Free Fitness Movement. All you need to do is show up!
Below you’ll find the information about our annual gathering of all members and Co-Leaders from all over the world – #NPSUMMIT in Las Vegas, November 15-18. Being less than one month away please keep visiting this link as we will update more and more until we see you. Also, follow the main Instagram & Twitter accounts throughout the weekend for reminders and updates.
WISCONSIN NOTES: brought to you by Bojan
The time has come for another NP Homework brought to you by our friends at Knockaround and this one has a pretty sweet prize for the most creative submission! But before we get to that, let’s talk about:
Theme. “Runaround”. What does Runaround meant to you? Running fast? Running slow? Running in place? Running in circles? Running solo? Or with friends? There are no right or wrong answers so show us what you got! Runaround.
In the past few weeks, we’ve made an announcement about adding new sponsors to the global November Project family. We also stated that November Project will start accepting donations as we are now a non-profit organization. Since then we have received requests for more details regarding how we will allocate the funds donated. Hopefully, the following breakdown will help answer those questions:
Today we’re proud to announce Brooks as the official footwear and apparel sponsor of November Project. Brooks has been woven into the fabric of NP Seattle since the early days. From the CEO down to the newest hires, they celebrate the culture of bettering the world through running and movement. Based on these shared core values, it didn’t take us long to get excited about the potential of our combined reach. The Brooks influence will be multifaceted, including financial support, access to new footwear and apparel, resources for our leadership training and the annual November Project Summit, entries into Brooks-sponsored running events, and activations on a local and global level. We’re ramping up to do some very cool things together and couldn’t be more excited.
Welp today was very special. The incredible amount of emotions are overflowing all the bodies that had the joy and the privilege to be in Boston for the 123rd running of the oldest Marathon in the world. The mother nature threw everything at us today! From few inches of rain for the extra spicy pre-marathon workout to the bluebird day for the middle of the race, mixed in with human stories of that inspire, motivate, and make you want to sign up for a race next weekend, we had it all. I can try to explain the experience that makes grownups burpee in puddles, lose voices cheering at a stranger as hard as you would for your best friends, or choosing to put themselves through an incredible amount of discomfort just so they can hang a unicorn shaped piece of metal around their neck. Instead, I’ll just tell you this… you had to be there to understand.
Last Spring we announced our plans to enter the nonprofit world, a foreign yet exciting venture for November Project. Backed by the enthusiasm of the NP co-leaders and the unrelenting support of our peers, we have officially become November Project, Inc. and just a few months ago our application to become a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization was accepted by the IRS.
Dear November Project Universe, the time has come for another NP Homework, and this one is going to be stellar. It involves bicyles, the great outdoors, painted #GrassrootsGear shirts, and of course, awards for the best submissions. This year, our friends from Bern Unlimited will reward 10 of the funniest, silliest, most creative, or as we call it “The X-factor’est”, submissions from around the world with Bern Helmet of the winner’s choosing. To be selected in the exclusive group of 10, you have to follow the rules below:
Post a photo on Instagram between Monday, August 6th, and Monday, August 13th. Photos posted after midnight EST on August 13, will not be considered eligible.
You must:
Phone filters that alter photo color, brightness, etc are allowed. Tools that can add or remove items that are not in the original photo (photoshop or bunny nose/ear filters) are not.
The winners will be selected by the panel of esteemed judges, whose identity shall remain anonymous to prevent any attempts at meddling. Our 10 winning photos will be posted on @novemberproject Instagram on August 16 and the winners will post photos with their Bern Helmets after they arrive.
So folks, get out, get on your bikes, and get creative. As of right now, the NovemBern week is officially open.
Over the last six and a half years, the co-founders of November Project, Bojan & Brogan, have been expanding the movement while it continues to grow organically through passionate and dedicated volunteer leadership, weatherproof workouts, and supportive communities, all at the cost of zero dollars. But with expansion comes evolution and November Project is proud to announce the next chapter of the movement, as a nonprofit organization. This year, with the support of everyone in our community, the structure of November Project (NP) will be one that involves more than simply two co-founders.
