Virginie Dufresne is a running coach from Canada and has a passion for physical preparation and testing combined with her teaching and coaching experience makes her the perfect apprentice for the Diablos de Trois-Rivires Cross-Country Running team, Canada
I feel that my enthusiasm, my work experience, my abilities and my interpersonal skills make me an ideal apprentice coach at the collegiate level, said Dufresne.
My aim is to work with the athletes on both the psychological and physical aspects of the sport, she said.
Dufresne is a member of the cross-country team at the University du Qu’bec Trois-Rivires and in recent years, she has also focused on training in triathlon and swimming. She took some time out of her busy coaching schedule to take part in an interview with the FCN and share her passion for her sports…
Can you tell us about your sporting background and how important sport was to you growing up as a child?
I started very young figure skating. In elementary school, I made the synchronized swimming and I started basketball. Rendered in high school, I was in the sport program in school. I played basketball and baseball to secondary 5. When I started college, I started running and cross fit. I had a heart for the individual sport. I am a girl who needs challenges in life, that is why the cross fit made me really out of my comfort zone. I started the competition of cross fit and I even did bring the idea to start the crossfit in a gym in Val d’Or. I could offer my knowledge and passion to this new clientele. My dream has always been to be a triathlete. When I arrived in Trois-Rivires, I contacted a triathlon coach by the name of Pascal Dufresne. This is now my third summer that I train seriously for my favorite sport. When I started to the University in Kinesiology, I started cross country. And last year, I made as part of the swim team. I am a passionate sport and I want to transmit this passion to people I work with. Especially, I am a private trainer for a few people in running and triathlon and I teach spinning classes. Exceeding oneself in sport is indeed magic that brings is his pride and satisfaction and improved self esteem. It is important to the sport that we like and that makes us happy.
You are currently involved with many sports including cross-country, cross fit, triathlon and swimming; does it benefit you as a coach to be involved with so many different sporting activities?
For a year, Majority of triathletes have a phase of training depending weakness and strength. In September, I just dedicate myself on swimming so this will give me more time to spend with the youth of their colleague to pass on my knowledge and my passion for cross country and being there for them 100% . I will also give some spinning classes through this and some jog with the team Diablos .
How has the transition been from an athlete to a coach? Have you found it difficult to just coach and not join in?
I would think yes but seriously, it makes me so happy to see so many people having fun in their sport and to offer my advice to people who want to progress and excel.
Why did you decided to apply for the FACP and can you tell us what was involved with the process?
I have good communication with my coach . He is truly a role model for me as a coach . When this year we decided to just focus on my swimming in autumn. Moreover, he knows very well my luggage and my passion for the sport. So he told me about this opening because I had seen the profile. I was really interested and so I applied thereafter.