What is life like after kidney donation? Get more information on becoming a kidney donor and read stories from real donors.
Everything is falling apart, right when I thought it might. I’m now at the halfway point, 500 kilometers of 1,000 complete. But to get that far takes a toll, every step a new potential pain, and I’m feeling every step right now. It started in Namibia. The extreme heat, 131 degrees Fahrenheit at one point, … Read More
It was only about 20 or 30 seconds long. A moment, a blip, during the 40-mile-long Stage 5 at Racing the Planet’s Georgia 2022 race. One of my competitors noticed I wasn’t running as normal and asked if he could give me some water or food or help somehow. His inquiry was genuine, with real … Read More
If you are interested in donating a kidney, there is a simple way to determine if you are eligible to become a donor. Visit the National Kidney Registry’s donor screen page and enter your name, phone number and email. You will receive an email with a link to a medical screening questionnaire to start the … Read More
The Long March was the toughest day I’ve had so far this year, but I held out and will finish 3rd overall. The night before, the organizers found us an unused community center in a local village to sleep in. While it was chock full of asbestos, it was also dry, which was a welcome … Read More
Georgia giveth, and Georgia taketh away. I ran into a problem today, and it’s got me more than a little worried. But I’ll start with yesterday. The stage was about 24 miles, which meant that after yesterday I was halfway done. After today, I’m two-thirds done. Most of Stage 3 yesterday was on an old … Read More
If you were wondering, “ma-do-lo-ba” is how you say “thank you” in Georgian. That’s what I’m feeling right now. A whole lot of ma-do-lo-ba. After I hit “send” on last night’s update, the wind pushed a cloud aside just enough for the sun to peek through. That was officially the first time we’d seen sun … Read More
I’m typing this on a windy ridgeline, so windy that we can’t have a fire. Maybe that’s where I should start. Yesterday was so wet that last night everyone tried to dry off their shoes and insoles and clothes using the campfire. It worked, to an extent, but some got a little too close. Several … Read More
Georgia 2022, a Special Edition of the Racing the Planet Ultramarathon, is now under way in the southwestern corner of Georgia, an ancient country in the Caucasus region at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Racers will run 155 miles through the remote Javakheti region from June 19-25. This is Matt Cavanaugh’s first … Read More
On May 7, 2022, I finished the Namib Race—the first race in the Racing the Planet 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series—in 4th place. It’s taken me a couple weeks to think back on the race and about what I would like to say about those 155 miles. I’ve decided on a lightly edited version of what … Read More