Day 48: Some Thoughts at the Half-Way Point

...of course, it's not really the 'half-way' point. Just as the PCP is not really just 90 days. But still a good time for reflection.

First, the Stats:

1. 87 hits with the ping-pong ball.

2. 'Cold' morning bend: finger-tips hovering about 2 and 1/2 inches above my feet. Not great, but an improvement.

3. Standing jump: 8 feet, 11 inches (2.718 meters)--almost 3 inches gained.

Mindfulness

I recently decided to give up caffeine. I realized that my one--and often twice--daily ritual of heading down to Bourbon Coffee to get my fix was really just getting me wound up and tense, and therefore costing me a quality work-out, quality stretching, and quality sleep.

I feel like I'm definitely more aware of my mood swings, and what affects them. I still bury myself in my work. Today was a great--not so great?--example: a 12-hour day, much of it packed into my chair. I almost caved and got caffeinated, but settled on defaf, instead. Back on the horse tomorrow...

Strength


Tons. I can knock out V-sit after V-sit. On Day 46, I was also able to complete all 4 sets of 8 dips, with decent form, AND the 3 sets of 10 elevated push-ups. My weakness is still the pull-ups, where I always hit failure on the last set, before completing the minimum reps.

Flexibility


Still my achilles heel--pun intended. And I know it will take time--long beyond the end of the ninety days (probably several hundred in total). But it'll be worth it; I can imagine how cool it would feel to be able to draw giant circles in the air with a crescent kick, or touch my knee to my chest on a leg swing.


Balance

Tons better. Limited flexibility keeps me from going horizontal in the Buddha pose, but I can rock the crane and flying crane with minimal difficulty. I can easily stand on the subway for minutes at a time without holding the hand rails.

Coordination

Getting better; I run into fewer things (usually), and find myself more easily snaking my way through crowds on the subway, especially on the escalators.

Speed

Steady, but slow progress. My new nemesis: the paper, which I only blew down with a punch twice this evening.

On an up note:

As I ran for the bus today on my way home from work, my umbrella bounced out of my backpack. I sprinted back across the street, grabbed it--and then got stuck waiting for traffic. The bus motored on up the block toward the next stop. I lept across the avenue at the first break in the cars, then launched into a full sprint--when my coffee mug took its turn and bounced out of my backpack. "S%$#&!!". The bus crossed the next street north, and pulled up to its next stop; two riders began to board. Still a half-block away, I ran back, grabbed the mug, tucked it under my arm like a football, and then let my legs unleash their full fury. I focused on pulling my knees up as high as I could, and covering the most pavement with each stride. I breathed easily and let my upper-body relax and my arms propel me forward. I took advantage of the green light and remaining 10 seconds on the 'walk' sign and sailed across M-Street. The last rider cleared the yellow line as my face, with wide eyes and a half-crazed expression, filled the side-view mirror. The driver paused long enough for me to bound into her field of vision, then waited for me to bounce aboard. I pulled my SmartTrip card, then looked down: a map covered the meter. "It's broken, unless you want to pay with cash..." she said. "Naw, not really," I replied, smiling. Then, breathing quickly but deeply, a small shot of adrenaline coursing through my buzzing arms and legs, I took my seat and enjoyed the free ride.