2025: A Year of Growth Through Challenge

2025 has been a tough year physically, but one filled with a lot of growth and perspective. My goals at the start of the year were to keep competing in hockey and train for an Olympic distance triathlon scheduled for the end of August. Training started strong. Since winter in Montreal was still in full swing, most of my sessions were indoors in the pool, on the bike, and in the gym, building a solid foundation for what was to come. In the pool, I focused on improving technique, and on the bike, I worked on a mix of intervals and longer endurance rides. Hockey was going great too, and our team’s play reflected that in the standings.

Building Momentum

As spring arrived and the snow began to melt, I started to add running back into my training routine. My weekly split looked like this: one day swimming, two days running, three days cycling, and one or two days in the gym. My body felt strong and balanced, and everything was trending in the right direction. Around the same time, my wife and I were preparing for the arrival of our first child, due toward the end of April.

The First Setback

In early March, during a hockey game, I sprained my ankle and had to miss three weeks, including the end of the regular season and the start of playoffs. Thanks to Nicholas at The Body Mechanics, an excellent athletic therapist, I was able to rehab properly and return to the ice just in time to help my team make a run for the championship. My ankle wasn’t perfect, but I was grateful to be playing again.

A Surprise Arrival

On April 1st, my wife and I went to what we thought would be a routine ultrasound. Instead, we found out our son was arriving that day. At first, we thought it might be an April Fool’s joke, but it wasn’t. We welcomed him into the world on April 2nd, three weeks early. Because he was born small, he needed a short stay in the NICU to gain weight and strength before coming home.

That same week, knowing the risks to my ankle, I decided to join my team for the championship game on April 6th. With my wife’s support, I laced up and helped my team bring home the trophy. It was a moment I’ll never forget, but it did set my recovery back a bit. The next couple of weeks were demanding physically and emotionally. Between hospital visits, helping my wife recover, and caring for our newborn, my ankle had to wait.

Getting Back on Track

When things finally settled down, I started easing back into training. Swimming and cycling felt fine, but running still caused pain. With help from Colin at Junxion Performance and Nicholas at The Body Mechanics, both athletic therapists, I gradually got back to pain-free running. That process reminded me how important it is to collaborate in rehab, even when you know the principles yourself. It’s just hard to work on your own body. You can’t apply every technique or see things as clearly when you’re the one injured.

Another Challenge

By summer, my ankle felt strong and triathlon training was going well. My swim pace was improving, my bike sessions were consistent, and I felt ready. Then another setback came. About three and a half weeks before my triathlon, I was crosschecked hard in the ribs during a hockey game and ended up with a painful rib bruise. Even small movements like getting out of bed or lifting my arms became difficult.

The Mental Side of Injury

Injury has a way of testing more than just your body. It challenges your patience and mindset. I went through all the emotions that come with losing something you’ve been building toward. At first, I told myself it wasn’t that bad. Then frustration hit. I tried to bargain with the situation, thinking maybe I could still race part of it. When I realized I couldn’t, the disappointment hit hard. Eventually, I accepted it and shifted my focus to recovery.

For about three weeks, I couldn’t swim, bike, or run. I focused instead on breathing and postural work to help my ribs heal. By week four, I started light runs again, just three and built up gradually. The pain was still there, but it was manageable.

Finding a New Goal

Even though I missed the triathlon, I still had a good running base. So I signed up for a half marathon on October 12th, giving myself about three and a half weeks to train. I kept it simple with three runs a week: one easy, one interval, and one long. Each week I built a bit more distance and confidence.

This past Sunday, I crossed the finish line of that half marathon at a six-minute-per-kilometer pace. It wasn’t the race I had trained for all year, but it was one I’m incredibly proud of. It reminded me that progress isn’t always linear and that consistency, even through setbacks, always pays off.

Lessons in Growth

Even with everything that happened, this year has brought a lot of growth, patience, and perspective. Between becoming a dad, recovering from two injuries, and finding ways to stay consistent, I’ve learned more about resilience than any perfect training block could teach.

This year reminded me that the same lessons I share with my athletes apply to me too. Progress isn’t about perfect training cycles or hitting every target. It’s about staying adaptable, being patient with the process, and trusting that consistency always wins over time.