Thirty Eight
A month ago, I turned 39 and entered that twilight zone of my thirties. My mom called. Some friends checked in. Grandma’s card made its annual pilgrimage through the mail. My daughter handed me a homemade card filled with scribbles and love. I went for a run, cooked steaks and potatoes, and called it a day. Uneventful—and perfect.
Every year on my birthday, I like to look back and take stock. Here's what stood out in year thirty-eight.
🗭 Snapshot of the Year
Top 3 Memories
- Running my first marathon in Vancouver and keeping a one-year run streak alive
- Moose hunting
- Swimming in the ocean with my kids
Stats at a Glance
- 🏃♂️ 2,796 km run
- ⛰️ 42,609 m elevation gain
- ✈️ 52 flights taken
- 🍺 339 alcoholic drinks
- 📚 9 books read
- 🏋️♂️ 51 gym sessions
3 Things That Worked
- Cutting back on alcohol → better sleep and training
- Embracing Garmin data → more awareness, more gains
- Marriage meetings → more connection, less chaos
3 Things That Didn’t
- Gym consistency → once a week isn’t cutting it
- No stretching or physio routine → flirting with injury
- Reading took a hit → time to reprioritize
✈️ Travel
This year was flight-heavy: Whitefish, Guelph, Kincardine, Czar, Puerto Vallarta, Vancouver, and the ever-glamorous Fort Hills. In total? 52 flights resulting in 45,602 km.
The big takeaway: traveling for races is awesome. My wife and I plan to keep this going—maybe Quebec City, Victoria… maybe even Europe?
🏃 Health and Running
The Garmin Forerunner I picked up on Black Friday turned out to be my best health investment. It revealed what I probably didn’t want to admit: alcohol wrecks my sleep and recovery. As a result, I cut back—and it’s been a game-changer for training.
I ran 2,796 km with 42,609 meters of elevation. That’s more than double last year’s mileage. I completed six races, including my first marathon, and I’m proud to say I’ve maintained a 365-day run streak (and counting).
This was the year I truly learned the importance of fueling—before, during, and after a run. It's not optional. It's the difference between surviving and thriving.
Recovery-wise, massage and acupuncture kept me functional. Stretching and physio, however, did not. That needs to change.
I hit the gym just 51 times this year—less than once per week. Not ideal. My goal: bump that to twice per week. Weight training makes everything better—physically and mentally.
❤️ Relationships
My wife and I started doing monthly marriage meetings in early 2024. It’s one of the best hacks for a calmer, more connected relationship. This small ritual led to more date nights and more laughter. In the coming year, we’re aiming for twice a month.
Time with my kids remains the highlight of my life. That won’t change.
I also made time for friends—through hockey, hunting, camping, BBQs, and even stand-up shows. I plan to keep that momentum going. One goal for next year: find some running friends. Partly for the chats. Mostly so my wife stops worrying I’ll get eaten by a bear.
💻 Coding
There are few things I love more than coding with a coffee in hand. This year, I built my personal website, helped friends with their projects, and set up a custom email. Time is tight, but I’m committed to the long game.
I don’t know if coding will become my career, but I do know this: I’m going to die trying. By next year, I hope to be much further along in my dev journey.
🗣️ Toastmasters
I gave four speeches, one short of my goal. One was awful. One was the best I’ve ever delivered. It was a real rollercoaster.
Our club was on the brink, but we turned things around with new members and renewed energy. After 10 years, I can honestly say I no longer fear public speaking. That alone is worth the effort.
🍺 Alcohol
I logged 339 alcoholic drinks—down nearly 80 from the year before. I’ve mostly ditched hard liquor and weekday drinking. Light beer now reigns supreme, and I reserve the strong stuff for special occasions.
Garmin gets the credit here. Seeing the impact on sleep and recovery made it easy to cut back.
☕ Caffeine
I drank 2–3 cups of coffee every single day. I’ve dialed in the timing to avoid messing with sleep. I’ll continue monitoring my intake, but… yeah. I don’t see this changing anytime soon.
📚 Reading: My Lowest Year Yet
Just 9 books this year—the lowest since I started tracking. There are reasons:
- I stopped listening to audiobooks while running.
- I swapped Kindle time at work for meditation.
- I spent more time coding than reading.
That said, I’ve started listening to books on my runs again, and I’m setting aside time before bed for reading. Expect a rebound next year.
🎯 Goals for Year 39
- Lift weights twice per week
- More family time
- Find running buddies
- Keep improving as a developer
- Reduce alcohol, monitor caffeine
- Read more books
