Karmen McNamara
Karmen McNamara (born October 12, 1983) is a Canadian triathlete[1] and CEO of The Kindness Factory.
![]() McNamara at the Canadian National Championships in July 2019 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
National team | Canada |
Born | Red Deer, Alberta | October 12, 1983
Occupation | Triathlete |
Height | 157.5 cm (5 ft 2.0 in)157.5 |
Weight | 124 lb (56 kg) |
Life partner(s) | Robert James (Jim) Rabb |
Other interests | Advocacy for persons with disabilities and mental illness. |
Website | http://www.karmenmcnamara.ca/ |
Sport | |
Sport | Triathlon |
Club | Mercury Rising Triathlon |
Coached by | Clint Lien |
McNamara won the 2019 Canadian National Championships in Kelowna, British Columbia for Standard Distance triathlon.[2]
McNamara raced for Team Canada at the International Triathlon Union World Championships in 2014 and 2015.[3]

McNamara was the 2015 British Columbia Provincial Sprint Triathlon Champion.[4]
McNamara raced her first triathlon in 2012, placing 14th in her division at the SheRox San Diego Triathlon. She currently trains under coach Clint Lien with the Mercury Rising Triathlon club in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
In March 2020, McNamara founded a non-medical mask shop called The Kindness Factory . She currently employed as its CEO [5]
In February of 2021, The Kindness Factory announced that it would be expanding its offerings to include reusable cloth pads for menstruation and incontinence.[6]
Results
Year | Race | Division Place | Time |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Canadian National Championships (Standard) | 1 | 2:15:00 |
2019 | Ironman 70.3 Victoria | 8 | 5:17:37 |
2015 | ITU Edmonton Standard Triathlon | 2 | 2:39:34 |
2015 | BC Sprint Triathlon Provincial Championships | 1 | 1:17:32 |
2015 | Ironman 70.3 Victoria | 40 | 5:59:34 |
2015 | ITU Worlds Championships Standard Triathlon | 69 | 2:39:54 |
2014 | Vulcan Tinman Sprint Triathlon | 2 | 1:00:27 |
2014 | Chinook Half Iron Triathlon | 6 | 7:01:41 |
2014 | Turner Valley Sprint Triathlon | 2 | 1:11:34 |
2014 | Kelowna Apple Standard Triathlon | 15 | 2:47:32 |
2014 | ITU Worlds Championships Sprint Triathlon | 45 | 1:24:40 |
2013 | Vulcan Tinman Sprint Triathlon | 5 | 1:06:14 |
2013 | ITU Edmonton Olympic Triathlon | 16 | 3:12:11 |
2013 | Magrath Sprint Triathlon | 2 | 1:36:17 |
2013 | Tri Rock San Diego Sprint Triathlon | 46 | 1:34:36 |
2012 | Innisfail Sprint Triathlon (Relay) | 7 | 1:31:57 |
2012 | San Diego SheRox Sprint Triathlon | 14 | 1:18:31 |

Source: karmenmcnamara.com (Retrieved November 24, 2016)
Advocacy Work
McNamara is best known for her advocacy work surrounding access to recreation for people with disabilities and mental illness through the Victoria Cool Aid Society and Victoria Special Olympics.
In 2018, she penned an open letter[7] to Victoria City Council in support of access to a barrier-free recreation facility known as Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre.[1][8][9][10] She addressed Council on November 22, 2018,[11] and published a follow-up letter on July 2, 2019.[12]
References
- "Former Team Canada athlete pens open letter to City of Victoria about Crystal Pool - Victoria News". Victoria News. 2018-11-12. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- "Sportstats - Race Results". sportstats.ca. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- Union, International Triathlon. "Athlete Profile: Karmen Mcnamara | ITU World Triathlon Series". ITU World Triathlon Series. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
- "Triathlon BC - Provincial Championships". tribc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
- "Road to Recovery: Woman who lost job because of COVID creates successful small business". Chek News. March 8, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Wilkinson, Nicolle. "My Journey to Reusable". YAM Magazine.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - CodexCoder. "AN OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR LISA HELPS AND THE NEW CITY OF VICTORIA COUNCIL | Karmen McNamara". karmenmcnamara.ca. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- "City of Victoria looking to strike a balance with Crystal Pool redevelopment | CHEK". CHEK. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- Raymond, Yvonne (2018-11-15). "Where will Crystal Pool go? Council narrows down options for replacement facility". Vancouver Island. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- DeRosa, Katie. "Keep Crystal Pool open while new one is built: triathlete". Times Colonist. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- "Council & Committee Meetings". victoria.ca. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- CodexCoder. "CRYSTAL POOL AND WELLNESS CENTRE | Karmen McNamara". Retrieved 2019-07-17.