Kim’s Diary

2009 Clear Lake International Triathlon

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:44:02 -0700

The Final Results are officially posted and it turns out that I finished 8th place in my division! I completed the race in 1:48:27.5. See FULL RESULTS.

This has been one of the most invigorating adrenaline rushes I’ve ever experienced... especially the Swim Leg to begin with. I know my weaknesses and I’ll be the first person to firmly state that I’m not a strong swimmer. After we had set up our gear in the transition area and walked out to see the course in Clear Lake, it looked like a manageable length from shore. Apparently I was in for a shocker once I entered the murky, choppy waters along with about 32 other women fighting to swim ahead towards the first buoy.

I immediately felt my heart pumping faster as I started to quickly lose my breathe. I wasn’t even 50 yards out at that point. Survival mode kicked in and I started switching between treading and swimming on my back so I could regulate my breathe and hopefully start freestyling. (By the way, “Clear” Lake water does not taste like water.) All of a sudden I noticed that a few swimmers had stopped to yell, “Help... HELP!!” One of us was having trouble staying above water, and I was having a panic attack watching this happen. As I saw a rescue kayak approach, I continued on and tried to calm myself down. My mind was screaming, “Oh my god...I don’t know if I’m going to make this!” But there must’ve been a small bit of belief that pushed me through all the overwhelming fear and doubt. I somehow regained rhythm in my breathing and found a manageable cadence in my breathe-stroke to get me back to shore...

My new raging appreciation for being back on LAND lit a fire in me to make up lots of ground on the Bike course, then Run. My traumatic experience in the water truly made everything else seem like a walk in the park. After finishing second to last in the Swim, I was third fastest in the Bike, and 6th in the Run (respectively in my age division).

I’m now looking forward to my next race, which will be a Fleet Feet Sports Supersprint Triathlon in Chicago on Aug. 29, 2009! I’m excited for this one in particular since it’s so short! Most importantly, I’ll feel a bit more comfortable with a shorter swim!

* a 375 meter (.25 mile) Swim in Lake Michigan parallel to the beach
* a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) Bike
* a 2.5 kilometer (1.55 mile) Run

Wish me luck!

My 1st Triathlon!!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:13:34 -0700

After a few years of flirting with the idea, I’ve finally decided it’s finally time to put my foot down, dangit! It’s Now or Never. I’ve officially signed up to race in my very first triathlon!!

I’ll be competing in the Clear Lake International Triathlon on August 22, 2009 in Clear Lake, TX. (Woooo! I’m getting chills just typing this right now!) In this particular Sprint Tri, the distances of each leg are...

Swim - 0.75 K (0.46 miles)
Bike - 30 K (18.6 miles)
Run - 5 K (3.1 miles)

I know the Swim leg will be my biggest challenge, but I figure that I can just do the “Angel” stroke on my back if I get tired! :) I’ll hope to finish the Swim without getting kicked in the face too many times and move on to the Bike and Run where I should make up some time from floundering in the water.

As I cram in my “last minute” training, I’m getting more exciting and riled up for the race! I picked up my packet yesterday and it looks like I’ll be lucky # 519... Wish me luck! I’ll report back with results and thoughts! Thanks for your all’s support on FACEBOOK and TWITTER!

Time.com Article Displays Ignorance

Sat, 23 May 2009 09:06:28 -0700

Recently, there was a very disappointing article on Time.com about Play Golf Designs. Our friend, Bob Simpson, writer of a popular golf blog called Golf Babes, writes his piece in defense of PGD.

GOLF BABES: Defense of Play Golf Designs

Below is my official response to this defamation of a company that’s doing great things for all of women’s golf...

I’m appalled by the ignorance displayed in the recent article written on Time.com about Play Golf Designs Inc. It’s clear that Sean Greggory has failed to do his due diligence in researching what PGD is truly about. The claims he makes of PGD being an “escort service” are offensive, unfair, and completely inaccurate.

I personally have hosted several PGD golf outings, and I can assure you that Nisha Sadekar runs her events with class and only the utmost professionalism. We are professional athletes who compete at the highest level and all of us take our professional image very seriously. If you were to profile the 22 athletes on the PGD roster you would find that they consist of former top collegiate golfers from leading Division 1 universities such as Stanford, Duke, UCLA, and University of Texas, former NCAA champions, current LPGA touring professionals, and top developmental tour players. I highly doubt that any one of these professional golfers, whom are very highly respected amongst their peers and colleagues, would ever join or even be associated with an organization that could be construed as an “escort service.”

Why isn’t it ok to dress fashionably and be proud of our femininity without being criticized? A polished, well-rounded look is marketable and a marketable image is good business.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but Greggory probably did not realize that in writing this controversial article, he is jeopardizing the business, careers, and livelihoods of Play Golf Designs and the 22 Professional Golfers on its roster. Since joining PGD in 2006, my career has benefited greatly from the positive exposure and PR provided by Sadekar and PGD. Greggory’s misguided comments are essentially tearing down what we all have worked hard to build within our careers. As a responsible journalist Greggory needs to make sure he knows what he’s talking about before making such ridiculous comments that could negatively impact so many dedicated individuals.

I’ve been an avid competitive golfer since the age of 10. Just by the amazing nature of the game, golf has taught me so many important life values such as hard work, perseverance, determination, etiquette, and most of all, integrity. I see the game as a wonderful educational tool to teach any young person what it means to have class and teach them the same tools golf has taught me throughout my life. I hold onto my morals and values with conviction and would only be associated with outstanding organizations like Play Golf Designs.

I’m proud to be fully involved with Play Golf Designs and support Sadekar in her courageous movement towards a Nouvea World of Women’s Golf. We need people like her to break down barriers and to challenge stagnant stereotypes. I don’t see women’s golf progressing in the right direction at the moment. In the end, we will all be thanking Sadekar and Play Golf Designs for bringing women’s golf to the next level and letting the world see how amazing, beautiful, and strong women can be.

Kim Kouwabunpat
Stanford University ‘04
Ladies Asian Golf Tour ‘07
Duramed Futures Tour ‘05-‘07
CN Canadian Women’s Tour ’06-‘07

Big Break Goodbye...

Mon, 4 May 2009 09:24:51 -0700

Well, it was a close one to the very end and the difference was an inch. Read my thoughts on my Elimination Episode on About.com!

About.com - Diary Blog of Episode 3

Big Break Episode 2!

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:27:45 -0700

I hope ya’ll enjoyed Episode 2 last Monday! My diary blog on this week’s episode is now posted on About.com. Check it out!

About.com - Diary Blog of Episode 2