Dan and Jill Johnson with daughter Hosanna and son Pearce
Dan Johnson never imagined himself running a marathon, let alone the prestigious Boston Marathon. But on April 21st, he will cross the starting line in honour of his late son, Luke-on what would have been Luke’s ninth birthday.
Dan, an endurance athlete from Port Dover, always enjoyed competition but never saw himself as a marathoner. He ran cross-country in university, competed in triathlons, and even completed an Ironman.
Dan added it eventually became something he felt the desire to do. With encouragement from friends and family he accepted the challenge, beginning serious training in 2022. Then life took a heartbreaking turn.
Luke was an active, determined child who loved hockey, baseball, and running. Even during his treatments, he participated in races, once completing 18 laps at his school’s Terry Fox Run despite being sick. Inspired by his son’s strength, Dan continued training, encouraged by Luke’s words.
He qualified for Boston at the Hamilton Road2Hope Marathon with a time of 3:08, meeting the official standard for his age group. But in September 2024, he learned that the qualifying time had been lowered to 3:03 due to high demand, leaving him without a spot. Just two months after losing Luke, the rejection felt like another crushing blow.
Dan shared his and Luke’s story with the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) and then waited to hear a decision. October and November passed with no word, and then Dan was asked to join a call in December with directors involved with the Bank of America -sponsors of the Boston Marathon.
The BAA, moved by Luke’s legacy and Dan’s perseverance, extended him a special invitation, covering his registration costs. Then came another sign it was meant to be. Dan realized that the 2025 Boston Marathon would take place on April 21-Luke’s birthday. “It felt like a message from Luke,” he said.
Now, as race day approaches, Dan is in the final weeks of training. He will also be a guest speaker at the Boston Marathon expo, sharing his journey on a panel about overcoming adversity.
On April 21st, Dan will not just be running 42.2 kilometres. He will be running with his son in his heart, carrying forward Luke’s strength, determination, and love for running.
Luke’s legacy lives on-one step at a time.
(Written by: Jeremy Hall)
