Summit Daily News, July 24, 2017. By Drew Mikita
The perfect day; the day that makes all your troubles seem to fade away, even if just momentarily. As a counselor, people always ask me for advice on how to be happier, feel better, and be the person they want to be. I have a temporary prescription, and it is so simple: A Youathalon, a day of all your favorite positive activities.
In May, I needed a day of just fun, making it an event with a cool name makes it feel awesomer. The Drewathalon was born. One day, as many of my favorite activities I could cram in. Like a kid in the candy shop of Summit County. A day to jumpstart that part of me that I really like, all things positive, fun, active, my favorite version of Drew.
Having just got our typical five feet of May snow, my options were wide open. The day was perfect, blue sky, sunshine, and warm, with fresh powder. The agenda was a game time decision. With some ideas in mind, I didn’t want to ruin the day with frivolous non-sense like planning.
I was psyched! DREWATHALON HERE I COME! Frisco Disc Golf Course with Lucy and Linus would be the first “event.” An open tee box, not a movement of wind, and the course to myself. Hole 1, drop-in birdie. Today is gonna be dope. The course is in great shape, played it at 8 under and 2 near aces. I am grateful for the TOF for giving us such a great disc golf course to play, and free!
Next up on the Drewathalon, skiing. The Basin it is. A hug and brief chat with Tony C, 10-12 runs, a few hikes on the East Wall (where the wind from Frisco must have congregated), prayer flags, a dude skiing Notch 2 on snowblades, just radical! IS THAT WORLD RECORD HOLDER JAY DEBAGES? I should try to get an autograph, listen to the Jayathalon (which starts with skiing and biking then ends with some wife smoochin, smart man). Some aggressive moguls to finish out event 2, great success.
Event 3 would be Mountain Biking. The activity I am unequivocally the worst at. A freshly dry Horseshoe Gulch would be the scene. A couple laps around Blair Witch, just lovely. Oooooh Hippo Trail, that sounds fun! Followed by a wrong turn on the CT, Ooooooh downhill. Map: Turn around. Crap. Uphill. Extremely tired legs and a super gnar ride!
My body is wiped out, all the beef jerky and energy bars I are burned up. Time to go home. A bit of yoga to work out the lactic acid and jerky, followed by a little painting and art time. Finally, delicious bass fish Tacos with Molly and our soul sister Malia B., hot Tub session, a smooch from Molly (good call, Jay) and the first Drewathalon is in the books! WINNER: ME!
I played like a school kid on day 1 of summer break. As hard as I could go, activity-ADD, and all about 1 thing: fun. My favorite athletic activities (disc golf, skiing, biking, yoga), making art, amazing food, interacting with incredible people I love, in a community I belong, the Drewathalon!
The day cost very little, I have a ski pass, free disc golf and trails access. There is no reason this can’t happen more. I felt awesome, exhausted and sore, but alive, proud, and fulfilled. The smiling, singing, laughing, exercise, and fun reinvigorated my spirit.
While there are limits to your Youathalon, money, time, location, seasons and weather, experience, safety, etc. Your Youathalon should just be doing your favorite things, just a plethora of them. A day about you, for you, by you, and improving your current emotional state. Remember, as my student Tommy told me: “Self-care is not selfish” (sounds like a future article to me).
What, where, when, how, and who are involved? It is fun to think about it if money were not an issue, and a great chairlift conversation. However, with your current restrictions of money, location, season, and ability what is your Youathalon? A day all about you and fun, an easy “prescription” for all levels of stress, anxiety, depression, worry, or just to feel better and increase joy.
Here are some tips for Creating your Youathalon
- Don’t limit it to just one type of activity. Mix in some physical activity, socializing, art, rest, if it is fun to you, do it!
- Set some goals for yourself. I had three goals: Gratitude, slowing down, and fun. Make goals about the experience, fun, and qualitative. Joe Howdyshell completed a Joeathalon, Bike up to 4th of July Bowl, ski it, enter the 4th of July 10k run, then a lap in the Firecracker 50. Super bad-a**! He wanted to finish safely, have fun, crush it, and have enough left in the tank for celebratory beers with his buddies. Joeathalon.
- Remember the planning fallacy. You will spend more time traveling between events, changing gear, and preparing for an event than you would think. Everything will take longer. Don’t be scared to cut events. Get up early, prioritize your favorite or events that have time restraints or commitments.
- Don’t rush. Slow down, stop and smell the wildflowers, powder, petrichor, pine, campfire, river, or whatever. Enjoy, be present, and practice mindfulness.
- Be safe. Comfortably and safely push your limits. Know the risks, conditions, and best practices for all activities. Just because you want to be an ice climber, does not mean you are an ice climber. Respect the rules and laws. Don’t forget sunscreen and to take the occasional safety break as well!
- When planning, think about what is best for you. Choose the activities that make you feel awesome. Healthy, positive, self-affirming activities. Your favorite version of you. Make wise, healthy decisions, and keep everything in perspective.
- Bringing friends along is great, but not necessary. I did the majority by myself (with dogs of course), but had dinner with Mols and Malia, saw Jay and Tony C., and made friends on route. If friends do come, make sure they can hang with you, are only positive, and support the Youathalon (then support theirs!), no Debbie Downers allowed!
- Playlists. I recommended about an 80% Phish playlist, but your call. Plan music wisely, every Youathalon needs a rockin soundtrack.
- Hydrate to Dominate. Or as a hippie-show-goer told me, “Hydrate to Celebrate!” Either way, drink water, lots of water.
- Plan food wisely. Maybe meals are a part of your Youathalon in the form of lunch with a friend, happy hour, or a nice meal. Have food for your activities, bars, gels, jerky, nuts, and good fuel. Unplanned food stops can really slow you down, but a perfectly placed and timed Bloody Mary is an event in and of itself!
- Be Grateful. Think about what you are doing. That you are physically able to Youathalon, the beauty of the world, and the motivation to get out and do it.
Hearing about friends Youathalons has been so fun. I love the creativity, suggestions are pretty much any sport, art, hobby, recreational activity, things like gardening, reading, writing, crafts, phone calls to old friends, mediating, camping, 14ers, time with dogs, whatever it is that makes you happy and feel better, do it. Do your Youathalon Summit County!