80-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Runs Third Boston Marathon

Most people slow down in their eighties, but Dr. Michael Holick is lacing up his running shoes for his third consecutive Boston Marathon this month.

The 80-year-old doctor was diagnosed with stage III prostate cancer in 2021. Since then, he's endured severe hot flashes, testosterone deficiency, anemia, and type-2 diabetes as side effects from his cancer treatments.

None of it has stopped him from running.

Out of 30,000 runners registered for this year's Boston Marathon, only 22 are age 80 or older. The oldest participant is 85, according to the Boston Athletic Association.

Holick trains in his Weston neighborhood, putting in the miles despite the physical challenges his body faces daily. The cancer treatments that keep him alive also make every run harder than it should be.

But he refuses to stop.

Why This Inspires

Holick's story isn't about denying his diagnosis or pretending the side effects don't exist. It's about choosing what defines him.

Cancer gave him hot flashes and fatigue. He gave himself marathon finish lines.

His body battles multiple conditions simultaneously, yet he's training alongside runners a third his age. That choice to keep moving forward, literally, shows that our challenges don't have to write our entire story.

For the 22 octogenarians toeing the starting line this April, and for anyone watching who's facing their own battle, Holick proves that age and illness are just part of the equation. Determination fills in the rest.

When the starting gun fires in Boston this month, an 80-year-old cancer patient will be there, ready to run 26.2 miles for the third year in a row.