Jan
Bear is a 45-year-old orthopaedic surgeon who grew up in Santa
Fe, New Mexico. He is married to Kim and has two daughters Samantha
13 and JJ 11.
Jan has been involved
in sports since junior high school but over the last 15 years
has become interested in endurance sports. This began with several
marathons while in medical school and residency then on to multisport
events and ultra-endurance races. In the last couple of years,
he began competing in adventure races. He enjoys training with
his wife also an adventure racer and ultra-endurance athlete.
Some of his recent
accomplishments include; the only consecutive three time Leadville
Trail 100 bike and run finisher, with one of these combination
of races being completed with Kim and another with his brother
Todd. In 1999 he completed both 100 mile Leadville races in the
top level under 9 hours on the bike and under 25 hours in the
run.
Other accomplishments
include a 10th place finish in the Solo division of the 2000 24
Hours of Moab Mountain Bike Race, twelve top 10 age group finishes
in the Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathon, 3rd place in age group at
La Ruta de Los Conquistadores the toughest mountain bike race
on the planet in Costa Rica in 2000.
As a founding member
of Team Santa Fe he has also competed in several adventure races
in the last 2 years, this year attaining a third place finish
in the 4 Winds Mountain Rage adventure race series. Most of these
races are completed with his wife Kim also an avid racer and member
of Team Santa Fe.
During the last 11
years, he has been practicing orthopaedic surgery initially in
private practice but since 1997 as a founding partner of Orthopaedic
Associates of Northern New Mexico a 6-physician orthopaedic specialty
clinic. He is also an associate orthopaedic medical director at
St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe.
Other duties include
team physician at Santa Fe Preparatory school. If thatıs not enough
he still has a little time left to work out with Samantha and
JJ who are involved in basketball, soccer, cross country and swimming.
2001 has brought real excitement with the opportunity to compete
in the Eco-Challenge in New Zealand this October.
