In 2014, a therapist told Jim Walmsley to run more. The former U.S. Air Force Academy track-and-field team captain suffered severe depression brought on by a DUI charge, then, when his unit became embroiled in a cheating scandal, a discharge from the military.

He recovered by finding what makes him happiest—logging a lot of miles. Which is how the 27-year-old based in Flagstaff, Arizona, burst onto the ultramarathon scene. Last October, he completed the 42-mile out-and-back crossing of the Grand Canyon in 5:55:20, a new record. And the past two years, he’s attempted to break the prestigious 100-mile Western States Endurance Run course record of 14:46:44, but has come up short.

RELATED: What Happened to Jim Walmsley at Western States?

Whether he achieves his audacious goals or not, Walmsley credits his therapist’s advice with saving his life.

Myke Hermsmeyer

Help needed

“As a young adult everybody was proud of me, but then it seemed like I screwed everything up. With thoughts of suicide, I knew I needed to seek professional help.”

Healing miles

“One of the things that saved me was consistently running—just getting out the door and going for a run. It became my medication.”

​

Superpowers not required

“Ultrarunning doesn’t take special talent. It takes motivation and the will to achieve something extraordinary. A lot of people are sparked to get into the sport when they are in a low spot.”

RELATED: Discover how to be a fit, healthy runner with Train Smart, Run Forever

Paying up

“I made a bet with a friend that if I lost a race this year, I’d buzz off my curly hair. I didn’t expect it to happen at Western States, but a debt had to be paid. I miss it.”

A new purpose

“I’ve learned that tough experiences like not finishing Western States this year [due to heat illness] aren’t as big of a deal because—even through the ups and downs—I’m doing something I love.”

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io