Page 12 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 20

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To Be Really Successful You Have To Love It

By Diane Hunter be successful.”

ornwall duathlete Mathieu Despatie was named junior
CDespatie trains every day. He duathlete of the year in 2009
and has competed in three world
runs, he bikes and he studies law. He

said it’s not easy, but it helps to keep championships, finishing fourth in
his age group twice. “My favorite
him balanced. “Being the best I can
be at this sport is what really inspires memories involving duathlon,
me to train every day.” would probably be the three world
championships that I competed in
“When and where I train depend so far,” said Despatie. “In particular
on the time of year. I am attending the one in 2013, being that they were
Law School at Queen’s University in in Ottawa, where I had lived for
Kingston, so during the school year four years prior while attending the
almost all my training is in Kingston,” University of Ottawa. It was a cool
said Despatie. “During the winter experience to compete in an event of
while I am at school I generally only that level so close to home.”
train once a day so depending on my
schedule I will train either before Despatie said there is more to
being an athlete than training. “There
classes in the morning or when I get
back in the afternoon. During the four are a lot of other things that go into
months I am home for summer I train it. Planning, training, organizing

equipment and constantly finding and
more often.
looking for ways in which to make
“Luckily around my house the area small improvements to all areas of
is quite good for both biking and racing and training,” said Despatie. Insert Photo: Matt Despatie during the 2013 Duathalon World
running so I do not have to go far. As Championships in Ottawa.
race season (summer) approaches I Despatie asserts that support is a Matt Despatie on his bicycle during the World Championships in Ottawa
huge part of success for any athlete. last year. Photos by Andrea Despatie.
generally train twice a day, one bike
and one run. For these I generally “If I did not have such a great support around you is essential to being fastest run times ever and one of my
team around me, I would never have
do one in the morning and then one successful.” best bikes. Getting back to that level
again later in the afternoon. I also been able to be successful as I have after so long is something I am really

do a significant amount of training been. There is my coach Jeff Gibbs In 2012 Despatie had to take some proud of. The other achievement that

who I have complete confidence time off due to illness, but it wasn’t
indoors, either on a treadmill or on I am really pleased with is being able
my bike on a stationary trainer.” in. I never question or doubt my long before he was right back and to continue to train and be successful
fitness level going into a race and better than ever. “Coming back

Despatie has been involved in always know I am totally prepared. from that was quite diffi cult,” said while doing well in school.”
competitive running and duathalons My girlfriend Sarah plays a huge Despatie. “Starting up again from Despatie said that organization

for eight years with his first race being part in my success. Her patience nothing after having already been so is key to managing training and
the Cornwall Kid’s Triathlon in 2006. and understanding of the time successful was really tough. Some education. “Even though it is a
Not a member of any team, Despatie commitment I am required to make days you were happy because you are challenge, I believe, ultimately it
does most of his training alone. is extremely important, but also she improving then the next moment you does help me,” he said. “It requires
“The real battle is with yourself and is always there to talk me through the are upset because you know you used me to make a conscious effort to plan
pushing yourself to your limits,” said tough times that come with the sport. to be so much better than you are and in advance when I will train and when
Despatie. Be it pre-race nerves, a disappointing that even though you are improving I will do school work. This results in
Despatie was inspired to get race or any challenge I have faced I you are no where near where you used me being very focused during those
involved in endurance sports after know I can talk to her and she will to be in terms of fi tness. That made times as I know I must get everything
reading Lance Armstrong’s two help me get through it. My family has racing last season quite tough as you done in a certain time frame.”
autobiographies. “I think one of the also played an important part. I know may be happy with the result, but you
most important things I do, which has they are always behind me and have knew that a few years ago you were Despatie trains with the thought
played a great role in my success is supported me in this sport 100 per much better then that. My last race on of one day winning the world
to really enjoy the process,” he said. cent. The support I received at races June 1st, fi rst time since being sick championship. “My inspiration
“The amount of times you actually is also very important. In a sport that where I fi nally felt, this is my best comes from the continual pursuit of
race is so few, especially considering is so individual, in both training and race I have ever done and I have never being the best that I can be within this
the amount of time that you put in to racing, having a strong support group been in this good of shape. I had my sport.”