Author: Christine

PPG (Penelope Pinky Graham) has been alive for a little over one year.

She’s seen a lot of changes within the tribe. She’s experienced the addition of a 5:29 workout. She’s been inside Miller Park for a November Project workout. She’s seen a winter, a summer, a spring, and a fall. She’s been through Summit in Boston, Summit 5.Moo in Wisconsin, and a summer race season. read more

Avocado Recruiting (YEG)

Edmonton is super cold. Like shake-your-bones cold. They also apparently like avocados there (?). At least Nadim does.

I experience the same thing that Nadim does quite often. I forget to listen. To try to understand the person before I sell them something. To understand their barriers, their fears, and the things that make them jump out of their beds, feet hitting the floor with fury, to run into their day, uninhibited and open to learning new things. read more

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wake up

In the morning when the day is new

After having spent Wednesday together

We could burpee Friday morning too?

Roger, DG, and I have a tendency to say the word “nice” a lot when we’re searching for that perfect descriptive term.

That sunrise? nice read more

Another month gone, another four weeks of training behind us. And Wednesday is our opportunity to show what these four weeks have done for our hearts, legs, and minds.

Sometimes when I show up to PR Day, I plan on taking it easy. I get it into my head that I’m “still sore from yesterday”, that I’m “not going to PR because the past month has been busier than usual”, that I’m “just so tired” and that the “early mornings have started piling up”. But as soon as I arrive at The Calling and see all of the tribe, my emotions and the adrenaline gets the best of me. I can’t help but push myself when I’m working with everyone else, suffering with everyone else… celebrating with everyone else. read more

There is something beautiful that comes from sweating profusely in the sun.

Sometimes that happens at our Wednesday/Friday workouts. And sometimes that happens at a mini-Summit in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

But no matter where it happens, sweat reminds us tangibly of the work we put into our lives. read more

TNF’s Endurance Challenge Series WI week is here… bring on Summit 5.Moo.

Here’s a ton of information you should know so that you don’t show up Saturday unaware of details, or so that you don’t forget that it’s happening this weekend:

1. If you want a sweet, sweet discount on any distance of your choice, use the code: NP15WI
2. Lodging information and last minute team sign-ups are listed here
3. Need a trail map/course guide so that you don’t get lost on the relay like Scott and Zachary during this past weekend’s 10k? We’ve got you covered.
4. Word on the street is that we will have NP people racing and visiting from Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Baltimore, Ottawa, and Milwaukee’s very own Austrian. Take this opportunity at #minisummit to meet people from around the country and world – it only happens a couple times a year.
5. The relay starts at 10 am. But there are people racing the marathon, 50k, and 50 miler, so don’t miss out on showing up early and giving these tough lads and lasses a hug before they’re off.
6. Bring snacks, stuff to tag, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and cow-cheese-milk-beer-related Wisconsin-y things.
7. Post-Summit 5.Moo party is happening on the Terrace in Madison. The plan seems to be that people will slowly trickle towards the city of Madison after everyone has finished and will stay to consume beer, ice cream, and mingle.
8. At least one cow suit will be making an appearance.

Here’s a ton of information you don’t need to know, but might be oddly interested in: read more

As of last Wednesday, 5:29 am workouts are active, insanely hard, and up and running. And did I say they’re hard?

Here’s a bit of information about the 5:29 workouts, explained with 3 specific purposes:

1. Many of us are training for long races. Many want extra time on their feet. Many need some extra stair spice to really test the quality of their glutes. Many rely on running to and from the workouts to work extra mileage into their weeks. Give the people… what they want.
2. Unfortunately, there are people who need to be to work at ridiculous times, including times that are somehow before our 6:26’s end. How sad it’s been that instead of being able to see us, they’ve had to skip our workouts. Now, that’s not the case. Got a morning meeting? No problem. Give the people… what they want.
3. Most importantly, DG officially has a real job, and can’t stay after for six hours sipping coffee and having breakfast sandwiches at Simple Cafe. On top of that, he has an almost-one-year-old, an incredibly driven wife, and a family life to lead. So when can he get a workout in? 5:29 am. Give the DG… what he wants.

That being said, you don’t have to fit any of these three reasons to be an active part of 5:29 am’s. You could just be an insane person who loves waking up before the crow of a rooster. And that’s okay. Want to be done with your workout by 6:15? Then this one is for you. And if you want to stay after and see even more friends? Then the 6:26 am is for you. November Project is for you, no matter your morning preferences. read more

I had a conversation with your dad, Roger, last week and in it, we talked about what November Project has done to his racing career. I learned how November Project was the source of his racing excitement – that November Project and the people who love it are the ones that convinced him that he could run a running race in the first place – that seeing people from November Project at these races excites him and gives him life. read more