The 2008 Ultraman World Championship race actually started back in October 2007 for me. 

I was back in Kona training for the Western Australia Ironman when my swim coach Karlyn invited me over for the annual ironman dinner she hosts for her friends participating in the Hawaii Ironman. I thought this would be a great opportunity to get some filming in for my documentary, " A Painted Race ". I had our camera man Don meet me at the house to film me while I spoke with and interviewed some of the athletes.  

One of the athletes who walked up to me was Kim Rouse. Kim is a 70.3 World Champion in her age group and she was in town to race the Ironman. Kim and I got to talking and she told me about her husband Mike, and how Mike was an Ultra Distance athlete and that he was racing the 2007 Ultraman in December. I had heard about Ultraman, even watched the end to the 2006 race. At the time, it was something I just couldn't comprehend actually competing in.  

After about an hour of talking, Kim said, "I want you to crew for Mike at Ultraman. You will crew with me." I agreed and instantly, I wondered what I was getting myself into, but at the same time I realized it was meant to be. You see, I'm a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason. People are placed in your life for a reason and to help you learn a lesson. Kim was at that party that night - the same time as me - to invite me to help crew the Ultraman, and (at the time) I didn't have a clue.  

I remember meeting Mike the next day out in front of Huggo's. Mike runs the shoe division at Zoot Sports and Zoot had their promo tent out front. I thought this would be a great opportunity to interview him about being one of those crazy Ultra-guys and what got him into the sport. I interviewed Mike and we got it on film ...many wonder what 'A Painted Race' is about; in fact, it isn't ALL about me, Jason Lester, the triathlete. It's about what it takes to be a triathlete, an Ironman and an Ultraman. One of the things Mike told me that day was, "You are going to see a part of an athlete out on the Ultraman course you have never seen." I walked away wondering just what he meant by that. 

Fast forward twelve months: I now know. 

December 2007 I crewed for Mike Rouse for three days at the Ultraman. I remember thinking at the start of the swim on day one that this was going to be me in 12 months. I wanted this, and I knew I could do it. I experienced some of the most amazing minutes, hours, days back in 2007, and it drove me to set up a plan to compete in the 2008 race. 

I left Kona that December to race Western Australia Ironman. I had no clue why I chose this race other then the fact that I wanted to get one more Ironman in for 2007, and this race was still open. I now understand why I chose that race. I met my current coach at the race. Dave and Ann Ciaverella raced Western Australia and crushed the course, both setting personal records (PRs). After the race we had to take a bus back to Perth in order to catch our flights.  

There were maybe six people on this big Greyhound. In the first ten seats it was only me, Dave and Ann, and we had still not met. Dave asked me how my race had gone and I told him I'd PR'd by almost an hour. I then asked them, and they told me they had both PR'd as well. When Dave told me his time I flipped. Here was my chance to get inside the mind of an athlete who raced 9-hour Ironmans. I picked Dave's brain for two hours, and at the end I asked him if he coached. He seemed hesitant to say yes and was more nonchalant about it, more like, "Yeah, I help a few athletes."  

I got back to Kona and signed up for the Hilo-to-Valcano 32-mile Ultra…on a whim. I had never run over 26 miles, but thought it would be a cool race to get on film for the documentary only a couple weeks post-Ironman. I went over to Hilo and ran from sea level to 4,000 feet, all 32 miles, in under 5 hours and I was hooked. This was it for me. The longer the race, the more I enjoy it.  I contacted Dave and told him my 12-month plan. I sent him my key races and said my goal was the Ultraman World Championship race in December. 

Dave put together a plan. He led, and I followed. I knew how strong i had to be to race the Ultraman, not only physically but also mentally, so I went into the zone. This zone wasn't a 12-week training zone, this was going to be a 12-month zone. Athletes talk about sacrificing their social life, Fridays out with the boys, and family time with the wife and kids in order to train. I cut everything out of my life that would get in the way of the next 12 months, and I did it quickly. I set up my life to allow me to stay focused 24/7 on the Ultraman. I slept, ate and dreamed about this race starting in December. 

