75-Easy: Lessons From Halfway

At the time of writing this, it’s been 42 days since I started my 72-easy challenge, although I’ve yet to receive the answer to life, the universe and everything. I have, however, thoroughly enjoyed running around every day – especially through the nearby banana fields.

As a reminder, here is what I had hoped to stick to each day through this challenge:

1. One easy run a day (Zone 2)
2. One other workout a day (e.g. another run, strength training or yoga)
3. Fuel better (make an effort to eat healthy, and fuel training more effectively)
4. Read a book (aim for at least 20 minutes)
5. Just sit (aim for at least 20 minutes)
6. Connect with a friend each day
7. Relax (have an optional pint, but not two)

Now, this hasn’t gone exactly as planned. Let’s start with what has and work our way down.

1. The easy run

I’ve managed an easy run most days, even if a few of them have strayed into more medium or even medium-hard territory. The higher-intensity runs have been because I’ve been enjoying myself, rather than purposefully going all-out. I think this one has been a success so far. 

4. Read a book

Each day I read a book, usually over a cup of tea or coffee. I read for around 20 minutes, but sometimes for a little longer or a little less, depending on where the chapters end. It’s gone well, and I’m keeping track of what I’ve read in my book notes.

7. Relax

The never more than one beer part of this has gone well. I tend to average a beer every three days, and usually, they are small Vietnamese cans (330 ml) rather than full pints. I’ve not always fully relaxed, but I’ve carved out bits of time to watch an episode of something, read the news, or play a game.

6. Connect

I’ve kept up with this, although what counted as “connecting” was fairly lax last week. Some days it has been as simple as just sending out a few messages to people I haven’t heard from in a while checking in on them and asking how they are. Generally, though, I’ve kept in more touch with people than I would have otherwise. And while I don’t think I’ll keep this up as an everyday thing after the challenge, I will make an effort to keep in touch with people more regularly than I used to. 

2. One other workout a day

I’ve definitely had more 2-workout days than I would have otherwise, but upping the distance I run and adding in extra workouts has been a step too far if I’m honest. I’m averaging an additional strength workout every 4 days, and only had a couple of double-running days (discounting the day I ran a marathon over 24 hours). Most of the second workouts have been yoga or stretching, and especially last week, some of that was a bit half-arsed. The bare minimum to tick the box. This is more than I would have done and has probably provided some benefit, but it’s not quite where I wanted it to be.

4. Just sit 

Could do better here. It’s always towards the bottom of my priority list when I’ve got so much to do in a day. I’ve often just sat for 5 minutes, and while that’s something, and I know some Buddhist folk who would say that sometimes 5 minutes is enough, it’s not developed into the routine I wanted to have. One of the reasons I dislike Insight Timer is the gamification of meditating with streaks, and sometimes I feel like I’m doing the same here.

3. Fuel Better

When I have the time, this tends to go well. When I’m snowed under and stressed, grabbing a sandwich and some snacks to get calories in has counted as enough. This feels like the weakest part of the challenge so far for me. I have to do better. My body needs the right nutrition as I run further and further. I have eaten every day, so that’s better than nothing, I guess. But I need to either cook more chicken and rice or hire a chef.

Overall this has been an interesting process so far. Last week there was a bit of a dip, but I’m coming back out of that now, and I’m getting a better balance in my life. I didn’t appreciate how long these commitments would take. To commit to this challenge I would need to spend at least 6 hours a day on it. That would probably be easier if I already had many of these routines in place, but the running has taken a lot out of me. Today I weighed myself before and after my 2-hour run, and I had lost 1.5 kg, despite drinking 1.2L of water while out on the run. Running in 32ºC heat drains me, even if my watch thinks I’m acclimatised by now.

If I were to do this sort of thing again, I’d probably drop a few items out. Make adapting and finding time for everything a more gradual process rather than trying to do everything all at once. 

I still hope to have a nice routine in place by the end of this challenge, but I don’t expect it. As long as I am in better shape and have more time to enjoy the things I want to do by day 75, then it will have been worth it.