Woman Vows To Run 52 Marathons In 52 Weeks To Honor Late Father

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Julie Weiss has committed to running 52 marathons in 52 weeks to benefit pancreatic cancer research.

The cancellation of the New York City Marathon -- she was already in the Big Apple -- got her down, but not out. She already found a replacement race.

You could say Weiss is running on a mission.

She told CBS2 and KCAL9 reporter Rachel Kim she's running to honor her late father. Says Weiss,  "My father was my biggest fan. There was nothing like the joy he got when he saw me run."

Her dad passed away two years ago -- just 35 days after finding out he had pancreatic cancer.

After her dad died, then and there she decided to turn running into a purpose. She decided to compete in one marathon, every week... for a year.

For many runners, one marathon a year... is enough, thank you very much.  She knows it's a bit...unusual. "I decided to do something big --  some people say I'm crazy."

The NY Marathon was going to be #32 for 2012. "Five minutes after we arrived, we heard a rumor that the marathon was cancelled. The rumor became a reality. Honestly, I was in shock."

She agreed NYC did the right thing by cancelling the event. "It was the right thing to do, it really was. I can understand the anger of some people on having to pay all that money...but we have next year. People have lost their homes and some have lost their lives."

Weiss was too busy to sit around and feel sorry for herself. She and her fiance knew Santa Clarita's marathon would be held this Sunday. So they flew out of NY today and headed straight to Valencia.

David Levine, the fiance, says  "We're exhausted. We haven't even been home. We got off the plane and came here to register."

Weiss got here just in time to beat the 5 p.m. entry deadline and got her number and shirt. In just a few hours, she will run marathon #32.

Hundreds might be in front, behind or on her side...but she really only has one competitor to hear her tell it: pancreatic cancer. "Doesn't matter if I finish in four or six hours, I just want to beat pancreatic cancer."

For more about Julie Weiss, click here.