Halfway Home

This past Saturday, February 26th, marked the halfway point in the 100 days challenge. That's day 50 for the mathematically challenged folks. To celebrate I went out for a weekly adventure. I ran for over 100 minutes on the "Pathfinder Parkway," a paved 10 mile (or so) trail that runs through the middle of this little town. I probably only ran 7-8 miles at a pretty slow place, stopping to take photos every few steps it seemed. 

Every half mile for for three miles, there were mileage markers with inspirational quotes on either side. I must say, these were neat to see out on the trail and gave me some interesting things to ponder as I pounded the pavement on day 50. Here are the ones I ran by...

 

Throughout the past 50 days, I've read over 5000 pages, completed 18 books, did over 5000 minutes of physical activity, finished one film job, found some inspiration for the "career" direction I think I want to go, visited some fun, new outdoor spots, started another film job, and can finally button my favorite pair of pants again. This is all great news, but the best part about the past 50 days I am am creating new, healthy habits that I hope will stick with me for life. So far, I think it is working.

Now that I am living it up in a hotel room for a month, I have free wifi and cable TV at my fingertips whenever I want. I've wasted some time surfing the web, watched a few too many episodes of Hoarders and various reality shows, but mostly I find myself wanting to read when I have down time.  Instead of wasting my time and energy mindlessly staring at the TV for hours, I want to put my mind to work, and not just because I "have to" read 100 pages. I want to. I love learning (hence all the nonfiction books) and also love good page-turning stories more than I love watching another couple buy/redo another house or another overweight person getting fit, as inspirational as it may be. Now, I'd rather be working on myself and improving my mind than watching other people do something good (or idiotic) on TV. 

Most days, the physical activity part isn't too hard either. Knowing how good I feel after a workout makes it easier to get up early or stay up late to get in my minutes. Plus I can kill two birds with one workout by reading while I bike or watching bad TV while I do my Pilates DVD.

Pilates in the front, Biggest Loser in the back

Some days, it is still hard to find that motivation to get up at 6:30 in the morning, when I could be sleeping until 8:15 (like I did today, oops). As I lie in bed bargaining with myself for "10 more minutes and then I'll get up," there is another voice that whispers "you never regret a workout, but you do regret skipping one" over and over again until I get up. It usually works, though sometimes I still sleep in and have to get in my minutes later in the day or at night after work (like tonight). Thankfully there is a mini-gym at the hotel open until 10PM and I can always do my Pilates and yoga DVDs in my room. No matter how tempting it may be to completely skip a workout, I have managed to do my 100 minutes of physical activity every single day for the past 50 days and for that, I am pretty dang proud.
 
I am thrilled that it is all downhill from here, so to speak. I have loved the 100 Days Challenge so far, but it is quite a commitment every day, especially while working again. The hardest part is yet to come since I am now working long hours again for the next few weeks and will be squeezing in my minutes and pages on either side of 12 hour workdays, but I will figure it out. How? The quote below describes it, and was my favorite of all the ones I ran by over the weekend....

To the next 50 days, may you be as productive and enjoyable as the first 50!