Matt Toole. Photo / File
Matt Toole has had a life-long struggle with chronic renal failure, but the 27-year-old Wellingtonian inends to be at the at the Air New Zealand Hawke's Bay International Marathon.
Despite his one kidney only operating at about 13 per cent capacity, Toole aims to complete the 10km run option.
Born with one kidney that then suffered irreversible damage through reflux, Toole has known a lifetime of coping with chronic renal failure, and that one day he would need a transplant to survive. But his attitude is one of living life to the full and making the most of every opportunity.
"I have always had chronic renal failure but I have never let this stop me doing anything. However, in August 2015, I went into stage three renal failure.
Rather than hit the couch and feel sorry for himself though, Toole knew that the healthier he was going into transplant surgery, the better he would be coming out the other side.
"They said exercise was as good as taking drugs in trying to slow the process down and keep on top of things. So, the first step for me was to do Round the Bays in Wellington and now I am continuing, racing at the Hawke's Bay Marathon.
"It has been tough, I am operating at about 13 per cent at the moment, but it is just 'one of those things' when you don't fit into the norm. This is not something that most people my age have to deal with."
The call centre rep has the transplant lined up already, he is one of the lucky ones with a suitable donor with brother-in-law Iain Goodacre standing by for the moment when he is needed, but until then, it is pedal to the metal for Toole.
"It is waiting that is probably the most stressful part. We have been through all the testing, I am literally waiting to go into complete failure before the operation can be considered. I still work fulltime, you can't stop living life. Part of what I am doing in trying to train for these 10k runs is to take my mind off it a bit and give me a goal to aim towards and ultimately, I am aiming to improve my recovery time after the operation and do the hard yards now so the other end is a bit easier."
Toole is writing a regular Facebook blog labelled 'The Adventures of Billy Bob and Billy Jean', in the hope of not only communicating with his circle of family and friends, but to help publicize the need for organ transplant donors.
"When I first found out, when I was younger, that I would need a transplant, the only way I could deal with it was to have a sense of humour. So I called my only working kidney Billy Bob and that kind of stuck. Billy Jean is my brother in law's kidney that I hope to introduce to my body in less than 12 months' time.
"I have become passionate about the whole donor thing. My blog is open to everyone but is a way for me to share thoughts and challenges with my family and friends - the daily struggles and triumphs I am going through. The most important thing is that I don't shy away from it, I am open and honest about it, it is scary but at the same time if I am too scared to talk about it, no one else will open up. That is just my way of dealing with it."
Like most runners and endurance sport competitors, the finish line makes it all worthwhile.
"It is not easy, it is the lung capacity, the oxygen, the mental side of things. I am not up to a half marathon, but the 10k for me gives me something to push for. It is hard on the body in that I am physically and mentally tired to start with, but once I get going the actual finish is worth it, you get that boost of energy and you feel that bit more alive afterwards."
Appropriately given the event falls on Mother's Day weekend, he will have his mum Pat there on the day to share in the finish line excitement.
"One of the things that people ask is how do I do it? I still want to live that life that everyone else has. That makes me pretty stubborn, but that is what gets me up in the morning, and keeps me working fulltime. Others might say running 10k like this is nuts, running on empty, but you have to push yourself."
Matt doesn't want to end his running in May either, he has plans to continue on the fitness trail post his transplant operation, whenever that might occur.
"I hope to one day compete in the World Transplant Games. If you have had any form of transplant you are eligible to compete in age categories in all sorts of sports. It is the coming together of like-minded and like-bodied people to show what can be done."
Entries to the Air New Zealand Hawke's Bay International Marathon are open online, with all entriesbefore April 18 going in the draw to win 1000 Air NZ Airpoints Dollars.
The Air New Zealand Hawke's Bay International Marathon
Hawke's Bay
Saturday May 13.
www.hawkesbaymarathon.co.nz
Featuring:
Air New Zealand Marathon
NZ Sotheby's RE Half Marathon
10km
Kids' Run