The best thing about writing the blog is that we have a platform to share what happened this morning with you. But then, what’s even better is that you can share your morning with all those that you are connected to too. What continues to inspire us to want to wake up each Wednesday with a little more UMPH, simply put is you. We get it setting the alarm, rising out of bed, somehow making yourself look like a human #trollhair all before 6:29am is a feat. But then when you have those couple of minutes seconds in between hoistee-j’s or right after a burpee to look around and take a moment of gratitude well that might be the best part of the morning. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that Wednesday’s could look a lot different. Maybe, they would have less spray paint, less bananas and buffs and just more coffee alone now who really wants that?
Hey, I just met you this is crazy but here’s my number so call me…MAYBE (Ottawa)
From the wise words of Carly Rae Jepsen, “Hey, I just met you and this is crazy
But here’s my number, so call me maybe”. Seriously, though have you called or texted that new cell phone number that you held onto throughout the workout this morning?
Have you heard back from your new contact yet? Have sent them some positive input? Have you felt the warmth from the connection from across the city? This workout is one of our favourites because right from the get go people are already connecting with each other by exchanging phone numbers. Then after passing along a small piece of paper between all the gore-tex mitts (or freezing bare salad fingers) it lands into your hands. You will eventually complete a variety of movements, some becoming quite repetitive as your new contact has four number threes in their phone number. This idea of using your phone number as the platform for the workout is not something that myself or Lauren invented, but we do take credit for making it that much more FUN. However, it is you that challenges yourself and how fast are you going to complete those 15 burpees and then run the loop.
Monday, Monday, Monday, must be a fun day, on a family day
A memorable Monday morning. We truly meant it when we bounced to Monday, Monday, Monday, must be fun day, on a family day… it was sung with enthusiasm. Family day morning adventures. A couple of notable mentions this morning. – Mountain climbers can be scaled- slow, fast, wide knees, double leg, and literally up a snow mountain – Post-race skating soreness (48 hour delayed-onset muscle soreness) is real – Family day can start as early as you want it to – When we say “go touch the monument” we really mean it – Thigh deep running through snow without snowshoes is quite a challenge – We don’t have weights but we sometimes have toddlers and young children on our backs and shoulders to increase the resistance (and the fun) – Would you rather offers a choice that can can truly provide you with a challenge-by choice. You keep hammering that same muscle group every time you go back to that station, or give yourself the full body workout with the variety – Somehow we always do it for the bagels – Somehow we always do it for the carbs – Kettlemans tends to be a place that always brings us together (whether we worked out or not…) – This family we have in November Project is a special one. We are grateful for each one of you.
40cm deep
It was confirmed by late afternoon yesterday that the City of Ottawa would go into a basic shutdown. Such shutdown would include all schools from the collegiate to primary levels. Government employees were encouraged to stay at home and work from their laptops in the comfort of their own living rooms. AH YES, a total city shutdown. If there was any time we needed a solid video trailer this would be it. The focus would be blurred at the beginning but as people began to approach the flame their features would become more familiar. Then a really kick ass remixed song would drop in and it would cut to various humans running on Parliament Hill, some holding a plank in 40cm of snow while another set of individuals would be completing the hardest set of burpees you would ever witness. Yes that video promo would be sick. Maybe slightly inconceivable if you’ve never experienced snow like we have here in Ottawa.
Guest Blog: My First Year with November Project (Ottawa)
Wether you were lacing up your runners or your skates this morning we’re glad you were there. Thank you for sharing in some skate-pushes, some under the bridge star jumps and some bench tricep dips.
If you have yet to meet Dan let us introduce you. He joined us early last January. This Aussie strolled up to Patterson Creek, during Bridge month. That morning, we were scolded slightly by a neighbourhood dog walker during the bounce, he (without mitt) was welcomed with open arms and Marcie’s generous sharing of her gloves, he showed up with a friend the very next week to a skating workout (with no skates) and he’s been with us ever since. When chatting with Dan, you always learn something new. He has been committed to bettering himself, staying consistent and continuing to challenge himself and others to new races and distances. Dan is also a huge reason we have clean and tidy tags, sunrise 6k and parliament hill tags. He makes this community better. Meet Dan.
Bounce a little bud (Ottawa)
Are you back into the swing of things yet? With the holidays coming to a close, most of us find ourselves back into our regular routines.
But wait! Before we continue on, could you understand the bounce this morning, because if you did or did not, here it is so you can recite it to your children, colleagues or partner while they try to either get work done or fall asleep at night #kidswillloveit.
Roses, thorns and buds
Things learned:
2018 was so great for many reasons, many roses, perhaps a couple thorns and buds to look forward to in 2019.
– At some point, people think you are too loud and that’s okay
– NP Ottawa does a GREAT NINGA workout
– We are still really great at being weatherproof, remember the rainstorm stadium workout? Or the -37 on the bridge?
An Egg, some spokes, huckle-buckle and a burnout
So here’s what you missed this morning in case the -17 with no windchill scared you, your family tied you down or the turkey got the better of you last night. We bounced to holiday themes like gingerbread cookies, skating, skiing, tinsel and icing. Spokes, spokes and let’s make some spokes! Call out a number and try and find the egg in the snow. Don’t pay attention to the squash, apple or clementines what you really need to find is the egg. After racing around the spokes you crawled your way through your teammates legs to be the first to dive towards the egg. Have you heard about huckle-buckle?
SNOW DAY (Ottawa)
You know those mornings where the shovel in your trunk becomes your lifeline and saving grace? What about that five pound bag of sand you have shoved underneath the passenger seat for times of road side emergencies. Moments like these are really only experienced every so often in Ottawa. They are actually quiet rare, maybe even more rare than seeing our temperature dip below 30.
you can never get enough
Here are some things that came to our minds after reflecting about the workout this morning.
WHO ARE you BRINGING NEXT WEEK? Tell us, tell a new friend, shoot us a message let us and everyone know.
Are you interested in partaking in Motionball? Reach out to Katherine Markhauser and/or Jewelia Orlick they are co-captaining a team. The event will take place at Carleton University on Saturday, October 27th. You can find more about the event here https://www.facebook.com/events/469215573549498/
We have BUFFS for sale $5 #winteriscoming
Bear crawls, you love to hate em. Waking up to see that sunrise. WOAH. No other words. New faces, we love you. Second, twentieth or fifty sixth timers faces we love you. Lunges, MEH, goodbye glutes see you in a couple days. Learning that the statue is a monument. Visitors and travellers. This morning was full of sunshine, smiles and some sweet, sweet sweat.
Now although, these photos are captured beautifully and truly showcase the most outstanding city in the world #aintthatthetruth. They would be quiet uninteresting without any people in them. November Project doesn’t run without YOU or the friend, brother, co-worker or sibling you brought today. It definitely would not be running if you didn’t show up last week. That’s the truth. This energetic, positive, hyped on life Wednesday morning ritual is truly a game changer for anyone out there wanting more of their day. So, have you gotten into the groove of making November Project part of your weekly routine? Why stop there…introduce this groove-love that you have to someone new. Maybe a peer, an aunt, your mom, a colleague who’s to say that they can’t get hooked on this too. The sky is never the limit.
Here’s to bringing soles together,
Lauren and Liz
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