Jason Stine didn't come to the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race chasing a personal record.
Instead, the longtime runner, Ironman triathlete and race director had a different goal: simply show up.
A year earlier, Jason, 52, crossed the race's finish line without knowing he had Stage 3 colon cancer. He was diagnosed three days later after a routine colonoscopy.
This year, he returned to the same starting line — as he has for 23 years — but with a new perspective.
"I just kind of went out there with the attitude of, 'Hey, I'm not going to run fast.' ... I'm going to put one foot in front of the other and just keep going," he said.
Jason finished the 10K in 58 minutes, slower than he’s used to but faster than he expected after months away from training during cancer treatment.
But this year's race wasn't about the clock.
"I was just kind of in a surreal moment in my head, just grateful," he said. "That's the only thing I could really think of was, like, how grateful I was to just start that race, let alone finish it."
A birthday reminder that changed everything
Running has long been part of Jason's identity. It's a lifestyle that permeates every aspect of his character — an endurance athlete's mindset that helped him through the physically grueling aspects of cancer treatment.
His first Peachtree Road Race was in 1986, and he has participated every year since 2003. He has completed multiple Ironman triathlons, directs many races and leads a local running club twice a week.
"I love seeing people cross the finish line," he said.
Leading such an active lifestyle, cancer was never something Jason expected to face himself. He had no symptoms, and the only reason he remembered to schedule a colonoscopy was because of a birthday reminder he received from Northside Hospital encouraging him to get screened.
"I scheduled it just to check a box," he said. "I'm super healthy. I run."
He was shocked when he heard his diagnosis. He felt lost and confused, wondering why this was happening to him.
"No, I don't have cancer," he recalled thinking. "Not me ... No way. My world was flipped upside down in a day."
Focusing on showing up
Jason began treatment in August 2025, undergoing several weeks of radiation followed by chemotherapy under the guidance of doctors Abhinav Reddy, radiation oncologist; Yi Dong, medical oncologist; and Mohammed Jaafar Atta Al Fayyadh, colorectal surgeon.
The rhythm of treatment became physically and emotionally exhausting. Some days Jason felt better. Other days, he knew another round of treatment was waiting and would find himself tearfully resisting the walk into the Georgia Cancer Specialists Canton clinic.
"There were some days I wanted to wither away," he said. "But I'd say, 'No. Get up.'"
He started walking a mile before radiation treatments, which calmed his mind and gave him something to look forward to before each appointment. But he credits the physicians, nurses and staff with helping him navigate one of the most difficult chapters of his life.
"Northside staff comforted me and walked me through such an uncharted chapter of my life," Jason said. "And I'm not done. It's just a different chapter, but they're literally right by my side as a person and not just as another chart that they're pulling up."
And while treatment forced him to step back from many of his race director responsibilities, he refused to disconnect completely from the running community.
When he could no longer run, he still showed up to his running club meets, only walking instead of running.
"Just being around people made a huge difference," he said.
Learning to appreciate the journey
Before cancer, 10-mile runs were routine for Jason. When he started running again in late May, he only made it one mile.
"It was a demoralizing reality check," he said.
But years of endurance training taught him that "there is a point that it gets better. Just keep showing up," he said.
Sure enough, by late June, he was able to run four miles without stopping. At this year's Peachtree, he averaged a nine-minute mile. That's slower than his typical 45-minute finish time, but not focusing on his pace allowed him to immerse himself in the Fourth of July celebratory experience.
"It was a completely different experience, and it was amazing," he said. "I've had my day in the sun for personal bests."
A different kind of finish line
As Jason entered the final mile, he reflected on how much had changed in one year.
"When I was first diagnosed, I thought this was my life forever," he said. "I was questioning if I was going to die. It's unbelievable that in one year, I was back there doing the exact same thing I did one year ago."
This year, he crossed the finish line knowing he beat cancer.
"The Peachtree Road Race is full circle for me," he said. I've crossed a lot of big finish lines … This was different because it was a chapter opener versus a closure, and this was the first page."
A follow-up colonoscopy on July 9 confirmed the good news, and he hopes others follow his lead and get screened, too.
"Get a colonoscopy," he said. "There is no downside to it."
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER CARE AT NORTHSIDE.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
