400-meter man Ben James proves tougher than cancer
Anyone who’s ever seen Ben James run the quarter knows he’s tough. We didn’t know the half of it. While others were sweltering in Charlotte last August, he was sweating his own mortality — having just learned he had non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of cancer. Columnist Peter Glavin of the Messenger Post newspaper wrote a revealing piece. In it, Ben says: “I have a new respect for cancer patients. The body changes were brutal. The 14-pound weight loss, the hair loss, the nose bleeds and the nausea made for a long winter.” Then came Boston. Now 50, Ben did the incredible.
Here’s the story — thanks to a heads up from M55 hurdler
Bill Pontius:
By PETER GLAVIN
Messenger Post Columnist
Posted: Apr 4, 01:00 PM EDT
Ben James confronts his biggest challenge — and wins
For over a quarter of a century, Bennie James, 50, has been the predominant sprinter in the Rochester area.
He has been a dominant force nationally and internationally, as well, at the Master’s level, always in medal contention and most of the time winning. He has competed in every corner of North America, from Boise to Boston and from Orono to Honolulu, consistently running at a level that very few athletes achieve.
World Championships have taken him to Europe, Canada and the Caribbean. Just last year, he won the 400- and 200-meter dashes at the USATF National Master’s Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston.
Recently, his biggest triumph came off the track, however, as he overcame a health scare that could have made all those experiences distant memories. Instead, it became another victory for the dedicated and faithful James.
In August, James went to the doctor to have a lump on his neck checked. A biopsy revealed that he had non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune system.
In the lymphatic system, a network of lymph vessels carries clear fluid called lymph. Lymph vessels lead to small, round organs called lymph nodes, which are filled with lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. The lymph nodes trap and remove bacteria or other harmful substances that may be in the lymph. Groups of lymph nodes are found in the neck, underarms, chest, abdomen, and groin.
Each year, about 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
James was shaken by the news, despite assurances from his doctor that it was treatable.
“It was the lowest part of my life,” he said. “Very scary.”
He began chemotherapy, undergoing one treatment every three weeks for five months.
“I have a new respect for cancer patients,” James said. “The body changes were brutal. The 14-pound weight loss, the hair loss, the nose bleeds and the nausea made for a long winter.”
His doctor suggested two more chemo treatments, but James decided eight were enough. That was two months ago. He had a CAT scan, which to his relief, showed him finally cancer-free.
James, a resident of Honeoye Falls and a 27-year employee of Kodak as a chemist, is deeply religious. He was taught to put his faith and trust in God, and he relied on that faith, his family and “a lot of reading the bible” to get though the ordeal.
After not running for over six months, James resumed training in January. “When he appeared for his first workout at RIT in January, I didn’t recognize him,” said Genesee Valley Harrier’s Running Club coach Mike Reif. “He had no hair. He was gaunt, and he could hardly make it around the track. Although his body wasn’t quite ready, his spirit was, and I knew it would be just a matter of time before the ‘old Bennie’ would appear.
“Ben has an incredible work ethic, and I knew he was determined to return to achieve the highest level in his sport. I never doubted that he could do it, despite his total lack of fitness.”
James said that about the third week of training, he started to feel himself again. With the 2007 USATF Masters Indoor Nationals in Boston as his goal, his training and fitness improved gradually to the point that winning gold in the 400 in his first race as a 50-year old seemed realistic.
The twice-weekly training sessions were exhausting and challenging. Occasionally James would run his intervals with GVH Open elite athletes half his age in order to pull him along and reach his targeted training times. The young athletes had great respect for Ben’s ability to run with them, yet they had no idea of the ordeal he had been through because he had kept that private between him and his coach.
Once in Boston two weekends ago, James’ strategy in the 400 was to get to the 200. “However, Tom Smith from Ft. Wayne, Ind., got there first,” said James. “He slowed down at the 250-meter mark and I almost ran into him and came to a complete stop. I wasn’t sharp mentally due to the fact it had been so long since I raced. Normally, I would have just gone around him. At the 300-meter mark, James Morton of Springfield, Mass., came up from behind me and kept hitting me in the back. At 350, I just turned it on and got even with Smith. With five meters to go, Morton tried to run right between the two of us — there wasn’t enough room and he ended up pushing me across the finish line.”
The push gave James (:54.46) the one-hundredth of a second victory over Smith (:54.47). Morton was third in 54.92. The victory was indeed sweet, but only Ben James knew how far he had come and how very sweet it really was.
“For being his first race since Indoor Nationals last year, I think it’s amazing he did as well as he did,” said Reif. “He worked hard with an aggressive training program and it paid off. It’s really unbelievable what he did. Overall he was very pleased and grateful for the support he had.”
When the GVH Open Elite runners learned after Ben’s victory and that he had overcome cancer they were awe struck and in near disbelief.
“I believe Ben’s story was inspirational to these young athletes and will be inspirational to several other millions of people who suffer from cancer. It is a story of what hope, faith, hard work, and the human spirit can overcome and achieve.”
“On the Run” appears weekly in Messenger Post Newspapers.
Peter Glavin can be reached at pglavin@rochester.rr.com.
