Mcan be approached through numbers. An Ironman triathlon is: 3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of cycling, 42.195 kilometers of running. Completing an Ironman triathlon is a life goal for many aspiring recreational athletes. This is an extremely demanding goal that requires a lot of time, effort and training, as well as a high level of endurance. Jonas Deichmann now has a goal of completing 120 such Ironman triathlons. 120 days in a row. Ironman every day for four months.
Sounds unimaginable. Perhaps it is more appropriate to approach the matter through Jonas Deichmann's personal story. Of his impulse, of his motivation. “I'm now 36, the best age for long distances, at the peak of my athletic ability,” he says. “Now is the time to find out what is possible.”
He has often shown that he can do a lot. Deichmann holds several cycling records for the fastest cross-continents, and attracted attention with the triathlon around the world, where he completed 450 kilometers of swimming, 21,000 kilometers of cycling and 5,000 kilometers of running (equivalent to 120 Ironman distances) in 429 days. The last time he cycled 5,500 kilometers across the USA, from New York to Los Angeles, and jogged a good 5,000 kilometers back to New York. Now he wants to explore his personal limits: “Sports-wise, this is the biggest challenge of my life.”
The record is 105
No one has done it yet. The record is 105 consecutive Ironman triathlons, set in 2023 by Britain's Sean Conway. Deichmann knows him as a “really great guy” and tries to use Conway's experience to his advantage. The professional athlete has set himself the goal of not spending more than twelve hours on the road every day. “If you need 15 hours or more, the regeneration time is too short in the long run,” he says. Because: A lot of sleep is also important in the project. It is best for the body to get used to a routine, a daily routine that is always the same.
Deichmann himself sees two major difficulties in addition to physical tension. First: food. “It's also an eating contest,” she says. 11,000 to 12,000 calories are needed per day. In the long run, it doesn't just work with gels and energy bars, which is why he also plans a daily pasta break along the bike route. “Normally, when doing an Ironman, there is a calorie deficit on the day of the race. But I can't lose two kilos every day.” Second, there will be bad days. “On a good day, distance isn't a problem for me,” says Deichmann. “But after four months, every day is not a good day.” Cold, constant rain, infection, anything can happen. For other projects, he then cut short-term pace and daily workload. It won't work this time. “I have to cover the same distance every day.”
“Running through Kansas is definitely more boring.”
And then there's the mental issue. Struggle with monotony, same old processes. But Deichmann is not afraid of it. On the one hand, because he expects a lot of company for his “Challenge 120”. Because he competes in the Central Franconian town of Roth, a stronghold of triathlon and the annual venue of the world's most popular triathlon competition, “Challenge Roth”. Deichmann will start this route for the first time on May 9th, the “Challenge Roth” on July 7th will be his half-time race, followed by another 60 triathlon days until September 9th. Anyone who wants to come with him is warmly welcome. In addition, Deichmann assumes that the landscape of Frangimaa is more attractive in the summer than he has already experienced elsewhere: “Running through Kansas is definitely more boring.”
He can't imagine falling into a motivation hole during those four months. “When I have a goal in front of me that is very important to me and for which I will give my all, it is not difficult for me to motivate myself,” he says. It's a different kind of challenge than cycling through Africa or Siberia in winter, but he's convinced it's doable. And as for adventures and traveling around the world, there's always time for that later. “I still have a long bucket list,” says Jonas Deichmann.