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Jason P. Lester

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Lester hits mile 2,400 on day 50 of Journey for a Better World's 4,800 miles across the United States

Jason P. Lester is an endurance athlete, the author of the book Running on Faith, and the 2009 ESPY Award winner for Best Male Athlete with a Disability.[1] He is the first disabled athlete to complete the Ultraman World Championships.[2] He is the Founder of EPIC5 Challenge, EP1CMAN and The NEVER STOP Foundation est. 2007.

Lester has completed endurance challenges such as the EPIC5 Challenge (5 Iron distance triathlons on 5 Hawaiian islands in 5 consecutive days), and a 1,000-mile (1,600 km) run and 4,000-mile (6,400 km) bike across the United States.[3] On May 5, 2013, Lester ran 3,550 miles (5,710 km) across the United States, becoming the 4th fastest runner to run from San Francisco to New York City to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims. He ran 2,600 miles (4,200 km) along The Great Wall of China in 83 days, setting a world record by becoming the first person to run the length of the wall solo in a single attempt.[4][5]

Early life

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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 (110 km/h) 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.[6] 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

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Lester competed in the 2008 and 2009 Ironman World Championships in Kona.[7] 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 became 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.

On March 19, 2012, Lester ran and biked over 4,800 miles (7,700 km) across the United States promoting the benefit of the sport.[8]

On May 5, 2013, Lester made a 3,500-mile (5,600 km) transcontinental run across America in 72 days. The run was a collaborative service project with Waves For Water. Waves For Water is an active presence and force for the Hurricane Sandy Relief Initiative, which supports neighborhoods and communities recovering from Hurricane Sandy.[9]

The NEVER STOP Foundation

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In 2007, Lester founded the Never Stop Foundation.[10] The NEVER STOP Foundation is dedicated to using athletics as a tool to encourage all youth to have the chance to achieve their full potential. The goal is to help those in their formative years find their own true voice, help them build their confidence, improve their communication skills and learn the values of discipline, trust, compassion, self-reliance, and respect.

Racing and endurance highlights

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  • RUNAUS — The first American male to run across Australia. Jason P. Lester's Trans Australia Run started in Scarborough Beach, Western Australia and ended 135 days later in Batemans Bay, New South Wales. (August 2016)[11][12]
  • 72 consecutive hour run - 2014[13][citation needed]
  • Run Across America Ran 3,550 miles across the United States (July 2013)[14]
  • The Great Wall Run – first person to run 2,500 miles (4,000 km) along The Great Wall of China in 83 days solo in a single attempt (2014)[5]
  • Ran 3,550 miles (5,710 km) across the United States in 72 consecutive days. Lester became the 4th-fastest runner to run from San Francisco City Hall to New York City Hall (The official USA Crosser's route) 2013[15]
  • Ran 110 miles (180 km) in 24 hours on a treadmill in 2013[16]
  • Completed three consecutive iron distance triathlons in 52 hours, 2012[17]
  • Ran 26 marathons in 26 consecutive days, 2012[18]
  • Ran and biked 4,800 miles (7,700 km) from Manhattan, NY to Portland, OR, 16 States - 102 days, 2012[3]
  • Ran 316 miles (509 km) from Las Vegas to Mt. Whitney, 2011 (1st male athlete to complete)[19]
  • EPIC5- 5 Iron Distance Triathlons | 5 Hawaiian Islands, 2010, 2011, 2012
  • Ultraman Canada, 2008 (4th place overall in the run,[20] 2009 (14th place overall)[21]
  • Ultraman Hawaii World Championships, 2008 (24th overall),[22] 2009 (18th overall),[23] 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
  • 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)
  • The Nautica New York City Triathlon, 2007 (2nd in category)
  • Duathlon – Pac Crest Endurance, 2008 (3rd in age group)[24]
  • Scottsdale Duathlon, 2005, (1st in age group,[25] 2nd overall[26])

Awards

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  • Most Inspirational People In Health And Fitness | AskMen.com, 2016 [27]
  • ESPY Award Winner - Best Male Athlete with a Disability, 2009[1]
  • USAT (USA Triathlon) PC Athlete of the Year, 2008
  • USAT (USA Triathlon) PC Athlete of the Year Finalist, 2007

References

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  1. ^ a b c Carlson, Timothy (July 16, 2013). "Jason Lester ESPY upset winner". NowPublic.com. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Lester, Jason; Vandehey, Tim (2010). Running on Faith: The Principles, Passion, and Pursuit of a Winning Life. Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-06-196572-2.
  3. ^ a b Miller, Mark J. (May 2, 2012). "Nike's Forrest Gump: Ironman Jason Lester Crosses America for Nike". Nike Journey for a Better World. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  4. ^ "Waves For Water". Archived from the original on 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  5. ^ a b Stoney, Stoney (November 13, 2014). "Jason Lester together with Mannatech completed a marathon across the Great Wall of China to fight childhood malnutrition". ICNN. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Henry, Dawn (23 July 2009). "Jason Lester Wins ESPY Award". Ironman.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  7. ^ "Jason Lester Publishes "Running on Faith"". Ironman.com. August 31, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "48,000 miles. Infinite inspiration". Nike.com. September 6, 2012. Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  9. ^ "Run to Rebuild". Waves for Water. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  10. ^ "History". Never Stop Foundation. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  11. ^ "Kona resident Jason Lester completes 2,633-mile trek across Australia". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  12. ^ Thorburn, Kate; Media, Australian Community Media-Fairfax (2016-07-01). "Jason's 'epic' journey". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  13. ^ "Endurance athlete begins 72-hour run to help Army". New Frontier chronicle. December 15, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  14. ^ "Nike's Forrest Gump: Ironman Jason Lester Crosses America for Nike". brandchannel. 2012-05-02. Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  15. ^ "Waves for Water". Archived from the original on 2013-08-11. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  16. ^ "Wow! Endurance athlete Jason Lester hits the treadmill for 24 hours to 'crush cancer'". Twitchy. 30 March 2013.
  17. ^ "3PICMAN Challenge". Archived from the original on 2013-04-13. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  18. ^ "Purpose: Running 26 Marathons in 26 Days to Feed Oahu's Hungry". Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  19. ^ "H2ope". Archived from the original on 2012-01-17.
  20. ^ "Ultraman Canada History - 2008 Records and Results". Ultraman Canada. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  21. ^ "Ultraman Canada History - 2009 Records and Results". Ultraman Canada. Archived from the original on 21 September 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  22. ^ "2008 Results Page". Ultraman World Championships. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  23. ^ "2009 Results Page". Ultraman World Championships. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  24. ^ "Online Results - Pacific Crest Endurance Duathlon". AA Sports Limited. 7 July 2008.
  25. ^ "Scottsdale Duathlon/Triathlon - Age Group". TriFamily Racing.
  26. ^ "Scottsdale Duathlon/Triathlon - Overall". TriFamily Racing.
  27. ^ Weik, Matt. "These 10 Super Inspiring Fitness Stories Will Give You Monday Motivation". AskMen. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
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