Questions, Answered

Is Built for More a men’s coaching retreat?

Negative. This isn’t a mastermind. Not therapy. Not a high-performance seminar. We’re intentionally staying away from the polished, buzzword-heavy men’s coaching world. Built for More is workouts, good food, real conversations, and dads who want to raise their bar without turning it into a brand.

No frameworks. No stage personas. No chest pounding. Just showing up and putting in the work.

When does the event start?

We kick things off around 5:00pm on Thursday, October 15 in Austin. The first night will be a casual welcome hang with food, drinks, and time to meet the group.

When does the event end?

We’ll wrap up around 12:00pm on Saturday, October 17. You should be good to head out after lunch.

Do I need to train before coming?

Nope. There’s nothing you need to “prepare” for. We’ll be moving throughout the weekend, including a Friday morning ruck and a Saturday self-defense session, but everything is meant to be approachable.

If you’re already running, lifting, rucking, or staying active, great. If not, also fine. Participation matters more than performance.

What’s the Friday ruck situation?

We’re planning a morning ruck to Barton Springs. The current plan is to meet around 7:00am, get in roughly 5–6 miles, then jump in Barton Springs after. This is not a race. No one is trying to win Friday morning. Bring comfortable shoes, water, a small bag, swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothes.

After Barton Springs, we’ll head to Mantle Haus for sauna, cold plunge, breakfast, and a conversation with Aaron Ross and Justin Burrow.

I’m not a big ruck/run guy. Am I going to be miserable?

No. We’re not trying to break anyone. The ruck will be steady and social. You do not need to be some endurance psycho to come to this thing. Show up, move at a reasonable pace, and don’t overthink it.

What’s included?

Your ticket includes the core Built for More Austin experience:

  • Thursday welcome hang
  • Friday ruck / movement
  • Barton Springs dip
  • Mantle Haus recovery session
  • Breakfast at Mantle Haus
  • Friday speaker sessions
  • Friday dinner at Licha’s Cantina
  • Saturday self-defense session
  • Closing breakfast/brunch
  • Event swag / gear

You cover your own travel, lodging, and transportation around Austin.

Is transportation included?

No. We’ll be moving around Austin a bit, so plan to use Uber/Lyft or coordinate rides with other attendees. We’ll create a Slack channel before the event so guys can coordinate Ubers, split rides, and potentially connect on lodging. You won’t be left hanging, but you will need to handle your own rides.

I’m on the fence. Can I talk to someone?

Absolutely. Head to our contact page and send us a note. Someone from our team will set up a quick call and walk you through it.

Where should I stay?

There is not one official host hotel for this event.

We recommend staying somewhere central so Uber rides are easy.

Good areas to look:

  • East Austin
  • Downtown / Lady Bird Lake
  • South Congress / Bouldin / Zilker
  • Clarksville / West 6th

Airbnb could also be a great move, especially if a few guys want to split a house. Once you sign up, we’ll send a more detailed participant guide with hotel ideas, neighborhoods, addresses, and the current schedule.

Can I bring a friend?

Yes. Bring a dad friend. Just not your kids or your spouse. This weekend is for you. If you bring another dad, you’ll each get $50 off your ticket. Use code: BFM-BUDDY.

Do I need to be a dad?

Being a dad helps. Expecting dads are welcome too. The whole weekend is built around the shared experience of being in the thick of dad life, work, health, marriage, business, and whatever else guys are carrying.

Should I get travel insurance?

We strongly recommend. Flights, family stuff, sick kids, work chaos…things happen. Travel insurance gives you a little backup if life does what life tends to do. Allianz is a solid option.

Are there refunds?

No refunds. That’s why we recommend travel insurance. That said, if something truly unavoidable comes up, we’ll work with you. We just don’t want to create an easy out for last-minute nerves.

What should I pack?

Austin is relaxed.

Bring:

  • Comfortable clothes
  • Workout gear
  • Good walking/running shoes
  • Small backpack or ruck
  • Swimsuit
  • Towel
  • Change of clothes for Friday
  • Casual dinner clothes
  • Water bottle

You do not need to overthink it. We’ll have dinner and speaker sessions, but nothing is fancy. Pack like you’re going to move, sweat, cold plunge, eat tacos, and hang out.

Why Austin?

Because Austin makes sense for this version. Good food, good coffee, Barton Springs, strong fitness culture, interesting people, and plenty of places to move, recover, and hang. It gives us a lot to work with without making the weekend feel too polished or corporate.

Is it worth it?

We think so. Any chance to step out of your routine, meet new people, and challenge yourself a bit is usually a good bet. If you’re unsure, reach out and talk it through with us.

Why no parenting advice?

There are already plenty of books, podcasts, and experts for that.

Everyone coming has kids at different ages and stages. We’re not here to teach tactics. We want you to leave feeling clearer, more grounded, and inspired. That mindset tends to show up at home in all the right ways.

Is Dad Day faith-based?

Dad Day isn’t tied to any specific religion. We talk about character, discipline, leadership, and being a man your kids can count on. Those ideas show up in a lot of belief systems and also outside of them.

Some of us are people of faith. Some aren’t. The common ground is wanting to be better dads. That’s it.

Are you taking speaker pitches?

No. If you’re pitching, it’s probably not the right fit. We curate this quietly and intentionally.

Did we miss something?

Probably. If you still have questions, head to the contact page and send us a note. We’re happy to help.