The Road to Nationals-Keri Hehn
The Road to Nationals-Keri Hehn
Veteran National Team member
Keri Hehn is looking ahead to the upcoming Grand Prix meets as a chance to prepare for the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships this August. The former Minnesota Gopher is currently training with coach Dave Salo and other post-graduates at Trojan Swim Club in Los Angeles and looking to continue her success from the 2009 Nationals Championships where she placed second in the 200-meter breaststroke and earned a spot on the World Championship team.
Hehn spoke with Swimnetwork this week about what it’s like to compete at an elite level after college and how resetting goals has motivated her on her journey.
National Team Member: Keri Hehn
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 42 miles
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 42 miles
What is it like balancing working a job and training at an elite level?
Keri: Right now I am teaching spinning and yoga and I’m searching for a new full time job. I’m also giving private [swimming] lessons, so right now financially it’s been a little rough.
Keri: Right now I am teaching spinning and yoga and I’m searching for a new full time job. I’m also giving private [swimming] lessons, so right now financially it’s been a little rough.
What are you focusing on with your training?
Keri: I am getting my one quality work out in per day and I teach spinning six days a week, which is what I’m using as my second practice and my cardio. I think it’s good to mix it up and yoga has been really good. Yoga is strength training too – focusing on your breath, using your core – and I think it is really good for swimming because it makes you very aware of your body. I’ve actually had a lot of fun incorporating that into my training because it gets you to know your body in a different way. It’s something I wish I would have actually found earlier in my career.
Keri: I am getting my one quality work out in per day and I teach spinning six days a week, which is what I’m using as my second practice and my cardio. I think it’s good to mix it up and yoga has been really good. Yoga is strength training too – focusing on your breath, using your core – and I think it is really good for swimming because it makes you very aware of your body. I’ve actually had a lot of fun incorporating that into my training because it gets you to know your body in a different way. It’s something I wish I would have actually found earlier in my career.
What meet do you have coming up next?
Keri: The Grand Challenge in Irvine is the last weekend in May and it is a money meet. It’s really, really fun. If you’re seeded first going into finals – the final heat only has four athletes – you get to spin a big wheel that has dollar amounts on it. So, it could say ‘winner takes all’ or ‘prize money doubles’ and so you get to spin it right before you get in to race. The money levels are $300, $200 and $100, so if it lands on double your money, you’re racing for $600. Or, if the winner takes all, you again get $600 and no one else in the heat will collect money. So you know the dollar amount before you dive in so it makes if very interesting and fun.
Keri: The Grand Challenge in Irvine is the last weekend in May and it is a money meet. It’s really, really fun. If you’re seeded first going into finals – the final heat only has four athletes – you get to spin a big wheel that has dollar amounts on it. So, it could say ‘winner takes all’ or ‘prize money doubles’ and so you get to spin it right before you get in to race. The money levels are $300, $200 and $100, so if it lands on double your money, you’re racing for $600. Or, if the winner takes all, you again get $600 and no one else in the heat will collect money. So you know the dollar amount before you dive in so it makes if very interesting and fun.
What would you like to accomplish in the upcoming meets?
Keri: Definitely to be faster than I was in February. I got sick in March during the Austin Grand Prix, so it was disappointing I didn’t get to go to that meet. So I’d like to get an idea of where I am and what I need to work on. We have Santa Clara and the Los Angeles Grand Prix meets coming up so I’d like to use these meets now that we are full into long course to judge where I am.
Keri: Definitely to be faster than I was in February. I got sick in March during the Austin Grand Prix, so it was disappointing I didn’t get to go to that meet. So I’d like to get an idea of where I am and what I need to work on. We have Santa Clara and the Los Angeles Grand Prix meets coming up so I’d like to use these meets now that we are full into long course to judge where I am.
With great performances in the 200-meter breaststroke at last summer’s Nationals, what are your goals for this summer?
Keri: I want to go best times and make sure I am on the Pan Pac team. I definitely think this year is different because we’re not wearing suits. Last year was a bit of a skewed year with the suits because I feel the suits didn’t help me as much as it may have helped other people. This year is really going to come down to real swimming. Without the suit you can’t be lazy so I think this summer is going to be a fun summer to see the times. Also, I want to see if I can go just as fast without the suit.
Keri: I want to go best times and make sure I am on the Pan Pac team. I definitely think this year is different because we’re not wearing suits. Last year was a bit of a skewed year with the suits because I feel the suits didn’t help me as much as it may have helped other people. This year is really going to come down to real swimming. Without the suit you can’t be lazy so I think this summer is going to be a fun summer to see the times. Also, I want to see if I can go just as fast without the suit.
What are you looking forward to about Nationals?
Keri: I love that it is in Irvine. I’m really excited that it’s here in California. I used to train at Nova so I am really comfortable with the pool and I’ve always swam really fast in that pool. It’s also nice that your friends and family can come since it is in the US and Irvine always puts on really good meet. It’s going to be the comforts of home and I am really excited about that.
