My 100-Day Challenge

Good morning!

I hope this finds you well.

Welcome to another edition of The Matt Viera Newsletter.

The newsletter with the goal to inspire you to invest in life experiences.

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One morning while commuting to my office on the express bus, I noticed a bunch of people running on a path along the East River in Manhattan.

I said to myself, "Gosh, I wish I had access to a path to run on along a river."

And then it hit me: I do have access to a path I can run along. The path starts at Owl Head Park, follows the New York Harbor, and goes underneath the Verrazano Bridge towards Queens. This path is less than a block from my home and is ideal for running (or biking) on.

Now, I consider myself an avid runner.

Well, I used to be an avid runner.

I was an avid runner up until the world locked down.

When the world locked down in March 2020 because of the pandemic (and work from home became the norm), everything changed for me.

At first, I was excited that I'd be able to kick my physical fitness routine up a notch by running every day.

I did anything but.

I made every excuse in the book not to run. I started living an extraordinarily sedentary life. And I felt it.

But on January 1, 2021, I made a firm decision. I knew I needed to do something. I knew I needed to stop making excuses.

That morning I was up early, and despite the frigid temperatures outside, I went for a walk. And I enjoyed that walk. Since I wasn't motivated to run, I decided to do the next best thing: I decided to ruck (walk with a weighted backpack).

And I became addicted to rucking.

I started with 10 pounds of weight. 10 pounds became 20, 20 became 40, and 40 became 50+. I was rucking ~4 miles daily, 4-5 times per week, without any excuses.

I even went rucking once when it was 12 degrees outside.

When I say I was addicted, I was addicted.

Rucking is a habit I maintain to this day. No matter how I feel, I will ruck after work if I have to go to the office. However, I do not ruck as much as I used to nor carry as much on my back as I used to.

And because I ruck, I use that as an excuse not to run.

With respect to running, prior to the pandemic it was easy for me to lace up my sneakers and go for a 3–4 mile run.

But because it's been so long since I ran, these days I can barely run a mile without stopping to catch my breath.

I can count on one hand the number of times I've run since March 2020.

But that's all about to change.

This past Friday, I watched a YouTube video in which a young man decided to take on a 100-day physical fitness challenge (I'll post a link at the bottom of the article).

His objective was to become as tough as David Goggins by running 12 miles daily followed by a 45-minute workout.

Inspired by the young man's determination, I decided to take on my own 100-day challenge.

My objective is to engage in a high-intensity activity (run) daily for a hundred days.

Here are the parameters:

• I am 53 years old so I am not going to go out and try to run 12 miles per day

• I will start running 4 miles per day

• I will run on Saturday and Sunday mornings

• Because my time is limited on weekday mornings, I will run immediately after work on Mondays through Thursdays

• I won't run on Friday afternoons because I'm not going to run a long distance in the afternoon and then try to run the following morning

• I will ruck the weekly miles on Friday afternoons or ride my bike for at least double the weekly miles; example: if it's a 4-mile run week, I will ruck 4 miles or bike 8 miles

• I will start out at 4 miles the first week and increase the run by a mile each week

• I will not have any rest days unless it is raining outside (I'm talking a torrential downpour, not a drizzle; If it is raining, I will add a day to the overall routine)

I am taking on this 100-day challenge because I am tired of living a sedentary lifestyle.

Sure, I ruck, but it's not enough. And I'm tired of making excuses. My only objective is to achieve my goal of 100 days of high-intensity activity.

Secondary to the objective is to see the impact this challenge will have on my overall health.

These days, I don't sleep well. Because of this, I feel like a zombie every day and my energy is limited. And, I'll admit, I'd like to lose a little bit of weight.

Saturday was the first day of my 100-Day Challenge.

I measured my waist and weighed myself before my first 4-mile run this past Saturday (I will share the before/after results with you at the end of the 100-Day Challenge).

And yes, I ran 4 miles.

I ran 4 miles slowly, but I ran 4 miles.

Most importantly, I am taking on this challenge because I want to establish a healthy daily habit that is more than just rucking.

What's the point of all this and why am I sharing this with you?

Well, I am sharing this with you for accountability. My accountability. I don't want to take on this challenge without skin in the game.

By sharing this with the world, I'll look like a fool if I end up just quitting.

And the point of all this?

The point of all this is to emphasize the importance of health to you.

My plan is to retire in a few years, and the last thing I want to worry about is my health.

I want to have the energy to enjoy my days when I no longer have to trade my time for money.

Health is the foundation of freedom.

Without it, all the money, time, and experiences in the world mean nothing.

What's the point of working so hard to create freedom in your life if you don't have the energy, stamina, or mobility to enjoy it?

And I challenge you to stop waiting for "the right time" to prioritize your health.

Start today. Start small. Take control of your health now so you won't be forced to later.

Your future self will thank you for every step you take today.

Because when you finally have the freedom to live life on your terms…

The last thing you want is for your body to hold you back.

The catalyst for my 100-Day Challenge (watch to the end to see what this guy completed that most people don’t have the guts to even consider trying):

Quote that caught my attention:

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

—Mahatma Gandhi

You can find the collection of financial tools & resources that helped me grow from a 6-figure debt to a 6-figure net worth by clicking here.

Thanks for reading!

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