Cancer Survivor, 80, Finishes 10K Race With His Son

At 80 years old, Mike Heit had every reason to stay home. But on April 26, he ran 10 kilometers through Victoria with his son by his side.

Nearly 15 years ago, a stroke stopped Mike in his tracks. A cancer diagnosis followed soon after, bringing radiation treatments and a long recovery. But instead of accepting a slower life, Mike decided to keep moving.

"When you get older, you get weaker, and I didn't want to get weaker," he said. His solution was simple: start running again.

Mike finished the Victoria TC10K in 2 hours, 46 minutes, and 19 seconds. Out of 11,422 runners who started the race, he and his son Jason were the final two to cross the finish line. For Mike, that didn't matter one bit.

"Back in the day, when sprinting, time was important because you wanted to win," he explained. "This one you want to just finish."

A former high school and university sprinter, Mike later became an avid cyclist, riding through 27 countries across Europe. He kept cycling into his mid-70s until health challenges changed his path. During his cancer treatment, he biked to the hospital 40 times for radiation appointments.

This wasn't Mike's first attempt at the 10K distance. About 10 years ago, he crossed the finish line and immediately took an ambulance ride home. This time, he had company.

Jason Heit, a professional boxer, stayed shoulder to shoulder with his father for the entire course. "I'll tell you one thing, this guy is so headstrong," Jason said. "To run side by side with him was really special."

Why This Inspires

As the miles wore on and fatigue set in, strangers lining the course kept both runners going. "People yelling 'go, go, go' sort of make up for it," Mike said. "They keep you going."

For Jason, those cheering crowds meant just as much as the finish line. "Those are the things that renew your faith in humanity," he said. "How nice people were, how supportive."

Mike's approach to staying healthy is refreshingly simple. "You put one foot in front of the other for a long way, and you get healthier," he explained. Or, as he puts it more simply: "Motion is lotion."

He's already making plans for next year's race. His advice for anyone on the sidelines? "You don't have to be fast. If you keep moving, your body's functioning, and a lot less goes wrong with you."