University of Wisconsin runner's passing

Maybe.. maybe not.

we dont know. Until we find out more( which we may not), lets not definitively say it was academic, athletic, pandemic,etc… related… when we dont know (as far as I can tell)

my favorite part about this is the coaches milking this tragic loss for their own attention and saying things on social media but not living/coaching accordingly

That is awful. Condolences.

Oh man. This is so sad. Really sorry to hear this news.

There have been several comment on this suicide and others that read “I don’t know what I could have done.”

Well, the issue is that most people are so wrapped up into themselves and don’t have the intuition that someone can be on the verge. Then, it takes energy and time to give authentic care for these people in need.

The best thing to do before anyone gets to this stage is treat those around you with care. you never know how your actions and words, or lack Theron, can effect a friend or even an acquaintance.

LRC note: The rest of this post was deleted as being insensitive even though well intentioned

I knew her family and remember hearing her parents talk about her. She seemed to have everything going for her. Tragic news that is becoming all too common in todays world.

My thoughts go out to her family, Mick and the team. He (Mick) is a great guy who truly cares about his runners. I was thinking of the Wisconsin team on my run today, my prayers to get through this.

Thank you. While a lot of people mean well, the idea that you could solve the problem by having them over for a cup of tea and a pep talk isn't really it. People often say "oh, if only I'd known or they'd reached out..." not realizing that being unable to reach out is often a feature of mental illness.

If you're using all your entire bandwidth to try to survive day to day, you don't have much leftover to try to seek help. Seeking help is exhausting. Seeking help can also be scary because you relinquish control over the situation and don't necessarily know what's in store. While again most people mean well, sometimes help can do harm if the persons administering it don't know what they're doing, or sometimes help can seem like punishment (forcing person to take time off from school, work, sports). A bad but known situation is often preferable to an unknown one if you're struggling. Then of course there is a lot of social stigma.

I am not sure what the best approach is, but I think if you are worried about someone that you should get someone they trust to broach it with them. If that's not you, it could be a friend or family member. The trusted person isn't likely to be qualified to deal with the issue and shouldn't be expected to, but they can help the person get what they need and be an advocate for them/be in their corner.

Sarah Shulze's high school, Oak Park High School, is ten miles from Newberry Park High School.

I am a recently retired student-athlete from one of the top DI programs in the country, I am an all american, I have been there and been to the top, and I cannot for the life of me understand how the NCAA does not require mental health counseling as a part of the student-athlete experience. I will always advocate for 3rd party counseling to be a requirement, just as it is a requirement to get a physical and check-in with the trainers. How many more names are going to be added to the list of student-athletes who can't stand it anymore and end their own life. It is disgusting to me that this hasn't been a requirement, as the pressures of being a student-athlete can be so insane. Student-athletes are so vulnerable. 3rd party counseling could have stopped someone like Larry Nassar sooner, 3rd party counseling may have helped these athletes realize there is a better life out there. It's tragic, and I will always advocate for a change.