The Road to Nationals-Margaret Hoelzer
The Road to Nationals-Margaret Hoelzer
Two-time Olympic backstroker and current American Record holder
Margaret Hoelzeralready has her sights focused on the next stops in her journey to the
2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships. With meets in Barcelona and Canet en Roussillon in June, and the final Grand Prix meet of the season in
Los Angeles, the former Auburn Tiger is looking to improve upon her performances from last summer’s Nationals where she placed third in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstrokes, and earn a spot on the
Pan Pacific Championships team.
National Team Member: Margaret Hoelzer
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 20 miles.
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 20 miles.
Since we’re talking about swimming journeys, do you have a favorite swimming road trip memory?
Margaret: Well I’ve never been on a road trip not related to swimming, so growing up my mom and I would always make a point to take one day after a meet to do something fun. Wherever we went we would find something fun and more or less educational – whether that was going to the zoo in that city or, when Nationals were in Clovis, we went to Yosemite one day and the Redwood Forest another. I have several fond memories of doing fun, local activities after various meets across the country with my mom.
Margaret: Well I’ve never been on a road trip not related to swimming, so growing up my mom and I would always make a point to take one day after a meet to do something fun. Wherever we went we would find something fun and more or less educational – whether that was going to the zoo in that city or, when Nationals were in Clovis, we went to Yosemite one day and the Redwood Forest another. I have several fond memories of doing fun, local activities after various meets across the country with my mom.
Did you guys ever play any road trip games to keep yourselves entertained?
Margaret: (Laughs) There is a game where you get points for counting cows on your side of the road -- you get one point for a cow, a horse is five points, a white horse is ten points – then if you go over a river all of your points drown or if you pass a cemetery all of your points die. (Laughs) That must have been when I was really little though!
Margaret: (Laughs) There is a game where you get points for counting cows on your side of the road -- you get one point for a cow, a horse is five points, a white horse is ten points – then if you go over a river all of your points drown or if you pass a cemetery all of your points die. (Laughs) That must have been when I was really little though!
So as you got older, if you have to be in the car for a long time, do you have a snack that you like to take with you or a specific playlist?
Margaret: You know, not really. I’m a big reader when traveling so I read a lot on planes and in cars. I take music but I really only listen to whatever I’m in the mood to listen to so it’s really never set. As far as eating, I like all foods so we would just stop and eat anywhere and I’m happy.
Margaret: You know, not really. I’m a big reader when traveling so I read a lot on planes and in cars. I take music but I really only listen to whatever I’m in the mood to listen to so it’s really never set. As far as eating, I like all foods so we would just stop and eat anywhere and I’m happy.
If you could take a road trip outside of swimming, who would it be with and where would you go?
Margaret: I’ve actually always wanted to road trip across the country. When I moved to Seattle [after graduating from Auburn] I was planning it until I realized that I would be driving in the winter when I had never driven on snow before. I figured driving through the Rockies wasn’t the smartest thing I could do. But I would love to take a road trip across the country and I’d love to ideally stop at Yellowstone and some of the National Parks; drive through Montana as I’ve never done that. I’d also love to drive through the Grand Canyon so I’m not quite sure how I would do that all in one trip and I would take my sister or one of my best friends.
Margaret: I’ve actually always wanted to road trip across the country. When I moved to Seattle [after graduating from Auburn] I was planning it until I realized that I would be driving in the winter when I had never driven on snow before. I figured driving through the Rockies wasn’t the smartest thing I could do. But I would love to take a road trip across the country and I’d love to ideally stop at Yellowstone and some of the National Parks; drive through Montana as I’ve never done that. I’d also love to drive through the Grand Canyon so I’m not quite sure how I would do that all in one trip and I would take my sister or one of my best friends.
Speaking of moving across the country to train, what’s it like training with FAST Swim Team now out in California?
Margaret: It’s been great. Obviously I love swimming for Sean [Hutchison] as I swam for him out in Seattle. We’ve got a really good set up here and it’s a great group of people. It’s been an enjoyable experience so far.
Margaret: It’s been great. Obviously I love swimming for Sean [Hutchison] as I swam for him out in Seattle. We’ve got a really good set up here and it’s a great group of people. It’s been an enjoyable experience so far.
Where are you in your training?
Margaret: At the moment we are beginning to transition a little bit into speed. We have been doing a lot of endurance and longer, aerobic sets. The last week we have been doing a combination of that and bring speed work in to the picture.
Margaret: At the moment we are beginning to transition a little bit into speed. We have been doing a lot of endurance and longer, aerobic sets. The last week we have been doing a combination of that and bring speed work in to the picture.
What meets do you have coming up?
Margaret: We are going to the last two meets in the Mare Nostrum in Barcelona and Canet en Roussillon. I think we’re also going to the Janet Evans Grand Prix.
Margaret: We are going to the last two meets in the Mare Nostrum in Barcelona and Canet en Roussillon. I think we’re also going to the Janet Evans Grand Prix.
What are your general goals for the meet in Irvine?
Margaret: Making Pan Pacs is the primary goal and really National is a set up meet for that. Making Pan Pacs is the first and foremost goal and then from there using the meet to see and judge where I am. Assuming I make the team, I’ll use the training camp between the two meets to hopefully tweak some things. So I definitely think that Nationals is a judge and see where I am type of meet in addition to hopefully making the team.
Margaret: Making Pan Pacs is the primary goal and really National is a set up meet for that. Making Pan Pacs is the first and foremost goal and then from there using the meet to see and judge where I am. Assuming I make the team, I’ll use the training camp between the two meets to hopefully tweak some things. So I definitely think that Nationals is a judge and see where I am type of meet in addition to hopefully making the team.
How do you stay energized to compete each season?
Margaret: You definitely have to take a break when you mentally and physically need it. Obviously after the big meets is a good time and I think you have to refocus and set new goals every year. That sometimes comes easier than other times. I’ve definitely had phases where it has been difficult and I’ve had to really sit down and really think about what I want and what am I looking for. Then other times a goal naturally appears and you go from there.
Margaret: You definitely have to take a break when you mentally and physically need it. Obviously after the big meets is a good time and I think you have to refocus and set new goals every year. That sometimes comes easier than other times. I’ve definitely had phases where it has been difficult and I’ve had to really sit down and really think about what I want and what am I looking for. Then other times a goal naturally appears and you go from there.
What are you looking forward to about this summer season or about Nationals in particular?
Margaret: This will be a good summer to see where I am. I took quite a big break after the Olympics and my head wasn’t where it needed to be competing-wise. So I don’t know that last summer, for me, was an accurate judge as to where my career could go. I’m looking forward to having been where I wanted this past year and having a more accurate judge of where I am and what I want for the future.
Margaret: This will be a good summer to see where I am. I took quite a big break after the Olympics and my head wasn’t where it needed to be competing-wise. So I don’t know that last summer, for me, was an accurate judge as to where my career could go. I’m looking forward to having been where I wanted this past year and having a more accurate judge of where I am and what I want for the future.
