I saw firsthand how this disease can affect someone you love in ways that you can’t even begin to comprehend. It sheds light on how fragile life can be and that living every moment to the fullest allows you to look back and cherish time spent with others.

The Daytona 100 is a 100-mile ultramarathon from Jacksonville Beach, FL, to Daytona Beach, FL, that follows Florida’s East Coast barrier island on pavement – paralleling the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway the entire distance.

Runners have about 31 hours to finish, but I aim to finish in under 24 hours. It will take a lot of mental toughness, but the thought of my little brother will give me all the strength needed to find a way. Rain or shine, day or night, this will be the hardest challenge of my life, but pairing this with an opportunity to raise funding for the LymeLight Foundation and memorialize my brother means the world to me.

My brother loved to help others, especially kids, even in some of his most challenging moments. He loved seeing the joy on the children’s faces. Looking back, he had an easier way of relating to them. Their happiness resonated with Dustin as he searched for it in his own life.

Dustin enjoyed biking and triathlons, even finishing an Ironman 70.3 several years ago. The Daytona 100 allows me to honor him in a way he would be proud of. He will be looking down on me that day, and I plan to give it everything I have.

– Lawson Aschenbach

UPDATE:

At mile 75, I’m shaking uncontrollably from the cold, my legs aren’t firing, and I’m stiff as a board. I can’t think, but my mind is racing. I’m tired, and everything hurts.

The emotions hit me hard. I’m broken, and tears are streaming down my face. I didn’t make it, and I didn’t accomplish my goal. I couldn’t believe all the time and energy invested in this race was for nothing.

I let people down, and that hurt the most. I gave everything in my mind, body, and spirit, but it wasn’t enough—plain and simple. My team knocked it out of the park on race day, but I couldn’t finish the job.

After some time to reflect, this is a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Yes, I didn’t get it done, but there is SO much positive from these situations. And this, in the end, will make me stronger, better, and more resilient than ever. I’m proud of 75 miles and thankful I got to experience all the highs and lows.

This is more than one race. The following day, my friend Luke told me it was not about the finish but the journey. That resonated with me in all the right ways, and it’s true. I thought a lot about Dustin and whether he would be proud, and I believe he was smiling down on me, especially at the end.

His pain and suffering were on a whole different level, and he chose a path he couldn’t undo. He was struggling for years, and he couldn’t take it anymore. The pain and suffering I was experiencing was temporary. They were very different. But that moment was a great learning experience.

This was a journey that started on January 4th, 2024. The day Dustin (and my Grandmother) passed away. It was the worst day of my life. It was a day that shook me to the core, but it was also a day that I realized a simple phrase: Don’t Numb The Pain.

Honestly, over the last year and a half, I have faced so much, and it’s changed me. You can’t dwell on the negative, you can’t fall into depression, and you can’t allow yourself to accept negative things that you can change for the better.

There is work to be done. If you face things head-on, no matter the challenge, you can overcome them. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I’m ready to put that learning to good use, make positive changes, and focus on certain things that genuinely make me happy. I’m excited.

I’m the eternal optimist, always trying to find the good in bad situations. Sometimes, that comes back to bite me, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. In the end, the good will outweigh the bad.

This was for Dustin, my family, my crew, people struggling with Lyme Disease, people in general, kids who need help, adults who need a reset, and people who DESERVE a better life. Don’t let the outcome control your destiny. Please focus on the journey and give it everything in your power.

DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR JOURNEY. DON’T NUMB THE PAIN.

#dontnumbthepain