May 17th will be my 5th time participating in the Bluenose Marathon Weekend.

Somewhere along the way the Bluenose stopped being a race and became a family tradition. A weekend where my wife, her mother, sisters, and the kids all head to Halifax together. It’s a milestone in the year, giving us a chance to travel and be active.

It’s a special event for me because it serves as a demonstration of the work I put in leading up to the weekend. The early mornings, the weeks that stack up, the quiet decision to keep training when no one is watching (especially on cold winter mornings).

But this wasn’t always the case.

A few years ago, I wasn’t doing any of this. I was heavier, tired, and too familiar with excuses. I wasn’t out of shape, but I wasn’t strong either.

This change didn’t happen dramatically. It came from data. I spent a chunk of time over the years getting bloodwork, doing weigh-in’s, measuring my breathing, monitoring my HRV, tracking run performance. The numbers weren’t alarming, but the pattern was clear: I was not on a trajectory I wanted to stay on.

This led to a shift of mindset that the body isn’t a side project — it’s the foundation (and it has to take you the distance on life).

So I stopped guessing and started tracking.

I bought a simple binder and began logging my workouts. Not to increase my lifts, rather to be honest with myself. What did I actually do this week? Did I lift? Did I run? Did I show up? 40 weeks later, the answer is on paper. No motivation required. Just evidence. Proof of discipline.

None of this is about a scale or a stopwatch. It’s about building a body I can rely on. A body that can handle stress, long days, playing with kids, and having enough energy in the tank to be a good husband, help clean, and contribute.

I’m excited for this year’s Bluenose and to cross the finish line. Looking forward, there’s something on the horizon I have my eye on. Something that demands some more patience, consistency, and a lot of quiet miles between now and then (so stay tuned).

That’s what this chapter of life has been lately: steady routines and discipline. It’s not flashy or exciting, but it’s quietly changing what I’m capable of.

See you soon, Halifax.