Stout is simply that in triathlon pursuit

Before John Stout was born, his father envisioned a future full of promise and inspiration.

And just as the definition of stout states, John exemplifies endurance. He did so while competing in volleyball for Newport Harbor High before graduating in 1998.

He does so now as a triathlete.

The 27-year-old completed his first Ironman in 12 hours, 45 minutes, eight seconds in Nice, France, on June 24 while his father Jim observed, despite battling pneumonia.

“It was very inspiring,” Jim Stout, who lives in Costa Mesa, said. “I couldn’t sit in [an easy] chair for 12 hours and watch football … so to keep moving like that … it was very moving. I wanted to be there for my son. I’d do anything.”

At Newport Harbor, John Stout learned under the tutelage of veteran volleyball coach Dan Glenn.

Stout hasn’t forgotten what Glenn instilled in him.

“I learned so much about commitment and working hard,” John Stout said. “You know a lot of those things that I wouldn’t have been able to do this race with if I didn’t have that background. [Coach Glenn] was definitely a huge help in that process.”

The bigger role model for Stout has been his father.

Jim Stout played football at the University of Pittsburgh and Miami of Ohio. Famed football coach Bo Schembechler taught him while at Miami. Jim Stout also wrestled and boxed.

He even competed in a couple of triathlons before his athletic career ended with bad knees. He constantly supports his son and wouldn’t have minded if John wasn’t athletically gifted.

“If he played the violin, I would be inspired if he was in the symphony,” Jim Stout said. “I determined that before they [John and his older brother Jim Jr.] were born. I wanted to them to do some school activity; I didn’t care what it was. I sort of discouraged them from playing football so they would have whole bodies.”

John Stout appeared destined for an opportunity to contend in his first Ironman.

He seized that chance to compete in France, courtesy of Triathlete magazine. His mother entered him into a contest this past Christmas to win the grand prize: airfare to France, hotel accommodations and a spot in the event that features a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike leg, followed by a 26.2-mile marathon.

When hearing the news that he won the contest, Stout didn’t know who to believe.

“At first I was like ‘Are you sure?’ ” Stout, who now lives in Manhattan Beach, said. “It’s kind of like one of those blank checks you get in the mail … one of those types of schemes. But it ended up being the real deal. Once that happened the training definitely went up considerably.”

Stout said entering a triathlon is not only costly, but sometimes requires signing up as early as a year in advance. Contestants are required to finish in fewer than 16 hours.

Being in that type of shape doesn’t occur overnight.

Stout decided after college to start running for exercise. In 2004, he competed in the Los Angeles Marathon.

The training suited him well.

“At the end of that year, I thought running was fun, but it kind of got boring after awhile,” Stout said. “So I decided, ‘why not try a triathlon?’ ”

In 2005, Stout entered the Wildflower Triathlon, his first half-Ironman consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike leg and a 13.1-mile run.

School consumed Stout’s time in 2006, preventing him from taking part in any triathlons. Now that he teaches adapted physical education, he has more time on his hands.

And he is using his training to enrich the lives of those who greatly need it.

Stout planned on competing in two half-Ironman events this year, before learning he had won the trip to France. He especially appreciated the mixture of France’s beauty and the diverse competition supplied by more than 1,500 athletes from 52 countries.

The race started at 6:30 a.m. and, before it was over, Stout had lost 10 pounds. To maintain appropriate health while losing that much weight so quickly requires strategy.

“You would never think this, but the saving grace, because your stomach gets upset, is Coke,” Stout said. “I’d either grab water and a Coke or Gatorade and a Coke at almost every station because it settles your stomach and gives you calories.”

The 112-mile bike leg provided Stout with much to observe while the 2.4-mile swim was considerably less serene, even combative.

Instead of 100 people being sent out in traditional “waves” for the swim, there was a mass start that sent out 1,500 people simultaneously. A flailing rival competitor knocked one of Stout’s goggles off.

“It’s almost like the Tour de France when you’re going through these small villages,” Stout said of the bike leg. “The scenery was just gorgeous.. “The swim is pretty grueling … It’s kind of weird because you’re hitting people and people are hitting you and it’s hard to keep your cool. But, everybody is swimming for the same goal and it’s the nature of the game so you have to keep calm.”

To stay in shape for competition, Stout exercises six times a week. His ultimate goal is to compete in the Ironman in Kona, Hawaii. In the meantime, he is slated to compete in the Ironman in Arizona next April.

To qualify for the Ironman in Hawaii, a competitor must place in the top three of their age group.

Stout isn’t sure that is realistic.

“I’d love to be able to qualify for the race in Hawaii,” Stout said. “The guys at that level are insane. The only way I’ll probably qualify for Kona is if I keep doing it when I’m 60 or 65 and the amount of people dwindles out and hopefully I get in.”

Even if John Stout never reaches Kona to compete, he is already a champion in the eyes of his father.

“He has even inspired me,” Jim Stout said. “I can’t run anymore because of my knees so I have a three-wheel recumbent bike that I go on. I was in the L.A. Marathon, the one he ran three years ago.”

The enduring son does the running for his father.

And Jim Stout wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Yeah … there you go,” Jim Stout said, with a beaming smile.

JASON KORNFELD may be reached at (714) 966-4616.