Harder Than Iron - Challenge 120

Jonas Deichmann does things that no one else can. Why does he do it? Because he can—and because he enjoys it. While most athletes would never dare to attempt a long-distance triathlon, Jonas has an insane plan: 120 Ironmans in 120 days. As of today, he’s completed 70 long-distance races in a row. On May 9, he jumped into Lake Roth for the first time. We spoke with Jonas shortly before the start of his current project, “Challenge 120.”

Jonas Deichmann’s resume reads a bit like the Guinness Book of World Records: first triathlon around the world in 2021, record for the fastest bike ride from North Cape to Cape Town (18,000 km, 72 days, 2019), record for the fastest unsupported bike ride along the Pan-American Highway (23,000 km in 97 days, 2018), record for the fastest crossing of Eurasia (14,000 km in 64 days, 2017). Two crossings of the United States (Trans America Twice). That was last year. From New York City, Jonas cycled about 5,500 kilometers and climbed 45,000 meters in elevation to Los Angeles. He then made his way back on foot. Some call it crazy. “Because it’s possible,” says Jonas calmly—and with a touch of pride.

Extreme, more extreme, Jonas Deichmann

Pushing boundaries—that’s one of Jonas’s goals.

“I’m a fan of the idea that the body can adapt to anything,” Jonas explains, adding with an audible chuckle: “That doesn’t mean it’s a good thing.”

Not everyone should try to do what Jonas does. Jonas is clearly capable of these extreme feats of endurance because he’s always been very active and loves what he does. As a teenager, he competed in bike races. These days, he cycles up to 50,000 kilometers a year, runs 10,000 kilometers, and swims 1,000 kilometers. By comparison, professional cyclists who compete in the Tour de France—arguably the toughest bike race in the world—ride about 30,000 kilometers a year.

Click here for our profile of professional cyclist Marco Brenner

Jonas sees his ability to recover quickly from exertion as another key factor in his records.

“I definitely have a very good ability to recover,” says Jonas.

This is clearly evident in his film “Crossing America,” in which he crosses the United States twice. In the first few days of the return trip, he can barely put one foot in front of the other—and then suddenly, he’s back on track.

Marginal Gains

This also shows just how important mindset is when facing challenges like these. Most people would simply give up. Not Jonas.

“My secret is that I don’t second-guess what I’m doing. Before starting a project, I set rules and stick to them strictly. Once you break them, you’ll break them again,” says Jonas.

And so, every day at 7 a.m. sharp, the adventurer and competitive athlete jumps into Lake Roth, swims 3.8 kilometers, then cycles 180 kilometers and runs 42.195 kilometers. For 120 days straight.

To master this extreme challenge, Jonas has prepared meticulously in advance. Since January, he’s been training 40 to 50 hours a week—up to three sessions a day, 20 sessions a week. “You can’t get something for nothing,” Jonas laughs. But he’s in top form for the start in Roth. He’s maximizing marginal gains—aerodynamics, good nutrition, recovery—everything is taken into account. Sleep is especially important to Jonas. And to make sure he gets to bed on time, he can’t afford to lose too much time on the long-distance course. The target was twelve hours, plus meals (up to 10,000 calories) and physical therapy. In the first few days of acclimatization, however, Jonas already had to put in some extra hours.

During his 120-day challenge, Jonas also relies on recovery products from BLACKROLL. For example, he sleeps on the Recovery Base, uses compression boots, and the Fascia Gun.

The journey is the destination

Jonas isn’t worried about getting bored in his “office.”

With his passion, Jonas inspires many people around the world. Every day in Roth, he’s accompanied by family, friends, and fans—both in the water and on land. “When you’re truly passionate about something, it’s simply contagious, and I naturally end up motivating others to get into sports or embark on an adventure,” Jonas explains. In addition to the athletes who train with him in Roth, he receives many messages via email and social media, and he also gives about 100 talks a year. But not until after September 5. Until then, only one thing matters to Jonas: the 120-Day Challenge in Roth.

“Something new happens every day on my challenges. And that’s also one reason why I do this: life is about experiencing things. I feel incredibly alive while doing it, and I can’t imagine anything better than having a goal that makes sense to me. My life is sports, and I don’t want to do anything else.”

The journey is his destination. His motivation is crossing the finish line on the 120th day—the end. And the desire for the next adventure.

Jonas Deichmann Breaks the World Record!

On day 106, he had already broken the world record set by Brit Sean Conway (43). By September 5, it was all over. No one had ever completed 120 long-distance triathlons before him. In just under four months, he racked up 456 kilometers of swimming, 21,600 kilometers of cycling, and 5,064 kilometers of running.

When asked what his next project would be, he replied: “Top secret ;)”