BostonTweet

❤️ London. Today I ran the London Marathon - my 4th World Marathon Major since my kidney transplant 2 years ago. London is beautiful, obviously, and the crowd is spectacular crowd. I’m extremely lucky to be able to experience the pain of running the London Marathon.

Thank you to for inviting me to join their team as a kidney transplant recipient. I was finished running marathons back in 2019, and then I had a kidney transplant in 2024. Now I’m determined to show that kidney recipients can earn 6 Stars - two more to go! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

As always, I couldn’t have done this without my love, Thank you for everything.

Why I Run is available at TomOkeefe.com

My new book, Why I Run, arrived today. I’m very proud of this book. In it I get incredibly personal about life experiences, failing at a few startups, starting Bostontweet, starting Stride for Stride, my kidney transplant in 2024, and running four World Marathon Majors since then. I would love for you to read it and let me know what you think.

You can read buy the book at TomOKeefe.com

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From Why I Run:

I’ve scoured the internet trying to find another example of a kidney donor and his/her recipient running a marathon together. I couldn’t find any previous occurrence in the United States. Never had it previously happened in the NYC Marathon, the Boston Marathon, the Chicago Marathon or any other World Marathon Major. The only other occurrence throughout the world, in which a kidney recipient ran a marathon with his donor, was a year earlier (2023) in Israel.

What Jorge and I accomplished is extremely rare, and it will not be our last marathon together.

Additionally, as far as I’ve been able to discover, no other kidney recipient has ever run a marathon within ten months of their transplant. I went into my transplant in tremendous shape, which allowed me to recover quickly—quick enough to become the first kidney recipient to run a marathon so soon after surgery.

I didn’t run NYC to be the first. I ran because running is my recovery, both physically and mentally. Running is social, and solitary. Running is fun, and exhausting. Running can be joyful and awful at the same time. Running pushes the limits of what you thought your body was capable of. Running leaves you in awe, and in pain.

Definitely not a “war zone.” ❤️ Chicago

Today I ran my third Word Major Marathon since my kidney transplant last year; the Chicago Marathon. Marathons are hard, and each time I run one I ask myself why the hell do I do this? I run to show others that kidney transplant recipients can do hard things like running the Chicago Marathon, the Boston Marathon, and the NYC Marathon.

I ran the Chicago Marathon in support of the National Kidney Foundation to further their advancements in kidney health for individuals suffering from kidney disease.

I also ran in honor of my two Stride for Stride teammates who decided not to travel to (and not to run in) the Chicago Marathon due to the current climate of fear and hate so many immigrants are experiencing. It’s because of one beautiful kind-hearted immigrant that I was able to run the Chicago Marathon today - without him I would be tethered to a dialysis machine. Immigrants keep this country running.

- please consider becoming a kidney donor and giving someone the opportunity to accomplish great things again.

Snow day laps around BC and Heartbreak Hill - one of the few places Where the Streets have No Snow.

Tonight Jorge and I went out to dinner to celebrate our 1st Kidneyversary.

A year ago today, January 10, 2024, we were in surgery undergoing a kidney transplant - Jorge the donor and I the recipient. At that time I had no idea how strong I would feel in 12 months time. I had no idea that in my first year I would run four official half-marathons (many more on my own) and one NYC Marathon with Jorge. One year ago my main goal was to walk a few steps in the hospital hallway, which I successfully did.

I am stronger now than I’ve been in years thanks to a kidney donor, my superhero. To celebrate our first anniversary I gave Jorge a 2025 Boston Marathon jacket, which means he and I will be running the Boston Marathon together in April. Training starts tomorrow on Heartbreak Hill.

- please consider becoming a kidney donor.

Read our story at TransplantMarathon.com

I’m very grateful for everything I went through in January 2024, but New Year’s Day 2025 has been a lot more enjoyable than 2024 - all because one individual decided to become a kidney donor. Please consider becoming a kidney donor in 2025 and in return becoming someone’s superhero, like Jorge is to me.

All the best to you this New Year.

Kidney Bros

Medal Monday. Sore as hell. Don’t give up.

Life is going to throw you some curveballs - like end stage renal disease - but don’t ever give up. Keep running.

Yesterday I ran my second half marathon in three days at the Maine Marathon. Perfect day, challenging course, and one celebrity spectator. I’m feeling stronger than ever and ready to run the NYC Marathon on November 3rd with Jorge Rosales, my kidney donor. Jorge and I will be running the NYC Marathon less than 10 months after our kidney transplant on January 10th. It’s incredible to think how far I’ve come since January. Kidney donors are life-saving superheroes. Please consider becoming a donor.
And, thank you to everyone who has supported our NYC fundraiser. And anyone who wants to support us can do so at the link. Thank you! http://tomandjorge.run