Vancouver runner ends 50K-a-day challenge for mental health

After six days and 300 kilometres, North Vancouver’s Joseph Logelin decided to end a multi-day ultrarunning challenge he had begun as a fundraiser for men’s mental health. Logelin had set out to run as many 50K-a-day ultras as he could to honour a friend he lost to suicide in January. After the sixth day, Logelin opted to end his challenge to take care of his own mental health. Logelin may not have run for as long as he had initially hoped, but he far surpassed his fundraising goal—and he also acted as an example of self-care and healthy mental health awareness for other runners.

Logelin’s 300 km run was on trails outside Vancouver (with some track running the first day) near his home. After day six, the 25-year-old decided the effort had taken on a life of its own. “As the fundraiser gained traction, I felt I was no longer running for my enjoyment, but to prove something to others,” he shared on Facebook.”There was a lot of added pressure and stress that came from this and for those reasons, I decided not to run yesterday.”

Logelin is not new to ultra-distance events—he completed Tahoe 200 (330 km) in 2022, and the notoriously grueling Fat Dog 120 in 2023. In 2024 his goal is to run the triple crown of 200-milers that includes Tahoe 200, Moab 240, and Bigfoot 200 (in Colorado). Logelin told Canadian Running he has been competing in ultras for about five years. “I’ve wanted to do a multi-day race for a while now, so decided to create my own,” he said.

Logelin created a GoFundMe, aiming to raise at least $250 for local charity HeadsUpGuys, a University of British Columbia mental health resource for men. He far surpassed his goal, raising $3,300 so far. Logelin says his legs feel fine post-challenge and that he’s already back to regular running.

“I stopped because I felt like I wasn’t running for myself anymore,” Logelin said. “I wasn’t running for my enjoyment of running and didn’t want to get burnt out. I know I’m still young relative to others in this sport and want to keep running for a long time.”

Logelin, who was accompanied by friends on most of his runs, says he is proud of what he achieved, and the decision he made to stop. “I am very happy with what I have accomplished and I in no way regret raising money for men’s mental health as it is something very close to my heart and something I have struggled with most of my life,” he shared on Facebook. “However, in the future I will be running solely for my love of the sport as I believe that is the best for my mental health and my longevity in the sport.”

To donate to Logelin’s GoFundMe, head here.