In April I went with Dave, Ann, and a few other Ironheads to Arizona and raced. It was hard to stay 100% focused on these races when I had my mind set on the PRIZE (remember this word for later). However, the experience was still awesome and it was great to be around Dave and company to see what top athletes do and how they feel leading up to a big race. After I raced ITU Worlds in Vancouver in June, I phoned Dave and told him I needed to go to Portland to train. I needed hills. I wanted to be in the best shape of my life for Ultraman and I wanted to hammer my body. Dave told me to get to Portland and within 24 hours I was on a plane. Dave and his wife Ann opened their home to me so I could stay focused on training. It was by far one of the best experiences ever, seeing how these two operate on a daily bases. After all, they both are among the best in their division, and they have training and racing down to a T. I needed this. I needed to be in a positive environment in order achieve the task I had set before me. 

We used Canada Ultraman as a test. We wanted to see how the body would adapt to the 6-mile swim and 52-mile run. Please keep in mind that when I first signed up for Canada it was only for the run segment. Two weeks before the race, however, the director, Steve, emailed me saying our swimmer had backed out. He asked me if we had another swimmer, and told him no. He then suggested that I should do the swim, that it wasn't all that difficult (he didn't know about my arm yet). I sat and looked at his email for about 15 minutes and thought to myself, "You know what, swimming is the most challenging for me, not running 52 miles…so I'll do both." I sent Steve an email saying I would swim and run, and that's how Ultraman Canada came to fruition. We went to Canada, we did well, and we had a blast. 

To race in the Hawaii Ironman had been a dream of mine since the age of about 15, and to be there with some of the best athletes in the world was an honor even though I was there for a training day, knowing Ultraman was only a few weeks away. It was an experience I wish every triathlete could partake in. Again, I got to experience it with Dave, Ann and Kelly, which made everything about it even better. 

After Hawaii Ironman, though, I was tired. It wasn't so much that my body that was tired as my mind. I had either raced or trained non-stop for 10 months, and I felt like I needed a break. The thing is, I simply couldn't afford to take that break. I was back in training after only one day off. For most Ironman athletes, the Hawaii Ironman is their last race of the season. For me, I still had a huge race left, and it was proving hard for me to get my head straight. I had to dig deep.  

I had cut down all contact with my friends and family. I needed to be alone to focus. I let Dave into my world as much as I could. I realized he needed to know how I was feeling. I didn't tell him the truth at times and I remember lying on the couch at my place in Portland the last week of October thinking, "I'm spent; I can't go another day of this, getting up early, working on the film, emails, training as many as three sessions a day." I wasn't inspired, I was beat up and I missed my friends and family. I missed having a social life. I felt like I was in prison. That's when I called Dave and told him I was out. I was going back to Hawaii in 3 days. Just like that I was packed and off to the airport. I needed to be in Hawaii. I wanted to feel the heat, feel the island and be around the area I would race in the Ultraman. Just the thought of being back in Hawaii got me stoked. I landed in Hawaii and it was hot, real hot. I needed that heat. After all this was how it was going to feel at the race. 

 

I spent the next 4 weeks ramping up my miles. Dave had me doing 2 and 3 sessions a day, and I was feeling good. The week before the race Dave had me up to about 30 hours, and it was by far the hardest week I had ever done, but I needed it. The week of the race I was calm, and I started seeing athletes I knew from last year's race and everything started to feel real. It hit me hard when veteran Ultraman athlete Gary Wong and I ran into each other at Lava Java only 5 days before the race and he introduced me to another athlete as "Jason Lester, the guy who is racing with one arm," and I realized this was really going to happen. 

Race week was a calm week as far as training. I rested 3 days and by Thursday at the pre-race meeting I was feeling tired. Everyone kept telling me it was natural because of all the intense training I had done and then suddenly backed off. I was getting massages every other day and getting adjusted at the chiro - and rested as much as possible race week. 

Friday morning I was up at 3:30 a.m. to drink a bottle of carbs. I wanted my levels topped off, so I forced myself to get up and drink it. I then lied awake in best till 4:30, and then it was pack up and get down to the pier. Doug and Annette got me to the pier around 5:45 in the morning. My kayaker, Bree Wee ( 2nd at Japan Ironman and 4th at Florida Ironman this year) was there and we went over the swim strategy while Doug zipped me up and got me ready. I entered the water around 6:20, and I was knew I was ready. I had no doubt I could do this. Nothing was going to stop me from my destiny.  

