The Year Of Carol-Ann Reason-Thibault
The Year Of Carol-Ann Reason-Thibault
As Canada East prepares to sync up with the competitive North East Region at the CrossFit East Super Regional this coming weekend, first place finisher in the Canada East Open, Carol-Ann Reason-Thibault, is determined that this year will be her year to earn a spot at the CrossFit Games.
Over the past two years, the now, 27-year-old, has finished in the middle of the pack at the Canada East Regional (24th in 2013, and 15th in 2014). However, her head-turning first place finish in the 2015 CrossFit Open in Canada East (and 6th place worldwide) back in March clearly showed Reason-Thibault has been training with a specific goal in mind.
“This past year, I’ve learned that if you really want something you have to put all the work and all the sacrifice in your workout. I spent all year training on my weaknesses, especially gymnastics. I’ve also come to realize that you can’t just work out your body; you have to workout but your mind (your head) too. Going to the gym everyday, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, is what it takes to become a better athlete (and that’s what I’ve been doing),” she said.
In preparation for the upcoming Regional, a day of training for Reason-Thibault starts at 8 am, with strength work, weightlifting practice, gymnastics and a short metcon that her coach, Pierre-Luc Petit programs for her. During a second session, in the afternoon, she then goes back to play in her playground.
“I like to do something that is not plan, something with the people in the gym that we want to do. I also gave each event from Regionals a try over the past two weeks. I practice movements that we have in the WOD, but, realistically, I really think that all the big work is already done by this time of the year,” she said.
On the tails of both the Atlantic and South Regionals this past weekend, Reason-Thibault said that although she had the opportunity to see other athletes go through each of the events first, it still did not give her an advantage in fully knowing what to expect.
“Watching the Regionals last week end give us an idea about what we have to do to earn a top spot. But we cannot compare because nothing is the same when you are on the floor. You don't know the adrenaline you are going to have, the fatigue, etc. The most stressful event for me to think about is Event 3 because I haven’t had the chance to run often on a TrueForm,” she said.
As Reason-Thibault prepares to duke it out with the ladies of both Canada East (Games veteran Michele Letendre and Maude Charron-first place finisher in Open WOD 15.1 &1a) and the North East (Chelsey Hughes, Dani Horan, Kaleena Ladeairous, and Jennifer Smith to name a few), she is keeping one thing in mind:
“You can do so much more than you think you can. Your mind will quit 100 times before your body ever does, so do it whatever it takes,” she said.
Get to know Carol-Ann Reason-Thibault.
• Favorite post comp food/celebration? Donuts
• Fav. workout music: It's funny but my favorite song while doing hard WOD is My heart will go one from Celine Dion.
• Athlete idol: Michele Letendre, Annie Thorisdottir
• Fav exercise/movement: Deadlift and hanstand push ups
• Fav benchmark workout: Diane
• 3 gym bag must-haves: BCAAs, post workout shake, something to play with my dog