, October 8th
Where: The Navy Yard, South Philly

If you’ve been counting down the months until Wanderlust 108 — the “mindful triathlon” consisting of a 5K, a 75-minute DJ-led outdoor yoga class, and a 30-minute guided meditation session — takes over the Navy Yard, I am SO with you. See you in the kombucha garden? (Yes, there really is a kombucha garden.)

2. 5,000 Yards Dash
When: Sunday, October 9th
Where: Yards Brewing Company, 901 North Delaware Avenue, Northern Liberties

Guys, guys, guys: This new race, which comes from the Great American Brewery Runs folks, is going to be AWESOME. First off, it starts and ends at Yards Brewing Company. Second, it’s a VERY short 2.84 miles to the finish line (where there is beer awaiting you, naturally). Third, according to the race organizers, it’s the first race approved to take runners along Penn’s Landing. Fourth, it benefits Philly Achilles, a local non-profit that pairs disable athletes with running guides. Fifth — okay, fine, I’ll stop now. Long story short, you don’t want to miss it. And there are less than 300 bibs left, so if you want in, you’d better hop to it!

3. Covered Bridges Ride
When: Sunday, October 23rd
Where: Tinicum Park, Erwinna

This beautiful Bucks County bike ride — a choose-your-own-distancer with options between 20 and 63 miles — attracts more than 2,000 cyclists each year, promising a long, Instagram-worthy look at the changing leaves of fall. Psst: Registration price goes up tomorrow, September 30th!

4. Mooove and Gobble Retreat
When: Saturday, October 22nd
Where: Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany

Fine, fine, this is a bit of a trek, with the event going down at an animal sanctuary in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania. That said, the trek will be worth it because we are 100 percent sure this will be unlike any other fitness event you’ve attended. This day-long retreat, being put on by a coach from Unite Fitness and a Flywheel instructor (they just so happy to be a very fit vegan couple), will kick off with an hourlong boot camp workout at the animal sanctuary. That’ll be followed by a plant-based lunch on the farm, and then you’ll get to canoodle with the farm animals for the rest of the afternoon. If you can’t make it, note that this is the first of many Mooove and Gobble’s events. You can learn more here.

5. WholePHL Class: Plant-Based Protein
When: Thursday, October 6th
Where: Function Coffee Labs, 1001 South 10th Street, Bella Vista

If you are a vegan who wants to become a pro at answering the “But how, OH HOW, do you get protein?!” question with Pinterest-worthy, plant-based, protein-filled Instagram shots of food you whipped up your damn self, take note: Function Coffee Labs is hosting a cooking class with the ladies of WholePHL where you’ll learned how to whip up some awesome protein-filled vegan eats like chickpea grain bowls, vegan chili, and overnight oats.

6. Workout & Wine at Freehouse Fitness
When: Friday, October 28th
Where: Freehouse Fitness Studio, 1430 South Street, Graduate Hospital

This class gives you a taste of a few different fitness worlds — plus a taste of well-earned wine. The evening kicks off with a 30-minute bands class led by Dana Auriemma of Freehouse Fitness, followed by a 30-minute yoga session led by Four the Love of Yoga. Then comes the wine: After class, Jet Wine Bar will be serving up wine for you to sip on.

7. Pop-Up Yoga at Cira Green
When: Wednesday, October 5th
Where: Cira Green, 80 South 30th Street, University City

This free evening pop-up class, held on the rooftop park Cira Green, guarantees some of the best sunset yoga views you’ve ever encountered. Don’t believe us? Proof here.

8. All City 20 Miler
When: Saturday, October 22nd
Where: Lloyd Hall, 1 Boathouse Row, Fairmount

This free 20 miler (with an option for a 10 miler), put on by Philadelphia Runner, offers a fully supported race course complete with pace groups, hydration stops and gels along the way. Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in on the event. And I repeat: It is free.99. So, uh, why WOULDN’T you join in, ambitious Philly runners?

9. Brew Maha
When: Saturday, October 28th
Where: Maha Yoga, 1700 Sansom Street, 6th floor, Rittenhouse

What’s better than a Saturday afternoon spent downing some brews with friends? A Saturday afternoon spent downing some brews with friends after getting your downward dog on with them, that’s what. And that’s exactly what you’ll do at this event.

10. #GRAFFITIWHIP
When: Saturday, October 8th
Where: City Fitness, Frankord and Belgrade Avenues, Fishtown

In anticipation of their December opening, City Fitness is putting on a slew of free fitness events, and this next one sounds pretttttty awesome. It’s a three-mile running tour of murals in the Fishtown neighborhood, ending at Memphis Taproom’s Thirstoberfest for post-run brews. Not a bad Saturday afternoon, right?

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