Jason P. Lester: Difference between revisions
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Lester achieved a personal and sports milestone by becoming the first physically challenged athlete ever to complete the Ultraman World Championships in Hawaii on November 30, 2008, finishing the grueling ultra-distance triathlon where he swam 6.2 miles, biked 261.4 miles and ran 52.4 miles to the finish line. In the year leading up to the 2009 Ultraman World Championships, Lester raced in the Ironman World Championships, represented the USA in the Triathlon World Championships in Germany, and completed Ultraman Canada. |
Lester achieved a personal and sports milestone by becoming the first physically challenged athlete ever to complete the Ultraman World Championships in Hawaii on November 30, 2008, finishing the grueling ultra-distance triathlon where he swam 6.2 miles, biked 261.4 miles and ran 52.4 miles to the finish line. In the year leading up to the 2009 Ultraman World Championships, Lester raced in the Ironman World Championships, represented the USA in the Triathlon World Championships in Germany, and completed Ultraman Canada. |
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Today, Lester lives and trains in Hawaii. He has competed in numerous extreme races, including the Arizona Ironman, Western Australia Ironman, Hawaii Ironman World Championship, Canada Ultraman, Hawaii Ultraman World Championships and the famed EPIC5 Challenge completing five iron distance triathlons on five Hawaiian Islands in five consecutive days becoming the 1st athlete to complete this event two times (2010, 2011). In November, 2011 - Lester became the first male athlete to run 316 miles non-stop from Las Vegas, NV to Mt. Whitney (6 days). He's been profiled in numerous tv, radio, print and online publications including FOX News, Triathlete Magazine, Competitor Magazine, SOLE Magazine, West Hawaii Today, USA Triathlon, ESPN Radio, Inspiration Journal, Ironman.com and AOL's Everyday Athlete Spotlight. His story in the Hawaii |
Today, Lester lives and trains in Hawaii. He has competed in numerous extreme races, including the Arizona Ironman, Western Australia Ironman, Hawaii Ironman World Championship, Canada Ultraman, Hawaii [[Ultraman (endurance challenge)|Ultraman World Championships]].<ref name=Faith /> and the famed EPIC5 Challenge completing five iron distance triathlons on five Hawaiian Islands in five consecutive days becoming the 1st athlete to complete this event two times (2010, 2011). In November, 2011 - Lester became the first male athlete to run 316 miles non-stop from Las Vegas, NV to Mt. Whitney (6 days). He's been profiled in numerous tv, radio, print and online publications including FOX News, Triathlete Magazine, Competitor Magazine, SOLE Magazine, West Hawaii Today, USA Triathlon, ESPN Radio, Inspiration Journal, Ironman.com and AOL's Everyday Athlete Spotlight. His story in the Hawaii Ultraman World Championships is being made into a 90-minute documentary, A Painted Race. Also in production is a feature film detailing Lester's extraordinary life, titled Chasing Me. |
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==Never Stop Foundation== |
==Never Stop Foundation== |
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Revision as of 06:04, 12 June 2012
Jason P. Lester (born 1974, Arizona) is an endurance athlete, author, artist and the 2009 ESPY Award winner for Best Male Athlete with a Disability.[1] He is also the first disabled athlete to compete in the Ultraman World Championships.[2]
Early life
Lester grew up in Arizona, where he became obsessed with sports as a coping mechanism and by age 12, developed into a skilled athlete with numerous accolades. As fate would have it, he was hit by a car while riding his bike, resulting in 21 broken bones, a collapsed lung, and a paralyzed right arm, stifling his dream of excelling in sports. As Lester was slowly leaning to adjust to his disability, his father and sole guardian died at the young age of 39.
Still, inspired by the memory of his late father's love of athletics, Lester grew up to become a star in high school and college athletics. By the age of 16, he was competing in running and biathlon events. After participating in countless races, including 5k, 10k, biathlons and marathons, Lester was ranked #2 in the state of state of Arizona in biathlons at the age of 18.
Triathlon
The turning point in Lester's athletic career came from a visit to the Big Isle of Hawaii to watch the 2004 Ironman World Championships taking place in Kona and it was there that his spirit was totally overcome by the awe of this race. He felt re-energized and came to believe that this was his life's calling. With a goal to race the Hawaii Ironman Championships himself, Lester began a rigorous training schedule. While he continued with the intensive workouts in preparation for his first big race, the Arizona Ironman, Lester began to notice something truly amazing - he was regaining movement in his paralyzed arm.
