VTLZR’s Hybrid Athlete Retreat Returns to NY, Headlined by Survivor and Ironman Matt Long

VTLZR, a hybrid athlete community based in Hoboken, NJ, recently announced its third annual Vitalizer Hybrid Athlete Retreat, taking place June 12–14, 2026, in Long Beach, NY. The three-day event, capped at 50 athletes, follows two consecutive sold-out retreats and arrives as two forces reshape fitness: hybrid training – athletes combining strength and endurance to compete in events like HYROX, Ironman, marathons, and ultramarathons – and the rise of community-driven training through run clubs, training groups, and in-person experiences.

Each year, the retreat is built as an immersive three-day experience: sunrise runs, training sessions, the VTLZR Games team competition, cold plunges, sunset yoga, curated meals, and partner activations.

This year’s retreat is headlined by Matt Long, the FDNY firefighter and 9/11 first responder who overcame a 1% chance to live after being struck by a bus in 2005, then went on to complete the NYC Marathon and a full Ironman in the years after. His story is a masterclass in what the human body and mind can endure and recover from, and his keynote will reinforce the retreat’s focus on pushing athletes beyond performance metrics into mindset and identity work.

Long joins a roster of past VTLZR keynote speakers, including Sam Tooley, founder of Alpha Fit Club, and Ken Rideout, marathon champion and motivational speaker. Each year, VTLZR brings in voices that challenge athletes to think bigger about what their training is really for.

Founded by Derek Morgen, VTLZR has grown to 300+ members across multiple offerings: weekly in-person run clubs in Hoboken, NYC programming, recent activations in Miami, online community calls, and 1:1 coaching for goals ranging from physique transformation to HYROX and marathon performance.

As fitness becomes increasingly community-driven, the retreat is the community’s signature annual event and reflects a broader shift toward athletes who train across disciplines for health, performance, and longevity.

“We named the community Vitalizer (VTLZR) because it’s someone who imparts energy, life, and spirit to those around them, and the retreat is the culmination of that ethos,” said Derek Morgen, Founder of VTLZR. “This weekend is about surrounding yourself with people who make you want to be better, as an athlete and as a person. That’s what we’ve built, and that’s what we keep coming back for.”

After two consecutive sold-out retreats, limited spots remain. For more information, visit vtlzr.co.