I’ve Crossed 5 IRONMAN Finish Lines. Here’s What No One Tells MEN About Discipline

I’ve crossed the Ironman finish line five times.

A 3.8 km swim, a 180 km bike ride, and a 42.2 km marathon run immediately afterward, all back-to-back.

Through the ups and downs of race day, I’ve learned one important thing: no matter what, at the end of the day, it’s just God and you.

Over the years, I’ve realized that a lot of men are lacking this incredibly important perspective on life.

Driven men can be disciplined and lost at the same time.

You can be checking boxes, getting things done, accomplishing goals, and working through endless to-do lists. Yet underneath it all, there can be a quiet hum of emptiness. I’ve felt that before.

After hundreds, even thousands of hours on the bike, on the run, and in the pool, I always come back to the same question:

Is this what God is truly asking me to be?

We are absolutely called to be good stewards of our bodies. Our bodies are gifts from God, and we should nourish them, train them, and take care of them.

But physical fitness is only one aspect of being a godly man.

We should be striving to deepen our relationship with God with the same intentionality we bring to our physical training. The same mindset I use to prepare for Ironman races should also be applied spiritually.

Because life is not all physical.

The Relationships That Matter

Am I pouring effort and time into my relationship with God?

Am I investing in my wife, my children, my parents, my friends, and my community?

In Proverbs 27:17, it says:

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

That’s not just a slogan or a poster verse. It’s a blueprint for life.

I take that very seriously.

God did not design men to do life alone. He designed us for brotherhood, relationships, marriage, family, and community. He calls us to build a legacy and spread His word.

Many men today have friends and social groups, but they lack true brotherhood.

That’s one of the things I’m hoping to build here on this YouTube channel.

Too often, no one is asking the hard questions, and no one is calling us higher.

Men Are Hungry for Brotherhood

Hebrews 10:24-25 says:

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another.”

As I’ve mentioned before, a few men from my local church, St. Paul’s, and I started a men’s ministry group.

It’s been going incredibly well.

We now have a group of men who genuinely care about their relationship with God and want to keep one another accountable.

The coolest part is that every man showed up hungry.

Not just hungry for food, although that’s great too.

They showed up hungry for spiritual growth, spiritual formation, accountability, and genuine connection. They wanted to be seen. They wanted to be sharpened.

We’ve had double-digit attendance every time, even on holidays.

Men today are starving for this.

They just don’t know how to ask for it.

Accountability Changes Everything

Accountability is incredibly important.

Even I’m being held accountable in our men’s ministry.

The guys remind me to send out meeting dates and discussion questions. They keep me on track, and honestly, I love it.

Ironman training taught me a lot about discipline.

Most of my training has been done alone. Not because I dislike group training, but because it’s often difficult to find people who want to train at the exact same time you do, especially when you don’t live in a highly populated area.

My workouts usually happen very early in the morning, and with a full-time job, it was difficult to coordinate schedules.

There’s a funny saying in the triathlon community that organizing a group workout is like herding cats.

I definitely believe that.

Discipline Is Greater Than Motivation

One lesson Ironman taught me is that discipline is far more important than motivation.

Motivation is temporary.

Motivation comes and goes.

Even though I have no problem getting out of bed early, there’s probably a 60 or 70 percent chance that I don’t actually feel motivated when I wake up.

What helps is that I’ve built systems. I’ve reduced friction. I’ve created habits that make it easier to get up, read Scripture, and complete my workout before the challenges of the day begin.

Right now, I’m training with a group of high-performing swimmers because swimming is currently my weakest discipline compared to biking and running.

It’s been great for me.

I’m the slowest swimmer in the group, and that’s perfectly fine. I’m learning and staying humble.

But I’ve noticed something interesting.

Whenever the coach goes on vacation for a week, more than half of the group doesn’t show up.

They absolutely could attend, but many choose not to.

It reminds me of some of my friends in CrossFit.

No judgment toward CrossFit at all. I enjoy that style of training.

But many people depend heavily on group motivation.

Somewhere along the way, I’ve developed the ability to keep going without needing external motivation.

I pray that more men learn to do the same.

Motivation needs a coach.

Discipline doesn’t.

The Difference Between Physical and Spiritual Training

After completing several Ironman races, I learned that nobody is cheering for you at 4:30 in the morning.

At that hour, it’s just you and God.

Brotherhood works much the same way.

It helps build discipline without needing a crowd. It keeps you sharp as a husband, a father, and a man of God.

Spiritual growth is much harder in isolation.

That’s when I started recognizing the difference between physical training and spiritual training.

In 1 Timothy 4:8, we read:

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

When was the last time another man challenged you to grow spiritually and physically?

Not just hanging out.

Not just joking around.

But having meaningful conversations about God, spiritual growth, physical health, and what it means to be a godly man.

If you have to think about it, that’s your answer.

Not enough.

Fatherhood Changed My Perspective

Becoming a father changed everything for me.

Becoming a godly man doesn’t happen by accident.

Men today face constant temptations: greed, money, power, lust, and countless distractions.

It’s incredibly easy to get derailed.

And those things are leaving many men empty and alone.

That’s why, even though I’m not training for a full Ironman or a half Ironman this year, I’ve intentionally chosen to focus more on my wife Jenna, my daughter Charlotte, my family, my church community at St. Paul’s, and the people around me.

That doesn’t mean I’ve neglected my physical health.

I’m still training.

I’m signed up for the Welland Olympic Distance Triathlon at the end of June.

I’m still swimming, biking, and running, with a strong emphasis on swimming right now.

I may not be at peak performance, but I’m getting it done.

I’m eating well.

I’m training consistently.

And I feel good.

Life is good.

God is good.

Take the First Step

My prayer is that more men experience the same thing.

Find brotherhood.

If you don’t already have it, start by going to your local church. Ask about a men’s ministry and join it.

If they don’t have one, attend church regularly, read your Bible, pray, and maybe even start one yourself.

I challenge you this week to schedule a meeting with your pastor.

Sit down with him.

Pray together.

Tell him what you’re looking for in life.

I trust that God will meet you there.

Too many men are waiting for someone else to go first.

If we all wait, nothing ever gets done.

This is where “stand up and be a man” actually matters.

Take the first step.

Take the first leap.

Stick your neck out there.

Ask first.

Get the ball rolling.

What’s the worst thing that can happen?

Someone says no.

That’s okay.

Move on and keep going.

Most likely, when you ask for help, you’ll find it.

God will answer.

You just need to create some silence, find some peace, and listen carefully.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading.

I know many men are hurting right now.

My prayer is that you find God, grow closer to Him, and share this message with other men who need to hear it.

Maybe it’s a friend.

Maybe it’s a brother.

Maybe it’s your father.

Brotherhood matters more than ever.

We need to come together, share our stories, sharpen one another, and grow closer to God.

And that’s a better story.