Ironman: Meredith Kessler

Beth Shaw interviews 2010 Ironman Canada Winner Meredith Kessler

Meredith Kessler, Ford Ironman St. George 2011;Photo Credit: Finishline-Multisport.com

What does it take to become a professional triathlete? You would think it would take countless hours of training and less and less time spent with family and friends. But this is not the case with Meredith Kessler, the 2010 Ironman Canada winner.

Kessler, having just turned pro, is a 32-year-old rising star in the world of the ultimate triathlon, the Ironman. Kessler’s training focuses less on volume and more on quality workouts so that she can, in her words, never “miss a birthday.”

Originally from Columbus, OH, Kessler went to college in New York at Syracuse University where she played field hockey and ran track.

She graciously took the time to chat with me over the phone while at her home in San Francisco, CA.

Beth Shaw: Did field hockey give you a lot of cardio?

Meredith Kessler: I always loved to run and I’d always run. I really enjoyed running eight to ten miles before school in addition to field hockey after school. I was fortunate that my scholarship was for field hockey and I also ran track (just the 10k! Nothing too sprinty!).

BS: Ok, so where did the swimming come in?

MK: I almost decided to swim in college but I also really wanted to be a part of a less individual sport and more of a team sport. I kept swimming through college on my own because I really enjoy it and especially since I don’t stretch that much but the swimming has helped with that. And the swim is total thinking time to plan the day!

BS: Ah. So you just decided after college to do an Ironman and were like, Surprise! I’m an Ironman badass?

MK: HA! Nope, I certainly did NOT think that at all! I was lucky enough to have swam and ran a lot but I had never been on a bike in my life. Needless to say, it was quite interesting to ride a TT bike as your first bike ever. Ironically, to this day, I’ve always just been on a TT bike. I’ve never been on a road bike but am looking forward to getting an Orbea road bike very soon so I’m really excited about that!

BS: We’re on the same mind of the bike.

MK: I do enjoy riding now very much. I’m currently do about 80% of my training indoors at Velo SF – an indoor cycling studio in downtown San Francisco. Our classes are on a computrainer and it’s all based on power, watts, cadence and speed. I teach class twice a week and then I take my coach’s (Matt Dixon of purplepatch) class on Monday and Wednesday which I enjoy very much as well.

Sometimes I teach up to 3-4 hours depending (when raining on weekends here in SF). It is a lot of indoor time but it simulates really well. It’s been epic in training the last few years.

BS: What you’re on is not a spin bike?

MK: Fortunately, you are on your own TT bike. You don’t have to gear; you’re using a computer to up your power. You’ll never get the intensity outdoor that you get indoors.

BS: So it’s basically like your trainer on steroids.

MK: HA! Sure.  It fits my lifestyle and I really enjoy it so that makes it a win win situation. Not all my friends are triathletes. With work and everything if I can go do a 90 minute class and get the same benefits it’s better. Everyone is different but for me I want to be with my friends and family. This is a more effective and efficient workout.

BS: When are you fitting in your running and your swimming?

MK: Sometimes I’m on the bike 6 days a week. Sunday I never usually ride as that day is dedicated to longer runs. I do a lot of runs on the treadmill. Sometimes 18-20 miles plus are on the treadmill but the work on there is efficient work.

The other days I have more maintenance runs or a shorter treadmill run. I don’t currently own a Garmin so I do a lot of my runs by feel.

BS: I’m a pace idiot. How do you do that?

MK: When I’m outside I do what feels right that day. I just go out and run and I can pretty much feel what I’m doing. But on the treadmill for faster speeds I have to know my numbers. Matt Dixon is my coach and he’s been my coach for almost 4 years. I’m very lucky to have met Matt and he has taken me from an 11:30 min Ironman to where I am now and I am so grateful for him and for that. I had no previous structure and limited intensity, and now every workout and recovery moment has a purpose. I’ll go do 14 really hard miles and that’s more efficient than what I used to do.

BS: This is when you made the decision to go pro?

MK: When I decided to go pro I said I want to really go for it and “go pro” and try to compete with the best girls out there. I just now, starting in mid-April, am no longer working at RBC. I’ve came to the realization that the time was now to omit the 50-60 hour work week and go for it while I still could.

