While Siporin is also looking forward to a few boosts of adrenaline, he'll also be battling the effects of a week's worth of chemotherapy as he and his team scale the backside of the Wasatch Mountains from Logan to Park City on Friday and Saturday.

It's a daunting task for someone who just six weeks ago, had more than a foot of his colon removed as part of his ongoing treatment for colon cancer. What's more, Siporin will likely be running with the stint used in his treatment still in place near his heart.

Still, the 34-year-old husband and father of two could not think of a better way to conclude his latest round of chemotherapy - much to the chagrin of his doctor.

"I'm just stubborn as hell," he said. "Once my doc said he didn't think I could do it, I said 'That's it. I'm doing this no matter what.' "

As recently as two years ago, however, Siporin was not quite so determined

In fact, it took some less-than-stellar results from a blood cholesterol test to push Siporin toward a more active lifestyle - a decision that would ultimately help him recover more quickly from the cancer treatments that would be to come. As his fitness continued to improve, Siporin became more ambitious, working his way up to entering and training for a half-Iron Man triathlon.

But his new focus toward a healthier life suffered a blow. In January, midway through his preparation for the triathlon, Siporin was diagnosed with colon cancer. He immediately began six weeks of continuous chemotherapy and radiation treatment - roughly equivalent to about 50,000 chest x-rays.

And the treatment was just the beginning.

As the effects of his cancer treatment took its toll, Siporin never stopped running.

"Early on, I needed to have some goals that weren't related to the cancer," he said. "I needed to rise above it. I knew I was in for a long slog."

Following his first six-week bout of chemo, Siporin underwent surgery to remove a foot-long portion of his colon. During the procedure, doctors discovered that part of his cancer had metastasized to the liver - a finding that comes with lower survival rates and increased chances of recurrence.

The news wasn't about to slow Siporin down. Even with 29 staples in his side, six months of chemotherapy and another surgery still looming large in the future, dropping out of the Wasatch Back Relay as never an option.

"Psychologically, I knew my body that had worked so well was breaking down in some way," he said. "But, I like the feeling I get when my body is working well and I'm able to run faster than my friends on the treadmill next to me. I look forward to it."

When Siporin was unable to put together a relay team in time for the registration deadline, he paired with a team out of Colorado and Arizona that was still short a team member. Up until two weeks ago, his team - Team Colazone - was unaware of the struggles Siporin would face during the relay. Upon hearing about his situation, Siporin said his out-of-state team has been "amazingly supportive."

While Siporin admits he is nervous about the ways in which he will be affected by his recent chemotherapy treatment during the race, he is encouraged by the support of those close to him.

"I don't doubt that I can't force myself through it, but it may give me more of a run for my money than I was expecting," he said. "My family is a little worried, but they are all behind me 200 percent."

What's more important to Siporin, though, is the example he is setting for his two young children. Following his colon-removal surgery, Siporin was concerned about the way in which his 4-year-old son would react to seeing his dad in a hospital.

"The things that scare us create fear when we give them silence and power," said Siporin. "I want to show my kids that I don't let this have control over everything. To see [his dad running the relay] puts him at ease. It allays some of his fear."

It's that philosophy that Siporin will carry with him as he runs each of his three legs in the relay, including a four-mile climb that levels out with awe-inspiring views of Jordanelle Reservoir.

"It's experiences like this that make life worthwhile," he said. " I spend so much time worrying about treatment, medications, and the effects of the chemotherapy. This is something that stands outside of that."