Race Inspiration
Doug Landau, a triathlete and lawyer, draws inspiration from friends and fellow competitors at races across the country. Two triathletes in his age division never fail to impress him with their skill and dedication.
One of these athletes is Neil Semmel from Delaware, who used to produce the Piranha Sports races in Maryland and Delaware. Semmel is a powerhouse in the swim, consistently posting impressive times and often finishing well ahead of Landau. He competes in nearly every Kinetic Multisports event each year, focusing on AquaVelo races, which skip the running portion and spare the knees from pounding. Semmel is almost always on the podium and has a friendly smile, an incredible work ethic, and is usually way ahead of Landau after the swim and bike legs. Their paths only cross again post-race, often over celebratory snacks!
Another standout in Landau’s age group is Robert Hartman from Etters, Pennsylvania. With the build of a fit football player, Hartman is a strong swimmer and cyclist, covering long races throughout the season. His daily workouts are equivalent to Landu’s mileage for the week! He regularly competes in both the Olympic Distance (a 2+ hour effort) and Sprint races at Kinetic Multisport events. Like Semmel, Hartman has hearing difficulties and communicates mainly through sign language. Despite this challenge, he consistently ends up on the podium, unaffected by the lack of auditory cues from spectators or volunteers.
In addition to these gentlemen, Doug Landau has been extraordinarily impressed by Monica Lukens. Another Delaware AquaVelo star, she goes flying by Landau like a silent speedster and sits atop her category. Monica also competes at the National Championship level. She and her husband, Frank, are dedicated athletes and have transformed part of their home into a “pain cave” — a top-notch training space adorned with race memorabilia, medals, bikes, and treadmills. Doug jokes that if there were a Delaware Hall of Fame for triathlon “pain caves,” the Lukens’ would be instant inductees.
Another source of inspiration is David Conover from Reston, Virginia. Conover has a long career as a USA Triathlon referee and competes in the over-70 division. Alongside his work as an engineer and writer, Conover represents the INOVA Heart and Vascular Institute. After developing atrial fibrillation post-COVID, he trained smartly under his coach, easing back into the sport. Conover has represented TeamUSA at the World Championships and recently competed in the “Night of Miles” track meet at George Mason University, much to the delight of his friends and fellow over-70 athletes. Landau often joins Conover and his wife on trips to races, where they share both competition and camaraderie.
Rounding out Landau’s circle of admired triathletes is Tom Stroup of Great Falls, who has competed in many National Championship events. An all-around triathlon talent, Stroup recently qualified for the ITU World Championships, representing TeamUSA in Spain. He holds a law degree from Georgetown, is the president of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), and has testified on Capitol Hill! Landau and Stroup frequently travel to championship events together, including their upcoming trip to the 2025 Age Group National Championship in Milwaukee.
Landau, Stroup, and Conover all meet with Coach Rob Colburn of Colburn Body Concepts (“CBC”) and Worldgate Masters Swimming. Colburn is a triathlete and endurance athlete himself, coached long distance. athletes and competed in IronMan events. These experienced triathlon “Grand Masters” get together, usually in Herndon at Nunu’s excellent Thai Restaurant, to catch up on the latest in triathlon training, competition updates, and stories (some of which might actually be true!). The group calls themselves “the Space Cowboys,” after the Hollywood movie of that name about aging astronauts going back into space. They even competed together in the Colonial Beach Olympic relay triathlon, where Conover led with the swim, Stroup handled the bike, and Landau took on the run. After missing out on first place due to Landau’s “lackluster” 10K, he jokes that he looks forward to redeeming himself in their next team relay.
At the Atlantic City Age Group National Championships, these Space Cowboys strategized together, reconned the course, and supported each other’s performances. Landau even shadowed Stroup during the practice swim, familiarizing himself with the channel for the race’s swim leg. While they aren’t members of an official triathlon team, their close-knit group has become a major part of Landau’s race-day routine, ensuring no one oversleeps, forgets equipment, or goes without friendly advice.
For anyone considering triathlon racing, Landau highly recommends joining a team. Some of the best teams in the Northern Virginia area include TeamZ, led by the friendly Ed Zerkle, known for his team’s festive pre- and post-race tailgate parties. DC Tri Club is a great fit for athletes living or working in the District. For serious competitors, Rogue Racing, run by David O’Connor, offers a network of high-level athletes racing at the top tiers.