Just over a week ago, Simon Leblanc was unknown in the running world, but he has struck again and ensured his name is remembered. A true force of nature, the teacher from Beauce triumphed by winning the Beneva Marathon in Quebec, seven days after making his name with second place in Montreal.
“The Montreal cloud just took me to Quebec,” the 32-year-old athlete smiled euphorically after completing the 42.2 km in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 57 seconds.
The feat is remarkable for several reasons. First of all, standing on the podium in two marathons seven days apart is science fiction. In addition, Leblanc came almost from nowhere, he was only completing his third marathon, without a precise race plan, without a trainer, without a smartwatch. A really crazy story!
The machine from Saint-Prosper was more of a regular at the Ironman, a discipline that doesn’t require the same training as the marathon.
“I’m not that good, maybe I just have a disposition. My only goal is to push my limits and motivate people to push their limits and adopt healthy lifestyle habits,” he commented humbly.
“I have always done long-distance triathlons and therefore always trained hard. For me, running has always been a moment of release, a way to get rid of toxins.”
In the last minute
Another element shows how surreal Simon Leblanc’s story is. 48 hours before the event, on Friday, the man, who is a substitute teacher in Beauce and a valet at the Auberge Saint-Antoine, wanted nothing to do with taking part in the marathon.
“The organization invited me. I received a call on Friday and intentionally didn’t answer. I was in Quebec and had a meeting with Salomon.
“I finally picked up my bib, I saw Marianne (Pelchat, executive producer at Gestev), I saw people from the running world and I was encouraged. I told myself: In the worst case scenario, it will be training. I have to prepare for the future, so why not take part in it? “The fans gave me wings,” he enthused.
With seriousness
As the crowd cheered at the finish, Simon Leblanc did not hide his joy. PASCAL HUOT / QMI AGENCE
Apparently, the unexpected results achieved in quick succession in Montreal and Quebec prompted Leblanc to invest “genuinely” in the discipline.
“I feel like I’m putting all my energy into shortening the time. I contacted Félix-Antoine Lapointe (head coach of the Quebec track and field teams). He is a luminary and it would be an honor to train with him,” he remarked.
Of course, the first thing his future coach will probably tell him is that pushing the machine to the limit twice a week isn’t a good idea, but for now the runner prefers to laugh it off.
“It’s definitely the case that I would have been told no, but that doesn’t matter! I like to exercise my mind,” he said with a wink.
“At kilometer 35 I felt my legs breaking. Two marathons in seven days is too much, but what a feeling! The course is incredible and so is the organization. I’m grateful for all of that.”
Guillaume Rioux third
Guillaume Rioux came third despite the football season being in full swing and training not being optimal. PASCAL HUOT / QMI AGENCE
A little less than four minutes after Leblanc, Anthony Larouche (2:31:45) took second place on the podium. Then it was Guillaume Rioux, receivers coach at Rouge et Or Football, who took third place in 2 hours 39 minutes 59 seconds.
“Beyond the placing and the result, it was really exciting to race in my city. It was really cool, there were a lot of places where people were cheering,” Rioux said.
The latter experienced a very emotional moment when he took a moment to hug his grandmother at the beginning of the trip.
“I had warned my father that he would make sure Mamie stood at the edge of the sidewalk to give her a little kiss as he passed. It was truly a special moment for the family. The route went past the street where she lived all her life, it was very special,” he said.
During the journey, Guillaume Rioux took a moment to give his grandmother salt. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE RIOUX FAMILY PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE RIOUX FAMILY
A baby and a victory
In the women’s race, the moment was also great for Catherine Royer, who crossed the finish line first in 2 hours 54 minutes 49 seconds. The latter proudly held her baby Benjamin in her arms as she commented on this first competition since birth.
“I am very happy and really proud. This is my first race since having my little one and he is 10 months old today. It’s not my best time, but I’m really proud of myself. My only goal was running. The course was great and I thought a lot about my little one. With a small baby, sometimes there is a problem with tiredness, but it was good,” sighed the Quebec native.