The path of an athlete: an interview with Simon Bernier Lalonde, professional triathlete. -

The path of an athlete: an interview with Simon Bernier Lalonde, professional triathlete.

B2B2C is very proud to support young local athletes in their development. This is an important part of our community involvement focused on health through sports. It is with great pleasure that we help professional triathlete Simon Bernier Lalonde from Rosemère, Quebec. During his most recent visit to our offices, after his first race of the year, Simon agreed to answer a couple of questions. We were curious to understand more about his progress and his career. He was very generous with us and here are some of his answers that contain life lessons that resonate well into a business context.

Simon, what did you learn during your journey from amator to professional?

First of all, last year was one of my first professional races. Previously, I used to finish my races around five minutes before everyone else. Since I’m on a professional level, this is no longer the case. In cycling, I tended to keep pace with other cyclists and push a bit more. Unfortunately, because of this I was tired during half marathon portion of the race. These experiences have taught me that although some athletes are faster than me in one of the tree sports, I do not have to change how I push myself during that portion. You have to go at your own speed, you cannot skip steps.

In fact, at one time or another, companies are also confronted to compare themselves, especially in a competitive market. What lessons did you learn?

One of my lessons was that I was rather counterproductive by comparing myself to others during my races. Finally, what I had won in cycling, I lost much more while running, so in the end, I lost more than I gained. All professionals compare themselves at least once in their life. It’s hard not to do it, especially in an individual sport, we want to excel so much. Every athlete is different. There is always a sport where you’re better. For example, some triathletes are swimmers or runners.For me it is not the case. If I’m not able to follow others during those segments, it doesn’t matter, because it’s when I cycle that I have the best opportunity to gain on my competition.

Detecting a problem is not often obvious. What mistakes did you make during your journey?

The majority of my mistakes are in terms of injuries during my workouts. For example, two years ago, I did not feel good on my bicycle. I only changed my bench a millimeter and that “broke the whole machine.” It’s in this type of situation where we can hurt ourselves the most. It’s like a production machine. If we just change the production rate a little, we can break the entire production line. I learned to stop looking for the “perfect fit”. Looking for perfection on all components is impossible. To avoid injuries, you must know your body well; you must be on the lookout for injuries. For example, I continued to run after a small injury that quickly turned into a four-month break from training. It was from there that I learned to listen to myself more.

How did you get through during the four-month break?

I had never experienced this before. Nobody can teach you to live with that before it happens to you. It was at this moment that I learned to be able to differentiate types of pains. I would rather lose a few days than three months of training. When I feel a new source of pain, it is at this moment that I need to stop. The important thing is to do a real diagnosys and listen to yourself.

Are you looking out for experience collaborators to help you diagnose your injuries?

Yes, it is always easier to solve the problem with the help of professionals. I will go to see my team including my massage therapist and my physiotherapist. These days, the Internet is a good tool, but I always prefer to consult people who have some real experience.

Triathlons include several disciplins unlike most sports. Is it the combination of your performances that defines your success?

Indeed, each race is important. Every sport is critical. You must not neglect one. Of course, there are more important facets than others in triathlons. For example, swimming represents only the ⅛ of the race, while cycling represents the ⅝ of the race. Of course it’s more profitable to be better at cycling than swimming. On the other hand, it is always better to be a complete athlete than to accept big deficits in any single sport.

Next meeting

Simon’s next race will take place this summer at Mont Tremblant for the IRONMAN 70.3 on June 23rd. The entire B2B2C team is proud of Simon’s career and wishes him all the best for the next few years. To learn more about Simon and his upcoming races, we invite you to visit his Facebook page: Simon Bernier Lalonde Triathlete.

B2B2C initiatives: supporting amateur sports

For several years, B2B2C has been actively involved in various amateur sports because we believe that sport is a strong lever for the development of healthy communities.

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