Jon Adamson

By Matt Russ

Most athletes have a “dream goal.” I want live like Jon Adamson. If I have one athletic wish, it is to enjoy training and competition until the day I die, and Jon seems to have discovered the athletic fountain of youth. Jon does not look, act, or race like any 71-year old man that I know of. In fact the contrast between Jon and most men his age is startling, and he is in considerably better shape than most 30-year olds. This is also demonstrated by his having a place on the podium at triathlon World Championships from Olympic to Ironman distance. While most men his age contemplate assisted living, Jon contemplates another age group World Championship title. In 2007 Jon was named USAT Grand Master Athlete of the Year, and was ranked #1 in the 70-74 age group (All American).

Jon is also a very smart man. I believe he approaches the aging process as he would a training plan. He has studied aging and addresses the specific limiters and fitness substrates that degrade with age. For instance, muscle mass loss is something that naturally occurs with the aging process, but by strength training, you can drastically mitigate this. Jon has an athletic build very dissimilar to most men his age. He walks and runs without stiffness, hesitation, or imbalance. He can hold a bike speed that challenges men 50 years younger and has remained remarkably injury-free. He attributes this to listening to his body and being proactive with his health.

Jon recognizes that his attitude has as much to do with his athletic success as his training. You will not hear him complaining and he does not have a lot of patience for complainers. He has always been competitive and focused throughout his life whether he is at work or competing in a race. Like most triathletes, he did not come from an athletic background and started off his endurance sport career as a runner. He entered his first triathlon in 1982 before clipless pedals, aerobars, and race wheels, and was subsequently hooked. Since then he has pursued triathlon with passion and it has become a lifestyle for both him and his wife, Jo. Jo is an equally talented triathlete, having placed top in her age group at the Hawaii Ironman World Championship, a silver medal at USAT Nationals, and an All-American title. The two of them make a very dynamic duo and serve as an example of what can be accomplished at any point in your life.

Jon is equally passionate about coaching. He has an encyclopedic coaching knowledge, especially in regards to power training. He has produced a number of great athletes and inspires a loyalty among them that I do not often see. Jon likes to learn and recognizes that coaching not only is a vehicle to give back to the sport he loves, but also makes you a better athlete. He adapts his methods and utilizes the latest technology to get his athletes faster than the competition, and is definitely not an “old school” coach. He is analytical and precise in his approach and challenges his athletes to a high degree.

To enjoy the freedom and movement of your body late into life is a fantasy for most of us but, in Jon's case, it is a reality he has worked very hard to achieve. If you are looking for the fountain of youth, Jon will tell you that it can be found through discipline, a positive attitude, challenging yourself to a high degree, healthy living, and most importantly removing the mental barriers to achievement.