Acclaimed international endurance athlete Rob Ripley died April 19, 2024, in the company of family & friends, after the return of an aggressive form of cancer.



Rob grew up in Anchorage, AK graduating from A.J. Dimond high school prior to attending the College of Idaho. This was followed by medical school at the University of Washington where he specialized in emergency medicine. In his career, he served communities in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and California. In medical school he met the love of his life Nancy, who became his wife and travel partner for the past 30 years.

Rob & Nancy shared adventures globally, volunteering as medical staff and in Rob’s case as a race participant. Rob also volunteered in medical clinics in Nepal, New Guinea and Uganda. Over the past 10 years Rob excelled in a wide array of events including ultramarathon races in Namibia, Chile, Antarctica and Mongolia, as well as national & international Masters nordic, running and cycling championships. Most recently in February 2024, he raced the World Masters XC Championships in Finland prior to the return of his cancer.

Rob is survived by Nancy along with his brothers Justin, Mark, John and Jeff. He was preceded in death by his parents Justin and Connie.

So next time you are on a run, bike or hike please turn your gaze to the sky in memory of our beloved Rob, also known to his family as the Crowman. May his flight continue aways, unhindered by earthly burdens.

From RacingThePlanet:
Dr Rob joined the Namib Race 2021 as a competitor to celebrate being cancer-free for six years. Not only did Dr Rob finish the Namib Race but he WON. Dr Rob went on to compete at the Atacama Crossing 2022 and the Gobi March 2023, finishing in the top five overall and winning his age group on both occasions.

Rob will leave a deep void at RacingThePlanet, leaving a legacy of encouraging many competitors to get to the finish line and inspiring cancer survivors throughout the world through his well-written blogs and accomplishments. Rob is also remembered for his deep love for his wife Dr. Nancy Kadel, also a highly respected RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts medical doctor with an equal number of accomplishments.

Thank you, Dr Rob.

We have been monitoring the events since 7 October 2024, speaking to a wide range of knowledgeable people and agencies on-ground in Jordan. None of these have expressed concern about visiting Jordan, and we continue to believe that it should be safe to stage RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race (the "Race"), which takes place from Wadi Rum to Petra.

However, we have received many emails and messages from participants expressing their concern about holding the Race.  We have also heard from some friends and family of the participants, mostly with concern about their loved ones.  Although many participants are confident to join the Race on 5 November, many others would prefer to hold the Race at a later date or to transfer to another race in 2024. 

The Race was meant to be a happy celebration, bringing together veterans and some newbies to Jordan to celebrate 20 years of RacingThePlanet. We chose to celebrate this landmark in a country we love, Jordan.  We do not want the current tragic circumstances to affect the enjoyment of this celebration. 

Given the continuing uncertainty of how events in the Middle East will unfold, we have therefore made the very sad decision to postpone the Race until a later date in 2024. 

As you can imagine, this has been a very difficult decision, because so many participants wanted the Race to go ahead and all our extensive preparations are in place. Nevertheless, others have been very concerned. We deeply regret that it has been necessary to make this decision, but we feel it is the right one in light of the tragic events and uncertainty in the Middle East, which are totally outside of our control.

22 October 2023

Introduction

We are excited to announce a new partnership between GOES.health and RacingThePlanet, bringing our cutting-edge outdoor medical app to support over 600 athletes as they endure some of the world's most grueling ultramarathons across four spectacular deserts. By supporting these athletes as they push their bodies to the limit, we're providing them with an indispensable tool to help them prepare, access medical resources, and navigate through these challenging terrains.

Unique Challenges of Desert Ultramarathons

RacingThePlanet's 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series is known as the most prestigious outdoor footrace series worldwide. Competing in the Namib Race (Namibia), Gobi March (Mongolia), Atacama Crossing (Chile), and The Last Desert (Antarctica), athletes traverse 250 kilometers (155 miles) in seven days over rough terrain, with only a tent and water provided. These races expose athletes to extreme risks, from harsh climates to treacherous landscapes, making the need for medical expertise and support crucial.

How GOES.health Supports Ultramarathon Racers

GOES.health (Global Outdoor Emergency Support) is the only outdoor medical app created by the world's leading wilderness medicine experts at the Stanford School of Medicine and the Preventative Search & Rescue Rangers from the National Park Service. Our partnership with RacingThePlanet allows us to offer racers unparalleled support:

1. Pre-Race Preparation: Athletes can access a wealth of medical expertise, resources for planning, and location-specific information to help them prepare for each race.