I kept looking south as far as I could and kept thinking this was real -- what was once a dream was now a reality. BAM, and we were off. Nice and easy, just another day in the pool, just a smooth 4, 5, 6,000 training session, no problem. Except this time it was going to be 10,000. I felt great, smooth and strong going past the 1.2 mile market at 41 minutes and some change. After that I got into a rhythm and just started to think about the past months and everything I'd gone through to get to this day.  

Right around mile 3 I remember feeling a few stings here and there on my legs, but I thought nothing of it. Then around mile 4 Bree had told me we were approaching mile 5! At 3:50 and I thought to myself, "wow, I'm doing great," so I started hammering it a little harder because I felt good and had no pain in my shoulder. Then, all the sudden, I wasn't moving. I was stuck. I could feel it; no matter how hard I pushed we were not moving. I could see the same rock under me for 20 minutes, and i started to worry. I didn't know how much harder I could kick in order to not over work my shoulder. I looked up and Bree and told her we are not moving and she stated we had a current going against us. We moved out more in order to try another angle. We eventually started gaining ground and then out of nowhere I got attacked and had no clue from what, but my face, throat, legs and arm were all on fire and I panicked.  

Within seconds it seemed the rescue boat was right there. They had been in the area because it was known that there were jelly fish around, and so they were watching me. I swam over to the boat and yelled for them to get me in it. I could hear the lady on her radio calling shore, saying an athlete was down and that they, were bringing me in. They put some gel on me and the burning started to lessen, but I was having difficulty breathing. I think that's why the lady wanted to take me in. Then I heard the guy on the other side of the radio ask if I needed 911 and the lady said yes. I yelled, "No, do not call 911," and Bree backed me up. 

In a matter of about 30 seconds, the last 12 months went through my mind. I remember thinking about Dave and our plan. All the hard work we had put in, and this wasn't the way the race was supposed to end. I could see if I had not put in the work and I simply bonked, or if my shoulder/arm went out, but to be taken out by some jelly fish...that was too much. Thoughts of failure set in. I was going to fail and it wasn't my fault. In a heartbeat I stood up and leaped off the boat, missing the back engine by inches, and started hammering again. But here I was swimming with more jelly fish -- i could see them, hundreds of them right in front of my face -- so the next mile I swam with my head up, facing forward. I have never kicked so hard in my life to get to the finish.  

My adrenaline was going full steam, and all I cared about was getting out of the water. Bree told me the red buoy was within sight and that was all I needed to know I was going to finish this swim no matter what it took. As we approached the turn I could Bree scream. We had 500 meters left and she was stoked. Then I found myself passing a swimmer -- non other then my good friend Mike Rouse from Zoot Sports -- and Bree went nuts. I could see her out of my left eye. I put it all on the line. I felt like I was at a poker table and went all in. I got to the shore and Doug and Annette pulled me out of the water. I knew they were worried as I'm sure they had heard I had been attacked. I stood up, got my balance. Doug put my slippers on and I took off to the showers. 

I had done it, and I was amazed, amazed what the human body and mind is able to do even when the odds are stacked against you over and over and over, in racing and in life. Some call it perseverance, some call it luck, but I call it destiny and the power of the man above.

 

It took a while to get my bike stuff on, as I was all wet, but we got it done and I jumped on my bike and took off like a bolt. I had only 6:30 to make it 90 miles to Volcano, with over 4,000 feet of climbing. Right off the bat you have to climb up 3 km, then take a right and climb all the way to Captain Cook. No flats the whole way, all climbing at 5 miles per hour and it's over 100 degrees out. I was cooked, but I had to keep going with no break.  

The first flat I finally came across I tried to slam it into my big ring and it would not catch. This was going to be an interesting ride. I told Doug right away to have a bike tech meet us ASAP, because my big ring was done. About 20 minutes later Vern from Bike World showed up and he adjusted my cable and got it into my big ring, all in about 5 minutes. Then after the next climb I went to put it back to the big ring and there was nothing once again. I told Doug and within minutes Vern was back and he said, "Jason I hate to say this but it doesn't look good." He pointed to my cable: it was bent in half and just the casing was holding it in place. Doug and Vern spent the next 12 minutes trying to re-route my cable but they couldn't get it through the frame. I told Vern to forget it that I would do the race in my small ring. I needed to go. It drove me to hammer harder, and made me want to prove once again that I would Never Stop.  

