Feel It All: Drew Petersen’s Mental Health Marathon
Every once in a while I get wind of a story that is too important not to share. That is how I feel about Feel it All featuring Drew Petersen. This is a story of a man who was in the deepest valley of his mental health journey. Looking up at what seemed like an impossible climb and a peak that was one hundred miles away. Instead of giving up and ending the journey in that valley, Drew Petersen decided to start running. 100 miles straight up hill towards the peak. He wasn’t afraid of the climb or the pain. He wanted to feel it all. That is what is captured in his short documentary screening soon in the Denver area. Here is the important info for Feel it All and Drew Petersen’s Mental Health Marathon.
Who
Drew Petersen wears a lot of hats. He is a film maker and a speaker. A writer. a professional skier and a runner. Most importantly, he is an advocate. Drew uses 100 mile ultra-marathons and back country descents down the steepest slopes to help raise awareness for, and defeat the stigma of, mental. His greatest passion and his mission is to “change the culture of the outdoor community to prioritize and honor mental health.” Drew combines all of his passions to work towards his mission. A trek that has led him to his latest film, Feel It All.
What
The short documentary, over two years in the making, chronicles Drew’s journey from the depths of suicidal depression to finding purpose, strength, and resilience by setting the goal to run the Leadville Trail 100 ultramarathon. The film blends the experience of Drew skiing Colorado’s highest 14,000-foot peaks surrounding the Leadville course with the emotional, immersive story arc of running one of the most iconic ultramarathons on the planet. Having grown up nearby in Silverthorne, Colo., the film chronicles his journey running the “hometown hundred,” and depicts how, within the struggle of living with mental illness lies an opportunity to access an infinite, inexhaustible well of strength to achieve our limitless potential.
Trailer
Here is the official trailer of Feel It All, courtesy of Drew Peterson.
Where
Feel it All has a few screenings and events coming up this week in Colorado. Here is where you can see the film and hear from Drew:
- Golden, Colo. – August 1 @ Runners Roost Golden – (Free event RSVP HERE) – Group Run at 6 p.m., Film Screening at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A with Drew
- Denver, Colo. – August 14 @ The Oriental Theater – 4335 W 44th Ave. (Tickets HERE) – Doors open at 6 p.m., Film Screening at 7 p.m. followed by a Keynote from Drew titled, My Story is The Story of Our Community: How my lessons from skiing remote peaks and running ultramarathons can solve the mental health crisis of the Rocky Mountain West
- Leadville, Colo – August 16 @ the Leadville Race Series Expo – more info coming soon
Wrapping Up Feel It All
I love to help share stories like these. The outdoors have given me so much and helped with my mental health over the last few years. To see others finding their base among the rocks and trees always has a close place to my soul. Reading over the promotional material and using it to write this preview really made me feel connected to the story. It is a story for a lot of us, maybe we aren’t all able to physically take on the tasks that Drew has, but we can all run our race in the great outdoors in an attempt to get lost in the miles, and find ourselves in the journey among the pain, pride, paths, and power.
More from The Fatman
If you enjoyed this post you may enjoy more of the posts on my Fatman’s Rambling page. Blogs such as “Screw it, I’m Trying”, “Hiking Alone not Lonely Hiking“, “Winslow, Arizona” and “Another Year” as well as many others may interest you there. If you have any comments or topics you would like me to cover, feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com. Or you can keep the conversation going by following me on any of the below social media platforms.