In 2012, 36-year-old James Lawrence completed 30 triathlons and broke the old record (20 triathlon competitions), for which he got into the Guinness Book of Records. Who would have thought that this man completed his first triathlon competition just four years ago?! In fact, endurance was clearly not his forte, he had no experience at all, triathlon was hard.
After completing 30 triathlons, James clearly defined his physical and moral limits and decided to take a swing at more — he set a goal of 50 complete Ironman triathlon competitions in 50 days in 50 states. In 2015, at the age of 39, James Lawrence set out to conquer new heights and announced that he was doing this in order to draw the world's attention to the problem of obesity, and was raising money for the childhood obesity foundation.
His family and team accompanied him to every competition.
50 daily triathlons is swimming 3.86 km + cycling 180.25 km + running 42.195 km every day! The total distance is more than 11 315 km of cycling, swimming and running!
Why 50-50-50?
Competition route map
Hawaii: swimming — 1:06:59, cycling — 6:20:56, running — 5:22:44, total time → 12:50:39.
Alaska: swimming — 1:09:07, cycling — 6:33:18, running — 5:29:19, total time → 13:11:44.
Washington: swimming — 1:15:23 + 7:49 = 1:23:12, cycling — 7:38:52, running — 5:32:37, total time → 14:34:31.
Oregon: swimming — 1:22:59, cycling — 6:30:11, running — 5:04:24, total time → 12:57:34.
California: swimming — 1:26:19, cycling — 6:46:28, running — 5:30:34, total time → 13:43:21.
Nevada: swimming — 1:51:09, cycling — 7:30:57, running — 6:19:02, total time → 15:41:08.
Arizona: swimming — 1:43:45, cycling — 7:38:52, running — 6:38:50, total time → 16:01:27.
New Mexico: swimming — 1:37:35, cycling — 9:17:11, running — unfortunately, the Garmin watch died at the 24th mile, the total time → approximately 17:30.
Colorado: swimming — 1:37:35, cycling — 7:38:02, running — 6:22:54, total time → 15:38:31.
Kansas: swimming — 1:32:15, cycling — 7:37:17, running — 6:38:03, total time → 15:47:35.
Oklahoma: swimming — 1:34:42, cycling — 7:30:17, running — 7:16:40, total time → 16:21:39.
Texas: swimming — 1:21:16, cycling — 6:26:21, running — 5:55:28, total time → 13:43:05.
Louisiana: swimming — 1:19:09, cycling — 6:34:05, running — 5:27:07, total time → 13:20:21.
Missouri: swimming — 1:22:38, cycling — 6:38:08, running — 5:22:49, total time → 13:23:35.
Illinois: swimming — 1:22:21, cycling — 6:58:56, running — 6:58:03, total time → 15:19:20.
Kentucky: swimming — 1:21:28, cycling — 7:47:05, running — 6:09:42, total time → 15:18:15.
Tennessee: swimming — 1:14:53, cycling — 8:13:31, running — 6:31:17, total time → 15:59:41.
Mississippi: swimming — 2:02:17, cycling — 5:43:14, running — 5:46:36, total time → 13:32:07.
Alabama: swimming — 1:28:29, cycling — 7:00:52, running — 6:16:01, total time → 14:45:22.
Florida: swimming — 1:10:49, cycling — 7:14:59, running — 6:13:23, total time → 14:39:11.
Georgia: swimming — 1:26:14, cycling — 6:51:57, running — 5:50:39, total time → 14:08:50.
Southern California: swimming — 1:27:44, cycling — 6:47:55, running — 6:05:16, total time → 14:20:55.
Northern California: swimming — 1:24:41, cycling — 8:04:03, running — 6:00:34, total time → 15:29:18.
Virginia: swimming — 1:26:46, cycling — 6:58:49, running — 5:49:51, total time → 14:15:26.
West Virginia: swimming — 1:31:29, cycling — 7:16:22, running — 5:39:08, total time → 14:26:59.
Maryland: swimming — 1:21:28, cycling — 6:05:48, running — 5:29:07, total time → 12:56:23.
Delaware: swimming — 1:24:44, cycling — 6:25:02, running — 5:41:29, total time → 13:31:15.
New Jersey: swimming — 0:49:31, cycling — 6:59:17, running — 5:43:47, total time → 13:32:35.
Connecticut: swimming — 1:26:49, cycling — 7:43:57, running — 5:58:17, total time → 15:09:03.
Rhode Island: swimming — 1:21:41, cycling — 7:10:08, running — 6:04:58, total time → 14:36:47.
Massachusetts: swimming — 1:25:47, cycling — 7:00:32, running — 5:55:21, total time → 14:21:40.
New Hampshire: swimming — 1:22:02, cycling — 7:02:29, running — 5:41:18, total time → 14:05:49.
Meng: swimming — 1:18:57, cycling — 7:14:53, running — 6:17:32, total time → 14:51:22.
Vermont: swimming — 1:38:27, cycling — 7:13:17, running — 5:37:31, total time → 14:29:15.
New York: swimming — 1:29:23, cycling — 7:03:40, running — 5:37:23, total time → 14:10:26.
Pennsylvania: swimming — 0:53:28 (river), cycling — 6:39:55, running — 5:45:45, total time → 13:19:08.
Ohio: swimming — 1:23:57, cycling — 6:41:54, running — 5:54:44, total time → 14:00:35.
Michigan: swimming — 1:24:03, cycling — 6:29:58, running — 5:56:01, total time → 13:50:02.
Indiana: swimming — 1:32:31, cycling — 6:44:14, running — 5:41:16, total time → 13:58:01.
Wisconsin: swimming — 1:28:19, cycling — 7:01:17, running — 5:58:51, total time → 14:28:27.
Minnesota: swimming — 1:33:16, cycling — 6:43:52, running — 6:43:52, total time → 14:09:51.
Iowa: swimming — 1:26:17, cycling — 7:19:38, running — 5:56:50, total time → 14:42:45.
Nebraska: swimming — 1:25:22, cycling — 6:58:17, running — 6:06:47, total time → 14:30:26.
South Dakota: swimming — 1:26:19, cycling — 7:19:51, running — 5:57:01, total time → 14:43:12.
North Dakota: swimming — 1:29:53, cycling — 7:11:33, running — 5:46:37, total time → 14:28:03.
Montana: swimming — 1:22:49, cycling — 6:18:55, running — 5:45:12, total time → 13:26:56.
Wyoming: swimming — 1:33:14, cycling — 6:37:50, running — 6:02:03, total time → 14:13:07.
Idaho: swimming — 1:18:16, cycling — 6:12:33, running — 6:02:02, total time → 13:20:35.
Utah: swimming — 1:29:01, cycling — 6:00:01, running — 5:17:40, total time → 12:46:42 — the fastest Ironman of 50-50-50!
Every morning about 3,500 kcal were eaten for breakfast, which was about half of the daily energy expenditure (7,000-8,000 kcal): eggs and pancakes.
The most difficult race is Arizona and Tennessee. James fell asleep and fell off his bike on the 30th mile of the route. I had to quickly put the bike in order, and as a result, the race was held with a lot of road adventures.
The most affected part of the body is the feet!
The most interesting thing for fans and everyone who followed the "iron cowboy":Every race, every marathon, James invited everyone to join him for the last 5 km for free, but those who wished could donate any amount to the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, a non-profit organization that teaches children to eat right and fights childhood obesity.
Since participation in such competitions (contributions), special sports equipment and food are expensive, James was looking for sponsors. One of them, having made donations in the amount of $ 100,000, was an American director specializing in documentaries, Yakov Schwartz.
It seems that the impossible is still possible. ;)