Look no further for your new training partners in all things running, bootcamp and more. We’re excited to introduce three new Tread instructors to our team: Kirsten Ferguson, Daniel McKenna and Marcel Dinkins! Each brings their own unique stories and philosophies to class, so we know you’ll not only leave a workout feeling on top of the world, but also inspired and excited to lace up the next time. However you show up to your Tread, our newest instructors have got the fresh energy and motivation to meet you where you are.
Below, meet them all and count yourself in for their premiere classes here.
Kirsten Ferguson
Kirsten, we’re so glad to have you on the team. We know life has led you down many paths before bringing you here to Peloton!
I feel like I'm a cat. I've lived like nine lives. I played basketball from fourth grade all the way through high school, but by senior year, I was ready for just a little break from fitness. I traded sneakers for stilettos and worked in fashion in New York City, then marketing, but after a while I started to have a desire to be a mother and was ready for a transition. I went on a really challenging and interesting journey to becoming a mother, and that's where my real growth happened. Fitness opened that door for me.
Tell us a bit about how motherhood has transformed you, and how does fitness fit into that piece of your story?
I truly get my inspiration from my two babies at home. They are my “why,” they are the reason why I'm doing what I'm doing. My goal in life is for them to see a strong, independent Black mom chasing after her dreams, despite life circumstances, and crushing them. But I knew I needed an outlet because we, as moms, at times give so much of ourselves and can be depleted. For me, that outlet was fitness and taking an hour out of my day to focus on myself and not worry about anything else.
We know so many in our #PelotonMoms Tag can relate. What kind of space do you strive to cultivate on the Tread?
There was a moment in time where I was intimidated by running. But running has become a beautiful space and opportunity for meditation, for release. Where it's just you and your Tread and the music … there's something beautiful that can come about. I'm not looking for perfection, I'm just looking for your personal best. So I empower Members to find their true self on the Tread and show up where they are. I'm looking for you to just come with me on the journey and have fun doing it.
Finally—and we know this can’t be summed up in words alone—just how much fun are your Tread classes?
Oh, baby, you can expect high energy! I don't know what happens—something takes over me when I step onto the Tread. Music is what moves me, and you can always expect an amazing playlist, if I do say so myself. You can expect motivation, you can expect a challenge, but also a celebration, no matter how you show up. We’re creating a space where you don’t have to compete against anybody—it's you, me and your Tread.
Daniel McKenna
Daniel—we know people reading this interview won’t be able to tell, but there’s something distinct about your accent that’s a big part of your story, and that’s your Irish heritage. Tell us what your upbringing was like.
I grew up in the countryside of Ireland, quite humbly you could say, in a makeshift two bedroom, one bathroom home with my mum and sister. I loved every second of it. I spent pretty much every second of the day outside, playing all the sports possible because my mother, who is an absolute inspiration to me, was a PE (physical education) teacher. I played Gaelic football, handball, rugby, soccer … the whole way up through school.
Sports were everything to you.
All this always comes back to me mother. She was the one who taught me everything, and I gained all my sporting abilities from her. So I excelled because of her, and I was lucky enough to captain most of those teams growing up. The leadership role that I played back then really comes into play as a Peloton instructor, because when I’m leading the community in a class, I’m encouraging them to become even better.
We love the idea of you being the captain of our team when we’re taking on a Tread class together. Speaking of which, what are your classes like?
If you're coming to my class, the fact that you showed up is a win. And then above that comes progress. We’ll start with those small wins and build our confidence. For anybody who may not think that they’re an athlete, my philosophy is everybody's an athlete. And you’ll learn that I like to bring as much energy into a room as possible! In those HIIT runs and bootcamps, we're going to work, and I'm going to be working with you. I'm always there to push you.
How do you want Members to feel once class is over?
I want them to leave feeling like, “Alright, I crushed that! That's what I wanted. That's what I needed.” And you're gonna want to do it all over again soon. I'm here to tell you that you can accomplish more than you realize.
Marcel Dinkins
We can’t wait for our community to meet you, Marcel! Tell us a bit about your background and how fitness has shaped you.
I'm from Memphis, Tennessee, where I grew up with my family and my very large extended family. In school, I was a very shy kid, but I was introduced to fitness through basketball when a coach asked me to come out and play for her team. It was a transformative moment, from feeling invisible to being able to challenge myself in a way that I never knew that I could. So I played basketball, volleyball, ran cross country and track, and was also in the military ROTC. All of these experiences led me to understand that fitness is a means to opening ourselves to new challenges and ways of seeing ourselves differently.
What was your time in the military like?
I joined the Army National Guard in my sophomore year of college. It was an opportunity to prove to myself again what I’m made of. I learned through my training that every single day, you have to get up and do the work. It's not about whether you feel like it—it’s about continuing to show up. Because once you’ve done the work, and you know you have, there is no such thing as imposter syndrome. If I could teach anyone, anything from what I gained from the military, it would be the discipline to wake up every single day and do what's necessary to live up to your standard.
Mic drop! We know music is a big part of your life too, yeah?
Music is so integral in my training and in my life. I grew up in a household where music was always in the backdrop, whether it was cleaning the house on the weekends, and we were listening to gospel music, or going to family gatherings and there was R&B playing or my brother singing the latest songs in the shower. In class, music is my co-teacher! The music invokes what you should be feeling during a push and when it's time to recover.
We have a feeling our new favorite song is hiding somewhere in one of your playlists. So what else can Members expect from your Tread classes?
It's an epic party that you’ll want to show up to! You will be challenged, but you’ll have a blast. I work really hard on making sure that I'm creating an environment where the energy gets hyped, and then everyone in the class is hype. There's always a community supporting us while we’re doing the work!