Jack and Joe set benchmark in Ultra Challenge -- and life
Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - by John Carpenter

Talkeetna, Alaska - After 200 miles in the Sadler's Ultra Challenge, the racers
reached Talkeetna today. Only 60 miles remain for the racers. The Ultra Challenge
has now completed four of its six stages, and with the end of the race in sight,
winners in each of four divisions have been pretty much decided. But the Ultra
Challenge is about more than winning times -- it's also about winning people.


Jack Beaulieu and Joe Dowling are all about inspiration. Jack is 62 years old and
Joe is 65. Despite their ages, Jack is sixth in the eight-man C handcycle division,
and Joe is in fifth.


“I didn’t think about beating the young guys as a goal. I do see it as an opportunity to
measure myself against other people. At the same time I’m measuring myself against
myself,” Joe said.


That is the measuring stick that matters most to these two. When Jack isn’t taking on
events like the Ultra Challenge, he’s part of an organization that inspires others who live
with disabilities.


“We try to set examples for them and show them they can achieve any goal they set out
to, and no matter how badly off they are, what age, you can go out and do it,” Jack said.


Jack and Joe race for the love of the sport, chasing the joy it brings, as well as the answers.


“It became more of a spiritual pursuit for me,” Joe said. “I began to realize more and more that my life was a whole lot more
than trying to get rich or trying to have toys and everything like that, and I needed to really develop my spirit and find out what
my destiny is all about.”

 

Part of that destiny appears to include beating some of the younger guys in this year’s
Ultra Challenge; but, Jack and Joe aren’t the type to brag.


“A lot of the younger guys have to support families and work eight hours a day,”
Jack said. “I’m retired, so I have a little more time to put into the sport.”


Still, the younger racers have taken notice and they’re inspired.


“I hope when I’m 65, I’ve got 40-year-olds worrying about me,” handcyclist Kevin Jackson said.


As for Jack and Joe, there’s not much that worries them.

 

“We’re the top one percent of the population, as far as enjoying ourselves and having a nice lifestyle. We’re setting our own
lifestyle here with each other and it’s beautiful. It really is,” Jack said.


“If I can do it when I’m 80, I’ll be happy to be doing it. Real happy,” Joe said.


Alejandro Albor leads the men's handcycle C division with a 37-minute bulge over Seth
Arseneau. Matt Updike is top in men's B, leading Peer Bartells by 15 minutes. Monica
Bascio sits comfortably ahead in the women's class. Tony Iniguez firmly in control of the
wheelchair division.


Tomorrow is the final long stage, taking racers 52 miles from Talkeetna to Deshka
Landing. The Ultra Challenge finishes up Friday with an eight-mile time trial.