Athlete of the Month, August 2011 - Marc Arseneau

Swim, Bike, Run
January 31, 2017

Mike Ricci

,

share:

Meet our Athlete of the Month for August, Marc Arseneau. Marc is a married father of two, business owner, and a generous man in his community. He just finished his first Ironman, Lake Placid, while battling a few nasty injuries along the way. For now his goal is to stay healthy through IMFL and to set a PR at the Ironman distance.

Enjoy the interview with Marc:

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your sports background? Which sports did you do as a kid and as you got older?

A: As a kid I loved every sport but I did not excel at any of them because I was a late bloomer and I was lazy. As I got in my later teens, I started to develop passion for everything. I Alpine skied, I scuba dived, played hockey, tennis, wrestled, soccer and everything else I had a friend involved in. I just didn’t want to miss anything. In my 20′s, I started to play a lot of Golf. I got down to a 4 handicap. Later in my 20′s I started to play Bowling. I have 9 perfect games, I was a teacher for the “International Bowling Professional Instructor” and played 2 times on TV. In my 30′s, I started my business and got fat. Sport was not an option for me. In the middle of February 2005, I started to run like Forest Gump. I got into Ocean rowing and won the Bay of Chaleur 20 mile crossing once and finished 3 times in second position.

Q: What was your motivation to get started in triathlon?

A: About 2 years ago, I got a motivational email from a friend. It was the story of Rick and Dick Hoyt. Before it was over I turned to my wife and told her I was going to do an Ironman. I had to buy a bike and find someone to help me get into this sport, and so I did.

Q: When and where was your first race?

A: My first race was a few weeks after I got that email of Rick and Dick Hoyt. In the race I had a mechanical problem with my bike and had to quit. Before my bike was ready again for training, winter was back… Because I had one more rowing race the next summer, I kept the triathlon out of my mind. I finally did my first triathlon last July 18th and finished 20th out of 80. I registered for the Lake placid Ironman one week later.

Q: What is your current job? 

A: I am a General contractor. We do building for restaurants to car dealerships.

Q: How does it affect training?

A: At the moment we are really busy and I find it difficult. I try to schedule around the training and not around the work.

Q: Tell us about your family?

A: My wife Nathalie is a nurse and she is very supportive of anything I do. We got married very young and got 2 kid soon after. My daughter Gabrielle is 21 and is currently studying at McGill University. My son Eric is almost 18 and will be starting University this fall.

Q: What award did you recently receive?

A: In 2005 I received the Entrepreneur of the year award

in 2007 I was named in the New Brunswick Ambassador group

in 2011 I was given the Provincial Outstanding award for my local business contribution.

Q: Who is your coach at D3 and how has your coach helped you with your goals?

A: Mike Ricci is coaching me. I have the greatest of confidence in is ability to bring me to my goals. I don’t think I could have finished the IMLP without him. He has helped me get thru my downs, and tame me at my peeks.

Q: Have you done any races that you’d traveled for?

A: Most of the races I have to travel. From Montreal, Moncton and Lake Placid

Q: Best Triathlon moment?

A: The last 200m of the Lake Placid Ironman. It was worth all the work and more.

Q: What is your favourite race and why?

A: I have to say Lake Placid because of it’s challenges and spectacular scenery.

Q: What are your long term goals in triathlon?

A: I love the Ironman distance. My wife loves the races and we would like to incorporate race and vacation together. Like every triathlete, I would like to get to Kona.

Q: If you could spend a day training with anyone, who would it be?

A: Lance Armstrong without a doubt!!!!!!!!!!

Q: What’s in your race future?

A: I will do a half Ironman in september and prepare for Ironman Florida in November.

Q: What’s your favorite workout?

A: Group workouts are my favourite, but I also love the recovery runs and the intensity workouts.

Q: What your least favorite workout?

A: the 4th swimming workout of the week!

Q: Tell us something interesting about you!

A: I have been climbing mountains in the past few years. Last winter I climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa with my son. This January, I will be climbing the 22,800 ft mount Aconcagua in south america. Finally, my bucket list is too long for one lifetime!

Coach Mike Ricci is the Founder and Head Coach for D3 Multisport.  His coaching style is ‘process-focused’ vs. ‘results-focused.’ When working with an athlete, their understanding of how and why they are improving is always going to take precedence over any race result. Yes, there is an end goal, but in over 2 decades of coaching, experience has shown him that if you do the right work, and for the right reasons, the results will follow.

Coach Mike is a USAT Level III Elite Certified Coach, Ironman University Certified Coach, and Training Peaks Level II Certified Coach. He was honored as the USAT Coach of the Year.

schedule a call