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Jason P. Lester

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Califrunnergirl (talk | contribs) at 04:24, 8 April 2013 (not the first athlete to compete in Ultraman, but the first athlete to COMPLETE). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jason P. Lester (born 1974, Arizona) is an endurance athlete and the 2009 ESPY Award winner for Best Male Athlete with a Disability.[1] He is also the first disabled athlete to complete the Ultraman World Championships.[2]

Early life

Lester grew up playing baseball and football. When he was twelve years old, he was hit while on his bicycle by a woman driving 70 mph who ran a red light. He was left for dead with 21 broken bones and a collapsed lung. Lester lost the use of his right arm, which became partially paralyzed as a result of the accident. During the next several months he began a lengthy hospital recovery. While he was still in the hospital recovering, his father, and sole guardian, died of a heart attack.[3] Twelve months after the accident, he went on to continue to play baseball and football, making the all star game with the use of only one arm. Lester continued to play sports throughout high school and college. He began to compete in running and biathlon races at age 16 and by age 18 was ranked #2 for biathlons in the state of Arizona.

Triathlon

Jason Lester hits mile 2,400 on day 50 of Journey for a Better World

In 2004, Lester competed in the Ironman World Championships in Kona. To get ready for the event he trained extensively and hired a coach to teach him how to swim. During his training Lester began to notice that he was slowly regaining movement in his right arm.

In 2008, Lester became the first disabled athlete to complete the Ultraman World Championships.[2] In June 2009, at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, Lester came in 3rd in his age group, which qualified him to compete in the Ironman World Championships later that year. That same summer, in July 2009, Lester broke ground by becoming the first male triathlete to win an ESPY Award.[1] In August 2009, Lester became the 25th person to complete both Ultraman Canada and Ultraman Hawaii out of 428 total competitors. In November 2009, Lester became the 15th athlete in the history of Ultraman to complete both Hawaii and Canada in the same year.

Never Stop Foundation

In 2007, Lester founded the Never Stop Foundation.[4] 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.

Racing and endurance highlights

  • Ran 110 miles in 24 hours in 2013 [5]
  • Set the course record at Squaw Peak Mountain, Summit 13x in 24 hours, 2013
  • Completed three consecutive iron distance triathlons in 52 hours, 2012[6]
  • Ran 26 Marathons in 26 consecutive days, 2012[7]
  • Ran 230 miles around the Big Island of Hawaii in 5 days, 2012
  • EPIC100 Ultra-marathon - 100 mile run, Sea level to the Top of Mauna Kea Mountain (32hrs), 2012
  • Ran and biked 4,800 miles from Manhattan, NY to Portland, OR, 16 States - 102 days, 2012 [8]
  • Ran 316 miles from Las Vegas to Mt. Whitney, 2011 (1st male athlete to complete)[9]
  • EPIC5- 5 Iron Distance Triathlons | 5 Hawaiian Islands, 2010, 2011, 2012
  • ESPY Award Winner - Best Male Athlete with a Disability, 2009[1]
  • Ultraman Canada, 2008 (4th place overall in the run,[10] 2009 (14th place overall)[11]
  • Ultraman Hawaii World Championships, 2008 (24th overall),[12] 2009 (18th overall),[13] 2010
  • Ironman World Championship, 2008, 2009
  • Ironman Arizona, 2007, 2008
  • Ironman Western Australia, 2007
  • 70.3 Honolulu, 2009 (3rd in age group, and qualified for Ironman World Championships), 2010
  • 70.3 Boise, 2009
  • Ultramarathon – Hilo to Volcano, 2008 (9th place overall)
  • UItramarathon – Western States 100, 2009 (pacer)
  • UItramarathon – Badwater Ultramarathon 135, 2011 (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)[14]
  • 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,[15] 2nd overall[16])

References

  1. ^ a b c Azpiri, Jon (16 July 2009). "ESPY Winners 2009: Complete List". NowPublic.com. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  2. ^ 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)
  3. ^ Henry, Dawn (23 July 2009). "Jason Lester Wins ESPY Award". Ironman.com. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  4. ^ "History". Never Stop Foundation. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  5. ^ Template:Http://www.jasonplester.com/24hr Run For Cancer
  6. ^ Template:Http://3picman.com
  7. ^ Template:Http://26x26.info
  8. ^ Miller, Mark (May 2, 2012). "Nike's Forest Gump:Ironman Jason Lester Crosses America for Nike". Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  9. ^ "H2ope".
  10. ^ "Ultraman Canada History - 2008 Records and Results". Ultraman Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  11. ^ "Ultraman Canada History - 2009 Records and Results". Ultraman Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  12. ^ "2008 Results Page". Ultraman World Championships. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  13. ^ "2009 Results Page". Ultraman World Championships. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  14. ^ "Online Results - Pacific Crest Endurance Duathlon". AA Sports Limited. 7 July 2008.
  15. ^ "Scottsdale Duathlon/Triathlon - Age Group". TriFamily Racing.
  16. ^ "Scottsdale Duathlon/Triathlon - Overall". TriFamily Racing.

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