For most people, there’s a point during November Project that you can’t help but wonder, “how did I get myself in this bizarre situation?” Maybe you’re a tourist from Miami who just came to Griffith Park to run trails and now you’re singing your name in front of 50 strangers. Maybe you’ve never gotten up before 8 am and now it’s 5:30 and you’re grinding up the dirtiest bitch you’ve ever met. Maybe your workouts are usually confined to the gym and now your head is pressed against two other people’s as you leg lift simultaneously. I had that experience several times this weekend at Summit, most notably when I was being passed across the backs of several co-leaders as they sprinted down the blocks of Boston waving rubber chickens and hollering at the top of their lungs.
HOW DID I GET HERE?! In the sprawling and often impersonal city that is Los Angeles, how did I find this group of people that are, without a doubt, the most badass, most fun, most genuine people I’ve ever met? What have I done right that I get to be at the top of this mountain hugging Pauline as she crushes a nearly-impossible marathon-relay course? I’ve heard it said before and I’ll say it again: a life with November Project is a life improved. Is that cult-y enough for ya??
Summit is an awesome chance to see just how far the web of November Project spreads. I felt immense pride when Paddy, Beth, Nicole, Ashleigh, Holly, Elliot, and probably more NPers I’m forgetting took the podium for their events, because they come from a community that makes up such a large part of who I am. When Joey Kochick finished his AIDS Lifecycle ride, he brought honor to us all, Mulan-style. We lift each other up, and we all have a place in each other’s victories, just like we are there to catch each other when we fail.
This is your tribe, whether you’ve come once or 2,387 times, whether you’re as loud as Min or –
Okay, quick interjection. At the Harvard Stadium workout on Friday, Emily Saul was explaining to an attentively-listening crowd of 1,000+ runners that they had to run every single stair of the stadium, when Min breaks the silence to scream, “RUN! EVERY! STAIR!” with an intensity that echoed through the stadium and shook every runner to the bone. It was fucking hilarious.
Anyway, through all this rambling I’m just trying to say I appreciate the fuck out of each and every one of you, and I hope you all walk through life thinking, “Wow, I am the shit,” because I can tell you that you are. The team exercises today were tough, especially in the lower ab area (I’m gonna feel that leg lift + lemon squeezer combo for days), and every person did their own part in pulling their team to the end of the set. It takes strength to do partner push-ups, leg lifts, and lemon squeezers with control and at a pace that isn’t necessarily your typical speed. Some people had to speed up their reps and challenge their cardio a little more, some had to work on slowing down and engaging their muscles to move with control. This morning was hard, it was fun, it was high-energy, it improved my day and therefore it improved my life. Every single one of you has improved my life.
Thanks for kicking ass, tribe. Do good, LA!!!!!
NEWS
- June Homework is to take ≥10 and spend it stretching and/or foam rolling. If you’re like me and you need a little google doc to keep you accountable then check this out: June Stretchy Stretch
- FRIDAY we are at Dewey and 18th st. in Santa Monica. 5:27 and/or 6:27 am. Scope the tracker here.
- Wednesdays this month are at Griffith Observatory!!!
Loved my experience!!! Thanks again for taking me in, guys!