Bolivar marathoner survives cancer, runs to inspire others
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JACKSON, Tenn. — A West Tennessee woman says instead of killing her, cancer saved her. Bolivar native Colleen Johnson has been running for less than two years. “When I first began, I couldn’t even run an 8th of a mile,” she said. Johnson began her running career after being diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2012. “I didn’t know what endometrial cancer is. No one ever talks about endometrial cancer,” Johnson said. “First thing I had to do was go home and find out what in the heck it was.” Johnson’s type of cancer starts in a woman’s womb. “The prognosis on my cancer wasn’t very good,” she said. “I was told I had only a 25 percent chance of not coming back within two years, and if it came back it was pretty much guaranteed it would kill me.” Johnson said the cancer has been her motivation for running. “This running is keeping my cancer from coming back.” Johnson said the cancer seems to be linked to obesity. When she was first diagnosed, she said she weighed more than 240 pounds. Johnson underwent surgery and a series of treatments. She said she refused to let cancer “win.” “After the surgery, I was determined I was going to lose weight and I was going to exercise and I was going to get this under control,” she said. Johnson has lost more than 100 pounds. While she did begin following a 1,500 calorie a day plan and exercising, she said the lifestyle change came from a deeper motivation. “I was motivated by one thing and one thing only — I wanted to live,” she said. The marathoner was featured in the February issue of the national Runner’s World Magazine. She said it’s something she never thought would happen. “The best part about it is the word is getting out that you really can do something to take control of your own health,” she said. Johnson says running was her answer for a healthier life. She’s completed more than 70 races and runs at least a 5K every weekend. But Johnson does not train by pounding out mile after mile on the pavement. Due to bone-on-bone arthritis, Johnson trains three days a week by aqua jogging in the pool at the Lift Wellness Center in downtown Jackson. “It’s like running the track up there, but I’m running in six feet of water,” she said. Even though Johnson runs for hours on end, she said she actually doesn’t like exercise. “The truth of the matter is I don’t love exercise, but I do love running across finish lines,” she said. Johnson recalls how alive she felt when she completed her first 5K. “I did that 5K, and something happened when I did it,” she said. “I came out of that race feeling like a different woman than the lady that went into that race. I felt physically strong. I felt very happy and confident. I felt like something I never thought I could feel like in my lifetime.” Running in her signature blue and white jersey, Johnson’s message is clear — “It starts today. It starts right now.” Johnson will turn 60 in August. She said instead of a traditional party, she’s currently searching for the best race to run on her birthday and aiming for a personal best finish.
