Determination.
I was excited to see the Runner’s World July Issue: Outrunning Cancer. More than two years ago, I conceived our very own “Cancer Awareness” issue to be run in July with the bold idea of snagging an exclusive Lance Armstrong interview. My mission was to tie together for the first time in print, the amazing link I had witnessed between endurance sports athletes and the fight against cancer. We got the interview with Lance and fleshed out the issue with profiles of people affected by cancer: a survivor, the son of a survivor, and a man inspired by a person with cancer whom he never knew. I tied it all together with an editor’s note about the great Terry Fox. That first “Cancer Awareness” issue hit the stands in July 2010.
I’m proud now to be bringing you our second “Cancer Awareness” issue.
In this edition of Endurance we catch-up with leukemia survivor Ethan Aliff. We first ran Ethan’s story several years ago when we learned about him through All-Star Bikes where he worked. While undergoing chemotherapy, Ethan had a simple request: to ride his bike. During his treatment, he often rode his bicycle on a trainer in his hospital room. Since then, his recovery has led him on a course of peaks and valleys far greater than the most difficult of bike rides. One important constant through it all has been his desire to ride his bike once more on the open road, which he recently did for the first time since being diagnosed with leukemia over two years ago.
In another story, we explore the front lines of cancer science with triathlete and scientist Dr. Jason Lieb, Professor of Biology at UNC Chapel Hill and the Director of Carolina Center for Genome Sciences. Lieb and his team have developed a technique to distinguish one cancer subtype from another, in some cases more accurately than traditional microscope-based methods. It’s an important discovery that could lead to better more personalized cancer therapies. Lieb, who is also a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, explains to us the endurance-like perseverance required to get research funded.
We also meet and talk with Duke Cancer Institute scientist and runner Dr. Lee Jones who shares his latest research findings on the link between cancer and exercise. Jones’ studies examine the feasibility and safety of exercise training (predominantly aerobic training) in cancer survivors both during and following primary cancer therapy. The overall goal is not only to identify the optimal exercise prescription for cancer survivors but also match the right intervention with the right patient. The data Jones is gathering could lead to more personalized care and allow doctors to optimize care for individual patients.
One common trait amongst people like Aliff, Lieb and Jones is one that’s also common amongst endurance athletes: determination. I hope our second annual “Cancer Awareness” issue reinforces your own determination to sign up for that next race and help support our common cause to beat cancer.
