The Tucker Wedding 

Welcome back to the Strides with Graywolf Newsletter! Of course, I have to start with the most important update, I’M “FINALLY” A MARRIED MAN. I put that in quotes because the truth is… we’ve actually been married for four months! We had a small, intimate ceremony in January, but we always planned to throw a big celebration in May. We are so excited to share our marriage with everyone! 

My Canadian groomsmen flew in a few days early and stayed with me throughout their trip. It was so special having time together outside of the usual training or competition setting. We kicked off the wedding weekend together with a round of golf on Friday morning at the Waterfall Club. I’ll be honest, there was a lot of fun, but not a lot of good golf. That said, no one got hit, so we’re calling it a win. That evening, we hosted our welcome party at OldKnow Bev Co., complete with delicious appetizers from Waterfall and some of OldKnow’s signature cocktails. It was exactly the relaxed, welcoming vibe we had envisioned. It was a little wild having all my worlds collide, high school friends, Paralympic teammates, family, and of course, Cherie’s amazing crew all in one place. Having so many people take time out of their busy lives to celebrate with us truly meant the world.

On Saturday morning, I went for a run with my best man, Ty. It was great to get out on a dirt road with my best friend have some good laughs and try my best to not get dropped! Then, after getting dressed, we headed over to the Hewlett’s house for pictures and first look with C. All of Cherie’s bridesmaids caught me getting emotional as I was waiting for her to come down the stairs. She looked so stunning, I was blown away, and all I wanted was to wrap her in a big hug. Later that day at the reception, I read a short speech explaining that we were already married. Even though I give presentations and speeches for a living, I was nervous. I wanted to deliver it just the way Cherie and I had dreamed of together. Cherie reminded me to just have fun with it and she was right there with me every step of the way. I truly enjoyed every moment of it. 

 From there, the party was on!

The celebration was everything we wanted and more. Everyone absolutely danced it up on the dance floor. From our cousins to our grandparents, everyone made the dance party special! Ty even made me cry during his speech (still a little mad at him for that!). He told a story I had completely forgotten, but all I could think about were the endless conversations and training we’ve shared. Holding my wife in that moment was the perfect touch to that time together.

After the big event, Cherie and I spent two nights in a charming cottage at Julep Farms, about 30 minutes from the venue. There was a slight hiccup getting into the cottage that first night (may or may not have been my fault…), but once we were in, it was amazing. We’re already planning to go back. Spent a dream weekend with the love of my life, I couldn’t ask for more.

Boston Twilight #4 

I like to open my season at a low-key meet, and the Boston Twilight Meet is exactly that. It’s hosted by Battle Road Track Club, a local Boston club that puts on four twilight meets throughout the summer. The competition ranges from youth athletes to masters, which creates a welcoming and relaxed environment.

Another reason I enjoy this meet is the laid-back format. In bigger meets, you’re often stuck in a call room for 30 minutes before even getting to the track. Here, the meet director keeps things simple. Our heat is called and we head straight to the start line. This kind of setup makes for a great reintroduction to racing.

Heading into Boston, my main goal was simple: get back on the track and officially start my season. I did that, but I’ll be honest, I left with a mix of emotions. I ran 1:57.7 in the 800m, nearly six seconds off my personal best. The 800 isn’t my primary event, but it’s always a good check-in on my speed and helps set up a stronger 1500m.

After taking some time to reflect, I know I’m in better shape than the time suggests; it’s just a matter of time before that fitness shows. Still, it felt amazing to shake off the rust, feel those race-day nerves again, and get clarity on what I need to sharpen before the next one.

One big focus for me this season is to enjoy each trip a bit more. Yes, it’s still a business trip, but I truly love what I do, and I’m aware that I won’t be doing it at this level forever. So I’m making space for both the grind and the gratitude.

What’s next? 

I’ll be sharing my full race schedule in next week’s edition, but next on the calendar is a 1500m race at Western University in London, Ontario, as part of the Athletics Canada National Track and Field Tour. The race is set for June 22nd, and while I’ve never competed in London before, the field is shaping up perfectly for my first 1500m of the season.

The goal? Run around 3:50, a time that would qualify me for the World Championships in October.

One thing that always gets me extra fired up is having teammates at the meet. I’m especially excited that one of my groomsmen, Zach Gingras, a Paralympic bronze medalist in the 400m, will be competing too. Track may be an individual sport, but we all have our “teams” behind the scenes. Zach has had my back since the beginning of my Paralympic journey, and having him there makes it all the more fun.

That's all for now. See you next week- Graywolf Out!