There’s a gem of a human named Max Snell who embodies everything that November Project is about. This man is dedicated – he drives further than you do to every workout and he pushes himself and encourages others constantly. He has your back whether he’s known you for years or whether you’re brand new. Max rocks!!!!! This is his tale:
My Wednesdays and Fridays start at 4:15 am, I leave my parents at 4:45 am and I drive about 25-30 miles or so to get to you wonderful crazies at 5:27 am. You’ll see me leave no later than 6:20 am because I have to beat traffic, shower, take care of my puppy and be at work by 8:00 am in Agoura Hills, about 30-35 miles in the opposite direction as the workouts. I used to be very active on off days. I would do track Tuesdays with Jesse and Track Thursdays with Liana as well, but life happens.
Quick Backstory: I got into a car accident a while ago which sidelined me for a couple of months with a concussion. After two months of no physical activity I was cleared, and though I still showed up to the workouts I was not mentally and emotionally present. So when we say “just show up,” what does it mean? To some it might be rolling out of bed and driving or running to the workout, to others it might be being as loud as humanly possible at the workouts, and to some it might be giving squatpliments to strangers and friends. The truth is that there is no right answer, but what is important is what does that phrase mean to you?
Pre-accident showing up meant being present and engaging with my friends at the workouts. Though that is okay, we limit both ourselves and others if that meaning is satisfactory. Post-accident, I realized my life outside of NP needed more than that. If you did not already know, “showing up” is not confined to 2 times a week. When a friend didn’t ask for support at a poetry event but you and your friends go anyways that is just showing up, when a friend needs a hug that they did not ask for that is just showing up, when a friend needs to talk out their frustration on a long run so much so that you cannot get a single sentence in for 8-13 miles that’s showing up, when you say you are going to be at a workout and you show up with a smile that makes others want to smile that is showing up. Showing up and being there for others is the most important part of showing up, because without it who are we showing up for? So if you meet a stranger or a friend over the next couple of days, say that you are glad to see them and converse with them because that conversation might mean much more than you know. Give them a big bear hug, maybe bite them if you know them well enough or you can leave that to Maggie.
Though the drives and mornings are long, for me you all make it worth it. When I hobble/jog back to my car I look at all the faces getting ready to workout and it leaves me feeling great knowing that you’ll experience the struggles and joy of completing a workout. If you just show up and put your all into this movement, it will give back and then some. Sometimes we may not hit the goals we want or talk to everyone that we mean to, but showing up is more than ourselves and I promise you that you will reach your goals in time. If you are present and friendly and show up, when life gets hard these people will be the first to pick you up and dust you off. Showing up is more than working out, it is a movement of good, make it your own. Do good.
Thanks Max. We’re really glad you’re here!!!
NEWS
Lululemon/Speedplay Pop-up
- Monday June 26th at 7pm
- Lululemon in West Hollywood on Melrose
North Face Vans 2 Races
- North Face is crazy and is offering to reimburse us travel expenses (only travel, we’ll have to split an AirBnB) for the following races – Madison, WI (September 16-17) & Park City, UT (September 23-24). Here is the catch: 15 of us have to pile in a van to get there!!!! Maggie will be with the Park City crew, and Jesse is crazy enough to drive a van to Madison! 15 spots for each race are available. Well, actually 14 since Maggie and Jesse are allegedly people. If you are down for one of the races then email Novemberprojectlax@gmail.com with which race you would like to run. There will also be discount codes for the races!
TAG Design Contest
- Through the end of July we are accepting designs for a new LAX stencil
- Send any concepts to Novemberprojectlax@gmail.com
- At the end we will upload design ideas and have a vote. Get creative y’all!
