JUNKO | Running 100 miles after cancer. "Life is short, you never know what will happen tomorrow."

Summary

Junko Kazukawa, a two-time cancer survivor, ultrarunner, and running coach from Japan, shares her inspiring journey of resilience and community. After overcoming the hardships of chemotherapy and mastectomy, she found solace and strength in ultrarunning, including the challenging Leadville 100. Despite her shy and introverted nature, Junko thrives in the supportive trail running community, where she's embraced and encouraged to keep pushing her limits. Now 61, she advocates for living life to the fullest, urging others to pursue their dreams without hesitation.

Takeaways

• 🏃‍♀️ Junko Kazukawa is an ultrarunner and running coach from Japan, living in the US, and a two-time cancer survivor.
• 💪 Despite facing the hardships of chemotherapy and mastectomy, Junko found strength and purpose in ultrarunning.
• 🌟 She was initially lonely and struggled with English, but set a goal to be independent and self-sufficient.
• 🏥 Junko's first cancer was breast cancer, which she treated with lumpectomy and radiation.
• 🔄 Four years later, she faced a second cancer, which led to a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
• 🏞️ Learning about the Leadville 100-mile race inspired her to take on the challenge, despite her health struggles.
• 👣 Junko has completed twenty to twenty-three hundred-mile races, including her 10th Leadville 100.
• 👵 At 61, she embraces her introverted nature but finds community and support in the running world.
• 🤝 The ultrarunning community is welcoming, regardless of age, background, or experience, offering a sense of belonging.
• ⏰ Junko encourages immediate action, emphasizing that life is short and one should pursue their goals without delay.
• 🌍 Her message is one of peace and community, urging people to find support and not feel alone in their endeavors.

Q & A

What challenges did Junko Kazukawa face when she first moved to a new country?

Junko faced challenges such as language barriers, loneliness, and difficulty in making friends due to her introverted personality.

How did Junko overcome her initial struggles with English?

Junko focused on understanding conversations and gradually improved her English by immersing herself in the language.

What was Junko's first major challenge after moving?

Junko's first major challenge was to save money independently without depending on anyone else.

How many times has Junko been diagnosed with cancer?

Junko has been diagnosed with cancer twice.

What type of cancer did Junko initially have and what treatments did she undergo?

Junko initially had breast cancer and underwent a lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

What was Junko's reaction to her second cancer diagnosis?

Junko was shocked and felt sad and discouraged upon her second cancer diagnosis.

What inspired Junko to take up ultrarunning?

Junko was inspired by the idea of people running 100 miles in Leadville and saw it as a good challenge to take up.

How many hundred-mile races has Junko completed so far?

Junko has completed twenty to twenty-three hundred-mile races so far.

What is the significance of the Leadville 100 run for Junko?

Leadville 100 is significant for Junko as it represents her resilience and determination, and it's a challenge she has participated in multiple times.

How does Junko feel about her age and her future in running?

Junko embraces her age and is optimistic about continuing to run, regardless of how old she gets, as long as she is able.

What message does Junko have for people who are facing challenges in life?

Junko's message is to not wait and to take action when you have an idea in mind, and to find a supportive community that can help and understand.

Outlines

00:00

🏃‍♀️ Ultrarunning and Cancer Survivorship

Junko Kazukawa, a Japanese ultrarunner and running coach, shares her journey as a two-time cancer survivor. She discusses the physical and emotional challenges of chemotherapy and mastectomy, and how these experiences were among the hardest in her life. Despite the difficulties, Junko found motivation in her diagnosis to push her limits, setting her sights on completing the grueling Leadville 100-mile race. Her story underscores the importance of having a strong 'why' for her endeavors. As an introvert, Junko also reflects on the loneliness she felt when she first moved to a new country, her determination to be self-reliant, and the sense of community she found through trail running and ultrarunning events, which has been a source of support and camaraderie.

05:03

🤝 The Power of Community in Overcoming Challenges

In this paragraph, Junko emphasizes the sense of belonging and unity she experiences within the Leadville trail running community. Despite being shy and introverted, she feels included and supported by fellow runners, both new and old friends, and Instagram followers. The community's shared goal of completing the race creates a bond that transcends age, background, and experience. Junko's narrative highlights the joy of running and the mutual support among trail runners, who greet each other and share stories along the way. She encourages others to pursue their dreams without hesitation, to find and engage with supportive communities, and to recognize that they are not alone in their endeavors. Junko's message is one of empowerment, urging people to take action and to seek out peace and unity through shared experiences like running.