I didn't know how much time we had left and I kept telling Doug I didn't want to know. I didn't want to know how many miles either; I needed to do my thing with no distractions. I spent the next 80 miles drinking, hammering, drinking, going harder and then we hit winds, then rain, then it got cold, and I was flying. I felt like something had gotten within me and it was kind of scary how much energy I had. There was a 17 mile descent at one part towards the end and it was pouring rain, so I pulled into the car lane and just let it go. I got up to 45 miles per hour, and I didnt care. I knew time was pressing and I was going to make the cut-off.  

With 8 miles to go Doug started to point out that there were a few other athletes up above, and I snapped at him telling him I didn't care. This wasn't a race for me, I didn't care about passing anyone, I just needed to finish because I was mentally spent. Sure enough I saw a yellow jacket, and then I could feel my legs starting to turn over faster. Yes, I wanted to pass these people. I knocked off one rider, then two, then saw another up ahead and it was getting dark. I saw the turn-off to the finish and I let 'er rip, passing 2 more. I started to think it hadn't been such a bad day considering I'd gotten out of the water over an hour later then these other guys and I'd managed to catch them and finished with 15 minutes to spare. 

Day 1: Swim time of 5:29, bike time of 6:31 with transition time of 10 minutes and bike mechanic time of 12 minutes, so I'm thinking I had a bike time of around 6 hours. 

Day 2: Nice and easy at first, long and painful in the last 20 miles.  

My neck started to go out and my head kept dropping. I was weak. Sitting on a bike for 176 miles is no easy task, something I started to learn around mile 120. It's not the physical aspect that gets to you; it's the head and neck position while sitting. The day started out in Volcano with the temperature in the low 50s. The first 17 miles or so is a descent, and I was flying along; a good way to start the morning and warm up. By the time we made the turn to head to Ka'au it warmed up pretty quickly. I pulled over and Doug stripped my layers off, and off I was to start the rest of my day. There is a 17 mile stretch called the Red Road and you are not allowed to have any crew with you on that road. It was by far some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever witnessed on the Big Island. Once off the Red Road and back with the crew, I caught up to Suzie Delgado, an 11-time Ultraman vet. We started to chat and I asked her how long she usually does day 2, and she said right around 10:30.  

I kept thinking that was a great time and I should hang with her. We ended up leapfrogging each other the next 30 miles, until we started out 13 mile climb to Honokaa. This is where I started to really feel the day. We were at mile 130 or so, and we had this big, slow, gradual climb that seemed to never stop. After we finished we blew into Waimea and my whole mind was focused on the 6 mile climb over the Kohalas. It wasn't so much the climb that I was concerned about as it was the wind reports we were getting on the 15 mile decent. They were reporting 60 mile per hour tail/crosswinds. Yikes! Once over the Kohalas I knew we had this day in the bag, but when we got to the top the winds were brutal, so brutal in fact that I had to ride my breaks down the whole time in order to not get blown over. Only weighing a buck forty-five I had no weight advantage that some of the riders had, who blew by me going 50 miles per hour, and looking to weigh in at a buck seventy or eighty at least. I held on for dear life with all 3 fingers (2 fingers on the breaks and 3 on the bars). Doug later told me he was behind me and feared my safety. My head started to drop (my neck was weak). It was a strange feeling: all of a sudden my head would just droop and I would have to shake it in order to wake my neck up. We took the left in Hawi and stage 2 was in the bag. We finished at right around 10 hours, and I was pleased considering I lost a good 20 minutes having to go 10 miles an hour down Kohalas. 

We stayed in Waikoloa on day 2 and I was so blessed to have a massage therapist follow me around all 3 days. Darn was amazing, not only for her skill as a massage therapist, but because of her very positive, upbeat energy. She made sure I had no doubts I was going to finish this race. 

