James Lawrence

dubbed the "Iron Cowboy", is a man of many talents. A triathlete, coach, motivational speaker, husband, and father of five, James lives his life to set an example of just how much you can achieve when you put your mind to it.

James has always been athletic, competing in wrestling throughout high school and winning championships doing so. Still, the world of endurance sport was never something he considered taking part in until he moved from his native land of Canada to Utah. When James competed in a Thanksgiving Day fun run in 2005 with his wife Sunny, he found himself huffing and puffing his way to the finish, with people pushing strollers passing him all along the way. It was then and there that he decided to dedicate himself to fitness.

That same year, at age 28, James began competing in short-distance triathlons almost every weekend, and things started to ramp up at a rapid pace. In 2008 James had set his sights on something bigger and decided to race long-distance triathlons. By 2010, James broke the world record for half-distance triathlon events (1.2 miles swimming, 56 miles cycling, and 13.1 miles running) and completed 22 half-distance triathlons in one year, making him a Guinness Book of World Records holder. But half wasn't enough for James, so in 2012 he worked to break the world record for the most long-distance triathlon races completed in one year and accomplished it, completing 30 races in one year. During this time, James picked up the nickname the "Iron Cowboy", thanks to the flashy cowboy hats he wears during each race - all hand-picked by his children.