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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 6, 2010

Two attempt daily triathlons on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Big Island


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Jason P. Lester, left, and Richard Roll pedal up Kalanianaole Highway between Waimanalo and Enchanted Lake today. They are on the second leg of a five-day, five-island test in which they will attempt iron-distance triathlons daily.

RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Two endurance athletes are on Oahu this morning for the second leg of a five-day, five-island test in which they will attempt iron-distance triathlons daily.

Jason P. Lester and Richard Roll call it the Epic5 Challenge.

Yesterday they completed their first iron-distance triathlon — a 112-mile bicycle ride, 2.4-mile swim and 26.2-mile run — on Kauai.

They are now under way on Oahu. You can follow their progress on: www.epic5.com

The two will be on Molokai, Maui and the Big Island in the coming days.

The Epic5 website says the challenge was Lester's vision.

Despite total paralysis in his right arm due to a childhood injury, Lester has competed in several Ironman and Ultraman competitions.

Last year, he won an ESPY award for Best Male Athlete With a Disability.

The Epic5 Challenge is a fundraiser for Lester's Never Stop Foundation.

Proceeds from Epic5 events will fund the foundation's hopes of developing a performance center in Kailua, Kona, where Lester has lived for the last several years.

Roll is a former world-ranked swimmer from Stanford University. Now 43, he was named one of 2009's "25 Fittest Men in the World" by Men's Fitness Magazine.