2. Offline Medical Resources: In remote locations with no signal, racers can still rely on our clinical-grade offline support for vital assistance.

3. Powerful Location Identification Technology: With our advanced location-sharing technology, racers can pinpoint their exact location, ensuring they stay connected and safe during the race.

Celebrating a Milestone: RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race

As RacingThePlanet celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023, in addition to the Gobi March in Mongolia and the Atacama Crossing in Chile, a special race is being held in Jordan called RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race. We are proud to support the athletes competing in these events, and we look forward to empowering them to explore confidently and connect more deeply with nature.

Empowering Athletes to Conquer the Unknown

The partnership between GOES.health and RacingThePlanet goes beyond providing essential medical support for ultramarathon athletes. Our joint mission is to empower these intrepid individuals to push their limits and conquer the unknown with confidence, knowing that they have access to the best in wilderness medical resources and technology.

The GOES.health platform's unique combination of offline medical resources, expert physician access, and advanced mapping technology has the potential to revolutionize the way athletes prepare for and navigate extreme challenges. By harnessing this cutting-edge support system, racers can focus on pushing their boundaries and exploring new frontiers, secure in the knowledge that GOES.health is with them every step of the way.

Are You Ready?

The partnership between GOES.health and RacingThePlanet demonstrates our commitment to supporting athletes as they push their limits and embark on life-changing adventures. By providing racers with on-demand medical expertise, resources, and support, we're empowering them to confidently tackle the most extreme challenges and achieve their dreams. As RacingThePlanet continues to inspire racers worldwide, GOES.health is proud to be part of their journey. Are you ready to take on the challenge of a lifetime and experience the thrill of the RacingThePlanet Ultramarathons? Equip yourself with the unparalleled support and resources of GOES.health to ensure you're prepared for any situation. Learn more about the races at racingtheplanet.com and discover how GOES.health can help you conquer the unknown at www.goes.health. Together, we'll help you reach new heights and embrace the spirit of adventure.

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Canadian Jeff Pelletier, a popular filmmaker and trail runner with a large YouTube following, has confirmed his participation at the Special Edition of RacingThePlanet: Georgia set to take place from 19 - 25 June 2022 in the stunning country of Georgia. Georgia is renowned for its extraordinary countryside filled with remote villages, and is the birthplace of wine more than 8,000 years ago.

Jeff recently competed in the Namib Race and produced a popular nine-part series documenting his participation called "Racing Namibia." Jeffs plans to produce the same quality film while participating in Georgia which will showcase the human interest stories among the racers and the incredible countryside and Georgian culture.

Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is a former Soviet republic that is home to Caucasus Mountain villages and Black Sea beaches. It’s famous for Vardzia, a sprawling cave monastery dating to the 12th century, and the ancient wine-growing region Kakheti. The capital, Tbilisi, is known for the diverse architecture and maze-like, cobblestone streets of its old town. Vardzia will be the finish line of RacingThePlanet: Georgia (Special Edition) 2022.

For information about RacingThePlanet, go to www.racingtheplanet.com or visit Jeff Pelletier's YouTube channel which includes the nine-part series called "Racing Namibia."

[18 February 2022]

We are very excited to announce that RacingThePlanet will be returning to Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia and a former Soviet republic that’s home to Caucasus mountain villages and Black Sea beaches. For the first time ever, the RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon, a six stage, 250 kilometer (155 mile) ultramarathon will return to the same country to allow those who missed the first edition an opportunity to participate.

After a highly successful RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon in Georgia in August 2021, RacingThePlanet will return to Georgia, the Caucasus, in June 2022 for a special edition race that will qualify as part of the famed 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series, alongside the Namib Race, the Atacama Crossing and The Last Desert. Completing RacingThePlanet: Georgia will serve as a qualifying race for The Last Desert in Antarctica.

Racers will experience lush green valleys, stunning national parks, monasteries from medieval times, picturesque countryside villages dotted around the mountains, and sample everything that Georgia has to offer including the unique history of the Dukhobor culture. Georgia is famous for Vardzia, a sprawling cave monastery dating to the 12th century which will also be the location for the finish line, and the ancient wine-growing region of Kakheti. The host town will be the capital of Tbilisi which is known for its diverse architecture and the maze-like cobblestone streets of its old town.

