Episode 1: Heart Failure, Transplant, and the Road Beyond In this inaugural episode of Derek, That Heart Transplant Athlete Guy, Derek and Kirstin dive into Derek’s remarkable journey; from a lifelong passion for running and completing 114 marathons, to the devastating reality of heart failure, and ultimately, the life-saving gift of a heart transplant. Derek shares what it was like to ignore the early warning signs, the moment his health forced him off the race course, and the emotional race against time as his heart function dropped below 10%. But this is more than a survival story. It’s about what comes next. Derek takes us through his recovery, the incredible milestone of completing a 50K just 258 days post-transplant and a marathon within 11 months with his donor’s heart beating strong inside him.