An Interview with Professional Triathlete Meredith Kessler on Her Final IRONMAN and the Lessons That Shaped a Champion
A candid conversation with an 11-time IRONMAN champion as she reflects on her 76th full-distance race, her evolution as an athlete and the values that guided her career.
This week, I sat down with longtime friend, elite endurance athlete and Workup team member Meredith Kessler to reflect on one of the most meaningful moments of her career. While I’ve completed IRONMAN and half-IRONMAN races myself - and I say this humbly, nowhere near the universe of Meredith’s extraordinary accomplishments - I’ve always believed these events shape you far beyond sport.
Training for and racing them has a way of grounding you, rounding out your edges and teaching you humility, toughness and resilience. Meredith embodies all of this at the highest level. This past weekend, she raced her final IRONMAN triathlon at IRONMAN Arizona, marking her 76th full-distance race where she crossed the finish line in a remarkable 9 hours and 25 minutes.
For Meredith, IRONMAN Arizona represents the full arc of her journey. She has raced it since its earliest days, competed there as both an age-grouper and professional, and even raced it twice in one year when the event shifted from April to November. As she described in her speech the night before the race, the event has been a “classroom with no walls” and the source of some of her greatest life lessons.
Below is an in-depth look at Meredith’s reflections, training philosophy, recovery approach and the people who shaped her decades-long career.
You’ve enjoyed an extraordinary career spanning many years, including 11 full-distance IRONMAN wins and over 23 IM 70.3 victories. How do you reflect on the arc of your career now as you approach your final IRONMAN event?
Thank you so much for asking and for genuinely caring about the journey!
As I approach my final IRONMAN event, I find myself reflecting less on the results and more on the journey that brought me here. These years in the sport have been deeply enriching . . . I’ve learned to never let success get to our heads nor failure to our hearts.
I’m incredibly grateful that what started as a hobby became my job and eventually a career. As I close this chapter, I do so with deep appreciation for the journey and the people who made it extraordinary.
Her pre-race speech echoed this same sentiment. She shared that IRONMAN taught her appreciation for her tribe, her body, her mind and the sheer gumption required to repeatedly step into something so demanding and still rise. It became her “greatest classroom,” shaping who she was long before it taught her how to race.
Longevity is a word I often use at Longevity Today and at Workup. What do you believe has been the key to your longevity as an elite endurance athlete - both physically and mentally - over decades of training and racing?
“For me, longevity has been rooted in curiosity, adaptability, and taking a truly holistic approach. Consistent strength training since college has been a foundation. Frequent cryotherapy in my mid-40s made a significant difference. Mentally, longevity has come from staying connected to why I love this sport.”
Life outside of racing matters deeply. You are wife, proud mom and active in your community. How have those roles shaped your perspective as an athlete and a person?
“They’ve grounded me. Being a wife and mom puts everything in perspective - you can’t take a bad race too seriously when you come home to real life and real love. My family and community remind me that success isn’t just about performance; it’s about connection, giving back and being a role model.”
Working with coaches, peers and your tribe has been part of your story. What have been the most important relationships or support systems behind the scenes?
“We cannot be our best selves until we have found our tribe and mine is marquee. My support team is the reason I’ve been able to do this for so long. Having people who see you beyond the athlete makes all the difference in staying grounded, motivated and enriched.”
Finally, as a role model for many and a long-time champion, how do you hope to be remembered - both for your athletic achievements and for the person you are off the race course?
“My mindset is gratitude - pure and simple. I hope people remember me as someone who gave her all - with heart, humility and gratitude. Off the course, I want to be remembered as someone who led with kindness and made others feel seen and supported!”
Key Lessons from Meredith’s Final Pre-Race Speech
The night before IRONMAN Arizona, Meredith shared three lessons earned over two decades of racing:
1. Appreciation
For your tribe. For your body. For the chance to try again and again.
“The path is always richer when you appreciate that luxury.”
2. Flexibility
Greatness is built in the mundane.
“We make the mundane our masterpiece.”
3. Pride
Not just in results but in courage, resilience and consistency.
“That pride never leaves you.”
She added her favorite word: GUMPTION.
The fuel behind every hard day and every finish line.
And to first-timers, she offered this:
“You are so fortunate and I envy you. You get to discover this classroom for the first time.”
My Closing Thoughts
Meredith Kessler’s final IRONMAN was not a farewell to racing. It was a celebration of a life built around movement, community, resilience and gratitude, all themes we continue to explore at Longevity Today. Meredith’s approach reflects these values in a way that feels both timeless and deeply human. It is holistic, intentional and grounded in purpose.
What stands out most to me is not only her extraordinary career but the way she has carried herself through it. I am grateful for her friendship and for the example she sets in how she shows up as a teammate, a mother, a partner and a leader in her community. Her ability to pursue excellence while still protecting what matters most is something we can all strive for in both our personal and professional lives.
Meredith reminds us that longevity is not just about how long we perform but how well we live.