Thanks Tom (the balding troll in my basement) (YWG)

Wisconsin Notes:

– Goodbye and thank you, Tom. I promise after this blog I will go back to ridiculing you.

– Friday workout 6:14 am at GARBAGE HILL

– Canada Day workout (June 30) at THE LEGISLATIVE BUILDING. If you’re birthday is in January-June, wear RED; if it is in July-December, wear WHITE.

It’s really hard for me to believe that it has been 3 years of doing workouts down at the Forks with you folks. It feels like literally yesterday Tom and I were watching this YouTube video and making the unlikely agreement to get up way too early the next morning, something that neither of us was good at, nor enjoyed – to lead a workout, something that neither of us was particularly qualified to do (on that note, we still aren’t). If you asked either of us at the time, and still to this day, I don’t think we really know why we decided to start November Project in Winnipeg. Sure, Katie told us about it and encouraged us to start it (and let’s face it she can be very persuasive) but even so, thats more about hearing about it then actually deciding to get up at 5 am when that is the opposite of what your body tells you to do. Its actually kind of funny – because I don’t think either of us has any idea what really made us commit to do this and follow through, but there’s no doubt it has been one of the most rewarding decisions we have ever made.

Time to get real for a second – I hate mornings. To this day, Jaime is still pretty much the only reason I make it to the workouts on time (even though she can’t be at a lot of workouts because of her work schedule, she is up at that time anyways). Before there was Jaime, there was Tom (in more ways than one), the loud grumbly troll that lived in my basement. While not a morning person per se, Tom was always much better at it than I was. Inevitably I would hear a “Duha lets go” in that first year of doing these workouts that would get me up and out of bed to make it to the forks on time. If I didn’t have that push – that accountability – there is no way I would have been able to make this a routine.

In the early days – i’m talking Winnipeg Gone Rogue days – it still really wasn’t clear what the end goal for these workouts was; is it just a fun thing with a group of our close friends and family, or was it more? I wasn’t sure – how could we grow this thing to be more than just a handful of people, what did we bring to the table? Toms network, combined with the rest of the Hall family, is really the only reason we made it past a handful of loonies lunging down the bridge. Toms belief in recruiting everyone he knew from Med school, former University athletics days, and eventually even the lululemon connection is really what made this tribe grow and begin to sustain itself in to the behemoth it has become today.

For me these are just a few of the handful of reasons why I am thankful for Toms presence with this group over the last few years. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that without Tom this tribe would not exist as it does today (lets face it, I have a pretty-ish face but my incessant rambling would have grown old after a few short weeks). Each and every one of us has been affected by Toms presence – whether that is through a high five or over enthusiastic encouragement when you needed it, a well placed hips in hug in the morning to welcome you on your first day, or a laugh during the bitter cold during the last minute of PR in the garage, Tom has been there for all of us over the last few years. The next time you are at a workout with us, pause for a moment; look left, and look right. Chances are there is a friend standing there that you didn’t know three years ago. For that, you have many people to thank – but Tom comes in right at the top of that list. His passion to grow and bring this movement to Winnipeg is what got us going in the first place, and for that we will be forever grateful.

Derek and Megan are the new and newer faces of the tribal leadership; we are so stoked for their energy and the different aspects of leadership that they each bring to the table. We will never be able to replace Toms neon tights, his hip gyrations, or his impossibly loud voice echoing off the walls of the parking garage, but really thats not the point of bringing in fresh faces. The legacy of what Tom has worked to build will live on, and that is the true testament to good leadership – empowering others to continue where you left off. Thanks for getting me out of bed, thanks for the dick jokes, and for letting me make fun of your bald head in front of the tribe so much. (Tom is bald). Best of luck in your journey to win Doctoring.

THIS FRIDAY we are joining the one and only JUNEL MALAPAD on his quest to run 100 km in 12 hours while raising awareness for Mental Health; meet us at 6:14 am at GARBAGE HILL for a great morning full of running, friends, and laughter.

JUNE 30 we will be doing our annual Canada Day workout at the LEGISLATIVE BUILDING. We have a special game in mind this year that involves splitting the group in to two teams, so if your birthday is in JANUARY-JUNE wear RED; if it is in JULY-DECEMBER wear WHITE.

Have a great day,

Rick

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