Like many seasoned athletes, the last thing on Keith Perry’s radar was developing lung cancer. But less than two years ago, he received that diagnosis and believed his racing days were over. But despite a stage 2 diagnosis and a full left pneumonectomy, followed by chemotherapy and a year on an immunotherapy clinical trial, Keith is training for a half Ironman next month!

He shares more about his decision to combine his athletic endeavor with fundraising for GO2 for Lung Cancer through our My Perfect Marathon program:

Q: Why are you participating in the My Perfect Marathon program?

A: In my case, it’s not a marathon, but a half Ironman. I’ve always wanted to do an Ironman Triathlon. I remember lying in bed recovering from surgery watching a video of the 2018 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii with tears streaming down my face because I figured that was one dream that had just died. There was no way that was ever going to happen after what I had just been through. I was probably also feeling a little sorry for myself at the time.

My Half Ironman triathlon consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 55 mile bike ride followed by a half marathon (13.1 mile run) for a total of 70.3 miles. I had signed up to race in the Santa Cruz 70.3 Ironman on Sept 13th. I’ve been training for nearly a year now. Unfortunately, earlier this summer they cancelled the event due to COVID-19. I didn’t train this hard through a pandemic not to do something, so me, my family, and my friends decided to turn it into a self-supported version of the race. It was a perfect fit for the My Perfect Marathon program, because I can create my own course, while receiving support and resources from GO2 for Lung Cancer and other athletes.

Q: Why is raising awareness and funding important to you?

A: First, I wanted to prove that lung cancer wasn’t the end of an active life for people like me. I wanted to show myself and other lung cancer patients that the dream of doing amazing things is still out there if you are willing and able to put in the work. A lung cancer diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end. Things may be different but life can still be full, rewarding, and challenging in its own new and unique way. In fact, you may be able to do things that others might consider impossible. Of course, I can’t imagine a better organization to support than the GO2 for Lung Cancer, which provides so much support for the lung cancer community, promoting lung cancer research and providing support to patients just like me.

Q: What is your idea of a perfect race?

KP: There was a time I would have answered this question very differently than I am about to. It would have included things like time goals and all sorts of things like that. At this point, just the fact that I can get to the starting line is amazing. Just putting in the training has made me a better person for the experience. It hasn’t been easy and I haven’t necessarily enjoyed all of it, but I’ll remember every bit of the journey. Anything that happens the day of the event, good, bad or otherwise is just another memory to cherish. Any race is a perfect race!

You can join Keith by challenging yourself, be it walking a 10K or half marathon, running a full or half marathon. You choose the day; you create your course and get moving. Don’t waste your breath this fall. Make your miles count! 

Visit MyPerfectMarathon.com or email Susan Smedley at ssmedley@go2.org to learn more and register.