‘Run Love Ride,’ Cameron Balser attempts 200-mile run to raise suicide awareness
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – One feeling describes Cameron Balser’s latest feat in his marathon against suicide.
“Pain I mean unreal pain,” he said. “I’ve never felt pain like that before.”
He admits his last journey on his “Run Love Ride” campaign may have given him a little too much confidence. After all, he did finish 100 miles on foot in less than 24 hours.
However, this race, The Patawatomi Marathon in Illinois, was a different animal.
“By the time I hit 25 miles, I was more sore than I was at 80 miles on my last one,” Balser said.
Instead of flat land, he had an uphill battle to fight. During the marathon, he would climb over 20,000 feet.
Out of the gate, he knew it was going to be tough and his will started to break.
“I [thought] can’t do this, because it was raining, it was muddy, I was falling down,” he said.
Then a close friend’s familiar voice gave him the push he needed.
Jennifer Spencer has been in Balser’s life since he made the decision not to take his own life years ago.
“It’s been a rough journey and In the beginning, it was really rough and just scary,” she said.
“It’s that dark place where you just don’t ever think you’re gonna get out,” Balser said.
After overcoming the battle of his life, she says there was no way she would let him quit.
“He wanted to quit 40 miles in and we were like ‘no you got 100miless in you,’” Jennifer said.
She built him back up physically and mentally.
“She took care of my feet, shook out my legs; I mean if I didn’t have that I don’t think I wouldn’t have got 50 miles.”
“I was there to pick him up, clean him up, massage him and get him back out there,” Spencer said.
“I kept grinding and I found more and more and more,” Balser said.
Balser was reminded of why he’s on this journey. He did it for the friends he lost in the battle against suicide. It’s the reason one of the slogans for his campaign is “Keep Moving On.”
In both journeys, he says the support made the difference, but you have to understand that you don’t have to fight these battles alone.
“Don’t be scared to get help,” he said. “People are so terrified that someone’s going to find out that they have something wrong with them.”
Balser knows, now more than ever, a little help can go a long way.
“[It’s] spreading love, spreading awareness that people go through things that are unimaginable,” Spencer said.
They hope Balser’s “Run Love Ride” show others that no matter how dark things get, there’s a light that can lead you out.
His next ultra-marathon will happen in Michigan. He will start training after he heals from a knee injury.
For more on Cameron’s “Run Love Ride, click here.