Free Fitness Movement. All you need to do is show up!
The things that we’ve been talking about:
NP SEPTEMBER SOCIAL Wed 9/26: PR Day Bowling w/ Facebook Event Here We’ll also have recruiting papers to cut out!! #recruiteveryone
SWCC 2.0 11/3 – Sign up here for an awesome relay race in the desert! Tribes from Phoenix, San Diego, and WestLA will come race against us!
Every time we plan a workout for Chinatown, I am stoked! Chinatown is a magical place. The plaza that we run around feels like it was designed for the perfect couples retreat workout. The Bruce Lee statue inspires you to finish your lap with strength and grace. Speaking of Bruce Lee, here is some fantastic advice. Chinatown also has one of the most fun 5k/10ks.
Hi, I’m the blog! Hopefully today you learned a few new names, matched names to faces that you’ve seen for a while, and discovered what a few of your tribemate’s super powers are.
There were a bunch of announcements today so here they are in writing
SWCC 2.0 11/3 – Sign up here for an awesome relay race in the desert! Tribes from Phoenix, San Diego, and WestLA will come race against us!
Last week was a doozy for me. Tuesday left me with two parking tickets, and getting home from work a bit after 1 am. I wound up missing the workout Wednesday morning. I was disappointed to miss out on PR day and my quest for 12 laps. I didn’t just miss out on PR day though. I missed B’s last workout before she moves to Denver, I missed seeing Ruth back in action after missing some time due to her unfortunate accident, I missed seeing Henry and his faithful companion Christoff, I missed my tribe, I missed the best part of my week, and that sucks. Thursday, I went in for surgery to get my hernia repaired. Since then, I’ve slowly been losing my mind while being chained to the couch.
This is going to be a nice little 3 in 1 blog. Topics will include #HellWeek, the week that I just lived, and this morning. As opposed to when I’m talking, I’ll keep this fairly concise.
I don’t think that last week could have gone any better for our initial #HellWeek. The work that y’all put in day after day was incredible. I love how this tribe came out and crushed hill after hill, day after day, and then raced a fast as fuck 6k. One of my favorite parts of co-leading is when I see the photos from the workout for the first time. Seeing the smiles, the laughs that are captured for eternity, the camaraderie, the grit and determination to crush another hill, and just the good ol’ positive vibes. Last week was overflowing with all of that, and I hope that everyone is proud of their efforts. I was excited for all of the special tags and for the 6k medals, but I want to express how thankful I am to every one of you who thanked both Kait and myself. The gratitude that comes from the tribe is appreciated, and is a big reason why we keep dreaming up bigger and more awesome ideas! Last sentence on #HellWeek – Yes, #HellWeek 2.0, is already in the works with Kait and me planning more EPIC SHIT!
Side shuffle.
Duck Walk.
Side shuffle to sprint.
Good morning, legs!
Keeping today’s blog short and simple with some key highlights!
It has answers to questions about HELL WEEK, so if you skipped it, go back.
Now on to our regularly scheduled nonsense!
I had a feeling that when a half drunk lemur showed up to the workout that it was going to be a fun one. One of my best friends from back home came out to visit me this past weekend. Ken and I have known each other for 19 years, which when we realized it has been that long, we ordered a second beer. Jokes aside, it was great to reconnect with someone that I don’t get to see that often. We got acai bowls pretty much every day (#basic), went and got tattoos, and subjected Kait to a few childhood memories when she joined us for a beer. One of my oldest best friends and one of my newest best friends coming together lead to a great night.
Why am I talking about this? Well, this morning at #brekkieclub, Melanie told me that during the burnout she was paired up with someone new that she didn’t know each time. It’s no secret that group settings can be intimidating for new faces. At November Project we form such tight bonds, and sometimes we aren’t aware of how welcomed a first timer might feel. Hearing that Melanie was planking with people she didn’t know was great, but what followed was even better. Her smile got bigger and then she mentioned that it was awesome because it meant that we are growing as a tribe and new people are showing up. We say things like “all your friends are here” and while that is true, so to is “all your potential new friends.” I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been guilty (numerous times) over the past 4 years of going up to someone asking their name and how long they’ve been coming only to find out that they’ve been showing up for a month or longer.
So, I’m going to throw out a little extra credit homework for you. Whether from this morning’s workout or starting next week – meet someone new, exchange some type of contact info (fb/ig/yo digits), and learn something new about them. Ask about their favorite flavor of banana, or what type of cookie they’d be, find out why they show up, see if they have any interest in a race coming up, send them a funny meme or an inspirational quote, write a dope ass haiku, anything really, but most importantly the next time you see them at a workout go up to them and say “Hey person’s name here, I’m glad you’re here!”
I promise you it’ll make a world of difference.
Hey Inebriated Lemur, I’m glad you showed up today!