RacingThePlanet: Georgia (Special Edition) is not to be missed and is scheduled to begin on 19 June 2022.

[4 January 2022]

Having staged two successful races in 2021, the Namib Race in Nambia and RacingThePlanet: Georgia, our race schedule for 2022 is currently set to go ahead as planned.

The health and safety of our participants, our volunteers, our medical teams, and our local and international staff are always our primary concern. We continue to monitor the guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the CDC and relevant government and medical authorities.

Although the nature of our races is a relatively small group of people running or walking in the outdoors, taking people to the lesser-visited corners of the planet to explore in a way that is not normally possible, there are still a number of changes that have been implemented to make each race even more COVID-19 safe. These new procedures are published specifically for each race.

We do understand that each person’s situation is different and that some of you may prefer, or need, to register later than what is normally required or defer your race entry at the last minute. For this reason, we are happy for you to transfer your entry to another race at any time, including right up until six weeks before the race is due to go ahead for any race in 2022 or 2023. This does not apply to The Last Desert in Antarctica.

If you decide to defer your race entry then please email send an email to the event director or to info@racingtheplanet.com.

As long as it is logistically and safely possible, all races in 2022 are planned to go ahead as scheduled.

Management Team

RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series

[January 2022]

The 4 Deserts Grand Slam normally involves completing the Namib Race (Namibia), the Gobi March (Mongolia), the Atacama Crossing (Chile) and The Last Desert (Antarctica) in one calendar year. The 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus typically involves completing the Namib Race (Namibia), the Gobi March (Mongolia), the Atacama Crossing (Chile), The Last Desert (Antarctica) and the RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon (in any location) in one calendar year. To date, 78 individuals have completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam and eight individuals have completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus.

In light of the on-going pandemic, the rules will be modified as follows:

Anyone who completes four RacingThePlanet races in the years 2021, 2022 or 2023, one of which must be The Last Desert (Antarctica), will be deemed to have completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam. These races may include: Namib Race (Namibia), Gobi March (Mongolia), Atacama Crossing (Chile), RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon (in any location) and The Last Desert.

Anyone who completes five RacingThePlanet races in the years 2021, 2022 or 2023, one of which must be The Last Desert (Antarctica), will be deemed to have completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus. These races may include: Namib Race (Namibia), Gobi March (Mongolia), Atacama Crossing (Chile), RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon (in any location) and The Last Desert.

Awards will be provided on an on-going basis throughout 2022 and 2023.

Management Team

RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series

17 December 2021]

After a delay of some 18 months, RacingThePlanet returned to the vast and sparsely populated country of Namibia to stage the Namib Race for what is typically the first race of the calendar year. Racers arrived via Windhoek and Walvis Bay to the host town of Swakopmund before being shuttled to the first campsite located in a completely new location from past editions of the Namib Race.

Namibia is situated on the west coast of southern Africa, with South Africa to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, where crashing waves meet the Namib Desert, the world’s oldest desert (Namib means “vast place in Khoekhoegowab, the local language). Namibia possesses some of the most stunning landscapes in Africa. The race took place in the Erongo region and within the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The Namib Desert makes up 12% of Namibia’s total land mass and is also home to the largest recorded sand dunes (spanning 300 meters / 980 feet high and 32 kilometers / 20 miles long). Racers faced some 250 kilometers / 155 miles over six stages across seven days.

The overall champions were Robert Ripley, 60, of the United States, a cancer survivor, and Liss Vallestrand, 44, of Norway. Frode Lein, 53, of Norway, realized his dream of joining the 4 Deserts Club after successfully completing the final desert of the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series. Local hero Mabasa Mubatapasango, originally from Zimbabwe but now resident in Namibia, completed the course in 7th place.

As the champion Rob Ripley said in his blog:

“….the Namib Race, like any of the RacingThePlanet stage races, is about much, much more than how fast a guy (or gal) can run. Every competitor is facing down their own fears, and writing their own story of struggle and conquest. And the the longer a competitor is out on the course, the hotter the sand gets, and the harder the struggle. Friendships grow on the trail and in camp, camaraderie forms, and the individual becomes part of a larger body moving forward every day.”

After a long delay due to the pandemic, the Namib Race 2021 came to a successful completion and no racers, staff or volunteers tested posted for COVID-19 which was also another triumph.

