53,000 steps later, 69-year-old with stage-4 cancer completes 517th marathon

John Bozung and friends finish the St. George Marathon, St. George, Utah, Oct. 1, 2022 | Photo by Truman Burgess, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — As the sweeper truck approached the St. George Marathon finish line, a last strand of runners crested the final hill of the race.  

John Bozung sits after completing his 517th marathon, St. George, Utah, Oct. 1, 2022 | Photo by Truman Burgess, St. George News

Held up by two fellow runners on either side, 69-year-old Jon Bozung was the final marathon finisher of the day, clocking in at 7 hours, 30 minutes and marking the end of the 7,200 registered runners. 

To Bozung, however, this was a routine, monthly marathon.

Bozung has run a marathon every month for 27 years and six  months, consecutively. Today was his 517th marathon completion and his 29th St. George Marathon. 

About a year ago, Bozung was diagnosed with stage-4 prostate cancer. That has not stopped him from completing a marathon a month. He has continued to race, racking up 19 marathons with a catheter in place. Today was his first marathon without a catheter.

“Boy, what a difference that was,” Bozung said, seated in the shade after crossing the finish line. “I didn’t have to feel that pain for 53,000 steps.”

When asked why he continues to run marathons, he said it “keeps me in shape.”

“Until I was diagnosed with cancer, I was averaging about 20 marathons a year,” Bozung said. “When you’re doing them that often, your marathon is your long run for the next marathon. There’s a method to the madness.”

Bozung spoke candidly about his prognosis, saying he had nothing to hide and hopes his attitude and actions inspire others.

“I don’t mind sharing what I’m going through with my cancer,” Bozung said. “You don’t stop. You don’t give up. You don’t quit, even when your diagnosis sucks. You keep finding a way to go forward. You keep finding a way to make it work, and if that can inspire one person, it’s worth it.”

Sipping on a glass of chocolate milk provided by his family, Bozung said he has run a marathon in all 50 states and he was the first person to run a marathon on every continent — including Antarctica — in one year, 1997. Bozung grew up in Santa Monica, California. His first marathon was in Los Angeles in 1988.

“My race today sucked, with a capital ‘S’. It started off good since I was feeling good without that catheter in place, and it was feeling good until about mile 19 or 20, and then the wheels fell off my legs,” he said.

Bozung’s family and friends helped him along the race and joined the crowd cheering him on at the finish line.

Race announcer Colleen Rue stands near the St. George Marathon finish line, St. George, Utah, Oct. 1, 2022 | Photo by Truman Burgess, St. George News

Colleen Rue, a St. George resident and radio-voice, announced the race and occupied the finish line, welcoming marathon runners with a microphone and words of encouragement. 

“I always tell people, I have a front-row seat to the best of humanity,” Rue said. 

Rue and her husband travel all over the United States to announce marathons. Rue said they have done anywhere from 20 to 28 marathons a year for the past seven years. Their most recent marathon was in Canada.

Rue is a multi-marathon runner herself, having completed eight full races. She began her day at 3:30 a.m., riding up to the starting line with the first busload of runners.

“All these people come with a story,” she said. “There was some reason they signed up for this marathon. I get to watch and help unfold their stories when they finish the race. This changes people, and I think that’s why we as spectators get so inspired — we see a little bit of ourselves.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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