15 Responses
Ben James is an inspiration to all of us who run masters track. He was an inspiration prior to learning of his battle with cancer, but we now know there is even more reason to have respect him for.
As for the race, I am pleased that he won. He deserved it, especially considering the road he traveled to get there. I am certain that we all look forward to running with him for many years to come.
Masters track and the folks who compete in it are truly incredible. Ben, thanks for allowing your story to be told. I am certain that the “telling” will help someone else to overcome a challenge he or she might be facing.
There is an excellent video of Ben’s race on the Mass Velocity Track Club website, in the April Newsletter.
http://www.massvelocity.org/Newsletter/news4-07.htm
Ben
You are a True Hero to all.
Ben,
You are truly an inspiration and it is obvious that believing in your faith has carried you through this devastating condition!
You are a winner in the battle against the odds of beating the non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. As in the past you have been a Champion on the track. And we your peers have nothing but admiration and respect for your great talent, your heart, and your friendship !
As over one year survivor of melanoma I appreciate Ben’s ordeal and send him my best wishes and encouragement as well as my admiration for his fighting spirit.
Ben,
Although we have never met, I have seen you compete before and have great respect for you. You are truly a warrior & an inspiration! I wish you the best.
You are a man of great courage and the result of a tremendous work ethic. Yes,you are an inspiration to us all. We will be praying for you!
Ben… what a privalege to have known and raced with you in the “old days”… to enjoying your company before the events this year in Boston…you inspire me…the Lord has truly blessed your efforts!
Ben,
I know it’s been a few years since we have spoken but I want you to know that I am praising God with you! What a victory – and only God could accomplish it.
Ben,
I can’t express in words how I feel about what you went through…I think you know, considering I’ve lived it through my late wife.
YOU ARE INDEED A CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS. Your desire to be on the track cannot be measured. It has inspired me so. I’m so happy you have the courage to progress forward.
I so look forward to seeing you again, champion.
Very inspiring, moving story of Ben James. Just running at age 50 like Ben James does is inspiring in itself. Speaking of inspirational, check out the video of Ben James, Tom Smith and James Morton’s race on the Mass velocity website. What a race! A truly gutsy race by all three men.
Ben,
I’ve seen you run dozens of times over the past twenty or so years and have always enjoyed watching you run. When put in to perspective however, this was your greatest. Your story is amazing and I am sure it will prove to be an inspiration to all. Keep up the good work Champ.
Ben:I want to tell everyone just great of a hero you really are. I am so proud of you. You made it over this hurdle as I knew you would. God was truly on your side and your faith in God and his healing power has brought you this far. You are a champion of champions and I am glad that you allowed your story to be told of how your God can heal.
Thank God that he sent you to Dr. Smith who as we found out was a Christian doctor himself and told you from the beginning that God was going to help him help you and he did just that. Thank you to Dr. Smith who spoke words of encouragement to us all in the name of the Lord.
The running world need to know that Ben James is a man of God who leans and depends on God for his life health and strength. I am so proud of you Ben and I am thankful for all the support you received from your friends in the running arena. Thank you to all who called and gave great words of encourament to my husband in his time of need. Your kindess will never be forgotten.
Thank you to his coach and to his team mates and those he travel with who stuck by him during this illness. It was rough and it was hard, and there were days he could barley stand up but he has such a determination to succeed that it drove him to push thru the pain and push thru the suffering and thank God he did.
Thank you to my Pastor and first lady Bishop Jerry McCullough and Maggie McCullough for constant prayer and vigilence. Thank you to the most wonderful family in the world, my mother in law and father in law Benjamin James and Lerline James and to my sisters and brothers in law especially Brinda, I thank God for you all.
And to my awesome family, A family of preachers and faith teachers, my Mom, Wilma Fulton, my sisters Rose & Wilma & Willa, to my brothers Melvin, Eugene and John. These people never once gave up, they constantly called and checked on him and constantly spoke words of encouragement.
To all the people who prayed for him at my chuch Faith Temple Apostolic Church and to the Bible Way Healing Assembly Pastor Eulah and Eld. Nelson who prayer for him. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. My husband is here today with us because of your prayers and the healing power of God.
Thank you a thousand times. God bless you all.
Ben, I am so lucky! Why? Because you are in my life. You are the bestest brother in the whole wide world. You are truly blessed. Great family,Great friends, Great sister like me and you are truly an amazing athlete. Keep up the good work, everyone is so proud of you. Now that you have won the battle, continue to win the race. Love You,
* wow I’m truly honored for all the kind words you all have said to my father Ben James… Yes I’m just now reading this for the first time… My heart is full of joy… My dad really doesn’t know how much he means to you all… He does not get on the internet at all… My father is my super hero… Im so thankful that God brought him through… I took it really hard when I first found out that he had cancer years ago… I look up to him… He is a great athlete as well as a great father…. I tried to follow in his foot steps in high school running track but I was not that good… I wanted to be just like him on the track… I find myself talking about his career as a national master runner all these years… I feel very special having him as my father… Some times I wish I could get on the track and run with him… And win all kinds of gold medals… I just want to personally thank you all for what you guys do for my father Ben James… God bless you all… Fill free to write me at sashaylenzphotography@mail.com…*
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