Spencer Lynn, a true Mon Valley Ironman

1st Lt. Spencer Lynn is shown during his time in the U.S. Army.

By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
Belle Vernon Area and Cal U graduate Spencer Lynn is never one to back away from a challenge. He readily admits though, the hurdle, or hurdles, he overcame over the weekend were the most challenging of his life.
On his 29th birthday, Lynn completed his first full Ironman triathlon. He competed at Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach.
The event consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon (26.2-mile run) — in that order.
Lynn completed the event with in 12 hours, 22 minutes and 2 seconds. He was in the top 28% of men in the event, finishing 259th out of 912. Overall, he was in the top 27%, checking in 324th out of 1,177 competitors.
“I have an actual bucket list in an old notebook and an Ironman was on my list,” Lynn said. “I think wanting to do it went back to my days in high school when I saw it on ESPN. I think it’s the hardest thing a human can do so I’ve always planned for it.
“It just worked out because with (COVID-19), it’s the perfect sport for this time. You’re not around anyone.”
Before he could cross the Ironman off his bucket list, Lynn had a different kind of duty to get out of the way.
This month, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Spencer Lynn completed his service with the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
“I knew this Ironman was the one because the timeline fit. I’d be out of the Army and have time to do it,” Lynn said. “With the virus, it was the only full Ironman being held. It was perfect.”
He joined the Army in 2016, attending officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Ga.
Lynn, the son of Don and Gina Lynn of Rostraver Township, had his family in attendance at his Turning Blue Ceremony in Ft. Benning. He was named the Platoon Honor Graduate, finishing at the top of his platoon, and he was a member of the Commandant’s List. He was named a Distinguished Physical Fitness grad and earned a blue chord for his shoulder, signifying him being a qualified infantryman.
He served his final three years stationed at Schofield Barracks, earning his jungle certification.
Always an adventurer, when Lynn wasn’t busy training for battle in a jungle, he was hiking, biking, swimming and enjoying his time on the Hawaiian islands.
But it all turned into training for the Ironman.
“I averaged 3 miles per week of swimming, split into two 1 1/2 miles/one-hour sessions,” Lynn said. “Then I’d do three “brick” sessions per week.”
A “brick” is a term common in the triathlon circuit. One brick consists of a long bike ride and a short, intense run.
“Those were usually 20-25 mile bike rides followed immediately by 2-5 mile runs.
“When you get off the bike, your legs are pretty much shot,” he said. “There was a lot of bike rides, hikes and long runs with a slower pace. I’d do another two or three 6- to 10-mile runs and a 40-plus-mile bike ride on the weekends. And I continued lifting three days a week.
“I trained twice per day every day for the six months.”
One might think the first lieutenant was fearless, but that wasn’t quite true.
“By far the most difficult part for me was the swim,” Lynn said. “In the Army, we like to be on the ground. I didn’t go into the Navy, so I wouldn’t say I was at home in the water. I had no formal swim training, especially in the ocean.”
But living in Hawaii for three years was an advantage.
“It’s pretty scary, but I was able to swim in the ocean beforehand,” he said. “That was helpful. But you never know what you’re going to get on the day of the triathlon. Conditions can change fast. You’re out there swimming for an hour and it’s hard not to think about what’s swimming under you or swimming through waves and currents.”
He admitted that’s where the fear set it in a little bit.
“Especially when you’re at the bottom of a swell and you can’t see the shoreline. There were some breakers that I had to power through. It was a little uncomfortable in a sense.”
It’s no surprise that after his weekend, Lynn was resting his sore muscles at his parents’ house.
But the Ironman wasn’t the only hurdle Lynn had to get over. He got engaged immediately after the event and was able to pull off the surprise for his now fiancee, Jamie Mages.
Originally from the North Hills area of Pittsburgh, Mages and Lynn were together in college. They got back together during his service in the Army.
Mages served as his “sherpa” during the triathlon and was a regular participant during his training for the Ironman.
“Sherpa is the term for the person who drives you from point to point during the event, carries your stuff and gets you where you need to be,” Lynn said. “It’s derived from the guides that take people to Mt. Everest and the mountains in that region of the world.”
So how did he pull off carrying an engagement ring around all day?
“She had no idea she carried the ring around all day,” Lynn said with a laugh. “I had it in a paper towel in my wallet. When I was done with the event I asked her if she wanted to go get something to eat, and I just told her to make sure she had my phone and my wallet.”
The couple asked a couple of passersby to take a photo of them together with Lynn’s medal. That’s when he leaped the final hurdle and popped the question.
“It was so funny because the two women taking the picture starting screaming,” he said. “It was a great memory. We’ll never forget it.”
Mages obviously said yes. Now the couple is house hunting here in the region.
Lynn was a three-year football letterman at Belle Vernon, playing his senior season under former head coach Aaron Krepps. He was a First-Team Academic All-State performer, a two-time all-conference standout and a two-year captain for the Leopards.
He continued his football career at Cal U, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sport management and finishing his master’s degree in business administration.
He was a Capital One First Team Academic All-American, an All-PSAC First-Team honoree and led the Vulcans in tackles in his senior season.
He went on to play professional football for the Osnabruck Tigers in Germany, where he was a player and coach.
In 2017, he was awarded the university’s Young Alumni Award and was named to the school’s inaugural Under-40 Recognition Class.
In 2019, he donated his Jungle Warfare Training flag to the BVA football program under head coach Matt Humbert. Leopards players carry the black “Jungle” flag commemorating their alumnus’ graduation onto the field along with the American flag prior to every game.
“That means a lot to me. The football program still means a lot to me. My coaches, Coach Krepps, Coach (Brett) Berish and Coach (Greg) Steeber, taught me so much, not just about football but about life, too,” Lynn said. “They taught me how to work hard and take pride in the important things you do.
“I’m fortunate to be able to show a younger generation all of the things that can be accomplished through hard work, dedication and pride.”
So, what’s next for Lynn? He hopes to stay healthy and move on to the next challenge, the Bataan Memorial Death March on March 21.
The Bataan Memorial Death March is held at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. It’s a challenging march through the high-desert terrain. The march is held to honor those who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing freedom and their lives.
Filipino and American troops were forced by the Japanese to march 65 miles from the southern end of the peninsula to San Fernando. They were divided into groups, many of whom were killed in brutal fashion by their captors as they struggled to continue on.
“Thousands of troops died in the Bataan Death March,” Lynn said. “At the memorial march, they have survivors there and honor them. I couldn’t think of a better way to honor them as well. So that’s next on my list.”
For now, Lynn is working in sales for Compound Solutions, which sells ingredients for companies that sell workout and nutritional supplements.
“It’s something I’m interested in and I love it,” Lynn said. “I’m big into health and fitness and I could do this job forever.”