Hunter Kemper returned to CapTex for the third time and nabbed his second win in Austin. Now the four-time Olympian and family man is planning to channel that momentum toward a series win.

How are you feeling today? Are you back home?

I’m based in Colorado Springs, and came home for a few days to see my wife and three kids. I’m going back to Dallas this weekend to race again, so I’m focusing on recovery. I’m getting ready to go out on a bike ride.

Tell us about your recovery protocol.

I have a good system laid out and I know what I need. I try to get an ice bath, get a massage straight away. It’s important to have a system and plan in place that you can follow, and to make sure to hydrate and eat the right foods so that you can get your body back in competitive form. This is especially important with back-to-back races. It’s all about recovery.

How many times have you raced Life Time Tri CapTex? What keeps you coming back?

I’ve raced CapTex three years in a row. I got second my first year and won the last two years. It’s a good course and a good event for me. I like the whole feel of it. Austin is a very outdoorsy, athletic, endurance- and fitness-oriented city. There are always people running along the trail, paddleboarding and riding their bikes. The whole vibe promotes health and wellness. Plus, it’s a unique experience to race in downtown Austin. It’s great to see all the people who come out and support. And the age groupers get to race the same course as the pros, which is great. I like the river swim — it’s a pretty easy and calm big rectangle, and isn’t threatening. I also like that it’s the Paratriathlon National Championships. It’s so cool to race among these athletes. Paratriathlon is a new Olympic event for the Rio games, so all these athletes are trying to qualify and get points and gear up for it. To be racing along handcycles and amputees is of course very humbling, but it’s also encouraging and inspiring.

You tweeted about your "solid bike split" yesterday. Is the bike typically your strongest event?

I’m usually consistent and solid in all three. My strength is that I don’t really have a weak event. But sometimes other guys might beat me on the bike a little bit, and I come back and catch them on the run. But I’ve been dealing with some calf issues when running, and because of that I knew I would have to bike a little harder. I put extra energy into the bike yesterday.

As a former Olympian, you've raced for your country, and yesterday, you raced on Memorial Day. Why is that meaningful for you?

Racing on Memorial Day is very meaningful to me. I love this country. It’s such an honor to represent my country and to wear red, white and blue as an Olympian. But it’s an honor on a whole other level to wear a [military] uniform fighting for our country. It’s unique to be able to race on Memorial Day as a thank you to all who have fallen while representing our country, and then of course to have the paratriathletes out there as well, because lot of them are veterans. As I compete as a professional triathlete in this country, I’m humbled by the men and women who keep this country safe and free. That takes a tremendous amount of courage and it takes someone special to put himself or herself in a position to sacrifice for our country. I always try to thank a member of our armed forces when I see one in uniform. So Memorial Day is a special day for me, not because I personally have a military background, but because I have a deep love for my country and feel it’s an honor to race on that day. Maybe that’s why I had that extra oomph. I had a smile on my face the whole time, feeling gratitude for the men and women who face combat in 100 degrees, who face challenges I will never know.

What are you looking forward to the most this season? Anything specifically that you're focusing on this year?

CapTex was my first win of the season. I’ve had a little bit of a tough spring in regards to training due to my calf injury. So this year I’m making it about the back half of the season, and I’m excited to have started this week with a win. I wasn’t really expecting that win, but the course has always been good to me. After my race in Dallas this coming weekend, I won’t race again until Minneapolis. My main focus is the Life Time Tri Series. It’s a big deal to win that series, and I’m focusing on rehabbing my calf and getting it ready to work. I love the Minneapolis and Chicago courses, and it’s a good psychological advantage to have had success on a particular course. Certain courses play to my strengths and Minneapolis certainly does this. I love racing there, where Life Time all started. Then in September I’ll race in Arizona, followed by Oceanside in October. For me, the series as well as the Triple Crown are both big deals, so I’m really trying to gun for that and am looking forward to being on my game in Minneapolis for the first race in the Triple Crown.

What’s it like to train at the Olympic Training Center?

I’m considered an off-complex resident. I get to use all the facilities — they let me do my thing. It’s a nice environment complete with rehab, sports science, sports psychology and medicine . . . a one-stop shop. I even met my wife there — she was a volleyball player.

How do you balance competition and family?

