Fan Feature: Johanna Olson
OLSON’S TIMELINE TO THE TWIN CITIES MARATHON Fall 2003
Spring 1997
Finishes her career at Wadena-Deer Creek (Minn.) where she qualifies for the state cross country meet six times and picks up three runner-up finishes. She helps her team to a state title her senior year. She makes plans to attend Luther College.
Fall 1997
One week after finishing runner-up at the conference cross country meet for Luther College, Olson begins seeing spots and develops painful migraines. One week later undergoes treatment and surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for a grade II glioma. She was given the information it was a slow- growing brain tumor and that it would almost certainly return.
December 1997
Olson returns to Luther to finish her first semester and begins preparation for the spring track season. Fall 1998
Olson takes a medical hardship from running as her tumor resurfaces and she begins radiation treatment, which includes five sessions a week for six weeks.
Fall 2000
On the third anniversary of her brain surgery, Olson wins the 2000 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. Over her collegiate career, she won six conference championships and earned seven All-America honors.
Spring 2001
Olson graduates from Luther College with a degree in health education and minors in physical education and biology.
In her first race at the distance, Olson runs her personal best at the Twin Cities Marathon in 2:43:27
Winter 2004
Places 45th at the Olympic Trials Marathon Winter 2008
Finishes 46th at the Olympic Trials Marathon
Summer 2009 Olson is forced to have surgery once again as the brain tumor comes back and moves back to Minnesota. Undergoing chemotherapy, she works full-time at Starbucks and is a volunteer track coach at Hamline University.
Fall 2011
Olson’s tumor returns for a third time and has to undergo surgery. She is met with visual impairment and daily rounds of chemotherapy. She was also inducted into the Luther College Hall of Fame
Spring 2012
Discontinues chemotherapy treatment and becomes so weak that running two miles is a struggle.
Summer 2012
The tumor resurfaces once again, causing symptoms that force her to quit working.
October 7, 2012 Surrounded by more than a dozen family and friends, Olson approaches the Twin Cities Marathon among 12,000 runners less than 13 months following her third surgery.
“Running is my center,” Olson said. “If I can run, then I always know things are going to be okay. Through all the hardships that I have had running is that one thing that has kept me going.”
This is even though her approach has certainly changed.
Olson was a standout beginning in high school competing for Wadena-Deer Creek (Minn.). She was a six-time state qualifier and three times finished runner-up at the state high school cross country meet. At Luther College she showed true perseverance winning six conference titles and grabbing seven All-American honors while battling with her disease. She won the 2000 NCAA Division III Cross Country championship on the three-year anniversary of her first brain surgery.
She qualified for the Olympic Trials Marathon in both 2004 and 2008. Due to her talent and success, Olson received much attention. The same holds true today, but the focus has shifted.
23 “It’s so weird where life takes you,” Olson said.
Competing toward the back on the pack made no difference for her while she was running alongside people who are there for an entirely different reason.
However, the expectation of her was the same as it has always been for Olson.
“It’s about my parents and how they raised us,” she said. “You do your best and whatever that is it doesn’t matter how you finish.”
Fans can read more about Olson’s journey on her website at
WWW.SAVEJOHANNASBRAIN.COM.
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