Chapter 1: A New Chapter in Fitness

At the age of 57, I've reignited my passion for intense workouts. Having been a college rower, I've maintained a strong fitness routine throughout my life. Now, I'm ready to elevate my training, regardless of my age. I've enlisted the help of a coach and am preparing for this year's Boston Marathon (consider donating to support children in developing countries' ICUs). My fitness journey includes attending CrossFit and participating in an uplifting movement known as the November Project (see: Let's Talk People, Sweat, and Hugs). However, during Thanksgiving week, I experienced the two most remarkable workouts of my life.

My 17-year-old son, Cole, is an elite athlete. Last year, he represented the U19 national team at CanAmMex and will continue his rowing journey at Brown next fall.

Below, you can see Cole and his U19 teammates celebrating their victory in style (Cole is the seventh from the right for perspective).

Cole usually considers working out with me, his dad, who is 40 years older, a waste of time. While he occasionally seeks my advice on training strategies or erg tests, training together has never been an option—until last week.

Thanksgiving week is the only time Cole has off from in-person practice. He continues to train independently, and that Wednesday, with school canceled, he proposed a typical morning workout for him (he typically trains twice daily):

• Begin at the CRI boathouse and run to Harvard Stadium (2.1 miles)
• Complete two “tours” of the stadium, which consists of 37 sections each
• Run back to the CRI boathouse (2.1 miles)
• Finish with a challenging bodyweight circuit created by the Penn Lightweight rowing team

I was thrilled and fully committed to this workout. However, I soon realized that it coincided with the November Project's scheduled stadium run. Two of my running friends, Carolyn and Lindsey, were also planning to join the NP for the first time. The NP routine involves gathering promptly at 6:30 AM to energize, welcome newcomers, and announce the day's workout, followed by 40 minutes of exercise and community engagement. I adjusted our run's timing so we could participate in the NP workout with my extended NP family and my two novice running friends. We would run stairs alongside everyone else for the first 40 minutes, even though our two tours would take longer.

We departed from Dedham at 5:45 AM. The official rowing workout begins at the boathouse bay doors. It was still dark, and I worried that running together might be awkward since I’m a 9-minute miler while Cole runs under 6 minutes. Surprisingly, we maintained a relaxed and easy pace, and I felt strong. As we approached the stadium, the sky began to illuminate with colors.

Entering the stadium at dawn always feels monumental, like stepping into the Roman Coliseum to fight for my life. Inside, I saw my friends and our enthusiastic leader, Dana. We shared laughter and hugs as I stretched out before the workout.

While Cole and I debated whether to run shirtless like tough guys, Carolyn and Lindsey playfully ambushed me, adding to the joy of the moment. Dana led us in a lively bounce and a call-and-response session, welcoming newcomers. When Cole raised his hand, the crowd cheered, "Welcome Cole!" We embraced, and then Dana announced the workout, which involved rotating running with different people to connect with one another—not that it mattered to Cole and me, as we had our own agenda.

For the first time in my seven years with NP, Dana asked me to serve as the starter to help get groups moving without crowding. I got everyone going while Cole, Carolyn, and Lindsey were under the stadium for a beginners' briefing. It was finally time to tackle the steep double high concrete steps, just as the sunrise displayed its full glory.

I felt relaxed at the start; there was no rush. This was solely about endurance. I had crafted a special running playlist that I cranked up. Cole started five sections behind me but quickly caught up and then passed me, teasing me playfully when I took a picture of him.

During the second half of our first tour, Cole shed his shirt (mine had been off from the beginning), a sign he was truly pushing himself. He finished the first tour seven sections ahead of me, reporting a time of 26 minutes for the 37 sections. My personal record is just under 30 minutes, achieved with my older son, Seamus, five years ago. Cole's best time is 22 minutes. He noted he had started a bit fast for a steady-state day but still felt strong. As I reached section 1 (NP starts at section 37 and reverses to section 1), I began to struggle. I cranked up my playlist, determined to give it my all during this rare opportunity to work out with Cole.

At the November Project, the leaders award the "Positivity" Award every month, originally an oar handle, reflecting its rowing roots. Dana gathered the NP community at section 19 after their 40-minute workout to celebrate birthdays, make announcements, and, that Wednesday morning, present the "positivity" award. Unbeknownst to me, she intended to award it to ME!