My husband and I want to have a family some day and I can always work at an investment bank but I can’t always be a pro triathlete. I wonder how I ever did it before. You adjust but the point of working full time… and I’d just started coaching and teaching and oh, Ironman training.

The most important things are my friends, family, and husband. I’ll never be too busy to miss a birthday or social event. The only thing that has changed in not working is that I still feel that I work, but I have more flexibility.

My training volume hasn’t changed but I can sleep more than four hours a night and eat better. I can be more in the moment than rush around and be like a chicken with its head cut off. You can just embrace being the triathlete and help others and coach.

BS: That sounds like a great balance. Any embarrassing moments? It’s a question I sort of have to ask.

MK: Love it! I’m sure there are a ton of these!  When I first did an Ironman, after never being on a bike after 8 hours, I dreaded going to the restroom. Now that I have ISM saddles I’m like a new person!

ISM saddles are crucial.

BS: Going back to your pre-pro years did you run any other races before the Ironman? I know you did the 10K in college but had you ever run a marathon?

MK: Not too many organized races other than some local half marathons. My senior year of high school I ran a marathon as a bandit. I just ran with a friend and I remember I had to rush, and ran the marathon and then had to go play a field hockey game! I’ve done nothing less than a half Ironman but I should!!

BS: You list Ironman Arizona as one of your favorite races. Why is that?

MK: While I realize that Ironman Arizona isn’t the most scenic when here you have St George’s (St George, UT), Canada, and Coeur D’Alene but I think it’s the energy of Ironman Arizona that makes it so great. I don’t mind Tempe Town lake either and I don’t have to worry about sharks!

With the bike it’s a 3 loop course so you see your friends repeatedly. I’ve done that race and it’s been a delight. The run course is three figure eights so you see your friends about 16 times which is lovely. It’s spectator friendly and it’s easy to get too. It’s Ohio in the desert. It reminds me of home. It’s a warmer, flatter, drier, home.

It’s also normally my 5^th Ironman of the year [after Kona]. What usually happens to me by October, every time it’s just been not great. I don’t train in heat in San Francisco but I working on way to improve that for sure. One is also somewhat tired by this time of the year as you’re already three fulls and two halves in. And something about Kona and the time of year…I’ll be curious to see how I feel this year.

After Kona, that gives me six weeks before Arizona and I come back more vibrant. I was thrilled with the 4^th place finish as it was an incredible field of amazing ladies.

That was the first race where a lot of pros are racing more than they used to. I’ve always enjoyed racing 4-5 Ironmans per year. What is different this year is that one could win an Ironman and someone who gets fifth, sixth, or seventh in several half Ironmans may acquire more points. It’s all about points going forward. You’re going to find this year that every single race is stacked. People are going to have to race more this year.re

BS: Ok, so what about doing an OWS (Open Water Swim)?

MK: Not too much really. I do once or twice a year. I think I bank on adrenaline race day!

I’ve learned the line I like to take in the water. I genuinely love to swim but I don’t go in open water to swim until race day.

BS: We’ve covered a lot. What are your thoughts on nutrition? Do you do anything different in your diet?

MK: What works best for me is not thinking about it. I eat when I’m hungry, I try to do what’s normal. I go back to the food guide pyramid. I believe in everything in moderation. I’d rather eat the right portion of the real thing.

When I think about nutrition, I perform the worst. I have been so fortunate to work with Stacy Sims and I recommend her to anyone. She has and continues to help me and she gives you ideas to do healthier stuff on the stomach. She taught me how to eat for my race nutrition.

BS: Speaking of GI issues, I hear athletes don’t typically get them while on the bike.

MK: I have not had an issue on the bike, although if you aren’t positioned properly you can actually cause yourself to have gag reflexes.

BS: You’re so fast in the run on the Ironman you might want to consider just running a marathon! (laughs)

MK: (laughs) Trust me, my mother would love for me to just run because Ironman races give her severe anxiety!

Beth Shaw can be reached at http://discombobulatedrunning.blogspot.com