KELLY H. WILLIAMSON Join me in the fight against Multiple Sclerosis.
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Professional Triathlete - Multiple 70.3 Champion - Austin, TX
Please support my Honorary Fund. Professional Triathlete - Multiple 70.3 Champion - Austin, TX
Photos Captions:
Top: Me giving a talk to Greenwood Endurance Team
Middle: Myself and my dad at dinner in Hawaii, 2010
Bottom: Myself and my mom at brunch before my wedding
Below: Derick & our dog Amico atop Mt. Princeton,
August 2010
Quick Facts
Hometown: Zionsville, IN
Currently Resides: Austin, TX
Profession: Professional Triathlete & Coach for Durata Training
Education: University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
Degree: BS in Kinesiology
Yrs as Pro: 10
Interests/Hobbies: Writing, Psychology, Skiing
Music: Ben Harper, Brandi Carlile, Ray LaMontagne, Hayes Carll
Fav Workouts: Anything in LCM swimming, Bike hill intervals, Run 1 mi trail intervals
Fav Race: Tri = Buffalo Springs or IM CDA, Bike = Mt. Evans Hill Climb, Run = Go! St. Louis Half Marathon
Pre Race Meal: Dinner = Pasta or Pizza & a Peroni, Breakfast = Banana, Bagel, PB/Jam, Coffee
Fav Foods: Ice Cream, Good Microbrews, Chocolate, Peanut Butter
Fav Book: Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
Family: Husband Derick, Parents Barb & Charlie, Sisters Cori & Robin, Dog Amico & Cat Corgi; nephews
Ben, Jack, Will & niece Ellie
Career Highlights
ITU Pan American Champion 2002
Member of Resident National Team, Olympic Training Center 2002-2005
Member of 2002 ITU World Championship Team
2002 USAT Elite Rookie of the Year
70.3 Champion: Branson 70.3 & Steelhead 70.3 (2010) ~ San Juan 70.3 & Buffalo Springs 70.3 (2011)
3rd at Ironman Coeur d'Alene (9:39) ~ 2010, Ironman debut
2nd at Ironman Texas (9:07) ~ 2011
PR's: 5k = 16:48
Half Marathon = 1:16.58
Olympic Distance Triathlon = 2:00
Half Ironman = 4:12
Ironman = 9:07
Hometown: Zionsville, IN
Currently Resides: Austin, TX
Profession: Professional Triathlete & Coach for Durata Training
Education: University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
Degree: BS in Kinesiology
Yrs as Pro: 10
Interests/Hobbies: Writing, Psychology, Skiing
Music: Ben Harper, Brandi Carlile, Ray LaMontagne, Hayes Carll
Fav Workouts: Anything in LCM swimming, Bike hill intervals, Run 1 mi trail intervals
Fav Race: Tri = Buffalo Springs or IM CDA, Bike = Mt. Evans Hill Climb, Run = Go! St. Louis Half Marathon
Pre Race Meal: Dinner = Pasta or Pizza & a Peroni, Breakfast = Banana, Bagel, PB/Jam, Coffee
Fav Foods: Ice Cream, Good Microbrews, Chocolate, Peanut Butter
Fav Book: Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
Family: Husband Derick, Parents Barb & Charlie, Sisters Cori & Robin, Dog Amico & Cat Corgi; nephews
Ben, Jack, Will & niece Ellie
Career Highlights
ITU Pan American Champion 2002
Member of Resident National Team, Olympic Training Center 2002-2005
Member of 2002 ITU World Championship Team
2002 USAT Elite Rookie of the Year
70.3 Champion: Branson 70.3 & Steelhead 70.3 (2010) ~ San Juan 70.3 & Buffalo Springs 70.3 (2011)
3rd at Ironman Coeur d'Alene (9:39) ~ 2010, Ironman debut
2nd at Ironman Texas (9:07) ~ 2011
PR's: 5k = 16:48
Half Marathon = 1:16.58
Olympic Distance Triathlon = 2:00
Half Ironman = 4:12
Ironman = 9:07
Growing Up
I was raised in Zionsville, Indiana, the youngest of 3 girls, and divided my time between swimming, soccer, gymnastics and of course some learning thrown in there. I started swimming and playing soccer at age 4, and I was constantly saying to my parents "I can do it MYSELF." I was stubborn and extremely active. By age 10, I started putting all of my free time into swimming, which took me through my high school years and on to University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. I swam all 4 years there, studied Kinesiology, and had an awesome college experience. I focused on the 1650, 500 free, 200 fly and 400 IM. While my improvements in the pool seemed to plateau about my Junior year, I still loved the sport and once I finished Senior year, I was left thinking "What now?"
Olympic Dreams...Or Not
I started doing triathlons the summer after finishing swimming, all local events, and discovered what fun they were. I said that I would 'not take it seriously', but when I was given a chance to move to Colorado Springs in 2003 and train at the Olympic Training Center, I could not pass it up. I moved to the mountains (which was my ultimate goal!) and trained there through 2005. I had a few big success', winning Pan American Championships in 2002 and qualifying for the World Championship Team in 2002 as well. I had no idea what I was doing and I am not quite sure how I did these two things, I think in large part due to being young, naive and simply doing what I was told. In 2004, I was starting to realize that my heart was not with the Olympic format racing; I just did not enjoy the drafting and the feeling that your race all depended upon tactics and external factors. I have always liked to do my own thing, be given my own space, and accomplish my goals individually. This seemed to show, and in 2005, a bike crash (resulting in a double compound fracture of my left arm, and then 3 surgeries in 8 months) seemed a good transition point in my life and my career.
