Why this site?
The reason is simple. I needed a place to share what I learned over the years. I can’t help myself. I am not so self-centred to think that what I have to say is particularly novel, or will make the planet a better place. But, as I wrote in the Prologue of my book One Step in Front of the Other, if what I have to share helps just a single person, in any way, it will have been worth it.
So, no this is not an encyclopaedic wiki of all things multiport. It is just a place you will find an article or blog post that might get you thinking a bit differently, a review of some sports gear, in which you are wondering if you should invest, or an inspirational story challenging your mindset that you can’t set big goals and work to achieve them.
December 2020, I could not swim. In fact, I had recently had major shoulder surgery. My knees were completely rebuilt as well from years of injuries. I had no experience biking or running either. And I was 57. Exactly one year later, to the day, I completed my third of three Ironman 70.3 triathlon races in four months and finished first overall in Canada in my age group. This is not to brag, but to share with you my most profound belief: you can do anything to which you set your mind. And no, it need not be in sports!
Whether you are a beginner triathlete, interested in my journey or unsure what wetsuit, shoes or sunglasses to buy, or an experienced athlete just curious to pick up a few tips or looking for some discounts on gear, I hope you get just a little something out of the site.
Thanks for stopping by and don’t hesitate to leave me a note.
A bit about Flash
1st in Canada and Ironman All World Athlete
The 2022 Ironman All-World Athlete rankings are officially out. Barely missing out by a few points on Gold, Flash was awarded Silver AWA status, placing him among the top 5% globally of all Ironman athletes in all distances. He also finished 1st overall in his AG in Canada in the Ironman 70.3 distance.
Personal Biography
Flash to his sports friends, Marc always felt reductive single labels or titles used to define people with broad lived experiences restrictive. So he prefers to be known as a father, partner, world traveller, foodie, sommelier, author, speaker and moderator, homebuilder, Adirondacks High Peaks hiker, proud Québecois, friend and human to his sweet, athletic, female BorDoodle training partner, Rocket. 🐾
… oh yes, and he’s a triathlete !
That Work Stuff
Marc’s professional career spans over 30 years in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. With a social sciences research background, he is a renowned strategic thinker, project manager, facilitator and event moderator.
After almost two decades as CEO of a successful Ottawa-based consulting firm, in 2010 Marc took on a variety of executive-level and senior management responsibilities in the Canadian federal public service. His passion is supporting junior and middle management in developing the breadth and depth of people management skills required for success in the public sector and in life. He loves coaching and teaching.
His unique ability is to structure, break down, simplify and communicate complex ideas using strategic and conceptual frameworks and turn them into operationalizeable, iterative, work plans.
His proudest work is developing a policy and program development health promotion alignment framework for national governments.
Career Highlights
Scientific journal-published author, he was awarded a grant from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, for his work on a groundbreaking longitudinal dietary intervention study on Omega fatty acids.
Oversaw the successful delivery of more than 500 projects for a range of clients, including federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments and NGOs in the fields of health promotion, program and policy development, project management, strategic planning, communications and public engagement.
Co-authored a book on Comprehensive Community Health Organizational Models, Health Promotion and Community Development in Canada and tracked national health system reform initiatives domestically and internationally.
Managed and facilitated numerous large-scale consultations, including on Canadian Health Goals, the Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy and Canada’s response to the United Nations World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to name but a few.
He also designed a set of proprietary project management tools and methodologies called The Project Management Blueprint.