Orlando Philharmonic violist Melissa Swedberg recently ran the Augusta 70.3 mile Ironman, commonly referred to as a Half Ironman. We sat down with her to learn more.

OPO: What is a Half Ironman?
MS:  The race included 1.2 mile swim in the Savannah River, a 56 mile bike ride (with hills!) across the river into South Carolina, then a Half Marathon (13.1 mile) run through downtown Augusta. It took a grueling 7 hours, 41 minutes!

OPO: When did you start running?
MS:  My children inspired me to start training for triathlons 3 years ago when I was 55.  Erik (25) was a TriGator at UF, and Olivia (27) is an amazing marathon runner whose second race was the Boston Marathon.  My mom was actually an ultramarathon runner from ages 60 – 80!  So I was sort of the slug in between the three amazing people.

OPO: What got you interested in running?
MS: The Ironman 70.3 was just the next step in racing challenge after doing 22 sprint triathlons, 3 Olympic distance triathlons, and two half marathons.  I am blessed to be part of a wonderful triathlon team at the Blanchard Park YMCA, and about a dozen of us went to Augusta to share this life altering experience.

OPO: So…what’s your next challenge?
MS: I guess the next step might be a full Ironman (140.6 miles), possibly in 2013, but I have to get a lot stronger before then!!  My 2013 goals include two more Ironman 70.3 races, a full marathon, and a century (100 mile) bike ride.

OPO: What’s the hardest part about the IronMan competition?
MS:  First of all, regarding the word “competition,” the only competing I’m doing is against myself…setting up personal challenges and then doing what it takes to meet them.  That said, the most challenging aspect would be sticking to a training plan and putting in the long hours of preparation even when I’m sometimes inclined not to.

OPO: Are there any parallels between Ironman and being a musician?
MS: Oh, there are so many!  Training for performance, whether it is on the viola or as a triathlete, both require so much personal discipline.  Musicians and athletes both learn to set goals, and then do WHATEVER is required to perform their best.  This requires many long hours of practice and training, of overcoming disinclination, of honing both the body and mind, of taking care of oneself physically, mentally and emotionally so as to be able to perform at peak ability.  Being a violist taught me the mental focus needed to complete a triathlon.  On stage I have learned to block out distracting thoughts and focus only on the performance, and this skill has transferred directly into focusing on the race at hand, not allowing extraneous mental chatter to distract me.  There are no shortcuts to being a successful musician or trathlete – one’s performance is a direct result of how well one has prepared.

OPO: What is your history with the Orlando Phil?
MS: I have played with the Orlando Philharmonic since its inception nearly 20 years ago!  It’s been so exciting seeing it evolve from the dream of a few musicians to what it is today.  I’ve also played with orchestras in Seattle, Syracuse, Charlotte, Charleston, Columbia SC, and Brevard  to name a few.  Occasionally I get to perform with some inspiring popular artists, including Ray Charles, Aerosmith, Natalie Cole, Smoky Robinson, and Andrea Bocelli to name a few.

OPO: Who are your family members?
MS: I am married to Robert Swedberg, who many Orlando music lovers knew when he directed the Orlando Opera for 17 years.  Now he is now a professor of opera at the University of Michigan, as well as traveling around the world as an opera stage director.  Our daughter Olivia is a PhD candidate in Music Therapy at FSU, and our son Erik is an MBA/Law student at the University of Melbourne (Australia).  I’m currently holding down the fort in Orlando, with two cats to keep me company!  Working out has been a way for me to keep busy instead of missing my family too much.

OPO: Do you ever run with your family members?
MS: Occasionally I get to race with my children which is really special, even though of course they leave me in the dust!  Robert cheers us on, accompanies us on relaxing bike rides, and teaches Yoga for Performers at UM as well.

OPO: Viola, running marathons…what else do you do?
MS: I also teach elementary school music at Walker Elementary School in Seminole County, and am a National Board Certified Music Teacher. My other interests include yoga and meditation, which have been really helped me to slow down, focus, and keep things in balance.

Melissa Swedberg studied viola at the University of Southern California and completed her B.A. in Music at the University of California at Santa Cruz.  She pursued graduate viola studies at Ithaca College and received an M.A. in Music Education from the University of Central Florida.  She also studied viola at the Music Academy of the West, the Banff School of Fine Arts, and in the Oxford, England studio of Kato Havas.   She has performed with the Orlando Philharmonic since its inception, and previously played with various orchestras around the country including the Seattle Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, Hidden Valley Opera,  Monterey Symphony,  Charleston Symphony, and the Columbia Philharmonic.

Melissa teaches elementary school music at Walker Elementary School in Seminole County and is a National Board Certified Music Teacher. She has been a Teacher of the Year and a two-time Disney Teacherrific Winner.  She and her husband Robert have two children, Olivia and Erik, and their favorite pastime is hanging around the campfire at Uncle Jon’s remote California cabin.