Jim Howley
In the early 80's, Jim Howley tested HIV
positive. The diagnosis led him to a self-destructive lifestyle - he smoked two
packs of 
cigarettes a day and even became addicted to cocaine. Ironically, it
was news that he had full-blown AIDS in 1989 that lead Howley to try for his
first triathlon. After the doctor gave Howley 18 months to live, Howley began to
train for and completed his first triathlon. In that same month, Howley also
finished the Los Angeles Marathon.
Today, Howley has accomplished more than he - or anyone else - ever imagined. Howley has earned a Masters degree in clinical psychology, works as a volunteer staff therapist at Pacific Pride Foundation in Santa Barbara, California and has formed a nonprofit foundation called Athletics Instead of Depression and Sickness, also in Santa Barbara. He travels extensively to offer his motivational story and positive message to others. His dream of competing in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii came true in 1996, and was followed by running the New York City Marathon a week later - the first known person to complete such a task.
At 38, Howley has competed in more than 40
triathlons and has lived with AIDS. In preparation for the challenging Ironman
distance, Howley swims six miles, bikes 250 miles and runs 55 miles each week -
in addition to his regular weight-training regime.
In the spring of 1997, Howley completed the first Transcontinental Triathlon for Life, where he literally ran, biked and swam 3,500 miles from Los Angeles to New York City in 52 days. In 1998, he completed this feat with a group of physically-challenged athletes - stopping in cities across the country to raise monies and awareness for physically challenged youngsters.
Under the treatment of renowned AIDS specialist, Dr. Gary Cohan of UCLA, Howley has seen his T-cell count drop to a level of two cells and then rise again to a level of 350. Healthy adults have a T-cell count of 1,000 - that number is the backbone of an immune system. He has worked proactively with his team of physicians to employ drug therapies that limit side effects and improve quality of life. When others were still on the "cocktail," Howley began a dual protease combination, which had worked well for him. It is such a new-found phenomenon for an AIDS patients T-cell count to rebound in this way - many doctors caution Howley's ability to maintain or increase the count. The virus which causes AIDS has been undetectable in Howley's blood for over three years.
Howley is certain of one thing: without his
fitness regime and combination use of anti-retrovirals - which he put together
when others were still on the "cocktail" - he would not have survived
long enough to benefit from the latest advances in treatment. During the past
nine yeas, he has survived testicular cancer and has battled CMV, a
life-threatening disease that is common and ultimately fatal in AIDS patients.
This CMV took part of his visions, but not his optimism.
Howley remembers his first day of triathlon training vividly: "I couldn't run around the block and in the pool I couldn't swim a lap. Persistence and my love of life kept me going."
He has since completed the Hawaiian Ironman World championship twice, Ironman in Germany and New Zealand in 1998 and just completed the prestigious Ultraman event in Kona, Hawaii in 1998, consisting of a 6.2 mile swim, a 262-mile bike ride and a 52.4 mile run.
Jim Howley's success in athletics and life can be attributed to his positive outlook and healthy living. With this in mind, Howley plans to continue competing and challenging himself for as long as his health will allow.