The goal of NP as a free fitness movement will remain the same. At our future and existing
locations around the world, we will continue to work hard at cultivating a culture of inclusivity, and will never stop proving that fun, fierce, free, and efficient morning workouts have the power to positively change the places we live in. The new arm of the NP nonprofit is one which we are incredibly excited about. We aim to use the spirit of NP to host our first community outreach plan that aims specifically at youth. After all, the NP rulebook for accountability, human connection, intense fitness, and support for all fitness levels could make an even larger impact if we use these tools to train a younger generation, creating healthy habits from an early age.
Financial resources to support the efforts of the NP nonprofit, the ongoing movement, and to keep great humans in the NP family at an organizational level, will come from personal
donations, grants, in-kind donations, and strategic partnerships. One of those partners, The North Face, has been powering November Project movement for the last three years and will continue to support NP at a global level through access to outdoor training gear, storytelling via various media outlets, leadership gatherings, and the annual November Project Summit. NP will pursue other partnership that will broaden the opportunities to bring free fitness to more people, but The North Face will remain the exclusive apparel, footwear, and equipment partner, and just like the last three years in this partnership, will be the reason November Project is able to continue the growth. Details on how you can directly support (aside from just showing up) will be revealed in the weeks to come.
The November Project team and the Board of Directors are ecstatic to progress this movement into the nonprofit space and set even bigger goals to achieve in the years to come. Hold onto your hats, folks, it’s about to get even crazier!
For those of you who don’t know me, I’ve been attending Boston workouts since 2012 in part due to a very convincing “We Missed You” post and I also work for Westin as a run Concierge/Marketing director here. I may have a little something to do with convincing Chris Heuisler to check out NP back in 2013 and here we are with Westin/November Project gatherings. Talk about worlds colliding.
Due to Chris Heuisler’s regrettable absence from the #lawnondtakeover, I was delighted to have the chance to serve as #ninjajudge and pick the best representation of “Let’s Rise.” And Rise you all did, given the creativity, humor, and commitment to awesomeness witnessed by myself and my colleagues from Westin who joined me. While we did ultimately pick one single winner, there were quite a few interpretations that deserve special mention:
To all of you who incorporated wings/balloons/inflatables, well done. Special shout out to Billy Hafferty from the Boston tribe along with Grady Jackson and Vanessa Delgado from LAX all came dressed as Carl from Up. Not sure Carl would be double double-fisting beers the way I saw Billy doing but probably well-deserved after Saturday’s race.
Somewhat surprisingly, Bread emerged as a fairly common theme:
Angelo Neroni and the crew from the San Diego tribe with crop tops and high-water pants with bread attached to their hands and waist via packing tape.
The trio/possibly quartet of women dressed as Wonder Bread.
Ari Ofsevit’s version of November Project-brand yeast.
Other highlights:
NP Boston long time member and a former leader Deniz Karakoyunlu and fiancée Sarah Groves in matching PJs. Perhaps a new engagement photo?
There were a few Jesus’ (is that the plural usage?) wandering around but the Jesus rocking the runWESTIN headband got extra points for the product placement and authenticity by carrying a real-life Bible.
The Rising Price of Gold – the brainchild out of NYC/Brooklyn. The wigs, that tutu and boots. The price of gold is certainly rising.
There was one individual though who really stood out – literally from across the room – and best depicted what “Let’s Rise” and November Project are really about – a call-to-arms and a way to encourage people to be their best selves starting first thing in the morning. Dressed in a handcrafted sun costume tricked out with an LED-light tutu and wings upon which were depicted runners climbing stairs. Gorgeous, creative and pure – this approach really won us over as one that represented both November Project and the “Let’s Rise” in equal measure. Congratulations Rosanne Demas on winning a KING-SIZED Heavenly Bed!
