Free Fitness Movement. All you need to do is show up!
It was a warm summer morning on August 26, 2015. After 9 weeks as an #np_pledge, Seattle Squad was granted access into the coveted movement known as November Project. On that day, November Project Seattle became official. Here we are, almost one year later and by the looks of it, we’re not going anywhere any time soon.
Many of you have asked questions around the “how” of November Project. How is this movement able to exist? Able to sustain? Able to grow? Most of the answers to “how” come back to you. Members of each tribe. You show up, you work out, you recruit, and you come back week after week. You are the reason the movement exists.
G’damn, it was good to be back.
November Project’s fourth annual #NPSUMMIT was this last weekend in Blue Mountain, Ontario. That’s in Canada. As you can imagine, it was an overflowing pool of hugs, high-fives, smiles, laughs, yells, and screams that was topped off with a beautiful 6.5-mile loop around the trails of Blue Mountain in The North Face Endurance Challenge Marathon Relay. While it’s tough to put the weekend into words, Brian said it best when he said, “it’s like going to your first workout when you don’t really know what to expect, but instead everyone gets it and greets you with a hug and a smile.”
#JustShowUp, they said. That’s all you have to do, they said. It’s as simple as that, they said.
I know what I said, alright!? And I have plans to keep saying it. However, don’t let me stand in your way should you make the decision to step up and contribute more to this tribe and this movement by going above and beyond just showing up. (Note: we’re still very happy if you just show up. Seriously, keep coming. Please.)
For Brian and I, everything about last night was unexpected and genuine. From my “poor sport” attitude surrounding a bike ride to Ballard that made no logistical sense (my house is in Fremont and Kaitlin insisted on meeting at Brooks only to ride back to Ballard; stupid!) to Brian’s legitimate anger when he saw a group of people recreating a bounce, we had absolutely no idea what was happening last night. Below, Brian and I have each written a small piece that doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of our gratitude, but it’s something.
On June 12, 2016, our nation was stunned when we heard the news that a mass shooting had taken place at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation, we stand as one in memory of those lost and in support of their families. Our nation was founded on the idea that we can think the way we want to think, and choose the path we want to follow; we don’t agree on everything and that’s one of the reasons that makes this country so great. However, we must respect each other. We are all comprised of different temperaments, talents, and convictions, and we must respect that.
Crushed.
Every Wednesday morning is special in its own unique way. Whether it’s a new person you met and chatted with, or a workout you found to be especially challenging, November Project always seems to offer a different experience week in and week out. Every now and again, you’ll get a morning that feels special across the board. Runners, joggers or walkers; fast or slow; fit or not. This morning was special.
There’s a phenomenon that exists in the world when an individual (or small group) has separated themselves from a larger group or tribe, and because of that separation, said individual(s) feels they can no longer return to said group or tribe. I imagine it has a name, but we’re going to refer to it as the Bullshit Complex. The Bullshit Complex can be seen many different areas of one’s life. However, it is most relevant in the world of fitness.
The following is a depiction of WISCONSIN NOTES, by one BG (Brogan Graham (pictured below); Co-Founder of November Project):
“WISCONSIN NOTES:
Back in the day there was only one NP outside of Boston and the leader of that tribe was Dan Graham (DG). They were a proud group, and still are, in Downtown Madison, Wisconsin. DG used to get a little bored with the blog posts coming out of Boston that seemed to go on and on about nothing. He kept reading them because there were always tiny pieces of actual information peppered throughout the long paragraphs of nonsense. One day, DG said, “Guys, you need a recap, you need some basic notes for what the hell matters in your post. And don’t put them at the bottom either. Put them at the top and I may continue to scroll down if your notes are worthy.” (Not an actual quote, but you get the idea… maybe read the non-quote again after watching this, then you can almost hear how he’d have said this kind of thing.)
When November Project Seattle got its start way back in August of 2015, we were once-a-weekers and that’s how we liked it. Times were simpler back then. We’d bitch and moan our way up Kite Hill because we were out of shape and only came to the workouts in hopes of hearing an announcement for an upcoming social event. We didn’t come to hug, and bounce, and sweat, and get better. No; we came to scout out the dating scene because if he or she looked good in that hour, you were off to a strong start. Above all else, we came in hopes of Kevin Rutherford buying coffee at Miir post-workout (it’s been a while, Kev!).