Adventure athlete, Justin True, has created a 3,686 mile triathlon in order to raise awareness to mental health and breaking the stigma surrounding the issue. True created this even not just for his love of sport but because in his teen he attempted suicide twice.
True stated, "“You can still be tough and, you know, be open, talk about your feelings. And I think that's what really led me to my downfall was bottling it all up. And like I said, I became numb and blind to who I was and what my issues were."
The triathlon will begin in May of 2022 with an 86 mile swim from the Bahamas to Miami, then a 3,000 mile bike to San Diego, and it will end with a 600 mile run along the coast of California.
True said that there is a reason behind each of the events,
“The triathlon is such a perfect metaphor for what I’m trying to convey,” he says. “Swimming in the ocean symbolizes life’s waves - sometimes you can't tell up from down, but eventually you’re going to hit a clear spot and if not at some point the rough part’s going to end. Then the bike’s going to start - the whole thing might suck, but the run's there next. When you’re struggling with depression, the next day might suck, the next week might suck, but eventually you’re going to hit a spot that’s so cool. The struggle will always be worth it.”
True has experienced struggles that led him to become the person who is today. True grew up in an emotionally and physically abusive household that led him to become a drug addict. Before the age of 18 he already OD'd multiple times. At the age of 19 his mother was stabbed and almost lost her life and during this period True attempted suicide twice. After his second attempt he had a realization that there is hope for him and he could use his own experiences to help others who are suffering.
He states, “What I want to show people is that you can be strong and vulnerable at the same time. I’m very open about my struggles now, but I kept them bottled up inside for a really long time. I nearly lost my life because of it. It’s important to show, especially to men who are struggling, that you can be vulnerable. It’s ok to talk about it, it’s ok to admit that you’re not ok. It’s an incredibly powerful thing to do.”
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