Keywords

💡Cancer

Cancer refers to a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. In the video, the speaker, Junko Kazukawa, is a two-time cancer survivor, having battled breast cancer and undergone treatments such as lumpectomy, radiation, mastectomy, and chemotherapy. Cancer is central to her story as it has shaped her perspective on life and her determination to pursue challenging goals like ultrarunning.

💡Ultrarunning

Ultrarunning is a sport involving running long distances, often exceeding the traditional marathon length of 26.2 miles. The video's protagonist, Junko, is an ultrarunner who has completed numerous hundred-mile races, including the Leadville 100, which she mentions as a significant challenge and achievement. Ultrarunning symbolizes her resilience and the physical and mental strength she has cultivated in the face of adversity.

💡Leadville 100

The Leadville 100 is a prestigious 100-mile trail race held annually in Colorado, known for its challenging terrain and high altitude. Junko Kazukawa has participated in this race multiple times, using it as a platform to test her limits and celebrate her survival. The Leadville 100 exemplifies the extreme physical challenges she has taken on post-cancer, showcasing her determination and the community spirit of the ultrarunning world.

💡Mastectomy

A mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or both breasts, often performed as a treatment for breast cancer. In the script, Junko underwent a mastectomy as part of her second bout with cancer. This term is significant as it represents a critical juncture in her health journey and a personal sacrifice she made in the fight against cancer.

💡Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The script mentions that Junko underwent chemotherapy as part of her treatment, which is a physically and emotionally challenging process. It is a testament to her strength and the harsh realities of cancer treatment.

💡Shyness

Shyness is a personality trait characterized by a lack of self-confidence, discomfort in social situations, and a tendency to be reserved. Junko describes herself as shy and introverted, which made it difficult for her to make friends and engage in conversations when she first moved to a new country. Shyness is a relatable aspect of her story, showing that even those who achieve great feats can struggle with social interactions.

💡Community

Community refers to a group of people sharing a common interest or purpose. In the video, Junko finds a sense of belonging and support within the ultrarunning community, particularly at events like the Leadville 100. The community aspect is crucial as it highlights the camaraderie and mutual encouragement among runners, which helps her overcome personal challenges and feel included.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or to cope with change and adversity. Junko's story is a testament to resilience, as she not only survives cancer but also thrives by taking on the physical and mental challenges of ultrarunning. Her resilience is an inspiring message to viewers, showing that it is possible to bounce back from life's toughest challenges.

💡Goal-setting

Goal-setting is the process of identifying and committing to specific objectives. Junko mentions setting a goal to save money independently and deciding her own path, which is a metaphor for her self-reliance and determination. Goal-setting is a recurring theme in her narrative, emphasizing the importance of having clear objectives to drive personal growth and achievement.

💡Inclusion

Inclusion refers to the act of involving and welcoming all members of a community, regardless of their background. Junko feels included in the ultrarunning community, where she finds acceptance and friendship. The concept of inclusion is significant in the video as it underscores the universality of the human spirit and the power of shared experiences to bridge differences.

💡Seize the Day

The phrase 'seize the day' is an encouragement to make the most of the present moment and not to delay one's dreams or ambitions. Junko advises viewers to act on their thoughts without hesitation, reflecting her philosophy of living life to the fullest and not waiting for the perfect time. This concept is central to her message, urging others to pursue their passions and not let life's uncertainties hold them back.

Highlights

Junko Kazukawa, a two-time cancer survivor, finds ultrarunning as a way to overcome physical and emotional challenges.

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and mastectomy are described as hard, with physical side effects like hair loss.

Junko's initial loneliness and language barrier when she first moved to a new country.

Her goal to become financially independent and make her own decisions.

Junko's first cancer diagnosis was breast cancer, which she treated with lumpectomy and radiation.

The second cancer diagnosis led to a mastectomy and chemotherapy.

Learning about 100-mile races inspired Junko to take on the challenge despite her health condition.

The realization that life is unpredictable and one should pursue their goals without delay.

Junko's decision to sign up for the Leadville 100, a 100-mile race, as a personal challenge.

She has completed twenty to twenty-three hundred-mile races, including Leadville 100 ten times.

At 61, Junko continues to participate in ultrarunning, showing that age is not a barrier.

