What happens when you can't even swim across a pool?In 2012, I couldn't swim 37 yards without stopping—gasping for air, humiliated, and wondering what I'd gotten myself into. I was overweight, addicted to energy drinks, and living far from the life I knew God intended for me.
Thirteen years later, I stood on the start line at the IRONMAN® World Championships in Kona, Hawaii—one of the most prestigious endurance events on the planet. Then I did it again in Nice, France. This book tells the complete story of that transformation: the brutal training sessions, two back surgeries that threatened everything, the faith that sustained me through doubt, and the lessons learned from 16 IRONMAN® finishes. But more than that, it's about discovering who you really are when you refuse to let your worst moment define you.
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Whether you're an athlete, a dreamer, or someone who's ever felt like giving up, this story is for you.
It's time to rewrite your story.
It's time to rewrite your story.
What readers will discover
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Faith
The principles that sustained me through 13 years of training, setbacks, and triumphs Real Talk
About mental toughness, doubt, pain, and what it actually takes to achieve a seemingly unreachable dream |
Practical Lessons
What I learned from both victories and failures from 16 IRONMAN races Coaching Philosophy
The concepts that emerged from my journey and now helps athletes achieve their own "impossible" goals |
Overcoming Obstacles
How I overcame two spinal surgeries and returned to compete at the highest level Life Balance
How I competed at World Championships while serving as a worship pastor, being a husband and a father |
Top Tier Endorsements
As the Legendary Voice of IRONMAN, I’ve had the privilege of calling hundreds of thousands of athletes across finish lines throughout the world. Jason’s challenging journey from 37 yards to Kona exemplifies everything IRONMAN stands for: the refusal to quit, the courage to start when success seems impossible, and the transformation that happens when ordinary people attempt extraordinary things. This is a story that needed to be told. Jason doesn’t give you a cute comeback story, he gives you truth, pain, setbacks, surgeries, doubt, and the grit to keep showing up anyway. From 37 Yards to Kona is proof that ordinary people can do outrageous things when they stop whining and start working. Read this, then go earn your finish line. |
From 37 Yards to Kona challenges us to shed fear, embrace growth’s pain, and harness community strength. I am inspired by him, proud to know him, and honored to call him my friend. Pick up his book and let his remarkable testimony ignite the fire within you to pursue your own extraordinary finish line. Jason’s journey—from barely managing a single swim lap to standing on the starting line of the IRONMAN World Championship—is a powerful testament to what becomes possible when unwavering determination meets intentional preparation. This book is a blueprint for anyone who has ever questioned their own potential, and Jason’s story invites each of us to consider what transformation might look like in our own lives. |
From 37 Yards to Kona is a gripping story of perseverance and the deep difference between doing and becoming. The moment Jason describes dragging himself those first 37 yards offers a vulnerable picture of how God begins His greatest work in our smallest, most humbling beginnings. This book reminds us that endurance sports can be a sacred classroom, shaping our faith as much as our fitness. Athletes and ministry leaders will find strong encouragement here—especially those who see sport not just as competition but as transformation, personal growth, and a platform to point others to Christ.
—Mark Long, director, FCA Endurance
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About the AuthorJason Millsaps is the Lead Worship Pastor at Bell Shoals Church in Brandon, Florida, and founder of 121 Tri Coaching, LLC. A certified triathlon coach (USAT Level 1, TrainingPeaks Level 2, & 80/20 Endurance certifications), Jason has completed 16 IRONMAN races, including World Championships at Kona 2024 and Nice 2025.
His transformation from being unable to swim 37 yards to competing on the world's biggest endurance stage has inspired athletes across the country. Jason brings the same passion for transformation to his coaching practice, where he helps athletes of all levels achieve goals they once thought impossible. He lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife Andrea and their two sons, Jonathan and Jaden. |