Albert Comas, pioneer of Spanish triathlon and first Spanish 5 times Kona Finisher (GGEE)

Today we are going to interview one of the pioneers of triathlon in Spain, the first Spanish who has been 5 times Kona Finisher (in age groups), Albert Comas.

 

 

We also want to highlight that it is the first time that a digital medium specialized in triathlon interviews this pioneer in our sport who has been running 28 seasons in triathlon.

 

Hello Albert, good morning, how are you? You are one of the pioneers of Spanish triathlon. How and when did you start practicing triathlon?

I did my first triathlon back in the 1987 year, when the Club Natació Barcelona organized the first edition of the Ciutat de Barcelona. The club encouraged the members to participate by giving away some costumes and a prize for the first classified member. A few of us participate. On my Facebook I think there is a picture of that first race. We were already hooked.

As a result of the success of that first race, the CNB decided to create a section of triathlon and contract to Eduardo Burguete as coach. Under his leadership and knowledge, many of us discovered triathlon in a serious, scientific and programmed way. They were incredible years, sharing equipment with Burguete, Godoy, Cano, Matias Llobet, Pere Bossa, Hector Colom and many more ... that was in the 88-90 years, when we won several Spanish Championships by teams and individually we were all in the top -ten national, with Burguete and Godoy leading clear. From that time you can remember my people as the Ayet, Santamaría, Iñaki Arenal, Ricoy, Dudu or Alix.

Albert Comas, 5 times finisher in Kona

My 5 minutes of athletic glory came when I was summoned to the presentation of the first national Postal Box team by the National Triathlon Commission, back in the 90 year. That summer, immersed in my triathletic fever, I neglected my studies and the June session was a disaster. Since you do not know me, I tell you that I am neither the most intelligent nor the most gifted athletically, but that my results have always come from discipline, work and a lot of determination. So when that moment came, I had to decide between focusing on my career or triathlon and it was clear where I was going.

 You decided to throw in the studios, right?

That's how it was, the following year (91) I won a scholarship to study in the US and I came to finish the race around here. Specifically to the state of Kansas. Where I end up getting another scholarship to do an MBA and start working a few years, so that we are already in the 99 year. 

In those years in the USA, did you continue to be linked to triathlon?

During these years, I competed in the athletics team (cross-country) of the university and I continued doing local triathlons, cycling races and athletics. In the 97 year, I make my first half Ironman (a local race) and I'm 5º of the general, which encourages me to continue with the long distance.

In the year 2000, tired of the deep America and the cold of Kansas, I accept a job and I come to Miami. Although I have never stopped competing and I think that every year I have made a minimum of 3-4 triathlons and running races, when I arrive in Miami (helped by the weather and a better sporting environment) I get hooked more on triathlons and local races, because more focused on long distance. 

Already focused on the LD How was your first classification for Kona?

That way, I qualify for Hawaii in my first attempt at Coeur d'Alene in the 2003 and debuted in Kona that year. My philosophy, given the time and dedication that Hawaii takes, has been to try to go every 2-3 years, not every year. As bad as it weighs us, when you focus on qualifying and doing your best race in Hawaii, all that time and energy is taken from other important things like career, social life or other hobbies ... so you have to balance a bit.

In the 2004 I decide to go to the ITU long distance world that is organized in Sweden and I had a great time competing and sharing with the Spanish team and finding old friends while making new ones. 

And your second Kona? Where did you qualify?

In the 2005 new qualification attempt in IM Brazil ... I am doing well, in a very hard race because of the wind, I think I have one of my best races and I win my group, I am 4º amateur and 18º of the general (9h37 '). I go to Hawaii, I think in the best shape of my life, but I explode running and I finish in 10h02 'in an ideal year for the brand.

2007 returned to Brazil and I repeat the story, this time in better weather, but in an easier day (9h29 '). That year I make my best mark in Hawaii with 9h36 '. 

 

Albert Comas, 5 times finisher in Kona

 

Besides competing several times in Kona, did you also do the 70.3 World Cup?

Yes, in all these years I have been interspersing other races, like many 70.3, including a couple of Worlds in Clearwater, Boston Marathon and other IMs.

 And your last 2 Konas where you qualified? How were those races?

In the 2010, as in the 2013, I qualify for Hawaii in IM Louisville, but both years I do badly in Hawaii (I think those races are too close and does not allow time for a good recovery).

In short, the races where I have qualified and where I have generally fared better are slightly tougher races, either because of a more technical cyclist circuit or because of the wind and heat (similar to Florida), which are actually similar conditions. to Kona. 

Right now you have been finisher 5 times (in GGEE) and this 2015 Guillermo Lladó equaled your mark of having run 5 times in "La Meca". Do you plan to try to return for 6?

This year 2015 try again in Coeur d'Alene, but a mix between a cycling circuit that underestimates and was much harder than the 2003 and have cut the tapering enough to go just in time, I was made I think it was a bit past and after the first bike ride, I felt completely empty and left for the first time an Ironman.

 

Albert Comas, 5 times finisher in Kona

 

For the next year (2016) I am already registered for IM Texas, which is also the US Championship, where I hope to have a good day and maybe get the ticket to Kona, but I am planning a couple of options as plan B.

You have been living in the US for many years. How is your life in Miami?

Personally, well tell you that I'm not married or have children ... and I think that while I'm in Miami is going to be difficult, haha. And well, one of the reasons why I have always liked this country is because of the entrepreneurial spirit and the capacity for improvement and reinvention that people have here. I always wanted to create my own company and after a couple of shy attempts, in the 2006 I managed to raise an interesting capital and start a project of mobile payments and mobile banking. My background is in economics, but I have always worked on issues of payment methods and cards.

So we started MobilCash in the 2006, developing software and mobile payment solutions, with offices in Zaragoza and Miami and a commercial focus in Latin America. Needless to say, I am passionate about my work and my company almost as much as triathlon, and I take advantage of travel through Latin America and the entrepreneurial lifestyle to combine both things in the best way, although sometimes it costs a bit ... especially when we add the mix some novieta ... but what is said, in the end everything is a balance and the idea is that one activity helps and motivates the other.

 

Albert Comas, 5 times finisher in Kona

 

Thank you very much Albert for sharing this talk with all the readers of Triathlon News, you are a history of the Spanish triathlon and one of the triathletes that has more consecutive seasons in active, an honor for us to have known you better.

 Many thanks to you. For me, triathlon has always been a very personal experience, very intimate ... racing, training and lifestyle are part of my life and I would not be who I am without it.

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