Soleful Spotlight: Triathlete & Marathoner

This week's Soleful spotlight features TRIATHLETE and MARATHONER Keith Ramdeen.

Keith is a long-time friend and multi-year Soleful athlete who started training with us in the summer of 2022 as he prepared for his first 10K — Cow Harbor, which he will race and likely PR for the third consecutive year this September. In November of last year, Keith ran his first marathon — the hugely popular, highly challenging New York City Marathon, which is one of the six largest and most renowned races that make up the World Marathon Majors. This past Sunday, Keith competed in and successfully completed his first triathlon! As we celebrate Keith's amazing accomplishments and start looking ahead to what's next, we took a moment to catch up with him as he reflected on this recent race experience.

Overall, what was the biggest highlight of this entire experience?

“So overall I think the biggest highlight of this was running past that finish line! It wasn't the most demanding or physically challenging but it was one that tested my fears and that was the water. Running past that finish line made me feel accomplished!”

What advice would you give someone training for their first triathlon?

“First set of advice I can give as a TRIATHLETE is have fun and don't be too hard on yourself! Secondly practice and work on it all especially the transitions, so overlooked and the clock doesn’t stop. Work on your weaknesses and finesse your strengths.”

What are you most proud of from this experience?

“I’m most proud of facing my fear, learning something from not being able to do it. I’m proud of getting into and out of that water! But more so for learning the freestyle stroke!”

If you could change one thing about the training, what would you change?

“For training if I could do anything different I would have swam more without the wetsuit and more in open water. I would have been more comfortable in the water!”

If you could change one thing about the race day, what would you change?

“If I could change one thing about race day it would be my performance with the swim, I panicked and tried to reset myself and it didn’t happen quick enough.”

Would you recommend this particular event to others? Would you recommend triathlons to others?

“I would definitely recommend this to others, especially if it’s a bucket list item, fitness, way of life or just challenge

I definitely want to do more of these and finesse the swimming. I’m coming back for that swim because I know I’m better than that!

Lastly I would add, don’t be hard on yourself, I’m a perfectionist and want to do better but acknowledge that you are doing something not many do! You showed up and accomplished greatness! I’m a triathlete!”

Congratulations to our very dear friend and long-time Soleful TRIathlete Keith!!