With less than two minutes to spare, Jennifer Aimee Uy pushed her body and spirit to the limit, crossing the Ultraman Florida finish line in a dramatic, hard-fought moment. The recent grueling three-day ultra-endurance race – consisting of a 10km swim, 423km of cycling, and an 84km double marathon – tested not just her physical stamina but also her mental resilience.
“I struggled on Day 3, and it all came down to an epic finish,” Uy recalled of her achievement, which took place from Feb. 14-16 in central Florida. “The entire crowd was waiting for me, pacing me through the final mile and cheering me on.”
Unlike conventional races, Ultraman isn’t about who finishes first; it’s about perseverance, endurance and self-conquest. Every athlete receives the same medal, and the final finisher is given special recognition for never giving up.
Uy, one of only two women in the 30-athlete field, placed 27th, with two competitors unable to finish. She completed Day 1 in 10:36:56—covering a 6.2-mile (10km) swim in 4:35:54, followed by a 90-mile (145km) bike ride in 6:01:02. On Day 2, she powered through a 171.4-mile (278km) bike leg in 11:47:56, and on Day 3, she conquered the 52.4-mile (84km) run in 11:58:21. Her total event time across all three days was an impressive 34:23:13.
Now, she is setting her sights on an even greater challenge – the Ultraman World Championship in Hawaii in November. With a notoriously hilly bike course and the same grueling three-day format, the race demands even more from its competitors.
Uy, now qualified for the event, is determined to become the first Filipino to complete it successfully.
“I’ve learned a lot from my first Ultraman experience. I realized that my recovery was lacking – I wasn’t getting enough sleep, and my calorie intake wasn’t sufficient,” she said. “This time, I’ll be working with a nutritionist and training harder on high-elevation cycling to prepare for Hawaii’s tough terrain.”
Uy, a seasoned endurance athlete, began ultra-endurance sports in 2016, winning her first 50km ultramarathon. She has since claimed numerous titles, including victories in the 264km Baguio-to-Luneta race and the 102km Bataan Death March in 2023. Seeking greater challenges, she transitioned to triathlons, completing her first full IRONMAN in 2017.
In 2023, she raced in the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona and became the first Filipina to finish a full IRONMAN Philippines last year, securing third place in the women’s division.
Beyond competition, Uy balances her role as a senior treasury supervisor with intense training, often starting her day with solo bike and run sessions. Despite her schedule, she enjoys walking her dogs, playing pickleball and trail running. Inspired by elite triathlete Lucy Charles-Barclay, she aims to empower women in endurance sports, challenging gender barriers with perseverance and determination.
As she prepares for the Ultraman World Championship, Uy’s journey is no longer just about personal achievement. She runs, bikes and swims not just for herself but for every woman daring to dream beyond limits.
Because if her story has proven anything, it’s that no goal is too ambitious, no challenge too great, when faced with relentless courage and an unbreakable will.
