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Jamie Patrick - Ultra Swimmer

Plain and simple - My passion is water. Throughout my life, water has given me many things, but most of all HAPPINESS. I began swimming at the age of seven and have not stopped since. Swimming has brought me around the world to places most people have only dreamed of. From Tahiti to Hawaii, South America to Europe and many places in between - SWIMMING is my passion in life.​

 

I am an ordinary 44 year that likes to set goals outside of what I feel is possible.  I am not the kind of person who can go for a five mile jog to stay in shape.  I must have a goal - a line drawn in the sand that I'm constantly striving for.  I need emotion to inspire me.  I need to be able to visualize a result.  I love the planning and preparation that goes into creating epic adventures.  I never claim to be the fastest or the best but one of the things I'm most proud of is being able to LOOK BEYOND AND DREAM.  I have learned many things by testing myself to the extreme.  I've learned that FEAR can be the best motivation.  I've learned that no matter how badly you feel or how much you are suffering, each stroke gets you that much closer to the finish.  I've learned that crying means you care.  I've learned that suffering can bring the biggest rewards.  The two questions I get asked the most are:  "Why do you put yourself through this?" and "What do you do when you need to poop?"  The answer to the first question is: because PUSHING YOURSELF to Places you have never been before allows you to grow mentally, spiritually and physically.  The answer to the second question is – I just go poop!

 

The reason I am able to do the things I do is because of my wife, Terry.  She supports me in everything that I do. Although she may not always understand my desire to push myself to such great extremes, what she does understand is my desire to dream, to accomplish goals (crazy as they may seem), and to constantly strive to be a better person in all that I do.   We've been married since 2002 and her support has meant everything. And then there is Hadley Grace.....our incredible nine year old daughter who is the light of our lives, and who inspires and amazes us both every day. I truly love sharing my incredible journeys with the two of them.​​​

My work life is at Patrick & Co.  I'm proud to be the fourth generation carrying on the business my great grandfather founded in 1873, as it is the oldest office supply company in San Francisco and one of the oldest in the country.  I am the Vice President/Sales Manager, and work closely with my father, Jim Patrick, President of Patrick & Co., to continually grow our business.  In today's technology driven world, this means constantly staying at the forefront of new technology in order to enhance business practices and contribute to our client's successes.  We feel that because Patrick & Co. offers something much more personalized than the "big brand" suppliers, that we will only continue to thrive and grow.  In addition to our office supply business, I spend much of my time managing five commercial properties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I am an Endurance Athlete and Adventure Swimmer.  Since I first embraced the world of endurance athletics in 2000, I have completed 15 Ironman triathlons, two Ultraman World Championships, a triple Ironman and countless other events. I am proud of each and every one, but those that have made the biggest impact me on are my 32 hour, 111 mile nonstop swim down the Sacramento River in 2011, and an amazing from Spain to Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar in April 2012.

I am about the ADVENTURE in everything.  From riding my bike through the night "just because," to swimming upstream in the creek behind my house during a rain storm,  to walking 17 miles home from work, to doing two marathons back-to-back.  I have done multiple 12 hour pool swims and swam in 12 different pools in 12 days just for the fun of it.  I have taken a train with my bike 200 miles down the California coast and turned around and rode back.  I have run 78 miles on a one mile loop, swam with whales, sharks and dolphins in the wild.  Growing up, I spent time with my family sailing all over the world. My first Ironman I did without training - just to see if I  could.  
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Along with SWIMMING, my other passions in life is following those who desire to push their own personal limits. To me this means so many things.  It is about SUPPORTING.  It is about UNDERSTANDING.  It is about RESPECT. It is about PASSION. It is about DREAMING BIG!!!  Ultimately it is about LIVING LIFE BEYOND WHAT YOU THINK IS POSSIBLE.  Whether it is an Ironman, a marathon, running a 5K or jumping in the water for the first time - My desire is to ENCOURAGE, MOTIVATE and SUPPORT those who take their own personal risks and want to do things DIFFERENTLY.   My motto is - Live Life Beyond What You Think Is Possible.

2011 World Open Water Man of the Year

Athletic Resume

1987,88,89 High School All America
1990-1991 Long Beach State Div.1 Swimming
1992-1994 University of Hawaii Div. 1 Swimming
1996 English Channel Relay Swim - 11th fastest in history
1998 Vineman Ironman 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
1999 Vineman Ironman 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
2000 Ironman Malaysia 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
2000 Pacific Coast Triathlon 2nd place age group
2001 Vineman Ironman 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
2002 Jamaica Open Water Swim Champion
2002 Ironman Brazil 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
2002 Negril Triathlon 2nd place
2003 Ironman New Zealand 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
2003 Ultraman World Championship 6.2 mile swim, 260 mile bike, 52.4 mile run - 7th
2003 Ultraman World Championship Swim Champion
2004 Ironman Austria 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
3 time Ironman Swim Champion - best 48:32
2005 Triple Ironman 7.8 mile swim, 336 mile bike, 78 mile run - 3rd
2009 Round The Sound  7.5K Men's Champion - Bermuda
2009 Ultraman World Championship 6.2 mile swim, 260 mile bike, 52.4 mile run - 17th
2010 Solo Clearlake Swim 17.68 miles Wetsuit swim 2010
2010 Solo Lake Berryessa Swim 11.87 Wetsuit swim
2010 Double Crossing Swim - Lake Tahoe - 44 mile Wetsuit Swim
2011 111 Mile Swim Down the Sacramento River - Wetsuit Swim

2012 Strait of Gibraltar - Spain to Africa - Marathon Swim -11 miles

2012 3 x 12 hour over night pool swim - 25 miles
100 + Triathlons
75 + Open Water swims
Past USMS National Champion - 200 Free
4 Marathons
50K Trail Run

Photos by: Brian Paterson

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