Another Friday, another no-longer-new PR day, another positivity award, and another new chapter.
Yet again, our re-located to Fridays PR Day has been full of all the sweat, all the fun, and the most gigantic stairs of all. The tribe left it all on the line, and despite the timecap getting truncated for announcements (we promise, it won’t happen again), inched their way towards a “full tour” of 15 laps. We’re most proud that, despite serious humidity, everyone drank water and no one fainted. Nice job, friends.
In case you missed announcements… NP CHI is officially bringing on a third co-leader! Dani Kruger is joining Chris and Stew to bring you loads of sweat, hugs, and fun as we continue to build and grow this weird and wonderful movement. We couldn’t be more excited, but at least as exciting (maybe more) is that we finally got to recognize our very own British Royalty. More to come on the new Trifecta of Leadership, but for now, we give you our positivity award winner… Sarah Beck:
What a way to start the day. Firstly with all of you and secondly, well, I still can’t quite believe it but I received the Oar of Positivity and I am in awe (no pun intended) of this and all that it represents.
Amongst those who know me well (and perhaps not so well) it’s an accepted thing that when I love or feel passionately about something I bang on, and on and on about it. Ad infinitum. I’m bursting with my latest discovery and want to share it with literally everyone. That is exactly how I am with NP. I get my leg pulled a lot: ‘Hey, Sarah, remind me again, what’s that running thing you do, the one you barely mention?’; ‘What’s that, you can’t stay out late Thursday night because you have to be up at 5am to do that thing you hardly discuss ever.’ ‘You exercised in the snow?! Are you mad? Oh, right, NP. Say no more.’ #mytinyhandsarefrozen (La Bohème)
I joined NP nearly two years ago not long after moving to Chicago. On a run along the Lake one Wednesday morning I got a random high-five from an NP’er. It was brilliant. I couldn’t stop smiling. He made my day. As I ran back through the group I spotted the tagged t-shirts and went home to Google who these people were. A company fitness group or maybe a local gym? The next week I stepped right out of my comfort zone and into a world of hugs and ‘fu*k yeah’s’. I’m more used to a firm handshake and a ‘how do you do’. I was out of my comfort zone for quite a few months but I kept going back. I found others too had stepped out of their comfort zones. We all had stories to share. If needed we put on our brave face to #justshowup. Suddenly I was part of the cool gang – we do Glow Runs and everything! The best unkept secret group that hardly anyone seemed to have heard of … until I started sharing – ref above! I relished the kind smiles and energy, the friendliness, the warm welcomes and the never ending encouragement. Our leaders (old, current and recently inducted) are inspiring. They ROCK. They are NUTTY AS FRUITCAKE (that’s a good thing). They are inventive AND they remember everyone’s name. How do they do that? I apologise if I’ve asked your name more than once or told you my name more than once when you had already remembered it. It doesn’t mean I’ve not noticed you, it just means I’m rubbish at remembering names. Also, I made a friend as a result of NP who doesn’t go to NP (gasp, I know, hard to believe). I met her as I walked home after a workout. She has an Australian cattle dog and we got chatting. #friendsmadebecauseofNP
I’ve always exercised representing my school in hockey and netball; taking part in athletic events throwing the discus, shot put and javelin (surprising everyone including me as underarm is my preferred way to throw) and joined in really, really enthusiastically when pop-mobility hit our town and much latterly Zumba. Oh how I loved Zumba. I banged on about that for ages. When I can’t exercise I feel out of sorts, grumpy and just flat. And so an early morning workout, one of which is literally at the top of my road, is a shot of joy. My friends not based in Chicago think I’m akin to Wonder Woman and on a never ending workout! I’m not either. I may be in a fair few photos on FB surrounded by many happy, smiley, fit people and I may like to repost those photos, but I am just one of the many and together we make (in my eyes) the whole. The best fitness family ever.
I thank you all for welcoming me and noticing me. It means a lot it really does. I thank you all for encouraging me and inviting me to take part in a variety of events; for running way below your capabilities to keep me company and for making my time (actually my husband and my time – happy wife, happy life) here in Chicago, well, just perfectly lovely. I return your positivity with my smiles. I have good teeth apparently. My granddad said I would have made a fine horse! I think that was a compliment. He didn’t like me colouring my hair pink so I stopped that but I keep on smiling.
Sarah
