In Ep. 102, I sit down with ultrarunner, teacher, and mental health advocate, Casey Stillwagon, to talk about @Run5555km — his running and mental health awareness Instagram account with a very personal mission.
Along with the mantra, Stronger Every Stride, Casey’s posts offer messages of hope, compassion, inspiration, and the reminder — particularly for those struggling — of the inner strength we all carry.
Earlier this year, Casey launched a personal challenge: to run 5,555 kilometers (3,472 miles) in one year. The number 5, as you’ll hear in the episode, carries special meaning.
But the goal is about more than distance or personal achievement.
It’s about sharing the message that we can all grow stronger, physically, mentally, and emotionally, one stride at a time.
Based in Tokyo, Casey has completed several endurance races, including the Fuji 5 Lakes Ultra and, most recently, the Fuji 3 Lakes Ultra Marathon, and is now quietly training for his ultimate goal: Japan’s largest 100-mile trail race, the Mt. Fuji 100.
Running hasn’t just strengthened his body and mindset — it transformed his life. It became a healthy outlet for coping, processing, and navigating life’s challenges. It helped him quit smoking, stop drinking, and push beyond what he believed possible.
Ultimately, running helped Casey build a life grounded in values, discipline, and purpose. It brought him stability, fulfilment, quiet strength, and over time — a deepening sense of inner peace.
In this episode, Casey shares what running has taught him about emotional growth, why grace and self-compassion are vital for mental health, and what he’d tell his younger self.
We also talk about Haruki Murakami’s quote: “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional,” why resilience requires toughness — and why that’s a good thing —and the message he hopes to send to anyone struggling:
“What you’re looking for is inside of you.”
Catch the episode to learn why @Run5555km is a personal motivation for Casey, and why he is so passionate about the mantra, Stronger Every Stride.
Join the Movement
Have you always wanted to support an important cause but didn’t quite know where to begin?
Join the Stronger Every Stride movement.
Help Casey raise awareness for mental health, suicide prevention, and the importance of extending grace and compassion to others but also ourselves — by setting your own 5,555 km goal (3,472 miles) and tagging @Run5555km on Instagram and using the hashtags #StrongerEveryStride and #Run5555km.
Whether you choose to run 5,555 km in a year like Casey, or stretch the timeline to pursue your own personal goal like me (5,555 km in 5 years), every stride is important.
This isn’t just about running.
At the end of the day, Casey’s hope around @Run5555km and the message Stronger Every Stride is to raise awareness for an invisible pain so many of us struggle with, to help end the stigma around getting help, and to remind people they are not alone.
Each and every one of us have something special in us.
Each and every one of us deserves to get the help we need.
Every single one us deserves peace and happiness, too.
One way we can do that is by getting out there, doing what we can, while treating ourselves and others with grace and compassion, knowing that with every effort, we help each other get stronger.
Stronger every stride.
Follow Casey’s mission on Instagram: @Run5555km
⚠️ Content Warning:
While our focus is on mental health, resilience, and inner strength, this episode briefly mentions a loved one’s suicide attempt in 2013. We recognize this topic may be sensitive for some. Please check in and take good care of yourself. If this is a topic that may be emotionally sensitive, pause, and consider listening when you’re in a space that feels private, supported, and right for you. Thank you.
If you’re struggling:
Please don’t carry it alone. There is help, and people who care. Talk to a therapist, counselor, or someone you trust. For immediate support — whether for yourself or someone else — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org.
U.S. Veterans: Dial 988 and press 1, or visit veteranscrisisline.net.
Support in Japan:
- TELL Lifeline (English): 0800-300-8355 | telljp.com/lifeline
- Inochi no Denwa (Japanese): 0570-783-556 (10am–10pm)
- Tokyo Suicide Prevention Center: 03-5286-9090 (8pm–6am daily; from 5pm on Tuesdays)
- Emergencies: Call 119 (ambulance/fire) or 110 (police)
Cited in the episode:
- What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
- Fuji 5 Lakes & 3 Lakes Ultra Marathons
- One More Light by Linkin Park (Official Video)
Where to find Casey:
- Instagram: @Run5555km
Where to listen to this episode:
- Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ggA_rczF
- Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gr8mTk3P
- Other platforms: https://lnkd.in/d_JCgwr5
Thank you.
