For John B. Johnson, the Boston Marathon was not more than just a race—it was a lifelong dream. After securing his spot with a strong finish at the 2023 Cleveland Marathon, the 35-year-old from Westlake, Ohio, was ready to take on the iconic course.
But just weeks later, he was diagnosed with colon cancer, forcing him to put his dream on hold and focus on fighting for his life. After battling colon cancer, Johnson is set to run the 2025 Boston Marathon—this time alongside his surgeon.
Over the past two years, Johnson formed a bond with Dr. David Rosen of the Cleveland Clinic, who helped him overcome the disease. Now cancer-free, the duo will take on the legendary race together on April 21.
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“I’ve seen John at some of his most vulnerable, most painful moments, and now to see him so strong and working towards completing a goal that he’s had for a long time is incredible,” said Rosen, 39, Division Head of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital.
“It’s inspiring. It’s a constant reminder of why we in medicine do what we do for patients like John, and it’s just a really fulfilling thing to do.”
Johnson and Dr. Rosen have decided to run the 2025 Boston Marathon to raise funds for DetecTogether, a group dedicated to early colon cancer detection.
Rosen explained that it is important to recognize symptoms like bleeding, bowel habit changes, or unusual stool as potential warning signs.
“You take someone like John who is completely healthy and young and you feel invincible, something like cancer could never get to you. But it did, and so you just never want to ignore any symptoms if they show up. And if they do, make sure you see a doctor and get a colonoscopy,” Rosen said.
Identity architect Johnson discovered he had colon cancer just two weeks after running the Cleveland Marathon in May 2023.
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A month before the race, he noticed blood in his stool and consulted his doctor, who recommended a colonoscopy.
However, assuming it was hemorrhoids, he delayed the procedure until after the marathon, placing his rigorous training ahead to break the three-hour mark.
“So I was like, ‘Okay, yeah, maybe that’s what it is.’ I wasn’t thinking anything worse. I certainly wasn’t thinking cancer.”
After completing his first Boston Marathon qualifier in just over three hours, Johnson felt unstoppable—until a routine colonoscopy two weeks later delivered a life-altering blow.
At 35 and in peak shape, he was blindsided by the news: a mass that was most likely cancer. In that moment, his thoughts weren’t about his health but about how to break the devastating news to his wife and their one-year-old daughter.
The word “cancer” instantly brought him face-to-face with his own mortality. Johnson reflected on his life with his wife, Sarah, whom he met in college and married in 2016.
The couple celebrated their 10th engagement anniversary just after his colon cancer diagnosis.
Two weeks later, they learned they were expecting their son, Theodore. Johnson, who is now advocating for colon cancer awareness, explained that 35-year-olds typically don’t talk about the disease.
Since sharing his own story, he’s encouraged friends to take their health seriously and seek medical attention without embarrassment.