Junko's introverted personality and how she overcomes it through the supportive ultrarunning community.

The sense of community and belonging Junko feels during races, regardless of age or background.

The importance of finding a community and not feeling alone in one's pursuits.

Junko's message to take action and not wait when you have a goal in mind.

The idea that life is short and one should seize opportunities to achieve their dreams.

Encouragement to find support and meet like-minded people to achieve goals together.

Junko's vision for a peaceful world, united by running and community spirit.

Transcripts

So going through this

cancer and running, ultrarunning

and 100 miles, everything hurts.

Chemotherapy is hard.

Mastectomy is hard.

You have all those tubes hanging and you lose your hair.

This probably was the biggest challenge in my life.

But I started thinking, okay, I need to just sort of

have a strong, like, why I'm doing this.

Well some people have a really outgoing

personality, but something like me and I'm getting older too,

it's so hard to meet some people and become really good friends.

My name is Junko Kazukawa

and I am from Japan originally, but I live here for a long time

and I am an ultrarunner and, running coach

and I'm a two time cancer survivor.

So when I

first came here, my English was so-so.

But I really,

you know, didn't have a friend or, like,

during conversation with a lot of people

basically, I'm try to understand. That's all I can do.

So I'm like, I can’t really, you know, like, go into the conversation.

So I'm basically looking right and left, looking like a tennis match.

And then before I say something, conversation's over.

So I had a little lonely mind when you come here and I think that’s,

you know, same as a lot of foreigners.

I made a goal

to save the money all by myself.

Not depending on anybody.

Then decide what you going to go,

where I'm going to go.

And without anybody's help then.

So that was my biggest challenge.

First step.

So that was, I accomplished that.

Since I'm here now.

I'm a two time

cancer survivor but the first diagnosis was breast cancer.

It was early stage I found in myself.

So I got a lumpectomy and radiation.

So that was the first treatment and cancer episode.

About four years.

down the road, I feel like I have

another lump.

At this point, second cancer.

They recommended me to do a mastectomy and then, and chemotherapy.

All of those.

I was a little shocked.

why I’m getting this? And kind of sad and discouraged with the whole thing, like what?

You know what have I done wrong?

But at the same time, I learned

people run 100 miles in this Leadville.

And how crazy of a thing, you know?

But I feel like a good challenge. I want to do that.

And, you know, you feel like you are really healthy.

You have a long life, but get this cancer thing.

I never expected it. I mean,

you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, right?

So if I want to do it, I’ve got to do it now.

So I decided, okay, let's sign up.

Leadville 100, run!

I started running, trail running,

and I started doing ultrarunning since I had a cancer.

I have done, I think it's twenty, twenty-three

hundred mile races so far.

Leadville 100 this year is my 10th time.

I'm getting nervous.

No matter how many times you do, you get nervous.

He's my buddy.

Yes, good!

Go get a thousand!

I just turned 61 this year, and,

pretty old woman.

My personality is really

shy, introverted, a little bit.

So it's really hard going into a lot of people that,

I don't know, just go there, and I just can't, you know,

make a lot of friends because I'm just a little bit shy.

But when you come to the community, especially for this Leadville thing,

when you run your trail, it's like you meet people like, hey, I know you.

Hi Junko!, Hey! You know, all those, like, every time when I run get stopped

and, you know, new friend, old friend and Instagram follower,

or like, you know, Leadville camp, you know, participant.

It's all kind of friend.

So it feels like a really big community and I'm a really part of it.

So feel like I'm included.

We all

going towards the same goal and help each other.

And it doesn't really matter your age or

where you're from

or ethnic background and or experience.

So everybody is the same, you know, we run, we running and share the trail,

say hi, hi, you know, and high five and share the stories.

That's just so much fun.

You know, I like to keep running.

I don't know, I'm 61, but 70, 80

who knows.

As long as I live.

Good Junko Go! Good Job!

If you think something in your mind

and, don’t wait, just do it.

Okay?

See you at Mayqueen.

Life is short.

You don't know what's going to happen in your life.

So when you think about it, just do it.

I mean, just try to initiate.

Throw up. Go.

That's my usual routine.

You know, there’s people that can help you.

Find a community who will help you and meet some people.

You're not alone.

There’s a lot of people like you, you know, like me.

See you at the finish.

I think that the world, you know, just needs to be at peace

with all this running, you know, and community stuff.

So that's my message.

Just do it!