Jessica Jacobs

"It's all about the journey."

b.1976

Bellevue, Wisconsin

CURRENT RESIDENCE

San Antonio, Texas

Jessica Jacobs became involved with sports at a very young age. The youngest of eight children, Jessica's fondest memories are of playing outside for hours in the countryside of Bellevue, Wisconsin. Running and biking everywhere across God's green earth was simply a way of life for a little country girl that grew up next to her Grandma and Grandpa's farm.

Jessica raced her first IRONMAN in Switzerland in 2003 while serving as an officer in the U.S. Army. She fell in love with the sport, retired from the military with the rank of Major, and became a professional triathlete in 2007. With the support and encouragement of her family, her Army-officer husband, beautiful 13-year-old daughter and active 3-year old son, she is blessed to share her journey with you.  

In 2014 Jessica made the transition from full-time professional athlete to focus on her family and devote more time to her coaching career. In 2016 she returned to compete in triathlon as an elite age group athlete, and notched her 4th IRONMAN overall title in Sept. 2017 at IRONMAN Korea. Motherhood, her role as a supportive military spouse, and mentoring other athletes combine to make Jessica a balanced athlete and a strong competitor on race day. 

Jessica believes strongly in one-to-one, personalized coaching. She works with a small group of athletes each season. For more information on coaching, please write to Jessica: ironmanwisconsin@hotmail.com

Results

2017

IRONMAN Korea

1st place overall female

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships

Qualifier

IRONMAN 70.3 Wisconsin

Age group winner

2016

IRONMAN Superfrog 70.3

AGE GROUP WINNER

2014

Inside Trail Lake Chabot 30k Trail Run

1st Place Overall Female

American Triple T Triathlon Weekend

1st Place Overall Female

Aurora BayCare High Cliff Triathlon (70.3)

1st Place Overall Female

2013 - Pro Results

IRONMAN 70.3 San Juan 8th (4:30:52)
IRONMAN 70.3 Galveston 5th (4:20:19)
IRONMAN 70.3 Raleigh 4th (4:28:19)
REV3 Williamsburg (Half Rev) 8th (4:43:59)
IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead 6th (4:33:07)
IRONMAN Wisconsin DNF
IRONMAN Lake Tahoe 6th (10:26:47)
IRONMAN Florida 14th (9:22:51)

2012 - Pro Results

IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand 4th (4:31:46)
IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championships, Melbourne 7th (9:13:57) 
IRONMAN 70.3 Florida 1st (4:24:30)
IRONMAN 70.3 Kansas DNF
IRONMAN Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 2nd (4:28:47) 
IRONMAN 70.3 Racine 1st (4:26:04)
IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead 1st (4:24:43) 
IRONMAN World Championships - Kona 26th Pro (11:38:39)

Stats

Personal Best - FULL IRON DISTANCE

8:55 at IRONMAN Florida

IRONMAN WINS (FULL)

4

IRONMAN WINS (HALF)

3

MARATHON WINS

2

Jessica Jacobs completed her first Ironman triathlon in Switzerland in 2003 as an age-group amateur athlete, and while serving as a Transportation Logistics Officer in the U.S. Army. Despite a 140.6 mile race day that included 4 flat tires and a torrential downpour, Capt. Jacobs finished and was officially “hooked” on triathlon. She had completed the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and full 26.2-mile marathon in 13 hours, 21 minutes.

A Wisconsin native, she ran track and cross country at Green Bay’s Preble High School and ran in college for the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse, earning her degree in Exercise and Sports Science through an ROTC Scholarship.

After a few years of training and racing triathlons, Jessica qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in 2005. She completed the race in 11:51, a mere ten weeks after giving birth to daughter Kasey. In 2007, with some outstanding race results in-hand and with the support of her family and Army-officer husband, Jessica retired from the military and became a professional triathlete.

After 7 seasons as a professional, she has raced in every imaginable condition, from the scorching heat of Abu Dhabi to the chilly waters of Ironman Coeur d’Alene (Idaho), and everything in between.

Jessica is a 3-time pro Ironman Champion, having claimed victories at Ironman Wisconsin (2011), and Ironman Florida (2010 and 2011). She won Ironman Korea in 2017 as an amateur.

Ironman Wisconsin 2011, held on September 11, was a particularly significant race for Jessica, and one filled with emotion. Her husband, US Army Major, Michael (Jake) Jacobs was listening to the race online from his base in Iraq, as Jessica erased an 11-minute deficit during the marathon portion of the race to take the win. At the finish line, with her daughter by her side, the retired US Army officer delivered a stirring message to the fans, and crossed the line as she does at every race, proudly carrying her American flag.

Following that effort, a historic finish to the 2011 season was in store at Ironman Florida. Jacobs not only won that race and defended her 2010 title, but became the 13th fastest woman in the history of Ironman, smashing the Florida course record with a finishing time of 8:55:10 that included a 2:53 marathon.

Jessica is also a 2-time winner of the Mercedes Marathon (2009 and 2010) and has numerous duathlon and triathlon victories at other race distances. Her 2012 race season included strong finishes at Ironman New Zealand and Ironman Melbourne, and she claimed three Ironman 70.3 titles including Florida, Racine, and Steelhead. She qualified and once again in 2012 competed for the pro title at the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Jessica often says that while training and racing is a big part of her life, it is far from being the only thing that defines her. She is very much a “working mom,” albeit one with an unusual occupation, and she is actively involved in parenting daughter Kasey, son Liam, and spending time with family and friends.