When people ask me how running helped me survive cancer, I don't give them a short answer — because there isn't one. Running didn't just keep my body moving through…
When people ask me how running helped me survive cancer, I don’t give them a short answer — because there isn’t one. Running didn’t just keep my body moving through treatment. It kept my mind from breaking, my spirit from surrendering, and my identity intact when a brain cancer diagnosis threatened to strip all three away. This is the story of how I laced up my shoes and ran toward something most people would have spent every ounce of energy running away from.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
It didn’t start on a trail. It started with what seemed like a routine medical issue. As I share in detail on the site, how a sinus surgery led to my brain tumor diagnosis is a story that still gives me chills — because the very procedure that seemed minor turned out to be the thing that saved my life. The tumor was discovered. And just like that, everything changed.
In the weeks that followed, I was thrown into a world of neurosurgeons, second opinions, and impossible decisions. I quickly learned that navigating the medical system required the same kind of grit that running a long race demands — patience, persistence, and the ability to keep moving even when you have no idea what’s around the next corner. That’s part of why I ended up seeing three neurosurgeons before deciding on my path forward. Because in running and in life, choosing the right team matters.
How Running Helped Me Survive Cancer — Physically and Mentally
People often assume that surviving cancer is a purely medical victory. And yes, the surgeons, the treatments, the science — all of it matters enormously. But there’s another dimension that doesn’t always make it into the clinical conversation: the psychological and emotional survival. That’s where running became my lifeline.
Running Gave Me Control When Everything Felt Out of Control
A brain cancer diagnosis is one of the most disorienting experiences a human being can face. Your body becomes a battleground managed by other people. Your schedule is dictated by appointments, procedures, and recovery timelines. Your future suddenly feels like a question mark written in someone else’s handwriting.
But when I ran? That was mine. Every step was a decision I made. Every mile was proof that I still had agency over my own body. Running was the one place where I was not a patient. I was an athlete. I was moving forward — literally and figuratively — and that mattered more than I can fully explain.
The Trail Was My Therapy
There’s something about being out on a trail — especially during an ultramarathon — that forces you into the present moment. You can’t think about your diagnosis when you’re navigating a rocky descent at mile forty. You can’t catastrophize about the future when you’re counting footfalls and managing your breathing. The trail demanded everything I had, and in return, it gave me peace.
I also found that running gave voice to emotions I couldn’t otherwise express. Sometimes it came out in music — I’ve written about that raw creative energy in pieces like Melodic Thoughts: A Song Born From Negativity — because survival isn’t a single-channel experience. It overflows. Running was just one of the outlets.
From Survivor to Ultramarathon Runner — Defying the Odds
Here’s the part of the story that people find hardest to believe: after brain cancer surgery, after treatment, after everything — I didn’t just return to running. I pushed further than I ever had before. I ran ultramarathons. Events that would challenge even the healthiest, most finely tuned athletes on the planet.
Why? Because I needed to prove something. Not to anyone else — to myself. I needed to know that the version of me that survived cancer was stronger than the version that existed before the diagnosis. And every time I crossed a finish line, I got that answer.
This defiance is at the heart of everything I write and everything I share. Running away from cancer wasn’t about escape. It was about confrontation — looking the disease in the eye and choosing to move anyway.
What Running Taught Me About Survival
After years of processing this experience — on trails, in writing, in conversations with others who have faced adversity — here’s what I know to be true:
- Forward motion is its own form of healing. You don’t need to run fast. You just need to keep moving.
- Community matters. The running community showed up for me in ways I never expected. Other survivors, other athletes — they became my people.
- Your story has power. Sharing what you’ve been through doesn’t just help you process it — it helps someone else find their way through their own darkness.
- Mind and body are not separate. What you do physically ripples into every corner of your emotional and mental life. Run. Walk. Move. It matters.
- Defiance is a survival strategy. Refusing to let cancer define the ceiling of your life is not denial. It’s one of the bravest things you can do.
Understanding how running helped me survive cancer isn’t just about the miles I logged. It’s about the mindset those miles built — a mindset that I carry into every challenge, every hill, every hard day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can running actually help during cancer treatment?
Many survivors find that movement — including running, when medically appropriate — offers significant physical and mental benefits during and after cancer treatment. It can help manage stress, maintain a sense of normalcy, improve mood, and support overall wellbeing. That said, every person’s situation is unique, and you should always work closely with your medical team to determine what level of physical activity is right for you and when.
How did Greg start running ultramarathons after brain cancer?
Greg’s journey from brain cancer survivor to ultramarathon runner was gradual, intentional, and deeply personal. It wasn’t about rushing back — it was about rebuilding, mile by mile, with purpose. The full story is captured in his memoir, Running Away From Cancer, which details the diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and the extraordinary running adventures that followed.
Where can I read more about Greg’s cancer diagnosis story?
Greg shares the full arc of his diagnosis journey right here on the site. A great starting point is the article about how a sinus surgery led to his brain tumor diagnosis, and from there you can explore how he navigated the process of choosing the right neurosurgeon and ultimately, how running became central to his survival.
Is the Running Away From Cancer book available in different formats?
Yes — the memoir Running Away From Cancer is available as a paperback, audiobook, and eBook, so you can experience Greg’s story in whatever format works best for you. Head to the shop on this site to get your copy and find out which version is right for you.
Ready to be inspired? Whether you’re a runner, a cancer survivor, a caregiver, or simply someone who knows what it feels like to face something impossible — Greg’s story is for you. Running Away From Cancer is more than a memoir. It’s a battle cry, a love letter to the trails, and proof that the human spirit can outrun almost anything. Grab your copy of the book today — available in paperback, audiobook, and eBook — and follow along here for more stories, adventures, and honest reflections on what it means to keep moving forward, no matter what stands in your way.