Day 3:  Up at 4 a.m. and all packed up. Doug and Annette always made sure I had little to do. They were so amazing and I kept thinking this was what it must feel like being a rider on the Tour, going VIP all the way. They threw me in the truck and brought the horse to the starting line. I was feeling good, not great, but good. I tested my legs before the starting line and was shocked to see that they were not that sore. I guess those 3 slices of pizza on the bike the day before helped the carbo-loading process. You have to eat as much as you can on day 2 for day 3 because by the time you finish the day 2 stage you only have time for about one good meat. 

 

Copyright Bree Wee

 

 

We got to the starting line on day 3 and I remember thinking to myself, "This is your discipline, you like to run and you will have no worries." I started off slow and let as many people pass that needed to. I wasn't about to go out hard and end up walking mid-way. As a matter of fact, I didn't walk once outside my twenty 1-minute walks for nutrition. That was my goal and I stuck to it. Annette ran with me for a few miles and we had a great conversation that helped get my mind off the day and the fact it was going to be another 9-10 hour day. Then Doug jumped in and ran a few miles all while they were switching back and forth giving me my nutrition and water. At times, these two would be break-dancing in the middle of the street to help cheer us on. They were amazing and funny. I owe this race to them. 

Once we came rolling into Kawaihae at mile 19 and I felt great. We made the turn to head up to the Queen K and it was getting hot out already. I got to talk to a couple great athletes and even learned of their running strategy for the day. Rick Roll's strategy was 4 miles on 1 mile walk. When he first started this he was almost last and he was discouraged. He saw how far back he was and knew he was a better runner. But his coach demanded he do this, and it ended up working great, He passed 3/4 of the field and ended up running 9 hours. Darwin from Canada's strategy was to run as far as he could while keeping his momentum and stopping as much as he wanted. We ran together for a good 10 miles and had a great chat. It's so much easier to run these Ultras when talking with someone because it helps your mind escape the boredom and pain.  Warren from the Big Island ran the whole race at a 135 heart rate. He blew by me with one mile to go and I was so proud of him. This guy broke his back 10 years ago and was struck by lightning. He did this race to prove he was whole again. There are so many great stories out on the field.  

 

Doug jumped back in and ran the last 25 miles with me. I stayed right on his back right side and had him pace me all the way in, not saying a word. I was spent. I was in pain from head to toe and for some odd reason I had the biggest headache on my right side. Annette and Doug kept calling Dave throughout the 3 days just like he was our 3rd crew member. At one point Doug wanted to hand the phone to Dave and I snapped NO (the mind goes black when it's weak, sorry Dougie). 

I know the Queen K well. I know all the major spots, the trees and curves. Once I saw we had passed Waikoloa I started to seek out parts I knew till we hit the airport. This helped me mentally and worked well. My biggest landmark when I'm out biking on the Queen K are the palm trees at the airport. I must have asked Doug fifty times how much further until paradise (that's what I call the palm trees) and instead of giving me miles he would give me hills ("We have only 3 more ups/downs and skylight turns 'til the airport."). Coming up to the airport is when tears started to swell up. I knew if I could get to the airport we had only 8 more miles and this journey was going to make history. The last 8 miles I will never forget in my life. I had friends come out and run with me and the cars going by, everyone honking. I ran past the airport and I was hurting, my feet were swelling up, it was hot, and if I went to stop I knew my legs wanted to buckle. I remember around mile 49 Annette telling me how great I felt and all I could think was, "I think I may die." I laugh about it now, but when everything hurts -- even your heart - there are no other words to express it. 

I could see the turn-off to the old airport. Doug told me we were within 10 hours, and I thought we were going to try and race the last mile in order to break 10 hours. I could barely think straight and now I was going to actually have to race? Well, believe it or not the racing instinct inside me took off and we started picking it up. We ended up running the last mile in under 7 minutes and sprinted the last 500 yards. I looked up and the time said 10:01 and I thought, "well that sprint was a waste," and just 2 minutes after that Doug ran up to me and said I actually went 9:59. I told him I saw the ticker, but he claimed there was a glitch. I went to the finish line tape, and yes indeed they had me down at 9:59. I told them I hated to be honest but my time was 10:01. With about 15 minutes of going back and forth with the folks at the finish line they finally saw the error: they had crossed my time with the guy in front of me, Warren. 