NOTES:
SUNDAY 8/5 – If you’re looking for something to do Sunday, United LA is hosting a picnic in our backyard – Griffith Park! All the local running clubs will be present and it’s not only a great way to talk to other folks (yay new friends!) Also, this would be a great time to wear that #grassrootsgear because #alwaysberecruiting. Just saying…
November Project Los Angeles Social Page – For those of you who have been to a workout and are curious for more social activities, feel free to join our B.B. (bulletin board…it may have taken me awhile to figure out this acronym) HERE.
HELL WEEK – Begins 8/13. More details HERE
Fun Fact: King Julien, the most famous ring tailed lemur, likes to move it, move it!
Do Good LA.
One such constant is November Project. For a little over 4 years I’ve shown up to workouts excited for something new. Maybe I met a new person that week, or we were at a new location, or a new workout at an old location, or maybe I finally learned someone’s name! Whatever it was, it was new. Constantly evolving and providing something fresh. I love the community that is November Project. The anti-judgement, we’re glad you’re here, sweaty hug or high five giving community. Where you can run with one person and learn an incredible amount about them in 30-40 minutes or you can split it up and learn a few cool things about 5-10 people. This morning I ran with a few people and asked “What is your favorite flavor of banana?” and also “What is one small thing this past week that you are proud of?”
When I read Abby’s blog (Click here if you haven’t) I couldn’t stop smiling. My favorite relationships are those where even if you haven’t seen the person in years, you pick up like you just had lunch yesterday. November Project offers that opportunity. Whether you show up each and every single week, whenever you can, or after taking a needed personal break, it doesn’t change the fact that we are glad you’re here. That will forever be a constant at our workouts. If you are reading this and you haven’t come in weeks, months, years, and have been thinking about coming but worried about whether it has been too long. Let me say just one thing. #JustShowUp.
My daily dose of something new:
Most people’s banana flavors were based on ripeness, but a few got creative and picked peanut butter banana. Most specific answer came from Amanda who said “within an hour of it just losing the last bit of green.”
Also shout out to Laura for crushing it at work and scoring a massive grant! #BeProud #FuckYeah
(are #’s in a blog pointless, #?)
Musings from M.O.M. – I started asking weird questions to co-leaders from around the world which lead to learning how they think and directed us to deeper conversations. Give it a shot the next time you catch yourself talking about the weather.
Speaking of, anyone else catch the thunderstorm in Santa Monica on Wednesday?
NEWS:
Wednesday – PR day is next week. Bring a light colored shirt to get a sweet ass tag. Or bring black and get the highly coveted black on black ninja tag.
August – There’s some cool shit happening. #prehypeHYPE
North Face Endurance Challenge CA: Sign up. It’ll be fun.
NP SUMMIT – Still looking to go? SIGN UP! Teams >> handy dandy Google Excel Doc and register >> right here! (Test out “NP20”).
Fun Fact: A few varieties of wild bananas include bubblegum pink bananas with fuzzy skins, green-and-white striped bananas with pulp the color of orange sherbet, and bananas that taste like strawberries when they’re cooked. #Whatsyourflavor
Do Good, LA!
Today’s workout was a major throwback for me.
I grew up obsessed with musical theatre. If you traveled back in time and found a nine-year-old me, a thirteen-year-old me, and a seventeen-year-old me, and asked all of those girls what they wanted to be when they grew up, they would all give the same answer: “I want to be an actor.” You may have found that girl wearing an Eponine hat. You certainly would have found her wearing one of her three Les Mis shirts.
The B Lot will always hold a special place in LAX’s history. There’s nowhere else where you can get the filthiest hands, regret wearing any color other than dark grey or black, and if you’re lucky find a few dollars on the ground that someone dropped while leaving last night’s show. It’s unfortunate that we’re no longer able to call the Bowl home, but it is nice that every now and then we can go visit.
Switching gears for a moment, I’d like to make a quick announcement. After the workout we said that we had some cool shit happening in August. It’s true, we have been planning a few things. One of which is a plogging event. Kait and I are working with the city to organize some good ol’ #NPgivesback fun. We haven’t yet decided on what area we will target, but we’ve discussed a few ideas. That being said, if you know of/want to recommend any trails/parks/streets that could use some help, please e-mail us at novemberprojectlax@gmail.com . Thanks in advance!
NOTES:
Friday 7/13 – Mom and Dad will be away but there will be an amazing musical theatre themed workout at the Old Zoo.
North Face Endurance Challenge CA: Sign up. It’ll be fun.
NP SUMMIT – Still looking to go? SIGN UP! Teams >> handy dandy Google Excel Doc and register >> right here! (Test out “NP20”).
Fun Fact(s): Lightning is 5 times hotter than the sun. Lighting can reach temperatures of 30,000 kelvins (53,540 degrees Fahrenheit). Compare that to the surface of the sun, 6,000 kelvins (10,340 degrees Fahrenheit).
Oh and one more thing –
DO GOOD, LA!