Catching Up with Lyne Bessette

Lyne Bessette is known to most bike racing fans as a stand-out road and cyclo-cross racer. Bessette was a dominant force on the bike through-out her 12 year long career. Racing through-out North America and internationally, Bessette was literally the Canadian face of women’s bicycle racing. Growing up in Knowlton, Quebec, Bessette started her athletic career as a runner and then moved onto cycling where she found she has deep talent. After racing at the elite level for so many years, Bessette was ready for a change. Not one to take the easy route, Bessette set her eyes on competing at triathlon. But not just any triathlon. Bessette wants to compete at the 2010 Kona World Ironman Triathlon Championships. Using a strategic build-up and plan, Bessette is on track to achieving this goal. With a marathon under her belt, lots of time in the pool and a switch from drop bars to tri bars, Bessette has transformed herself into a triathlete.

Last weekend, Bessette, 35, competed in the St. George Ironman in St. George, Utah. Between moving, helping her husband Tim Johnson recover from his broken ankle, and play with her dog, Bessette sat down and answered some questions:

You recently competed in the St. George Ironman. What motivated you to train for and compete in an Ironman?
Last year In May I decided to give myself that challenge. I think its something that I have to always want – to try some hard challenges. The only problem with me is that no matter what, I want to be competitive and sometimes it goes against me. I think that I am a super woman but it is not always the case! This one was going to be a big one not just for the distance but because I am not a swimmer. I was a runner when I was a kid all the way to university so of course I can swim to save my life but swim in a straight line, fast in the ocean…
You come from a running background and obviously have the cycling side nailed, but what about the swimming?
Wrong I can make the distance but not fast:) Still have some work to do:). Swimming is hard, you put so much time and the results doesn’t come as fast as if you where training for running or cycling…it’s frustrating. I have had the chance to work with some amazing coaches and they have helped me so much but I’m still the last one out of the water:) The technical part of swimming takes time and because I wasn’t swimming as a kid in school or competitively I don’t have the feel for the water…Don’t get me wrong I can swim but not fast:)
What was the swim training like?
I have to say that training in an outdoor pool all winter in Santa Barbara was awesome! I can’t complain about that one:) training was 5 times a week between 4000 and 6000 meters plus some ocean swims.
Was this the hardest part of the training?
I used to be a early bird ..always up at crack of dawn. But getting up at 5 to go swimming..I just couldn’t do it so I was swimming at noon! Perfect! Like I said earlier the technique and to get the feel of the water is the hard part.
How are things looking for competing at Kona this season?
Well I have a pro card so what that means is that I have to race a full Ironman and finish within 5% of the winner. That’s not very easy. So far I think I will enjoy the season try some race and see if I can actually finish one. I’ve been having cramps issues and a hamstring problem so that doesn’t help the running at all..and that is actually where I have been struggling.
Last year you ran a marathon – was this in preparation for the Ironman or did the Ironman grow from needing another challenge?
The marathon was part of the training and preparation. I never ran a marathon before so I needed to know if I could do that in a decent time. I knew I could do that but the difference between running a marathon and running a marathon after 4.2km of swimming and 180km bike is NOT the same!
The question that I’m sure you’re asked a lot: will we see you at any bike races or ‘cross races this year?
This year I will focus on my triathlon adventure but yes I will do a couple road races. as for ‘cross maybe but I can’t say yes for sure. I might come back for master worlds in 2012-2013!! Ill be 38!
Switching to your days of bike racing… Can you tell us about a race or moment on the bike that really stands out as one of your “top” moments?
1998 Commonwealth game in Kuala Lumpur, it was my first big international win! I just got the tape transferred onto a DVD so my dad can watch it as much as he want! He always thinks I won’t win!
What fuels this passion of yours to be an elite cyclist and now to be an elite triathlete?
To always push myself but also the desire to be first…that’s not always a good thing!
I read on your web site that you are doing some cycling coaching/training – what is this like? Tell us a bit about what you offer clients.
I am in the process of finishing my level 3 in Canada and I’ve got the chance to meet great people and learn from them. I want to help athletes and people to achieve their goals either getting in shape for a century, racing or just for themselves. I love helping and seeing them happy and surprised about what they can do.
What is life like away from the bike, running shoes, and swimming pool?
Tim and I have a pretty busy life always moving traveling and preparing for what is coming next. We have a brown lab named Vitesse. How do you relax and chill out?
Chill? Relax? what are those words? When I’m not training I’m either working on my training plans for my athletes, cleaning the house (dog), reading, walking the dog, doing more errands…really I never stop.
What is next for you?
I am taking a week easy thinking back about St George and planning the next Ironman. Probably Lake Placid but not sure yet. I am driving across the country on the 14th of May from Santa Barbara stopping in Death Valley for a 100 mile race. I will drop the truck full in Massachusetts around the 24th and drive straight up to my parents house in Knowlton, Quebec. My mom has been dealing with cancer and she has two more chemotherapy sessions to do and I want to be there. I also haven’t seen my brother and my friends in months. I have two cancer rides planned in Quebec for this summer as well to raise money.
Your husband Tim Johnson is one of the top American cyclo-cross racers and road cyclists – tell us a bit about what life is like in a house with two elite athletes.
It’s not always easy but its like any other couple. We both train hard and Tim travels a lot so I am alone a lot. Over the years we’ve learned how to deal with that but the thing is, I used to travel even more and we would spend months with out each other. What I find hard is to readjust once you’ve been apart for a while. You have been doing your little things and he comes back with a garbage mouth because of the way these boy racers talk and being a slob living in a hotel:) I love him anyway!
Sports are a central component of your life, if you weren’t an athlete, what do you think you’d be doing?
I don’t really know…I studied to be a teacher in high school but I didn’t like it, i did all kinds of summer job from waitress, dishwasher with my brother at a golf course, a green keeper, bike shop, ski shop, snowboard and ski teacher…It’s hard when you get out of high school and they ask you what do you want to study and be for the rest of your life?
Where are you living now – are you split between California and New England?
Summer in Beverly,MA just a town over from the witches of Salem! And we have been in Santa Barbara this winter, Tim came alone last year and I stayed in MA over the winter and I went nuts. In Quebec people don’t stop living because there is snow on the ground but In MA they clean the sidewalks once a month and not even done right, you can’t run outside or just walk the dog….
What about your role models? Clara Hughes a great friend and an amazing woman.