Catherine’s journey to the Bromont Ultra

In 2025, Catherine was only a few hundred metres into an event on Mont-Sainte-Anne when she suddenly felt like she was about to black out. She lay down on the trail and notified the friends she was racing with that she wasn’t sure she would regain consciousness. 

This wasn’t the first time something so worrisome happened to Catherine. 

“I’m a kinesiologist and I know it’s not normal to experience these kinds of symptoms when exercising,” she said. This sensation would often occur during moments of intense exertion or when she trained in colder temperatures. Out of precaution, and because she often runs alone, she decided to consult a medical professional. 

Her family physician referred her to a cardiology specialist. A stress test revealed an abnormal interval in the electrical tracing of her heart, which led her to the MHI’s Cardiovascular Genetics Centre — the only institution in Quebec to combine a genetics clinic and a molecular analysis lab. 

It took a few months to obtain definitive answers, but the genetic test came out negative. Instead, there was a combination of factors causing her symptoms. 

“The good news is that there was nothing major affecting my heart. But it was quite worrisome. I kept thinking something might be wrong. But what exactly was that something? Heart disease is an extremely broad category of illnesses.” 

Catherine’s story had a happy ending and she’s not in danger. She even obtained professional advice on how to prepare for her workout sessions.  

After receiving care at the MHI, Catherine undertook some research to learn more about its Foundation. She was immediately drawn to the Women’s Heart Health Fund. 

“Few research projects focus on women, and that’s a topic that immediately stood out for me. It’s like I was meant to find out about it.” 

Catherine’s grandfather suffered from heart problems related to his lifestyle habits and her medical ordeal only reinforced her belief that we need to protect the one heart we have before it’s too late. As a result, she decided to support cardiovascular medicine in her own way.

This fall, Catherine will be taking part in the Bromont Ultra with nine other women from the Mauricie region. Her companions are fellow adventurers she met over the course of travels, in particular in the Pyrenees. 

“These are women who believe in prevention as much as I do. That’s why they decided to join me.” 

The goal of her team is to run together, have fun, and promote prevention through exercise, with no pressure as to performance. They created a fundraiser that is gaining massive momentum in support of research and cardiovascular care at the MHI. 

For Catherine, this experience has confirmed her profound belief that prevention, which starts by listening to your body, can help you avoid disastrous scenarios. 

You can support Catherine’s dedication to heart health by contributing to her fundraiser for the Bromont Ultra. Donations will fund research in cardiovascular care at the Montreal Heart Institute.