The " Prize " - the finish line of the 2008 Hawaii Ultraman World Championships 

18 months of training and preparation, beating the body and mind to a pulp, and we did it. 

I want to first off thank Doug and Annette for your amazing generosity over the last 6 weeks. It is such a blessing to have you apart of my journey and thank you for believing in my mission. To Dave ... i still get tears when i think back when i was laying in the boat and they were going to pull me out of the race ... and you came to my mind. I didn't want to let you down ... and just the thought of hearing you say " don't stop  " made me jump up and jump back in. Thank you for the time you put into me in order to make this happen. We did it bro !

 

TO TEAM NEVER STOP : 

It takes a team to achieve goals. It takes a team, love and believing to make history. To all my friends and family who have supported me the past 18 months (in no direct order):

To Harold, my best friend of 19 years! Who would have thought back in 1989 when you and I met on the freshman baseball team that you would still be supporting me in 2008. Thank you for believing in me. You are not only my friend , but my prayer warrior.  I love you HC!

Thanks to Lori Klein, Nancy Peters, Vivian, Lincoln, Stan ( my prayer warriors ), Cari, Brett, Bob Babitt, Brian ( Zoot ), Chuck Kelhoffer, Nadine, Carl, Derrie, and Maggie, and to Coach Marfe for getting me into this sport back in 89! To Jason Lee and all my friends in Kona, thank you for your support and prayers. You rock! Thanks to Tai at Tai Graphx for getting my race outfits done just hours before my races. Thanks to Roberto for an amazing job on my website. To Rip, I love you brother! You are an amazing man and God has His hand on you. Never Stop! Thank you, Eric and Karlyn for your support, coaching, and for opening your hearts and home to me the past 24 months. Thanks to Dr. Oden, the best chiropractor in Hawaii. You are the man! Thanks to Oli and Julia for believing in me and giving me the VIP treatment, always. Thanks to Steve Antczak for all your help in making my words sound right! 

To my 83 year old Grandmother who still has no clue what an Ironman is, let alone an Ultraman, thank you for being my angel and prayer warrior. To my # 1 fan in this world - Katana - I love you !

To all the radio, newspaper, and TV people I was fortunate to meet thank you for covering my year. 

Dean Karnazes: I'm an actions man, I do my talking out on the field and so do you. I have watched you from afar for many years. Thank you for your support, uplifting emails and inspiration. 

Patty - you are an angel who was sent to me - and i'm blessed to have you in my life. Thank you ! 

Julie - To the one who puts a smile on my face and peace in my heart - we - are - going - places !

To the Ironhead Crew: Dave, Ann, Chris, Aleck, Christian, A.J., Darren, Kelly, the Perkins, Rob Williams and Kelly, Grant, Taylor, Pam…thanks for all you support, emails, calls and friendship all the way up to the starting line on race day! I can't think of a more talented squad than you guys. I'm grateful and honored to be part of your crew. 

My attorney and friend Rich - thank you for your support. I'm excited for what God has in store for us. 

To my agent Jillian - thank you for seeing my vision and believing in my calling. 

A special thank you goes out to Katie and Max Lelli Bikes. Thank you for believing in me when no one else would. I have ridden / raced all the big name bikes and your passion, knowledge and dedication to the sport is priceless. Your athlete relations is top notch ! Thank you for all your support, well wishes and producing an amazing product. I'm honored to be apart of an elite team and look forward to our 2009 year ! Max Lelli is here to stay and the USA will soon be hearing about us ! 

Of course, I can't forget my SPONSORS:

 
Max Lelli Bikes
Cycle Station
2G2BT Cookies 
Zoot Sports
Token Products

 

Without you, none of this would be possible. 

 
The past 12 months have looked like this : 

· Dec. 2nd - Western Australia Ironman  

· Jan. 26th - Hilo to Volcano Ultra Marathon  
 

· April 13th - Arizona Ironman  

· June 7th - ITU World Championships in Vancouver, Canada  


· June 27th - Pac Crest Endurance Duathlon  

· Aug. 29th - Sept. 2nd - ULTRAMAN Canada in Penticton, BC  

· Oct. 11th - Ironman World Championships - Kona, Hawaii

· Nov. 23rd - 25th - ULTRAMAN Hawaii

All the glory goes to God for His strength and endurance !