This Movember, I’m Moving for Something Bigger
I’ll start with this: I’m far from perfect.
I’m not here to preach, pose, or play the expert. I’m just a guy doing the best I can to live a little better, show up a little stronger, and be a little more present in my own life. I don’t want anyone to “be like me.” Honestly, the world doesn’t need another carbon copy of anyone. What I do hope is that you’ll take something from this month that helps you become the best version of you, and that maybe you’ll help the men in your life do the same.
This isn’t one of my usual training or nutrition pieces. November’s going to look a little different. Over the next four weeks, I’m taking on something that’s equal parts personal and public: a month-long project tied to Movember, focused on men’s health, mental health, and what healthy masculinity actually looks like in the real world.
It’s going to be physical, yes, but it’s also going to be reflective. Because what I’ve realised, especially over the past few years, is that while most of us men are decent at grinding, pushing, and working harder, we’re not nearly as good at slowing down to ask why we do it, what it costs us, or who we’re trying to prove it to.
So that’s what this Movember is about for me. Awareness. Conversation. Reflection. And movement, in every sense of the word.
The Challenge: Moving for Mental Health
This year, I’ve joined the Move for Mental Health challenge. The official target is to cover 60 kilometres over the month of November, one kilometre for every man lost to suicide globally every hour.
That number hits hard. Sixty men. Every single hour. Every day.
So while 60 km is the official benchmark, I’ve set my own personal goals a little higher. Actually, a lot higher.
I’ve publicly committed to running, walking, or hiking at least 300 km this month, five times the official target. And privately, I’m pushing for something even bigger: 600 km.
Six hundred kilometres in thirty days isn’t small potatoes. It’s a ridiculous amount of mileage for someone who isn’t a full-time runner. I might blow up halfway through and fail spectacularly. Or I might just surprise myself. Either way, that’s not the point. The point is to go all in, to show up daily, to move with purpose, and to be accountable for the cause I’m representing.
I’m kicking things off with a 30 km run on November 1, and I’ve got a marathon-distance day planned for November 8 with a friend. Beyond that, there’s no formal plan. No calendar full of pre-determined runs. Just daily commitment. Rain, shine, fatigue, or frustration, I’ll be moving every single day.
This challenge is about movement in the literal sense, but also the emotional one. Because sometimes the hardest movement isn’t the run itself. It’s getting unstuck from your own inertia, the part of you that wants to stay comfortable, quiet, and unseen.
And that’s why I’m doing this in the open.
Putting It Out There
Every day this month, I’ll post a Strava flyover of my run, walk, or hike. I’ll also be doing something that’s not at all my comfort zone: recording a short daily video reflection.
I’m not a natural “camera guy.” I’d rather write than film myself. But part of healthy masculinity, at least the way I see it, is doing the uncomfortable things that lead to growth. Talking openly. Being seen. Admitting you don’t have it all figured out.
I’ll be sharing those daily updates on my social channels, and I’d love for you to follow along:
· Facebook: facebook.com/j.p.siou
· Instagram: instagram.com/thebtg_coachjp
· LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jp-siou
Some posts will be my own reflections or updates. Others will highlight Movember’s official graphics, stats, and stories about men’s health and mental health. And throughout the month, I’ll also be sharing a few books and voices that have influenced my own journey, the ones that helped me make sense of the mental, emotional, and social side of being a man in today’s world.
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know I talk a lot about balance: nutrition, training, mindset, lifestyle. This month, that balance extends to something bigger, how we, as men, balance strength with vulnerability, drive with reflection, and independence with connection.
Why I’m Really Doing This
Let’s be clear, this isn’t about me trying to look good by running a ton of kilometres. It’s about awareness. It’s about the conversations we aren’t having often enough, and the men who never get the chance to have them.
Like many men, I’ve had my own battles with mental health. Depression, isolation, the weight of expectations, they’ve all been part of my story at one point or another. And for a long time, I did what a lot of us do: buried it, rationalised it, tried to “man up” and get through it quietly.
That silence helps no one. Not the man living it, not his family, not his friends.
Part of why I’m doing this publicly is to make that silence a little less acceptable. Not in a judgmental way, but in a human way. I want to normalise the idea that men can talk about how they feel without losing face, and that struggling doesn’t make you weak. Pretending you’re fine when you’re not is what really breaks you down.
I’m also doing this in honour of my stepdad, Glen, who passed away several years ago after a long, difficult battle with prostate cancer. Watching him navigate that journey, the courage, the humour, the sheer grit, shaped how I think about health and what it means to keep moving, even when it’s hard.
Men’s health is multi-faceted. It’s not just about exercise or diet. It’s physical, mental, emotional, social. Too often, we let one fall apart before we realise how connected they all are.
So while the kilometres matter, what I’m really trying to move is conversation.
Healthy Masculinity: Redefining Strength
This is something I’ll be talking about a lot through the month: what healthy masculinity actually looks like.
Because somewhere along the way, we confused “being strong” with “being silent.” We started rewarding endurance over honesty, self-sacrifice over self-awareness, and control over connection.
That’s not strength. That’s isolation.
Healthy masculinity, at least how I see it, is about being capable and compassionate. It’s about being able to shoulder the weight of responsibility without letting it crush you. It’s about being confident enough to listen, to learn, and to admit when you’re not okay.
It’s also about showing up for other men. We don’t always need to fix things for each other. Sometimes we just need to be present, to remind each other that it’s okay to not have it all together.