While I was absorbed in my workout, the entire stadium was chanting my name. Cole had already reached them and commented, “My dad has his earbuds in and is locked in; you’re not going to get his attention.” Finally, someone approached me and led me to Dana, who was brimming with joy. It was an unforgettable and unexpected moment.

I had the pleasure of taking a photo with the incredible Emily Saul, who co-led NP for six years. I've admired her enthusiasm and strength since day one. I also snapped a picture with Joev, a true embodiment of the NP spirit. Afterward, I returned to section 11, put my music back on, and powered through the remaining second tour. Cole awaited me at the end, and we gathered our scattered clothing, took a few quick photos, and headed back to CRI.

I noticed we wore identical shoes in the same size (12.5). The return run to CRI wasn't as enjoyable as the way there. Everyone from NP had congregated at Pavement for coffee, and Dana cheered us on as we ran by.

Back at the boathouse, we hydrated and prepared for the next challenge. My only aim was to survive the burpees, which I loathe. By the end, I found myself on my knees during the burpees, and wall sits were equally unpleasant. But we finished! Cole joined some Brown rowers home for the holiday, while I collapsed against a wall, utterly drained. I think he practically carried me to the car.

Later that day, Cole would do 5x15 minutes on the erg, maintaining a steady heart rate throughout.

Here’s a video recap of our morning adventures (I use the Marco Polo app to share video chats with my running friends; these clips are from my “Polos”):

That was the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving. We then traveled to Camden, Maine, for a family gathering with 37 Matlacks, followed by a trip to the beach in Westport, MA, on Friday night. On Saturday morning, my 26-year-old son Seamus asked if I wanted to run on the beach with him.

Seamus attended West Point and earned a Rotary Scholarship for a year in England. Previously, he studied Farsi in Tajikistan and taught English in a poor region of India. After returning from England, he completed infantry officer training and Ranger School. His first assignment was with the 101st Airborne Rakkasans at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as a platoon leader and company XO. He is now training to be a Company Commander in the 4th Infantry unit in Colorado Springs.

Unlike Cole, Seamus and I frequently work out together, although I don’t see him often. I always have to push myself to keep up, as he runs sub-30 minutes for 5 miles and rucks 12 miles with 35 pounds in 1:48.

This past Friday was a perfect day—clear as can be. We could see Martha's Vineyard perfectly as we began on Goose Wing Beach in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Seamus had an army physical test coming up the following Tuesday, so we started with two minutes of "T" push-ups and 3:30 of plank holds.

We then jogged along the beach for just over a mile before hitting deserted country roads. Our conversation flowed, touching on life, spirituality, and fitness. At 3.1 miles, we turned back to retrace our steps. Back at the beach, the clarity was astounding; we could see a distant city so clearly it almost looked like Boston before realizing it was actually New Bedford. Seamus decided to run backward for the last mile while I struggled to keep pace running forward.

As we concluded, we agreed it was the best run we had ever shared. We’ve had many memorable runs together, from the Chattahoochee River near Seamus's apartment in Columbus to rural India where he taught. We’ve run in Nashville on a 10-mile scavenger hunt and in Boston numerous times. My Harvard Stadium personal record (29:42) was achieved with Seamus while running from our old house in Brookline, navigating the stadium in the dark.

On the beach, we decided to celebrate the day with a polar plunge in the ocean. Seamus is a big fan of "Let’s Get Cold." The water felt invigorating, and the sunshine was even better.

I recognize that Cole and Seamus's achievements are their own, supported by God’s grace. I am merely a witness to their growth, striving to remain present as a father and a supportive figure. Honestly, their older sister Kerry is the family’s greatest miracle, but I’ll leave her story for her to share.

I mention this because I faced a mental health crisis nearly five years ago that almost consumed me. The idea of receiving a "positivity" award during that time seemed improbable. When I finally emerged from that dark period, I saw my life’s beauty in vibrant detail. While I relish intense workouts with friends, the moments spent exercising with my sons are unexplainable gifts that I attribute to grace.

If any man reading this finds value in my story, I invite you to join my current passion—a group for men and a speaker series for seekers of all backgrounds. You can join that group HERE.