Keri: I love that it is in Irvine. I’m really excited that it’s here in California. I used to train at Nova so I am really comfortable with the pool and I’ve always swam really fast in that pool. It’s also nice that your friends and family can come since it is in the US and Irvine always puts on really good meet. It’s going to be the comforts of home and I am really excited about that.
Do you have a favorite swimming road trip memory?
Keri: Brazil for the Pan American Games was just amazing. When we were on deck, they had a DJ walking back and forth and getting the crowd riled up. They had techno music playing, beach balls in the stands and people were dressed up in costumes. I think that was the most fun environment that I have ever been in. I wish we could bring it back to the US (laughs)!
Keri: Brazil for the Pan American Games was just amazing. When we were on deck, they had a DJ walking back and forth and getting the crowd riled up. They had techno music playing, beach balls in the stands and people were dressed up in costumes. I think that was the most fun environment that I have ever been in. I wish we could bring it back to the US (laughs)!
Did the team have to take a bus between the hotel and the pool in Brazil?
Keri: At Pan Ams we did take a bus back and forth. Another funny memory from that meet is that in the morning, we would all go to the cafeteria and get coffee. Everyone would get on the bus and it would be really quiet. Then, all of a sudden at the same time, everyone would start talking a million miles a minute. It was the best coffee I have ever had. You could instantly tell when it kicked in.
Keri: At Pan Ams we did take a bus back and forth. Another funny memory from that meet is that in the morning, we would all go to the cafeteria and get coffee. Everyone would get on the bus and it would be really quiet. Then, all of a sudden at the same time, everyone would start talking a million miles a minute. It was the best coffee I have ever had. You could instantly tell when it kicked in.
Did you play any music on the bus?
Keri: In Brazil, no because there were a few more regulations since Rio is a bit dangerous. However, in Rome, we had a fun time on the way to the pool. If you were in finals that night you got an escort to the pool. If you’ve ever been to Rome, its super crowded and the cars are tiny. We would be in this big bus and we would have police escorts. We were literally going 40 or 50 [miles per hour] down the road and police officers were parting the sea. All of us would lean to the middle and laughing so hard because we couldn’t believe this was happening. Words cannot even describe how these cops were getting cars out of the way.
Keri: In Brazil, no because there were a few more regulations since Rio is a bit dangerous. However, in Rome, we had a fun time on the way to the pool. If you were in finals that night you got an escort to the pool. If you’ve ever been to Rome, its super crowded and the cars are tiny. We would be in this big bus and we would have police escorts. We were literally going 40 or 50 [miles per hour] down the road and police officers were parting the sea. All of us would lean to the middle and laughing so hard because we couldn’t believe this was happening. Words cannot even describe how these cops were getting cars out of the way.
If you could take a road trip anywhere outside of swimming, where would you go and who would you take with you?
Keri: I really want to go to New Zealand. During my teachers training for spinning, I took a course with a girl from New Zealand. She worked for Travel New Zealand and would send me all of this information. She showed me pictures of her jet skiing on a lake, and even though it was 80 degrees, the mountains were snow covered. It was so cool. Either that or Australia – those are two places I really want to go and I would take my mom.
Keri: I really want to go to New Zealand. During my teachers training for spinning, I took a course with a girl from New Zealand. She worked for Travel New Zealand and would send me all of this information. She showed me pictures of her jet skiing on a lake, and even though it was 80 degrees, the mountains were snow covered. It was so cool. Either that or Australia – those are two places I really want to go and I would take my mom.
Any particular activities or sights you’d like to see in either New Zealand or Australia?
Keri: Bungee Jumping. I think that would be really fun and I know a few that have done it there.
Keri: Bungee Jumping. I think that would be really fun and I know a few that have done it there.
With making your first National Team in 2003, what is your secret to staying energized to compete each season?
Keri: (Laughs) That’s a good question! I think it comes down to resetting goals. After Rome it was a bit hard. I did take a vacation after that. It’s knowing that this is what you want to do and having the goals, like making the Pan Pac team or wanting to win a medal. Obviously I’m getting a little bit older so it gets to be one of those things that each time you look at what meets are coming up, you think ‘well, if I make the Pan Pac team, then I will go to Short Course Worlds.’ You just set yourself up that way and that is what gets your excited. I definitely think that is a motivating factor.
Keri: (Laughs) That’s a good question! I think it comes down to resetting goals. After Rome it was a bit hard. I did take a vacation after that. It’s knowing that this is what you want to do and having the goals, like making the Pan Pac team or wanting to win a medal. Obviously I’m getting a little bit older so it gets to be one of those things that each time you look at what meets are coming up, you think ‘well, if I make the Pan Pac team, then I will go to Short Course Worlds.’ You just set yourself up that way and that is what gets your excited. I definitely think that is a motivating factor.
