Demons have chased Estheban Archambault since childhood. Night terrors, anorexia, self-mutilation, repeated feelings of suicide. These were his constant companions growing up in the village of Saint-Rémid’Amherst.

After two decades of anguish, Estheban turned the tables this past June. For 113 kilometres, he chased those demons till he crossed the Ironman Mont-Tremblant 70.3 finish line.

Determined to find a way through the darkness, Estheban found something that alleviated his debilitating anxiety: exercise.

Finding the answer inside himself

When he was growing up, there was not a medical expert his parents did not consult. Psychiatrists, psychologists, family doctors, counsellors of every sort. Zoo therapy. Meditation. Medication. But no one had suggested exercise as a way to address his crippling anxiety. That connection, Estheban had to find on his own.

He had thought doctors could cure him. “What I finally realized,” related Estheban, “was that I had to be personally responsible for my mental health. It was not something that someone else could just fix.”

Last year, he started running on a treadmill as a way to make himself tired so he could sleep through the night. What he discovered would change his life.

After running, he not only fell asleep without waking to night terrors, he started to feel better mentally.

He began swimming at the Complexe Aquatique Mont-Tremblant. As he incorporated exercise and good habits into his life, he had less anxiety. He started making friends. Unusual for someone who had been taunted and bullied his entire life.

Taking on triathlon

A triathlon logo on the wall of the Mont-Tremblant municipal swimming pool intrigued him. Although he had never participated in a sporting event in his life, the idea of three sports strung together was appealing.

Swim coach Karen Sampson suggested he call Robert Roy and begin training at the RobFit KinCentre. He followed her suggestion. Each day he worked to become a better athlete. He focused his mind on becoming strong and healthy.

“I discovered that training my body made me feel good. But I did not want to train just for fun. I wanted a goal,” recalls Estheban. “A goal keeps my mind focused.”

This past spring, he jumped into the deep end and registered for the Ironman Mont-Tremblant 70.3.

With no endurance-event experience at all, Estheban was told by RobFit coach Gilbert Ayoub: “This is going to take a lot of hard work.”

And work is what he did. Swim. Bike. Run. Strength train. He put anxiety on the back burner and focused on his goal. Coach Ayoub advised, “Estheban’s work ethic is rarely found in such a young person. He is not afraid to train hard.”

A finish line is just the beginning

As his parents watched their son take back his life one training block at a time, his father made a promise to himself. If his son captured that Ironman finisher medal, he would also do something hard. He would quit smoking.

True to his word, Estheban’s father smoked for the last time on June 19th. But for Estheban, crossing the Ironman Mont-Tremblant 70.3 finish line in five hours and 55 minutes was not the “finish” to anything.

Estheban is committed to helping others find their way through anxiety and mental health issues with the healing power of exercise.

“I no longer feel like I want to die,” shared Estheban. “I found a way through the darkness, and I want to shine the light for others to follow.”

More from this author by clicking on her photo below.