Boston Marathon
Zara Harding has run more than a dozen marathons since her cancer diagnosis. After Boston, she only has 10 to go.
March 9, 2026 | 7:00 AM
1 minute to read
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.
Name: Zara Harding
Age: 46
From: Henderson, Nevada
In 2014, I was fed up with starting fitness programs only to quit. I heard about a club where members run a full marathon in all 50 U.S. states. I decided that this would be a long-term goal that would keep me motivated and engaged in the sport of running, while also allowing me to see more of our beautiful country. I started working on checking off the states and never looked back.
Some years I only ran one marathon; one year I finished eight. My races have taken me to places I never would have visited otherwise, and I have spent time with some amazing people.
In 2020, many races were canceled due to the pandemic, so I had to take a break. Then in early 2021, I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. I spent the next 16 months enduring rounds of chemo, radiation, and surgery that required a long and difficult recovery.
I didn’t know if I would ever be able to run another marathon, but I did. I’ve finished over a dozen since my surgery, including my personal best in 2023. After everything I went through, I am exceedingly grateful to still be able to run at all. Chasing my dream of finishing the states is a privilege I don’t take for granted. After Boston, I’ll have just 10 states to go!
I am honored to be running as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team. I’m raising $12,000 to benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research. My hope is that future generations won’t ever have to fear a diagnosis like the one I received 4 years ago. I was lucky, but so many who receive a diagnosis don’t have such positive outcomes.
Together we can defy cancer!
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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Kelly Chan
Kelly Chan is a content producer at Boston.com. She designs multimedia content on-site and across social media platforms, and experiments with new ways to engage readers.
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