This is part 2 of a multipart blog series about one Team Runner’s, Vincent Rossi, cancer-filled ultramarathon. Catch up on part 1 here.
An Unexpected Turn
Only two weeks after my Philadelphia Marathon finish, and already planning to run 50 miles, I received unexpected news from a medical test. The result read: “Suspicious for high-grade urothelial carcinoma.” Despite being used to cancer stress by now, I felt awful. Surgery to check my kidneys for cancer was quickly scheduled.
This was a major setback, but after several dark days, I decided to rally. I texted my TRR Coach, Brant Stachel, to explain the situation, but mostly to ask how soon I could realistically attempt to finish an ultramarathon. He said I needed at least 12 weeks of specific, more intense training, the high [injury] risk, high reward type. I started training right away.
My original goal had been to complete the Crested Butte Ultra 50 mile in Colorado; a race taking place in September of 2025. However, with surgery on the horizon, I needed a race sooner, much sooner.
From Reddit to Rocky 50
Waiting until after the kidney surgery, or ureteroscopy, was not an option because I knew how fast things could get worse depending on the results. At that time, I had a false diagnosis of Stage 4 colorectal cancer, later found to be a return of my bladder cancer in the kidneys.
So, on impulse, I posted on the r/ultramarathon subreddit for help finding a suitable race. I wrote about my cancer’s return and my ultramarathon goal. As a first time poster, albeit a long-time consumer, I was surprised my Reddit post received the attention it did. Soon, I had over 100 responses from Redditors suggesting races across the U.S. and worldwide. I was amazed by the supportive messages, including several Redditors offering to race or pace with me. After reading many ultra stories, I thought, “This community is amazing.” A Redditor in San Antonio, Texas, recommended the Rocky 50-mile race taking place in Texas in February, 2025.
Rocky 50: The Build-Up
My new Redditor friend, Chris from San Antonio, offered to do the race with me. “LFG go!” I replied on the r/ultramarathon thread. The plan was set for my cancer-filled ultramarathon: I would race the Rocky 50.
Rocky 50 was a course good for beginners: non-technical and, by trail running standards, pretty flat with only ~2,700 feet of elevation gain and equal loss. The course consisted of three identical 16.7-mile loops around a large lake in Huntsville, Texas, with a time cutoff of 14 hours and 30 minutes. My wife would crew me on every loop. I had no prior trail running, or trail aid station, experience, so frequent access to her crew station would be very helpful.
Past weather data for February in Huntsville predicted temperatures between 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit: perfect, I thought. My cancer treatments have made me very sensitive to heat, thus the cooler weather was a big reason I chose this event. Unfortunately, as the race date got closer, bad news came; weather reports predicted 83 degrees! I remembered running the Georgetown Half Marathon in 75-degree weather a few months before and almost passing out at the finish. “How can I run in 83-degree weather?” I thought. “And run 50 miles?!” All I could do was hope and pray that the weather would change at the last minute, but, alas, the forecasts held.
Chris texted that with this unusual heat, I might want to find another race. But my plane tickets were bought, hotel rooms booked, and the course researched. For me, this race was happening. With my surgery date scheduled, there was no Plan B. 83-degree temperatures or not, Rocky 50 was my race.
Rocky 50: Race Day!
Fast forward to February 8th and race day was here! Having flown into San Antonio the day before, my wife and I prepared as well as we could within the confines of our hotel room. We carefully packed drop bags with gels, salt tablets, ice packs, ginger chews for nausea, and body lube. Early on race morning, we dropped these bags at the three aid stations and headed to the start.
It was 6:30 am and the temperature was already 73 degrees! My brow was sweating simply standing around, well before the race began. As we set up a small beach blanket, a cooler with ice, and a folding chair for my wife, I met Chris for the first time. We shook hands and introduced ourselves face-to-face. It was good to meet him. He was friendly and had gone to the effort of driving four hours from his home to the race venue. Through calls and texts, I knew Chris had been preparing. Now, in person, he gave me some last minute advice. “You ran a 4:18 marathon. You can finish this race,” Chris said. I was not so sure. The heat was already affecting me, and, as a result, I was very nervous.
About Vincent
Vincent Rossi is a father, husband, cancer survivor, and newly minted ultramarathoner! Check out Vincent’s website and Instagram @gnocchi_dinner. He continues to fundraise for the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN). Take a look at Vincent’s BCAN fundraising page here.
Part 3 of My Cancer-Filled Ultramarathon will be released soon.