Author: Brent Blazek

Kansas City,

Did you ever think that after leaving the St. Patrick’s Day workout on that cold March morning that we would not gather again as a group until June?

It has been quite the last few months as we have endured isolation, quarantine, and virtual workouts together.

But now we have a chance to come back, but in order for this to work we all are going to have to do our part to keep ourselves and others safe. read more

Authors Disclaimer: A majority of the behind the scenes work for November Project Kansas City is done at the Peanut on Main over a pitcher of beer (Boulevard Pale Ale if Nicole is ordering, Wheat if Brent is ordering) and wings. Surround yourself with greatness and you will be great.

This blog post was not, but we will still aim for greatness (in all aspects, wings, beer, and writing) read more

I’m going to be completely transparent. I hate running. And I hate being cold. (In fact, I’m a little surprised I was asked to write this post)

Combine those two elements and what do we experience? The core of November project. 

In my head when I’m running I have a internal dialogue that goes something like this:

read more

 

One Saturday morning in November 2016, an article in the Kansa City Star caught my attention.  (http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/ink/article112541642.html)  It was about a group of crazy people – they called themselves a “tribe” – who met every Wednesday morning at the Liberty Memorial to exercise.  A month earlier, I’d been diagnosed with what amounted to over-training, to the point where blood tests showed I was breaking down muscle tissue.  Turns out, training every day at race pace is not a good idea.

So I had taken October off, no workouts except yoga, to recover, and was looking for a way to get back into a training routine, when I saw the article.  I thought, “This is PERFECT.”  I live near the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum and work downtown, so I drive past the Liberty Memorial every day on my way to work.  We have a shower in our office – why not stop by next Wednesday at 6:29 and check out this “tribe”?

Primarily a runner, I ran alone.  Years ago I joined a running group to train for a marathon, but didn’t much care for it.  I wasn’t sure a group thing was for me.  I was wrong.

At my first workout, I had to introduce myself to the group, near the tower.  We “bounced” and shouted; I tried to follow along as best I could (it took me a couple of workouts to get the response right to the “WHO ARE WE?  NPKC!” call-response).  Then the group headed down the steps to the base of the memorial on the north side — I actually got lost immediately, mistakenly following someone from the 5:29 group heading toward their car near Union Station.  They pointed me back up the hill, I pretended like, “Yeah, I meant to do that,” and jumped in with the rest of the group.

The workouts themselves are a great mix of aerobic/anaerobic exercises, some body weight work, some running, and LOTS of stairs.  I love the diversity of group.  I’m older than most, but I feel right at home with tribe members younger than my two children.  The fitness level in the group ranges from the insane John “Run through the desert and up a mountain” Kohler to folks who may have to walk from time to time. But everyone’s equal in terms of effort – we all work hard at our own fitness level, and people push and encourage each other throughout the workout.

I make it every Wednesday I’m in town (and not down with the flu).  The camaraderie is great.  The workouts are almost secondary now – you “just show up” to see your friends, and – oh yeah, there’s a workout!

-Bert Braud