It is an honour to present this special guest blog post from a member of the NP Ottawa tribe who shows up with a smile and ready to work week in and week out. This year, she tackled her first marathon, a longtime goal she has had and completed it with a smile! She used NP as part of her training, and continued to show up, and modified as she needed to while tapering and recovering. She typically showed up with an additional family member and is often reaching out to people around the city to let them know about this community they can be a part of. She leads by example by setting goals, and working hard every time she shows up. Marci, thank you for sharing your story and experience with our community.
In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Sport has the power to change the world, it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”
Ever since high school where I fell in love with cross country running, I have always believed in the power of sport. I have been incredibly lucky to be able to take my belief and love of sport and transform it into a career. I fundamentally believe that sport should be accessible to all and that sport builds community.
I first heard about November Project from my daughter Shannon King who is studying at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, She moved to Baltimore and knew no one but soon we were hearing all about this wild weekly event called November Project. A few You Tube videos later and I was hooked and green with envy at her opportunity to “just show up” and meet many many new friends every week.
And then one morning in February, Shannon sent me a CBC article (you can never take the hallmarks of Canada out of a Canadian) about this crazy group of people on Parliament Hill in the dead of winter with a little note- Mum, I think November Project is coming to Ottawa.
So I showed up. And then I was IN. HOOKED. SOOO HAPPY. BLESSED.
November Project YOW is everything sport should be – fun, welcoming, accessible, tough, inspiring, community building- need I say more. And in the most quintessentially Canadian location EVER. Every week, I look forward to Wednesdays and my run with my two daughters down to the eternal flame to see what’s in store. As a runner, my favourite days are PR days when we get to run the path beside the Canal- top to bottom and bottom to top, high fiving and cheering everyone on for 31 minutes, in one of the most beautiful settings you can imagine.
But I think the thing I love best about November Project Ottawa is the opportunity as a 50 something, Mom of three, to be part of a community with the 20 somethings. And to do it with my daughters and meet new friends.
Sport does have the power to change the world and the power to unite people in a way little else does. Sport builds community. Thanks Lauren and Liz for bringing November Project to my community and making me, and everyone else feel so welcome. Ottawa is all the better thanks to you.
Marci xx
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Sept 16-17, 2017 The North Face Endurance Challenge Race Series, Wisconsin First 15 people who commit are in for a van road trip! https://www.thenorthface.com/get-outdoors/endurance-challenge/wisconsin/race-registration.html