The Namib Race 2022 will take place beginning 1 May 2022.

[1 November 2021]

RacingThePlanet Stages First Event Post-COVID19 with a Successful Race in the Country of Georgia in August 2021

After a year-long delay and with new COVID-19 protocols in place, RacingThePlanet staged a successful race in the county of Georgia. With a relatively small but intimate field of racers coming from 29 countries around the world -- racers, volunteers, the medical team and the local team were joyous to be outside again in a bubble of normality.

After arriving in Tbilisi, one of the world’s most charming cities which sits at the crossroads of the East and the West, the racers were bussed to the first campsite rather than the traditional hotel due to enhanced COVID-19 protocols. Racers were greeted with some heavy rain at the first campsite but the weather remained mostly good throughout the week, with only light showers and some thunderstorms. The course was located in the Javakheti Region of the southwestern part of Georgia, in the Southern Caucasus Mountain Range.

The course took racers through old forests, dormant volcanic valleys, breath-taking mountain passes, unique villages and traditional monasteries over some 250 kilometers (155 miles) over six stages.

The Long March, the infamous 80-kilometer stage, took racers through abandoned former Russian villages, towards the Abuli Fortress which is over 3,000 years old. This mysterious fortress has only recently been discovered and is part of an archaeological expedition to understand more about Georgia’s history and beginnings. The race finished at the edge of the caves of Vardzia, which is a cave-palace-monastery built by the Georgians in the Caucasus for their fabled queen Tamar, with everyone breathing a sigh of relief when zero COVID-19 cases were reported among the race participants.

The overall champions were Reinhold Huge, 48, of Switzerland and Isabelle Dufour, 57, of Reunion Island (France).

As racer Narayan Bharadwaj put it: “It's been a long and painful 148 odd miles and every fibre of my body hurts so bad, but my soul has never been happier from realising how much I have it in me to push myself to take on this challenge!"

[15 September 2021] 

Alex Flynn was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2008 at the age of 36. Despite the initial set-back, his diagnosis became the catalyst in his life for showing people the possibility of creating positive change in the face of adversity.  

In 2020, Alex will take on the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus – racing 1,250km / 780 miles unsupported on foot across some of the most inhospitable landscapes in the world in the Namib Desert, Gobi Desert, the Great Caucasus of Georgia, the Atacama Desert and Antarctica.

Only eight people in the world have ever completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus – Alex Flynn is set to join this unique group of super athletes while being the first person with Parkinson’s disease to ever to attempt any RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts ultra.

Alex’s 2020 RacingThePlanet challenge will be chronicled in a docuseries from leading Hollywood Talent Management and Production Company Zero Gravity Management together with U.K. development fund Butch and Sundance Limited. The media team will follow selected 4 Deserts Grand Slam athletes as they prepare and race more than 1,000 kilometers on five continents to complete this grueling race series.

Endurance events are not new to Alex. He has completed marathons, ultra endurance races and triathlons, but nothing quite as challenging as racing 1,250km / 780 miles self-supported in such extreme climates and terrain. Alex’s endurance achievements so far include:

Ø  Covering more than 6,200 miles to meet the 10MillionMetres challenge he had set himself.

Ø  Completing the Marathon des Sables (a 250km race across the Sahara Desert).

Ø  Attempting a 450km expedition in Sweden’s Arctic Circle in freezing temperatures.

RacingThePlanet’s 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus poses Alex’s biggest challenge so far. Not only will temperatures rise well above 40C in the oldest desert in the world and well below freezing in Antarctica, but Alex will also be crossing the world’s highest sand dunes, waist deep rivers, fighting sand storms, racing above 10,000 feet and being at the command of Mother Nature in Antarctica.

Alex has been featured on prime-time television, honored by the former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, and met the Pope. Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE said: “Rarely does one hear about such an inspirational and heroic Briton as Alex Flynn. The challenges he has successfully undertaken would be considered seriously hard by anyone’s standards and are independently worthy of recognition.”

However, Alex’s driver is to raise funds for and awareness of Parkinson's disease. He can be found doing some of the more complex, unexpected and surprising challenges across the planet to raise more than £1 million towards vital research to find a cure while inspiring and educating people along the way.

“I want a cure for millions around the planet and hope you do too. Together we can make change happen!” #KeepMoving 

Alex Flynn is living proof that Parkinson’s disease is not an obstacle for success!

Find out more:

[August 2019]