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Roy Bacot | Captain Roy Runs

@captainroyruns

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Captain Roy | Delta pilot (11y)✈️ + USAF (21y)
Lung cancer survivor (lobectomy '21 • ~45% right 🫁)
5-min walks to 6 ⭐️ Grateful to breathe & run 🏃‍♂️

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

My great return to my 5th Chicago Marathon Expo! 🔥 SO amazing to run into friends from home to all over the country to all over the world.

Let’s GOOOOOOO @chimarathon!!!!!

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“Don’t base your future on the worst day of your life”. Just absolutely love that.

Roy had lots of wisdom to share from his journey with lung cancer. First that you don’t need to be a smoker to get lung cancer. That news in the medical world doesn’t get better with age, so don’t ignore symptoms. And if you’ve served, definitely put your name on the burn pit registry.

Shoutout to the @lungevity community for their inspiring work.

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🇩🇪Thank you, Berlin!🇩🇪

For a third year, 12 athletes represented Team LUNGevity in Berlin and have raised nearly $40,000! The team included two lung cancer survivors, and seven team members were repeat participants! The team enjoyed lunch and a sightseeing boat tour on Saturday and a post-race happy hour on Sunday. It was a memorable weekend spent connecting over a shared passion for running, raising funds, and spreading lung cancer awareness.

Registration for the 2027 @berlinmarathon is now open, apply here by November 8! lungevity.tfaforms.net/222

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You’ve got an amazing story @captainroyruns ! Thank you for joining us for the 2026 Relay For America!

🇺🇸 @relayforamerica 🇺🇸

#relayforamerica

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The Flag Never Stops!

#relayforamerica

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@captainroyruns From a lung cancer diagnosis to running marathons, Roy's journey is a powerful reminder of what determination, hope, and resilience can achieve.

Thank you, Roy, for inspiring so many by sharing your story.

👇 Watch more of Roy's journey on our YouTube channel.

#LungCancerAwareness #CancerSurvivor #MarathonRunner #Inspiration

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@captainroyruns From fear to a path of hope and gratitude.

Roy shares how education, support, and advances in medical treatment have transformed his outlook after a lung cancer diagnosis.

👇 Watch more of Roy’s inspiring story on our YouTube channel.

#LungCancerAwareness #LungCancerSurvivor #CancerJourney #HopeAfterCancer

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Roy’s (@captainroyruns) lung cancer diagnosis came out of left field.

He believes environmental exposures during military service played a role - and he wants other veterans to know about the burn pit registry.

Roy’s full story is on our YouTube channel. Link in bio.

@burnpits360_

#cancer #lungcancer #cancerawareness #veteran

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Unexpected Friends 👟

I was standing there, waiting for the bus to the starting line… just another runner in a sea of runners… when a guy walks up and says:

“Hey… I’ve seen your clips on Instagram.”

Wait—what?! 😄

That guy was @captainroyruns

We ended up riding the bus together, then spent two hours in Athletes Village swapping stories, nerves, and that quiet excitement that only marathon morning brings. By the time we headed to the corrals, I knew I hadn’t just met a follower… I’d made a friend.

And his story?

Absolutely incredible.

Five years removed from lung cancer surgery. Running marathons missing half a lung. On a mission to complete all six World Marathon Majors.

Oh—and just casually dropped a new PB at Boston. 💥

Perspective, grit, and heart… all in one human.

Keep going, Captain Roy. You’re inspiring more people than you know. 🙌

#BostonMarathon #RunningCommunity #MarathonStories #InspirationInMotion #keeprunning

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Swipe through for the legends I have been able to meet over the past big race weekends. 🏃‍♀️✨
Talk about non-stop motivation from these seriously inspiring runners and running community superstars!
High-fives, sweaty hugs, fast (for me) striders and the opportunity to share experiences just reinforces why I love running events.

But the last one was a little extra spicy. My husband just crushed Boston with a shiny new PR (so proud I could burst ❤️) and watching him PR at Boston was equal parts pure joy and “damn it, why isn’t that me yet?” 😂
I’m thrilled for him but I listened hard when Keira D’Amato said “Be patient”.

Because I will get there. 📍
Because I will qualify. 🏁
Because the beauty of the running community is the ability to share a common joy for others reaching their goals. 🫶🏻

#BostonOrBust #BQChasing #wmmajors

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What a journey 💛💙

This was without a doubt my toughest marathon prep and the hardest course I’ve ever taken on.

2 x codeine tablets later and to be honest… any other race I would have deferred. But not Boston. The holy grail for a reason.

The crowds were unreal. The most genuine support I’ve ever experienced, and I met some incredibly inspiring people along the way.

This marathon didn’t go to plan, and the goal had to shift. It became about finishing — and I’m so proud I found a way to get it done.

To everyone who supported me through donations, messages, and cheerleading…THANK YOU. Every bit carried me, and supported the important work @1wsfoundation do 💚.

To the @theinjuryclinic, @sleepycoop @bencalnin.coaching — I wouldn’t have made that start line without you.

And @thewrathofdaniel … seeing you at mile 17 meant everything. You have been my rock throughout the entire journey 🫶 ILD.

Congratulations to all the runners! What an accomplishment!

Boston, I will never forget!

#bostonmarathon #grateful #resilience #quadsonfire

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