When Anna Meinerding crossed the finish line at a 5K on June 6, 2024, she wondered if it might be the last race she would ever run.

Having had a mammogram appointment earlier that day, Anna and her husband, Mitch, had a worrying discussion with her radiologist just a half hour before the race began.

“She was 99% sure it was cancer,” Anna said.

Despite the panic, Anna and her husband decided to follow their passion and take part in the race.

“We were kind of freaking out,” she said. “We stayed there as late as we could and just didn’t want to go home and face reality.”

Anna’s running journey

Despite her love of the sport, running was not always Anna’s passion. After meeting at work nearly a decade ago, her husband introduced her to running and encouraged her to participate in a 5K. This was shortly followed by a 10K, a half marathon, and eventually a full marathon in 2019.

By 2024, Anna had become an experienced runner, having completed multiple marathons and countless half marathons. Aside from some recurring strep throat infections, she felt healthy. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until she noticed a small change in her breast.

“It was not even a lump,” Anna said. “It just looked different.”

Being 33 years old and active, and with no family history, cancer was not on her radar. But after an appointment with her primary care physician, she was recommended for further testing.

A life-changing conversation

After a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy, Anna officially received her diagnosis of Stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer, an aggressive form of the disease. This news came as a complete shock.

“I want younger people to know that cancer can happen to anyone, no matter how young or healthy you are,” Anna said. “My advice is simple: If you feel like something is off, don’t ignore it. I almost skipped my mammogram because I worried I was making a bigger deal out of it than I needed to. But by the grace of God, I did the test. It could 

save your life.”

Like many, Anna entered treatment with assumptions about what her journey ahead would look like.

“I thought I would just crash on the couch for six months,” she said. “I thought I was going to be really sick and not be able to do anything.”

In a conversation with her surgical oncologist, Dr. Roxane Weighall, Anna learned of a cancer patient who did CrossFit while going through chemotherapy. This news completely transformed Anna’s perspective.

“As soon as she said that, my life changed,” Anna said. “Something clicked in my brain. I knew I wanted to someday be that source of hope for someone else.”

A new perspective

In July 2024, Anna began chemotherapy, with her care team encouraging her to stay active throughout the process. Her medical oncologist, Dr. Alejandro Calvo, played a major role in her journey, motivating her to keep moving.

“The doctors told me the more active you stay, that’s good,” Anna said.

Though there were days when Anna felt weak and exhausted, the days she felt strong enough to run served as reminders for her to keep going.

“It was a confidence boost to get out there and go for a run and be like, ‘I’m still able to do the things that I used to do, and I’m not being held back by this,’” she said.

That mental perseverance extended far beyond the pavement. At each treatment appointment, her husband took a photo of her smiling with a thumbs-up.

“I had bad days, but every treatment I went to, I kept smiling,” Anna said. “I was just so grateful to be there and to know the nurses were healing me. People saw the pain and the struggle, but they also saw my resilience. I never stopped smiling, and I never gave up.”

About 10 weeks into her chemotherapy treatments, Anna completed a 15-kilometer run.

“I remember being so excited to tell Dr. Calvo that I was still running,” she said. “He was always so excited for me to still be exercising. It was a good reminder that I am strong and resilient and I’m still here.”

By September, Anna had already surpassed her goal of running 100 miles during treatment. By October, she had reached 150 miles, shifting her goal to 200 miles before finishing chemotherapy. And she didn’t stop there, setting another massive target to reach 500 total miles before her final reconstructive surgery, a milestone she proudly conquered. 

Each mile she ran served as a reminder not to let cancer define her.

A familiar partnership

Following her diagnosis, Anna’s care team referred her to Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, a nonprofit she was familiar with. She had encountered the organization through her work with Reynolds and Reynolds Associate Foundation, which awards grants to community nonprofits. Though she admired the organization’s mission of staying active during cancer treatment, she never imagined she would one day benefit from it herself.

“It was perfect,” Anna said. “I was a runner, and I wanted to continue my running through treatment.”

Along with support from her care team, family, and friends, the program helped Anna continue her running journey, providing training and classes.

Beyond exercise training, Anna benefited from other community resources at the Kettering Health Cancer Center, including their Chemo Class, Navigating the Breast Cancer Journey, and Courageous Beauty programs.

“We have become close friends with so many of the staff through my appointments, and having that community means the world,” she said.

Becoming an inspiration

Anna hopes that her experience can encourage others going through similar situations.

“I want some good to come out of this,” she said. “I don’t want to just exist and get through it. I want to give back and help other people.”

Having experienced the fear that comes with a cancer diagnosis, Anna hopes to inspire others.

“When I first heard, I thought I was going to be too weak to run or even walk,” she said.

But supported by her deep faith and her husband, Anna found that movement would become one of her greatest sources of strength. She logged 200 miles during chemo and another 300 miles after, despite how challenging it was. It reminded her that the battle isn’t over when treatments wrap up. But still, she runs.

Anna hopes that her story shows others how a cancer diagnosis does not automatically mean putting your life on hold, even as the physical toll drags on after treatment.

“It’s not a guarantee that your life is over, or you’re not going to be able to do the things that you want to do,” she said. “Not every day is going to be going out and running a marathon, but just do what you can and try to incorporate that movement.”

Anna’s resilient mindset has carried her through the challenges of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and recovery. For others facing similar circumstances, her journey serves as a reminder to take things one mile—or even one step—at a time.