It’s 8 days post-Philadelphia marathon and I’ve had the past week to truly reflect on the process that led to this race. Prior to racing last Sunday, I debated whether or not I’d wear a November Project (NP) tag during the race. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but I had barely showed up to NP over the past 13 weeks. It wasn’t representative of my preparation for this race. Even on the few days that I did show up, I may have been present but I was really doing my own thing. As I engaged in the process of training, my priorities and my goals just didn’t align with what these workouts were offering. Looking back, my presence and decision to go “rogue” when I was there was most likely a distraction and counterintuitive to the goals of this community. It may have been better not to show up at all.
Before I go any further, it’s important to note that I have been coming to November Project for over three and half years. I went to my first NP workout shortly after stepping away from the sport of wrestling – either as an athlete or a coach – for the first time since I was 5 years old. This community quickly filled that void by providing me with community and with competition. During my first two years, I can count on one hand how many times I missed a workout. Whether I was traveling for work or even vacation, if there was a nearby tribe, you better believe I was showing up. I was energized by the community, motivated to not only run but to train hard, and began setting racing goals for myself.
When my daughter was born last May my priorities shifted. My wife (who is also a runner but doesn’t go to NP) and I had to be more strategic in planning out our morning workouts. I gave up Wednesday mornings, choosing Friday’s over Wednesday’s in the “morning custody battle”. I knew that I’d still have Friday mornings to hold myself accountable and to look forward to with the community that has been built here in Philadelphia.
As I considered how I would train for last week’s Philadelphia marathon, I considered my training for the past two marathons I ran in 2016. During both training cycles I attempted to integrate my training with NP workouts so I could still go to NP, and it just didn’t work. I fell short of BQ’ing twice. I was adapting my training to “just show up.” I felt a strong need to hold myself accountable to my community, the community that re-introduced me to and re-energized me about the sport of running for the first time since high school. If it weren’t for NP, I would never have even considered running a marathon, but observing individuals, who I now call close friends, training to race marathons and ultra-marathons, inspired me. I wanted to make every effort to balance both training and being an active member of NP on the one-day each week that I was able to be there. The accountability factor is strong, perhaps too strong and I fell victim to it, sacrificing my own goals in the process.
Fast forward to this past August. I began a 13-week marathon training cycle in preparation for last week’s Philadelphia marathon with the goal of qualifying for Boston. As I looked at my training plan, NP just didn’t fit in.
In the few days leading up to last week’s marathon, as I thought about whether or not I should wear that tag, I came to the realization that I owed it to my tribe to wear it. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have even toed the starting line. I quickly realized that we do not have to always show up to still be strongly connected to this larger community that is November Project.
Sometimes our lives, our priorities, and our goals may temporarily shift November Project farther down our list. However, the very idea of training for a race (regardless of the distance), holding yourself accountable to follow a training plan, and getting out of bed and moving each morning is honoring everything that November Project has established worldwide.
If taking a hiatus from your tribe is what is necessary to achieve your goals, rest assured that you’re still embracing and living the principles that serve as the foundation of this movement. Your community will understand. Mine did as I heard their cheers and felt their energy when I ran through mile 18 and mile 22 of our cheer station. And, when NP moves back up your priority list and you make your return to workouts a week, a month, or a year later, your community will be waiting for you with a big hug and a loud “Fuck Yeah.”
Editors note: Today’s blog post was written by Richie Gebauer – long time NP Philly tribe member and recent Boston qualifier. We’re proud of you, Richie
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thanks for posting this–this has hit me a few times while marathon training too. I feel the same way but haven’t ever been able to articulate it– thanks for doing it so well here! I also qualified for Boston this year by following a similar strategy to yours — I’ll look forward to seeing you there in 19!