Breast cancer survivor and ultrarunner Junko Kazukawa shares her journey through 100s, 200s, and running with joy into her 60s.
When people talk about ultrarunning legends, race names like Leadville or Hardrock often come up. But the real heart of the sport is in the people who show up year after year, chasing hard goals and bringing energy to the community. One of those people is Junko Kazukawa.
Junko has a story that stretches far beyond finish lines. She’s a two-time Leadwoman, one of the few people to complete both the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning and the Leadwoman series in a single year, and a breast cancer survivor—twice.
On this week’s episode of The Trailhead Podcast, Brendan Leonard and I sat down with Junko to talk about how she started running after moving from Japan to the U.S., how she kept running through chemotherapy, and what it means to keep racing 100s and even 200s into her 60s.
Junko began running short distances for fitness, but after cancer treatments, she set her sights on longer goals. Just a month after finishing chemotherapy, she lined up for the New York City Marathon. That race became a marker for her, proof she could move forward. Since then, she’s finished more than 26 one-hundred-mile races, plus multiple 200-milers around the world.
At 62, Junko is honest about what’s changed. Recovery takes longer. Training has to be smarter. And strength work has become a non-negotiable. As she puts it, “glutes are everything.” Still, she says she felt the fittest she’s ever been at age 61, and she’s not done yet.
For Junko, running is about more than results. It’s about keeping life interesting, staying connected to the trail community, and showing that women in their 60s can still be strong, competitive, and joyful.
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