Spring 2016: “There’s this thing called November Project that meets at Harvard stadium, do you want to go?” my roommate said to me as we laid across from each other in our twin sized beds. “What time?” I replied. As she scrolled her phone further, my roommate paused and read aloud “6:30am”. “That’s way too early, hell no” we both exclaimed as we looked at each other and turned over.
Spring 2019: “Do you like working out? My boyfriend runs this workout group called ‘Saturday Stairs’. A bunch of November Project people go, it’s very fun you should check it out” My boss had mentioned to me in passing .“Oh I’ve heard of November Project, I’ve never gone though, it’s too early” I replied back. “But I’ll check out the stairs thing, maybe I’ll wake up for that…still not as bad as 6:30a” I laughed in reply, but knew I would at least something new by running the Hollywood Bowl. I could barely talk and run, let alone meet people to run stairs? Why not.
Summer 2022: “HI! NICE TO MEET YOU! I’M MAGGIE. I co-lead November Project West LA we meet in Santa Monica you should come by!”. Maggie Nolting, Co-Leader of NP West LA excitedly said to me before a local run meet up. “I’m not sure” I replied, “I haven’t been to stairs in a long while and don’t know if it’s really the place for me. I don’t know anyone and I don’t want to ruffle any feathers and—”. And quickly with three words Maggie changed my life: “Just show up”. And that I did.
Spring 2023: “Can I ask you something” Maggie asked me as I left her cycle class all sweaty and gross collecting my belongings from the Cyclebar lockers. “How would you feel about becoming co-leader of West LA?”.
And my answer to that question is right here in this blog post.
¡Ponete las pilas y vamos!
Your newest West LA co-leader,
Julia Linger
