KZ Team 2015

Introducing the Katie Zaferes team 2015,

All those people behind helping my season run like a well oiled machine.

Some are new relationships for me this year,

But most have been with me as I’ve reached each new tier.

Team Psycho and Off the Front Multisport supported me since I started tri,

The first triathlon teams I was a part of and how lucky was I?

They both believed in me before I even knew the sport,

And I can’t describe how wonderful these people are as a cohort.

I met Coeur two years ago at the Las Vegas Super Sprint,

Thinking they probably weren’t going to be interested during my injured stint.

Super excited when they contacted me out of the blue,

I couldn’t be more blessed to meet such an amazing crew,

Not only is Coeur women’s tri apparel the best in the realm,

They’re also not afraid to take issues in triathlon at the helm.

ROKA sports creates apparel that allows you to swim super fast,

With wetsuits that are not only speedy but are made to last.

The crew here also is quite close to my heart,

As they took care of Tommy when in Dallas he fell apart.

I can’t tell you how important it is to see a company the truly cares,

And is there for their athletes whenever they need them to be there.

Brooks was the first pair of running shoes that I ever wore to train and race,

A love for the Run Happy motto from which all my theories are based.

I train in the Ghosts and race in the PureFlow,

The perfect shoes for a gal always on the go.

I couldn't be more pumped to wear SPY optics on my face,

And be looking through happy lenses during each race.

This fun awesome company has athletes who do the extreme,

I feel very fortunate to get to be a part of the team.

#seehappy, heart and courage, run happy, find faster;

All things in my life that I want to always remember and master.

What better people to have behind you every day,

Than the ones that work to make you better in each every way.

Abu Dhabi Podium!

For me the first race of the season,

Always brings more jitters than there’s reason.

I don’t know why but I feel like I could forget how to tri,

With each week of the off season that goes by.

However, it doesn’t take much for me to get my butt in gear,

Only the sound of the gun going off in my ear.

And then it’s like “hey! I remember this feeling”

Now I better get moving because Carol Routier’s arms are reeling.

And so it was like this in Abu Dhabi too,

As soon as the race started I knew what to do. 

The swim for me was a little bit of an unknown,

There was a time during training were my swimming had slown.

However, during this race it all fell into place,

And seeing my teammate Sarah True, I tried to keep pace.

Coming out of the water I knew transition would need to be fast,

If there was any chance of creating a break in the bike that would last.

I put in some strong efforts whenever there was a break,

All the time feeling like it was definitely a chance I was willing to take.

We had a strong group of five going into the final lap,

But going through a technical section I fell off the back.

When I didn’t latch back on I used my heart and Coeurage to keep powering alone,

An all too familiar memory of when that happened to me in Stockholm.

But I kept pushing and made it to transition before getting caught,

Knowing that the next group was going to be coming in hot.

Pretty quick into the run I was happy to be feeling well,

My BrooksPureFlow had me gaining on the individuals ahead I could tell.

As I ran I just kept my eye on the girls up ahead,

Never looking back at what was behind me instead.

Ultimately I crossed the finish line in second place,

My best performance ever at a WTS race!

It was so awesome for me to achieve a goal I had set,

And standing on the podium for the first time is something I won’t forget.

Not to mention USA Gwen Jorgensen did an awesome job taking the win,

And Flora Duffy for getting 3^rd after just getting back into ITU again!

I can’t thank all the people who have supported me in this endeavor,

To name each and everyone would take me forever.

Thank you to all the people who have been there for me through and through,

Always believing in me and what I do.

Of course thank you to my sponsors who are always there for me,

And have supported me with each dream I hope to achieve.

Thank you to ROKA, Brooks, Off the Front Multisport, TeamPsycho and Coeur,

You help me achieve all I dream and much more.

Thank you to my teammates and coach Joel Filliol who make race prep fun,

And all go out there and race hard, getting it done.

Now I’m heading to the Kiwi land,

Auckland is next up on my plan!