We doubt you have any interest in eat-pray-loving your way across Tuscany, India and Indonesia this summer.
But how does run-fish-beering your way through Colorado and northern Idaho sound?
That tantalizing trifecta is being served up this summer at Flyathlon, a trio of rugged triathlons kicking off in Idaho from July 29-31.
The brainchild of Andrew “The Stout Runner” Todd, the Flyathlon pits trail runners with fly-fishing skills and a love of craft beer against one another in a race to see who can complete a riverside trail run the fastest while reeling in the most lunkers along the way.
In order to certify the size of successful catches and earn corresponding time bonuses, participants must photograph any fish they catch alongside provided scales before releasing. Since cutthroat trout are native to the areas where the Flyathlons take place, significant bonuses are awarded for landing a native son, er, fry.
After everyone crosses the finish line, the event concludes with a post-race celebration with refreshments provided by local breweries. While winning is certainly a goal, the point of the races is also to raise money for and awareness about critical cold-water conservation issues.
“I can’t seriously be the first person to think of this,” Todd says. “But, I am the first to buy the domain name and devote hours of my time building a site dedicated to the simultaneous pursuit of mountain trails, hungry trout and meaty beers.”
Think you have what it takes to be a Flyathlete? Put your rod where your mouth is (fishing rod) and sign up.
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