Beyond the Finish Line

Beyond the Finish Line This isn’t just a running page. It’s about building a healthier body, a stronger mind, and a life full of adventure. One step at a time.

If this community inspires even one person to get outside and chase their own goal, every kilometre is worth it.

100K Journey!Week 8 / Day 215K Base Run Yesterday was a much-needed rest day after Sunday’s little training hiccup.Somet...
07/14/2026

100K Journey!
Week 8 / Day 2
15K Base Run

Yesterday was a much-needed rest day after Sunday’s little training hiccup.

Sometimes the best workout you can do…is no workout at all.

This morning, with the humidity already making itself known, I headed out for a planned 15K. I’ll admit, the first couple of kilometres had me wondering what kind of day it was going to be. My legs felt heavy and sluggish, and nothing seemed to flow.

But then, right around the 2K mark, everything started to click.

My stride felt smooth.
My cadence settled in.
The effort felt controlled.

By the end of the run, I was reminded of something I’ve learned over and over during this journey…

Not every run starts well, but that doesn’t mean it won’t finish well.

Sunday was a reminder that training doesn’t always go according to plan.

Today was a reminder that one bad day doesn’t define the next one.

I’m learning to trust the process, listen to my body, and move forward—one workout at a time.

Beyond the Finish Line. 👊

100K JourneyWeek 7 RecapThe Highs and the LowsThis week was a reminder that training isn’t just about collecting kilomet...
07/13/2026

100K Journey
Week 7 Recap
The Highs and the Lows

This week was a reminder that training isn’t just about collecting kilometres. It’s about learning.

The numbers certainly tell one story:

🚴 Bike: 166 km
🏃 Run: 66 km
🚣 Row: 10 km (10K PR!)

Total: 242 km

On paper, it looks like an incredible week, and for the most part, it felt that way. The body was responding well, recovery was good, and confidence was growing.

But today reminded me that ultramarathon training has a way of keeping you humble.

Looking back, I’m asking myself a few honest questions.

Did I rely too heavily on the bike this week? Should some of those cycling kilometres have been replaced with more running-specific time on my feet? Was 242 kilometres simply too much, regardless of the discipline?

Those are questions I’ll keep reflecting on, because every week of this journey is preparing me for one day in October.

Today’s 32K long run didn’t go as planned. The warning signs actually started the night before. Something I ate didn’t agree with me, which meant several trips to the washroom and a poor night’s sleep. By the time I hit the trail, I was already behind. My energy stores were depleted, and eventually I hit the wall.

It wasn’t my legs that quit first, it was the fuel tank.

As frustrating as that was, it’s also a valuable lesson. Nutrition, hydration, sleep, recovery and pacing are just as important as the kilometres themselves. On a 100K journey, every detail matters.

I’m not discouraged.

In fact, I may have learned more today than I did on any of the runs that felt effortless. Success builds confidence, but setbacks build experience.

Week 7 wasn’t perfect.

It was real.

The highs reminded me how far I’ve come. The lows reminded me there’s still plenty to learn.

That’s exactly what this journey is about.

On to Week 8.

100K JourneyWeek 7 / Day 732K Long Slow RunThere were signs… and I ignored every one of them.Up until now, this training...
07/12/2026

100K Journey
Week 7 / Day 7
32K Long Slow Run

There were signs… and I ignored every one of them.

Up until now, this training block couldn’t have gone much better. Every run, every workout, every recovery day seemed to be falling into place. But today was a reminder that training has a way of keeping you humble.

It started last night with three unexpected trips to the bathroom. After only four hours of broken sleep, the alarm went off at 4:00 a.m. Looking back, the smart decision would’ve been to roll over, listen to my body, and take another rest day.

Instead… I laced up my shoes.

For the first 23 kilometres, everything felt surprisingly good. Then, without much warning, it all went sideways… quite literally.

Three emergency “find a tree” stops later, my stomach had completely emptied, my legs started cramping, and my body had nothing left to give. The final 7 kilometres became a walk, not because I wanted them to, but because they had to.

As frustrating as it was, there are lessons in every difficult run.

Sometimes the biggest victory isn’t hitting your pace or your distance. Sometimes it’s recognizing that your body is trying to tell you something. Fitness isn’t about pretending you’re invincible, it’s about learning when to push and when to listen.

Despite everything, the morning was beautiful. The smoky sunrise, the quiet trails, the wildlife, the old barns, and the peaceful countryside reminded me why I love these early mornings. Even on a tough day, there was plenty to appreciate.

The training continues.

One bad run doesn’t erase seven great weeks.

It simply becomes another chapter in the story.

100K isn’t built on perfect runs. It’s built on perseverance, humility, and learning from the imperfect ones.

Date Night with the Girls ❤️Sometimes the best adventures don’t require a passport or months of planning. Sometimes they...
07/12/2026

Date Night with the Girls ❤️

Sometimes the best adventures don’t require a passport or months of planning. Sometimes they’re as simple as dinner at Kelsey’s, feeding the seagulls at the beach, and laughing our way through a Minions movie.

Harmony and Novah may not remember every meal we share or every movie we watch, but I hope they’ll always remember how they felt—loved, important, and worth every minute.

As grandparents, we’re given a gift. We get to slow life down, listen to the stories, laugh at the silly moments, and create memories that become part of their childhood.

Tonight wasn’t about the restaurant, the beach, or the movie.

It was about time.

And in a world that moves far too fast, time is one of the greatest gifts we can give the people we love.

These are the moments that matter.
These are the memories I’ll carry long after the credits roll.

❤️ Papa

Memories like this are priceless. ❤️Tonight wasn’t about catching fish.It started with soccer practice, then we headed o...
07/09/2026

Memories like this are priceless. ❤️

Tonight wasn’t about catching fish.

It started with soccer practice, then we headed out onto the Ottawa River, hoping for a few bites before the sun went down. The fish had other plans… and honestly, I’m glad they did.

Because somewhere between the casts, the conversations, the quiet moments, and watching the sky put on a show, I was reminded of something important.

The greatest catches in life aren’t measured in pounds or inches.

They’re measured in moments.

As I train for my 100K, it’s easy to become focused on kilometres, pace, heart rate, and the next workout. But this journey has taught me that what matters most isn’t just crossing the finish line, it’s making sure I don’t miss the moments along the way.

Time with my granddaughter Harmony is something I’ll never get back. These are the memories that will last long after the race is over.

Tonight, we didn’t catch a single fish.

But I’d say we caught something far more valuable.

We made memories.

❤️🎣🌅

07/08/2026

100K Journey!
Week 7 / Day 3
14K Recovery Run 🌲🏃‍♂️

POV: You head out for an “easy” recovery run…

14 kilometres later you’ve taken a selfie, filmed your feet, stopped to admire the scenery, and somehow you’re still calling it a recovery run. 😂

No complaints though.

These are the mornings that remind me why I started this journey in the first place. The kilometres matter… but so do the moments in between.

One day closer to October.
One run closer to 100K.

Beyond the Finish Line isn’t just about chasing a goal.

It’s about learning to appreciate the road that gets you there.

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