Kelly O’Mara
Kelly O’Mara is racing as a pro in 2017 — something she is trying not to be nervous and stressed out about. She first learned how to triathlon on the Cal Tri team in 2005, but took a hiatus from the sport for a few years post-college (during which she did some terrible mountain biking, some moderately OK obstacle course racing, and finally actually ran a marathon). She returned to triathlon while on a grad school fellowship at USC and raced with the collegiate tri team there.
In 2016, she trained and raced a lot, like, a lot. And competed at the World Championships in Kona for the first time ever, taking 10th in the 30-34 age group despite some projectile vomiting. Because everyone vomits at Kona. Kelly also produces a sports podcast for WiSP Sports and writes for Freeplay Magazine, espnW, Triathlete, Competitor, and a number of other publications for whom she is the resident triathlon expert. Ask her anything about the industry. Except for detailed gear questions about bikes.
Quick Facts
- Kelly still owns her high school’s freshman 800m record — and she can not believe racing for two minutes used to be her thing.
- She’s lived in over a dozen different cities and six different states.
- One summer, she worked as an au pair in Morocco; she was very bad at it.
- She once took the Foreign Service Officer exam and she briefly considered working for the CIA.
- Kelly is impressively good at rapping Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”.
2017 Schedule
2016 Results
Super Sunday 5k; 5th overall (18:51)
Kaiser Half-Marathon
Credit Union SacTown 10 Miler (1:05)
Galveston 70.3; 2nd AG, 4th Overall
Wildflower Triathlon; 1st Amateur Overall
Pacific Grove; 1st Amateur Overall
Vineman 70.3; 3rd AG
Ironman Whistler 70.3; 2nd Overall
San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz; 3rd Overall
Ironman World Championships; Top 10 AG
Race Highlights
Ironman Wisconsin 2015: 2nd woman overall, 10:21:57
USAT Collegiate Club Nationals 2015: 17th woman overall, 2:16:37
Kaiser Half-Marathon 2013: 1:27:58, PR
Escape from Alcatraz 2011: 12th professional woman
Pacific Grove 2008: 1st amateur woman, AG course record; 2:19:22
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Kelly’s Blog
Winter Training is Not My Favorite Thing
Winter training is rough (even in California). That’s why you need to mix it up.
Follow Kelly