Lester achieved a personal and sports milestone by becoming the first physically challenged athlete ever to complete the Ultraman World Championships in Hawaii on November 30, 2008, finishing the grueling ultra-distance triathlon where he swam 6.2 miles, biked 261.4 miles and ran 52.4 miles to the finish line. In the year leading up to the 2009 Ultraman World Championships, Lester raced in the Ironman World Championships, represented the USA in the Triathlon World Championships in Germany, and completed Ultraman Canada.
Today, Lester lives and trains in Hawaii. He has competed in numerous extreme races, including the Arizona Ironman, Western Australia Ironman, Hawaii Ironman World Championship, Canada Ultraman, Hawaii Ultraman World Championships.[2] and the famed EPIC5 Challenge completing five iron distance triathlons on five Hawaiian Islands in five consecutive days becoming the 1st athlete to complete this event two times (2010, 2011). In November, 2011 - Lester became the first male athlete to run 316 miles non-stop from Las Vegas, NV to Mt. Whitney (6 days). He's been profiled in numerous tv, radio, print and online publications including FOX News, Triathlete Magazine, Competitor Magazine, SOLE Magazine, West Hawaii Today, USA Triathlon, ESPN Radio, Inspiration Journal, Ironman.com and AOL's Everyday Athlete Spotlight. His story in the Hawaii Ultraman World Championships is being made into a 90-minute documentary, A Painted Race. Also in production is a feature film detailing Lester's extraordinary life, titled Chasing Me.
Never Stop Foundation
In 2007, Lester founded the Never Stop Foundation.[3] The Foundation aims to use athletics to teach its young participants how to think creatively about their lives - then give them the practical skills to turn their dreams into reality.
Lester is active in the development of the Never Stop Performance Center (NSPC) based in his home town of Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i. The center, set to break ground in 2011, will be a place where both children and adults will receive a chance to improve their lives through athletics, helping to build a strong life mentally, physically, and spiritually, further enabling them to reach their full potential.
Art
Lester is also a practicing artist, particularly in painting. Both his father and grandfather were accomplished artists. In 2001 he opened The JR Gallery in Manhattan Beach, California, featuring the works of new and established artists, including paintings from Lester’s own collection. The gallery and art career flourished and he became an internationally acclaimed artist, with many of his works and private commissions being requested by the sports clients of his past.[citation needed]
Racing and endurance highlights
- EPIC5- 5 Iron Distance Triathlons | 5 Hawaiian Islands, 2010
- ESPY Award Winner - Best Male Athlete with a Disability, 2009[1]
- Ultraman Canada, 2008 (4th place overall in the run,[4] 2009 (14th place overall)[5]
- Ultraman Hawaii World Championships, 2008 (24th overall),[6] 2009 (18th overall),[7] 2010
- Ironman Arizona, 2007, 2008
- Ironman World Championship, 2008, 2009
- Ironman Western Australia, 2007
- 70.3 Boise, 2009
- 70.3 Honolulu, 2009 (3rd in age group, and qualified for Ironman World Championships), 2010
- Ultramarathon – Hilo to Volcano, 2008 (9th place overall)
- UItramarathon – Western States 100, 2009 (pacer)
- ITU Triathlon World Championships, 2007 (6th place), 2008 (2nd in category)
- International Triathlon San Diego, 2007
- The Nautica New York City Triathlon, 2007 (2nd in category)
- Duathlon – Pac Crest Endurance, 2008 (3rd in age group)[8]
- USAT (USA Triathlon) PC Athlete of the Year, 2008
- USAT (USA Triathlon) PC Athlete of the Year Finalist, 2007
- Scottsdale Duathlon, 2005, (1st in age group,[9] 2nd overall[10])
References
- ^ a b Azpiri, Jon (16 July 2009). "ESPY Winners 2009: Complete List". NowPublic.com. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ a b Lester, Jason (2010). Running on Faith: The Principles, Passion, and Pursuit of a Winning Life. ISBN 978-0-06-196572-2.
{{cite book}}: More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ "History". Never Stop Foundation. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ "Ultraman Canada History - 2008 Records and Results". Ultraman Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ "Ultraman Canada History - 2009 Records and Results". Ultraman Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ "2008 Results Page". Ultraman World Championships. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ "2009 Results Page". Ultraman World Championships. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ "Online Results - Pacific Crest Endurance Duathlon". AA Sports Limited. 7 July 2008.
- ^ "Scottsdale Duathlon/Triathlon - Age Group". TriFamily Racing.
- ^ "Scottsdale Duathlon/Triathlon - Overall". TriFamily Racing.