Editor’s note: Helgi Olafson is an ultrarunner and AS advocate. He has completed multiple third-party fundraisers for the Spondylitis Association of America (SAA), often tied to ultramarathons—footraces longer than a marathon that can span hundreds of miles over several days. In 2025, he took on the 300-mile Arizona Monster 300 while working on a documentary, Sonoran Odyssey, to capture the journey and raise awareness for AS. Below, he shares lessons from his latest fundraiser and how he turns miles into meaning.
Arizona Monster 300 scared me, but it was the inaugural year and all of the usual suspects would be there. These are my people—a community where I feel supported and supportive, where I love and feel loved. I come here for adventure. Even after being an ultrarunner for over ten years, I still can’t think of a better way to spend my time, whether running or volunteering.
The original plan was impulsive and logistically grandiose. A plan to outdo everything I had done before. A way for me to show the world that AS wouldn’t hold me back, and to tell my story in a way that might inspire someone else to take a chance on themselves. At the same time, I was in a vicious cycle: my mental and physical health and financial well-being were taking hit after hit. I gained weight, struggled with depression and identity issues, and my relationship was faltering. My Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI) in my left hip kept me from training, but I needed this finish and this film. Ultrarunning is my identity. How could I advocate for AS if I couldn’t finish? I began questioning everything…
My endurance achievements may have seemed “inspirational,” but every decision came at a cost. I’ve learned to be more mindful and make calculated, less-impulsive decisions, but I will always be a work in progress. I’ve been picking up a lifetime of pieces and learning as I become a better listener to my fellows and to myself. Holding myself accountable for the right reasons is important to me.
Those experiences taught me that pushing myself physically and showing up for meaningful causes matters just as much as taking care of my own health and well-being. That balance is what allows me to grow, persist, and inspire others living with AS.
The extreme sense of validation I was searching for used to drive me—being popular, loved, inspirational—but inner work has shown me where I want to spend my energy. Three years of sobriety have helped me see my true self through a different lens. Now 43, I respect that change is earned through dedication. Just like in an ultra, preparation and respecting the course will support a great outcome.
To understand me, know that I am an addict. I go hard on everything I do and can’t sit still. At 29, I decided to test my physical limits as an endurance athlete while advocating for AS. Fourteen years later, here we are.
AS is the constant background noise to my life—a quiet pressure driving my need for physical challenge and advocacy. Early diagnosis helped me start off well as an adult, and I want everyone to have that confidence and starting point in their journey with AS.
Failures carry strength, courage, and growth. I’ve made choices that made things harder for myself, but I’ve also celebrated many small wins. All of it has shaped who I am. I still have so much to learn, and I am looking forward to the years ahead.
Promoting a worthwhile call-to-action is more complicated than it seems. Social media platforms are an effective vehicle to share what matters to you, but it’s easy to get lost comparing yourself to others. People are judgmental in a fragile, yet resilient world. Approach your shares with grace for yourself and without expectation for validation from others. Invest in yourself: get enough sleep, do mobility-related exercise, and check the boxes that really matter. Don’t overload your plate. Ask for help before it gets too hard—people who care want your efforts to succeed. We are stronger together.
After raising over $20k through the Trans Triple Crown of 200s Fundraiser for SAA in 2021, attempting the Sonoran Odyssey documentary was me taking my shot and coming up short. I’ve thought about how to tell the complex story I wanted, but it wasn’t possible with the footage. There’s no more money to continue shooting. I miscalculated the budget, costs kept rising, and I lost sleep. The failure hurt, and I felt like I let my communities down—but failure is a chance for growth.
What keeps coming back for me is that inspiring fellow AS patients to do hard things is even more impactful when they see failure is accepted and an important part of success. If the impact is resilient, the mission has already been accomplished. I need to remind myself: as long as I am a good neighbor, I have nothing to prove. I believe in myself and in my ability to learn and grow from experiences past, present, and future.
The moral: it’s okay to take chances doing things that scare you, even if you don’t meet your “A” Goal. The desire to make a difference should never be ignored. Continue to bet on yourself and your purpose. Creating awareness projects or fundraisers that impact others can be a great way to give back. Pick something that truly matters to you and go for it intentionally. Don’t bite off more than you can chew—but don’t give up before you start. Take the first steps and open the door to your own motivation. We miss 100 percent of the shots we don’t take.
As for the film, please take a look at the above slideshow, which captures stills from some of my favorite moments during a seven-day, 300-mile journey I will never forget. I carried the feeling of togetherness with my support crew and fellow runners through what was the hardest ultramarathon finish I’ve ever reached. It was all about spending time with my people: 2025 Arizona Monster 300. 173:13:00.
Thank you to everyone who donated to the fundraiser in support of SAA. To my support crew—Sam, Leon, Charl, Ben, Carly, Noah, and Alex—you made this possible. Congratulations to all runners and volunteers. We did it together.
SAA received a percentage of the donations to Helgi Olafson’s Sonoran Odyssey fundraiser to support their mission: “To be the leader in the quest to cure ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and related diseases, while empowering those affected to live their lives to the fullest through education, research, and support.”
Take a chance on yourself and start your own third-party fundraiser for SAA! SAA can help bring your dream fundraiser to life. Send inquiries to sean.ewert@spondylitis.org.
To help patients like Helgi share their stories, raise awareness, and advance critical funding, please donate to SAA.
Donate Link: https://spondylitis.org/get-involved/donate
Click here to learn more about Helgi’s journey.
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