From Vaudreuil-Dorion to Adelaide: Gamache CAN

Gamache CAN—that’s the name competitors will see on their race bibs as Guylaine Gamache lines up in Adelaide, South Australia this October. Representing her country, Canada, Guylaine will compete in the World Duathlon Championships, a remarkable feat considering where she started. Once living with significant excess weight and walking in secret at night, the now mother of three from Vaudreuil-Dorion has transformed herself into a world-class athlete.

The Journey of an Athlete

When Guylaine Gamache steps into the Centre Multisports, she walks through one of two doors—either to train or to work as head of the building's operations team. She knows these halls like the back of her hand and lifts weights regularly to stay in peak shape for her next race.

Her introduction to sport came in 2007 through her son’s triathlon class at Sainte-Madeleine school. She then joined the Tri-O-Lacs Club, where she discovered duathlon, a discipline combining running and cycling. Unlike triathlon, she chose not to include swimming: “I tried to swim, but I go backwards instead of forwards!” she jokes.

Over the years, her performances have gained attention. In 2013, she completed all four Quebec Cup races, finishing third in her age group. The following year, she placed fourth. That was enough to earn an invitation to the World Championships in Adelaide, where she’ll race in the 40–44 age group. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she says. “My partner has always wanted to visit Australia. Why not combine business with pleasure?”

A Demanding Discipline

Fewer athletes compete in duathlon than in triathlon, but the challenge is no less intense. “The first run is long, and your muscles are already tired,” explains Guylaine. “Your legs just don’t want to move by the second run. It takes about 500 meters before they start cooperating again.”

Now preparing for the race of her life, Guylaine works with a kinesiologist to recover from past injuries and fine-tune her conditioning. Her training is more intense than ever, as she logs long cycling sessions and targets strength improvements.

Asked whether she was destined for the sport, she pauses to reflect: “I started running because I had a lot of excess weight,” she admits. “I used to jog at night around my block so no one would see me. I lost 75 pounds. I’m not an outgoing person. I’ve kind of forgotten that part of my life.”

She now looks only forward—to the next challenge, the next finish line. In her quiet perseverance, she leads by example, inspiring others without saying much. Her advice to those just starting out? “Take it step by step. If you go too fast, the weight comes back. It has to be fun—find a sport you enjoy.” Even if that means starting with a short jog in the twilight.

What Is Duathlon?

While not an Olympic discipline, duathlon combines running and cycling. In a sprint format, athletes typically run 5 km, cycle 20 km, and run another 2.5 km. The standard (Olympic) format increases the distances to 10 km run, 40 km bike, and 5 km run.

Duathlon is governed globally by the World Triathlon Federation and nationally by Triathlon Canada. One of the most grueling duathlons is the Powerman Zofingen in Switzerland: 10 km uphill run, 150 km bike ride, and 30 km trail run. This year's event is set for September 6—and there are still a few spots left…