Xavier St-Cyr: Overcoming Impostor Syndrome & Achieving Success

Xavier St-Cyr may not yet be known to the general public, but he is certainly leaving his mark in the world of trail race. Last Saturday, the Quebecer won the 125 km of the ultra-trail Harricana, the queen test of the competition presented in the Charlevoix region.

Beyond the result, this is the way that particularly attracts attention. With around sixty kilometers to do, the young man from Saint-Lambert accused a little more than 24 minutes on the leader, the ultramarathonian Mathieu Blanchard.

But carried by the rhythm in a loop of the song The Spins, From the late American rapper Mac Miller, and by the Volunteers’ indications, St-Cyr has started the ascent.

At each refueling point, the volunteers gave me the separation times between Mathieu and me. I understood that we had like around thirty minutes [d’écart]. I go to the next refueling point, 15 minutes. In the next, they say 2 minutes. It was motivatingunderlined St-Cyr in an interview with Radio-Canada Sports.

Around the 100th kilometer, St-Cyr has finally managed to make up for his rival. Then, after almost 1 hour 30 minutes of alternating acceleration of the two runners, the 24 -year -old Quebecer offered Blanchard to finish the race with him. A request to which the French acquired.

I was as uncertain by asking the question, if it was something that was doneadmiss St-Cyr.

Two years ago, the 125 km had three winners, so three people who had finished at the same time, but I did not know if for Mathieu Blanchard, who has a very large status, who is known internationally, it was something to which he was open. Immediately when I offered him, he acceptedhe added.

I think it really did him good to meet someone, then run with someone. When I found him, we saw that he really had a low morale, the energy on the ground, and that gave him a second breath. I think it was a bit to continue to appreciate that moment that he agreed to finish with me.

According to the final classification, St-Cyr finished nine tenths of a second ahead of Blanchard, but the two athletes were declared victorious and went up together on the first step of the podium.

Asked to know how he felt when he caught up the leader, the Lambertois was no longer honest. I didn’t feel in my place. I had a little impostor syndrome.

People around me, my friends and family asked me: “Do you feel that you would be able to stand up to him?” What he replied to: No chance is Mathieu Blanchard. He makes podiums at theUtmbait is one of the best in the world, so it is in one category apart and the other more local, Quebec runners, we play for 2nd place.

However, this impression quickly faded to make way for optimism, even confidence.

It is certain that it was something to happen next to him and to see that by playing the cat and the mouse, we went at the same speed in the enda souligné St-Cyr.

When I saw that, even when he gave little acceleration, I was able to hold it, I was like: ”WhoaOk! If it tempts me, I can really try to go to the end with him. ”

I found myself in a situation where not only did I catch up, but where I was trying to overcome it. Sure, it’s really moving. It is an experience that I never thought I was living so early, in addition, in my runner careeradmitted the Quebecer.

Of course it was really a good impulse[un[unboost]self -esteem, to say to yourself: “I am able to stand up to someone who is recognized as being in the best in the world.”

The structure, the key to balance

When he does not start the winding trails, Xavier St-Cyr continues his residence in medicine with the University of Sherbrooke. The young man must therefore compose with certain logistical challenges.

My training, it looks like 10 to 15 hours of racing per week, that I have to bring in my already working schedule, so it is certain that it is a big investment of time for mehe confessed.

His secret to juggle his job, his sport and his social life? The structure.

I have my Excel table approximately two months in advance for all my professional, personal activities and all my training, he admits laughing. It allows me not to get lost, because otherwise, I would miss out on appointments, bonds or something else.

With his most recent victory, and after being elbow with a star of his discipline, the Quebecer does not hide his interest in international races, but not at the expense of the structure he has implemented.

I would consider it, I would not say no, but I would certainly have to continue to develop good sporting potential, that I have more performance before getting into it. It must also be said that I really like my job. For me, it’s exciting too, I take pleasure in it and it stimulates me a lot.

I am very happy with the balance I have, the amount of time that I allute to [l’ultra-trail] And to my work, the time I spend with my family, my friends. We’ll see. If there are other opportunities to go run, I will take them, depending on what tempts me. But I would say that at the moment, I am where I amhe concluded.