Colorado to Texas & Going Longer
My husband Derick and I moved to Austin, TX in 2006, much to (yet again) my resistance, as he was headed to UT for Grad School. I was honestly a bit sick to my stomach moving to Texas from living in Manitou Springs, CO; but we have been beyond pleasantly surprised with this AMAZING town. I began dabbling in the longer racing, while also doing some online coaching on the side. I tackled my first marathon in 2008, my second marathon in 2009, and finally an Ironman in 2010 (Coeur d'Alene). I love the 70.3 distance races yet I realized that I just had to give this Ironman thing a shot; it was an unknown, and to me that it exciting. I was fortunate to do well at Coeur d'Alene, finishing 3rd (9:39) and qualifying for IM Hawaii in 2010. I went on to finish 15th in Hawaii (9:36) while also picking up my first few 70.3 victories in 2010 (Branson 70.3 and Steelhead).
What's next?
So here I am, at age 33, and never did I think a move to Colorado back in 2003 would still have me competing. I have taken it year by year, there have been MANY ups and downs, and my progress to this level has been gradual, to say the least. However, I would not have had it any other way. I have learned the value of patience and though I have thought I should throw in the towel many times, I have continued to plug away, always believing that 'I had better in me'. It has been an amazing journey.
Thanks for stopping by, and see you on the race course!
~Kelly
I was raised in Zionsville, Indiana, the youngest of 3 girls, and divided my time between swimming, soccer, gymnastics and of course some learning thrown in there. I started swimming and playing soccer at age 4, and I was constantly saying to my parents "I can do it MYSELF." I was stubborn and extremely active. By age 10, I started putting all of my free time into swimming, which took me through my high school years and on to University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. I swam all 4 years there, studied Kinesiology, and had an awesome college experience. I focused on the 1650, 500 free, 200 fly and 400 IM. While my improvements in the pool seemed to plateau about my Junior year, I still loved the sport and once I finished Senior year, I was left thinking "What now?"
Olympic Dreams...Or Not
I started doing triathlons the summer after finishing swimming, all local events, and discovered what fun they were. I said that I would 'not take it seriously', but when I was given a chance to move to Colorado Springs in 2003 and train at the Olympic Training Center, I could not pass it up. I moved to the mountains (which was my ultimate goal!) and trained there through 2005. I had a few big success', winning Pan American Championships in 2002 and qualifying for the World Championship Team in 2002 as well. I had no idea what I was doing and I am not quite sure how I did these two things, I think in large part due to being young, naive and simply doing what I was told. In 2004, I was starting to realize that my heart was not with the Olympic format racing; I just did not enjoy the drafting and the feeling that your race all depended upon tactics and external factors. I have always liked to do my own thing, be given my own space, and accomplish my goals individually. This seemed to show, and in 2005, a bike crash (resulting in a double compound fracture of my left arm, and then 3 surgeries in 8 months) seemed a good transition point in my life and my career.
Colorado to Texas & Going Longer
My husband Derick and I moved to Austin, TX in 2006, much to (yet again) my resistance, as he was headed to UT for Grad School. I was honestly a bit sick to my stomach moving to Texas from living in Manitou Springs, CO; but we have been beyond pleasantly surprised with this AMAZING town. I began dabbling in the longer racing, while also doing some online coaching on the side. I tackled my first marathon in 2008, my second marathon in 2009, and finally an Ironman in 2010 (Coeur d'Alene). I love the 70.3 distance races yet I realized that I just had to give this Ironman thing a shot; it was an unknown, and to me that it exciting. I was fortunate to do well at Coeur d'Alene, finishing 3rd (9:39) and qualifying for IM Hawaii in 2010. I went on to finish 15th in Hawaii (9:36) while also picking up my first few 70.3 victories in 2010 (Branson 70.3 and Steelhead).
What's next?
So here I am, at age 33, and never did I think a move to Colorado back in 2003 would still have me competing. I have taken it year by year, there have been MANY ups and downs, and my progress to this level has been gradual, to say the least. However, I would not have had it any other way. I have learned the value of patience and though I have thought I should throw in the towel many times, I have continued to plug away, always believing that 'I had better in me'. It has been an amazing journey.
A few bits of advice I can give; enjoy the process and try not to get caught up in the results.
Take your time as you move through the distances. Learn from each event. Be patient in the quest to get 'faster'.
Let the disappointments raise you up and make you stronger. View your 'weakness' as an opportunity to improve.
Help others out along the way; we all once were beginners.
And most of all, appreciate the ability to get up each day and do it.
When people ask me how long I will continue as a professional, I reply,
"As long as I am enjoying it and still improving."
The training is a part of who I am, what I do and what I enjoy; the competition against myself and others is what drives me. We can thank our competitors who propel us to be better,
but ultimately, the challenge to be better is always within oneself.
Take your time as you move through the distances. Learn from each event. Be patient in the quest to get 'faster'.
Let the disappointments raise you up and make you stronger. View your 'weakness' as an opportunity to improve.
Help others out along the way; we all once were beginners.
And most of all, appreciate the ability to get up each day and do it.
When people ask me how long I will continue as a professional, I reply,
"As long as I am enjoying it and still improving."
The training is a part of who I am, what I do and what I enjoy; the competition against myself and others is what drives me. We can thank our competitors who propel us to be better,
but ultimately, the challenge to be better is always within oneself.
Thanks for stopping by, and see you on the race course!
~Kelly