I have three boys — ages six, almost three, and one-and-a-half — and my wife is pregnant with our fourth. I love having a big family. My wife is a stay-at-home mom and she’s the best — she makes the whole thing go. Being a pro triathlete with great sponsors and getting to do events from great producers like Life Time who offer good prize money actually allows me to be with my family more than probably a lot of dads do.

Alicia Kaye’s strategy on Monday was simple: Keep the gas on all day. It worked, sending her home with the win at her third CapTex try.

Tell us about your race. What was your strategy, and did all go as planned?

Overall, the race went smoothly. I didn't swim as well as I would have liked and lost a lot of time to Sara McLarty in the water. I really pushed the pace on the bike and moved into the lead at about 20k. I came off the bike with a 46-second lead on McLarty. I felt great on the run. I extended my lead and crossed the line in first. My goal for the day was to never take my foot off the gas, and I feel like I accomplished that.

You had an amazing 59:56 bike split. How did you pull that off? Is that your favorite (or typically strongest) event?

I was very motivated on the bike. With the course being four loops, there were many opportunities to compare yourself against your competition. It was easy to stay hungry and excited to push the pace. I absolutely love to ride my Scott Plasma, and my Shimano Di2 components make shifting a breeze. My Giro Advantage helmet helps me be as aero as possible and Oakley Radars give me a super clear view of the road. Biking tends to be my strongest discipline, but I also think having the right equipment helps me get the most out of myself.

This was your third CapTex. How did it compare to previous years? What do you like about this particular race?

It's always fun to compare splits; though every year the conditions are different. I had my fastest run and bike this year. I've swum faster in the past, but for whatever reason all the swim splits were slow this year. I really like the multi-looped course. There seemed to be a lot of spectators this year. It was really motivating!

You raced in honor of your Uncle Peter, who lost his battle to cancer. How did that add meaning to your race?

My family is really close and losing Uncle Peter so quickly was a big shock to our family. I thought of him when things got tough and my mind was telling my body to slow down. It made me push that much harder. Someone I knew that lost her battle with cancer said, "Pain is good, because it means you’re alive." That outlook on life, even in the face of cancer, inspired me a great deal.

You recently wrote about flying to races on your blog, and included some great tips. What are your tips for getting good sleep when traveling to race?

I don't travel anywhere without earplugs!

What's your favorite recovery protocol that helps to take you from race to race?

I really try to make sure I eat after a race. I always have a serving of GU Recovery Brew in my backpack for post-race recovery. If I can go and do a shake-out run, swim or bike, I will, but many times we're stuck in drug testing. I also love my NormaTec recovery boots. Even though it was after midnight when I finally arrived home last night, I still put them on for 30 minutes.

What are your race goals this season?

This is my third year racing the Life Time Tri Series; I've placed second twice. I would really like to win the series this year and also focus on the Triple Crown. There are a lot of really talented athletes racing the series this year, so neither of those goals will be easy to attain. I'm looking forward to pushing myself and doing all I can to achieve these goals. At the end of the day, all you can do is your best.

Here we go, triathletes! Your race is only days away. Be sure to read through the athlete guide to familiarize yourself with all the ins and outs of race day.

Good luck for a great race!

Congratulations, athletes! Thank you for being a part of the 2013 Life Time Tri CapTex event. Your results are available here.

Priority registration for 2014 will be open Thursday, May 30, through Tuesday, June 4. Keep an eye on www.captextri.com for the link. We look forward to hosting you again next year.

Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day!

Joel Rosenbum is just one of many athletes that will compete in USA Paratriathlon National Championships in conjunction with the Life Time Tri CapTex on Monday, May 27 at Auditorium Shores.

Rosinbum (32) paralyzed his right arm in a ski accident in 2007. The accident left Rosinbum, a college athlete, frustrated and depressed. Focusing on the competitive opportunities available to him through paratriathlons saved him. “It really is a story of perseverance and adapting to things and finding ways to make things work,” Rosinbum said. Rosinbum, nick named the “Left Arm Bandit,” has enough grip strength to control the bike but uses only one arm to swim and wears a sling to control his left arm while running.

Volunteers are still needed for Monday's race. Visit the volunteer page at www.captextri.com for more information.

Article written by Matt Mitchell for ABC Austin. View the video clip here.