Wow. Time flies. It seems like just yesterday I was thinking, “Well sure, I can keep this thing updated for the first week, but I’m sure I’ll give up on it by June.”

But I didn’t. And I think it’s pretty accurate. And I’ve done a lot of work in the last six months, as evidenced by all those red circles. That’s me. The black dots are my beautiful wife.

I kept pretty strict rules for my NDO. I only count days when I run or ride or do a proper workout, like Suffer Club or a long hike. Most of my “days off,” included a long walk or some other activity. All recent non-red days are due to illness.

The calendar is an odd sort of motivator. I definitely want to bank days, and the calendar is there as a constant visual reminder of what I’m doing. I don’t want to let the calendar down. Simultaneously, it sometimes suggests to me that an actual rest day is due, and that’s maybe saved me from being more injured than I am normally.

It’s also a good reminder of all the work I’ve put in, because on any given day I may feel more or less fit, but once I glance at all those days piled up, I realize I’m judging myself from a pretty high plain, by which I mean, I’m really fit, even if I’m not maximally fit relative to my own standards. The calendar is there as counter-evidence to whatever negative self-talk I can muster on any given day.

I’m doing a great job. Look at all those red circles.

Having made it six-months with this sort of record-keeping, I’m pretty motivated to get the whole year documented, if only to see the stunning red visual. At the beginning of 2021 I thought maybe I’d keep a rudimentary journal, just notes on runs and rides, how they felt, what was going on with my body. I’m not that interested in logging miles. And maybe in 2022 I’ll try that.

But for now, the NDO calendar has been a good project.