My name is Olivia and I am so excited to run my third ever marathon in benefit of Still I Run Charity! Still I Run is the country’s only non-profit running community that works to promote the benefits of running for mental health while also working to defeat the stigma, raise awareness around the topic, and help others get started running for their mental health.
If you know me, you know my history of advocating for mental health through running. The reason I started training for my first ever marathon (also Grandmas marathon, exactly 10 years ago…you know I had to for the symmetry alone) was as a way to cope with my insurmountable grief. I lost my mom to suicide when I was 17 and it completely changed my life. Because of the stigma around mental health, she never wanted my sister or I to know that she battled with bipolar disorder, so her death rattled me to my core. I felt like I had no control over my life and needed a way to try and process these endless waves of emotions that were threatening to drown me on a daily basis.
So, I turned to running and it quickly it became my saving grace. It became a way for me to process my emotions, gave me a sense of control, and showed me just how strong I can be. I met and spoke with other runners who were using running as an outlet for grief or for coping with their mental health struggles. I ran with Defeat the Stigma project on one of their legs across Wisconsin and as a runner in my second marathon in 2016. I gained the confidence to share my story and learn from others going through a similar experience. I went from feeling utterly alone in my grief and struggles with mental health to incredibly connected just through the power of vulnerability and storytelling.
And here I am again, 10 years later, ready to continue sharing my story about mental health with Still I Run. So much has changed in my life over these years and I have gained the tools to help me be navigate the waves of grief with much more ease. But even though they say that time heals all wounds, the grief and the struggle remains. I’ve come to peace with the fact that there will always be darker days in my life. But that also makes me appreciate the brighter ones even more. I’ve realized the importance of vulnerability and wholeheartedly believe in the power of storytelling to make change. And that’s why I’m excited to share my story and continue advocating for mental health over these next 7 months. My hope for this fundraising campaign is to not only raise money for this amazing organization, but also to spark a conversation. If sharing my story with mental health emboldens even just one person to seek help, or open up about their struggles, than it will be worth it to me.
Thank you for your support!
