On top of the Canada East during the 2012 Open, Albert-Dominic Larouche isn't resting.
While others in his class at the National School of Police find they get enough exercise through the program, Larouche does two to three extra workouts everyday.
Finishing in 2nd at the 2011 Regional, and 1st in Canada East in the 2012 Open, Larouche has his sights set on a higher prize. "The highest step of podium," he says. "Like everyone who will compete. I think we all want to win."
A former elite hockey player as a teenager, Larouche didn't think CrossFit was for him at first. When a friend wouldn't stop urging him to try it, though, he decided to go to CrossFit Chambly with her. "I was blown away by the experience," Larouche says. "I wasn't expecting that. I was thinking, 'This will be too easy ...' and I was having the same attitude as the typical guy who's doing biceps curls in his gym”
"Like everyone who will compete ... I think we all want to win."
That was June 2009. The self-described "sports addict" has shifted his focus from hockey to CrossFit seamlessly.
The Open went well for Larouche. His scores across the Open were excellent - 5th, 8th, 2nd, 2nd and 5th - but appear even more impressive when you consider his age – he's only 21. His first CrossFit event was the Circuit du Quebec in October 2010 when he was 19. He finished 3rd.
His maturity belies his age. When asked about his performance at 2011 Regionals, Larouche sagely replies, "I don't think I could have done better at Regionals, but I think I could have done better on my programming before Regionals."
In 2012, Albert has relied on a coach to write his training plan for him. "I do some of my own workouts, but with the School of Police, I don't have the time to do my own programming," he says. "Last year, the multiple WODs three days in a row definitely killed me, so I put more volume in this year, but I keep the same ways of training, I think."
He's spent more time on mobility this year, to avoid injuries, but he's improved most at his mental game. "I'm a lot more focused, and stronger mentally than last year,” he says. “I wasn't confident and never sure of my abilities.”
Larouche tries to take away thoughts that are inappropriate. "Now I concentrate on each rep I'm doing in that exact time. Not the last one, and not the next one."
The busy schedule at police school doesn't allow for more training than he's doing now, but Larouche is indifferent. "The important things I can handle differently are all the details outside of training, like focusing on sleep and nutrition,” he says.
According to Larouche, there's no strategizing until the events are released.
He's also more than aware of the other male competitors out there. "There are so many tough competitors; I can name you 10 names right away. Rhodes, D'Amore, Hebert, Proteau, Lefave, Cristini, [Kevin] Bowles, but I think even more dangerous are the unknown,” he says. “There's always someone who comes out of nowhere and offers an incredible performance."
