I am proud to say that, last Saturday, I crossed the finish line of La Boucle du Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie! I am proud to say that I crossed these 135 km accompanied by people who inspired me to participate in this event!
When I was offered to be part of the Bourret team at La Boucle, I had some hesitation before finally saying “yes!” You will understand that although I practise road cycling for 2 years now, I have never ridden more than a consecutive 80 km during the same trip. My participation in this event therefore involved some preparation.
Although I was already training several times a week, I knew I would have to work hard. At the beginning of March, I started my preparation. I enrolled in spinning classes twice a week. Of course, I combined the spinning workouts with the workouts I was already doing. So, the road to get to the famous day of June 15, 2019, has not always been easy, but I can tell you that all efforts are worth it!
Then comes the morning of the event, although the doubt of being able to succeed is always a little present, once made in the starting line, it is the excitement and the atmosphere that is at the party that takes over mostly. It was then that I realized how much I was taking part in a wonderful event.
When the start was given by the organizers, all the participants were feverish when getting on the bike! The atmosphere was electrifying, and the spectators were on fire! During the course, I crossed the different villages, always welcomed from one place to another. The locals had made an appointment to encourage cyclists and I can only say “thank you,” you made my event even more enjoyable!
I would lie to you if I told you that I found the journey easy from start to finish. There were moments of discouragement, moments during which the pedals were more difficult, but thanks to the mutual help between the cyclists and the cheers of the spectators, the motivation always took over.
Finally came the last kilometres, probably the most difficult and the easiest at once. Obviously, fatigue is felt, but the pride of having completed the course is also present. It is accompanied by some members of the team Bourret, that I crossed the last kilometres in the sense of joy and pleasure. On arrival, several people were present to congratulate us, it was the party!
Efforts to achieve our goals are always self-evident, but I cannot say how much fun it is to have people around you who believe in our abilities. I would like to thank the Bourret Group for giving us the opportunity to surpass ourselves and believe in ourselves! Thank you for helping us invest in our health!
Finally, what I learned from this experience is that no matter what sport you do, whether you are a beginner or a regular, the important thing is to build on yourself, on your future, and on your own health. Your actions will inspire more than one! Actually, it is the spirit of the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
I would like to congratulate all members of the Bourret team for their participation in the event!
by Marilyn Demers