Our Collective Stories

The world of athletics encourages discipline, focus, and strength. These qualities often drive athletes to succeed, but they can also become the very things that put someone at risk. Eating disorders in athletes are a serious concern, and they don’t always look the way people expect. 

Todd Arkyn Crush was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 25 years old, but his battle with mental health has been going on for much longer than that.

It’s officially the peak of summer, and unless you’ve been hiding in an air-conditioned environment or you're somewhere enjoying winter in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ve probably noticed—it’s hot. So what’s a mental health runner to do? Keep running—but do it smarter.

Merry Wilbert is the type of person who thrives when she’s forming meaningful connections with those around her. She's a real "people person" who exudes the kind of friendliness you’d anticipate from someone born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In her daily life, Merry surrounds herself with the things she loves: her husband, her two cats, her two dogs—and her passion for running, which became the foundation for her physical and mental health journey.

At Still I Run, we believe that true self-care runs deeper. It’s about consistently taking care of your mental health, showing up for yourself even when it’s hard, and building habits that help you cope with life, not escape it. Which means it might be time to rethink what self-care really means.

Since Madai was a teenager, she has been tired of the stigma around mental health. Starting from a young age, she dealt with feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. She felt isolated by cultural norms placed on her by her Hispanic heritage and was constantly told, "You're just a kid, what do you have to be depressed about?"