Marathoner, cancer survivor running against the odds
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Marathon runner and cancer survivor Colleen Johnson of Bolivar celebrates her 60th birthday this weekend. Given a 25 percent survival rate by doctors in 2012 after being diagnosed with endometrial cancer, the long-distance runner said she wanted to do “something big” to celebrate the milestone birthday. Johnson will be running three 5K races in as many states. Johnson started running after her diagnosis. She said by eating better and exercising more she dropped nearly 100 pounds and beat cancer. Johnson said she now has another finish line she’d like to cross — qualifying for the Boston Marathon. “There is no doubt I can successfully finish it,” Johnson said. “The challenge is getting Boston to extend an invitation.”