And here’s something else that matters: truly strong men lift others up. They don’t need to push others down to feel taller. They understand that real strength is never “us versus them.” It’s “us and them.” Together.
Strong men support strong women. Strong women support strong men. And strong PEOPLE, whatever their gender, how they identify, who they love, what they believe, where they’re from, or where they stand politically, strong PEOPLE make each other stronger.
We’re all better when we stop competing for space and start building it together.
I’m still figuring all of that out myself. I’m learning as I go, sometimes clumsily, sometimes reluctantly. But that’s what makes it real. I’m not interested in perfection. I’m interested in progress, for myself and for the people around me.
That’s why I said earlier: don’t “be like me.” Be the best version of you. And help the men in your circle do the same.
The Reality Check
I’m not an elite athlete. I’m not the poster child for perfect mental health. I’m a middle-aged coach, a husband, a son, a friend, and like most men I know, I’m just doing my best to hold it all together and keep moving forward.
This challenge isn’t about proving anything. It’s about showing that imperfection isn’t failure. That effort counts. That it’s okay to admit you’re tired, unsure, or struggling.
We glorify the highlight reel and hide the hard parts. But if there’s one thing this month will show, it’s that progress isn’t linear. Some days will feel great, others will be a slog. There’ll be rain, sore legs, frustration, and probably a few swears under my breath. But I’ll keep going, because that’s what this is about: not being perfect, just being consistent.
And maybe along the way, it’ll remind someone else that they can start too. Not necessarily with a 30 km run, but with whatever version of movement or change they need in their own life.
Real strength isn’t about crushing every goal. It’s about getting back up when you don’t.
How You Can Get Involved
There are a few simple ways to help.
You can follow along on social, share posts, or even just start a conversation with a friend who might need it. Awareness spreads one small action at a time.
If you’re able, you can also donate directly to the cause. Every dollar raised supports research and programs that tackle prostate and testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.
· Facebook Fundraiser: https://www.facebook.com/donate/4327774960878267/
· Movember MoSpace: https://movember.com/m/15369756?mc=1
Even if you can’t give financially, you can still make a difference. Check in on a friend. Ask how they’re really doing. Invite them for a walk. Send them this article. Small actions matter.
If this month helps even one man open up a little more, or take that first step toward getting help, that’s a win.
What’s Coming Up This Month
Each week in November, I’ll be diving deeper into men’s health from different angles: physical, mental, and nutritional, through my regular blog series.
Mindset Mondays
· Nov 3: The Mask Men Wear: Why Hiding Struggles Makes Us Weaker
· Nov 10: The Cost of Silence: Why Every Man Needs a Brotherhood (and a Broader Circle)
· Nov 17: Raising Better Men (By Being One)
· Nov 24: Real Strength: Redefining Masculinity in a Noisy World
Hard Work Wednesdays
· Nov 5: Strong Enough to Talk: How Training Builds More Than Muscle
· Nov 12: The Dad Bod Dilemma: Reclaiming Strength, Energy, and Example
· Nov 19: The Pressure to Look “Perfect”: Body Image, Steroids, and the Male Mirror
· Nov 26: Train for Longevity: Building a Body That Carries You Through Life
Fit Foodie Fridays
· Nov 7: Nutrition for Men’s Health: Fueling Strength, Heart, and Hormones
· Nov 14: Dude…Vegetables Won’t Kill You
· Nov 21: Testosterone, Aging, and the Truth About “Low T”
· Nov 28: Bro…Healthy Eating Doesn’t Have To Suck
Each post will tie back to one bigger theme: men’s health, healthy masculinity, and what it really means to live strong, inside and out.
Movement, Meaning, and Masculinity
As I head into this month, my goal is simple: to move with purpose, to speak honestly, and to live the values I’m asking others to consider.
We lose too many men too soon, to illness, to silence, to the weight of expectation. And while I can’t fix that alone, I can do something. I can move. I can talk. I can share.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. You’re part of this too, even if all you do is think about how this message might apply to your own life, or to someone you care about.
This month isn’t about perfection. It’s about participation. About redefining what it means to be strong, to be open, and to be human.
So here’s to every kilometre, every conversation, and every man brave enough to take that first small step toward something better.
Let’s move.
Follow along this month:
· Facebook: facebook.com/j.p.siou
· Instagram: instagram.com/thebtg_coachjp
· LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jp-siou
Donate and support the cause:
· Facebook Fundraiser: https://www.facebook.com/donate/4327774960878267/
· Movember MoSpace: https://movember.com/m/15369756?mc=1
Need To Talk?
If you’re struggling or just need someone to listen, please reach out. You can contact me directly through the Contact Us page. I’m always happy to have a chat and help point you toward helpful resources.
For those of you here in British Columbia or anywhere across Canada, there are also free, confidential support lines available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
1-800-SUICIDE
Provides a confidential crisis line for people who feel suicidal or know someone who might be suicidal. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in up to 140 languages:
Call 1-800-784-2433 (toll-free) in B.C.
Call or text 9-8-8 (toll-free) in Canada
Mental Health and Information Support Line
Provides a toll-free number connecting callers experiencing a mental health crisis to a B.C. crisis line, without a wait or busy signal. This number also offers emotional support and information on appropriate referral options for mental health services in B.C. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
Call National Crisis Line 310-6789 (no area code)
You’re not alone, and reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.