Robert Kobus, age 50

Robert, who currently resides in Morristown, NJ works for the FBI’s New York City office and is a United States Coast Guard Petty Officer, reservist, for the Sector New York. While this will be his first event participating with Team In Training, he has a background in endurance events. Robert has completed 11 full marathons, Boston Marathon twice, the Marine Corps Marathon five times, the New York City Marathon three times and The New Jersey Marathon once. He has also rode two Police Unity Tours where he biked from New Jersey to Washington DC, 300 miles, in 4 days.

While completing all of these events is quite an accomplishment, Robert takes it to another level by carrying a United States Flag with him during several of those marathons. The flag holds the names of the victims of 9/11, which includes his sister, Deborah Kobus. This Ironman will be Robert’s first triathlon of any kind but he does it in honor of his brother-in-law, Richie “the Baker” from Staten Island, his friend Nick G’s wife, and friend and former MGM CEO, who lost his battle to cancer, Terry Lanni. He is excited to help all of those afflicted with a blood cancer and to help find cures for all cancer patients and one group that is dear to his heart, the 9/11 First Responders that have been diagnosed with different forms of cancer over the last 10 years. He plans to ride and run with his flag to keep the memory of his sister, Deborah, and all the victims of 9/11 alive.

Robert is excited for everything to come over the next year, meeting and working with his teammates and fighting these terrible diseases. He will not let his 50 year old body stop him in his journey to the finish line and when asked what he was most afraid of, Robert responded: “How can any of us be afraid when reading the story of Kayla Defeo?” Robert is a man dedicated to a mission.

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