Free Fitness Movement. All you need to do is show up!
The tribe was an unstoppable force this morning!!! In my opinion, Micheltorena suicide hills are the hardest hills we conquer – worse even than Baxter, if that’s possible. And still, everyone who #justshowedup demonstrated incredible strength and stamina. I saw people in cars staring open-mouthed at us as they drove up that monster. Fuck yeah, we are that badass!
Body-positivity is a battle, no matter who you are or what you look like. The advantage of belonging to a community like November Project is that we fight our battles together. Among those fighters is Abby Schulman, an endless source of insight and empathy. Abby is strong; she is constantly challenging herself physically but, more importantly, she pushes us mentally to love who we are and the bodies we live in.
There was magic in the air this morning. That magic took the form of a breathtaking sunrise, strength in our legs, and the oomph behind our “fuck yeah”s!!! That magic spread smiles across strangers’ faces and followed us to our cars as we left to start the day just a little lighter and happier than when we drove in. Every single one of you ran your little hearts out this morning. Some earned shiny new PRs, and everyone earned the right to feel proud and go on an ice cream date with me to Salt & Straw in the near future – your treat.
There is this woman named Lauren Lujan who is, quite simply, the best. She is hilarious, strong AF, one of the most loyal people you will ever meet, and a huge source of happiness and energy in our tribe. She has a few wise words to share. READ THEM, LOVE THEM, LIVE BY THEM.
Hi everyone, it’s your favorite distraction and lovable human Lujan bringing the blog post to you today. I’m literally so excited that you all are going to read this (because you all read the blog posts) and give me ALL. OF. THE. ATTENTION. Ok, now that I got at least one Lujan-ism out of the way time to get serious but not too serious because it’s me.
This morning was a really fantastic morning in a pretty nifty location spent with the best people that live in this city. We had more newbies than I’ve seen in awhile, and it was made my heart happy that before the bounce I had to pull them away from conversations with you guys so I could scream their names in their faces a few times. When your best friends are all around you and it’s 5:30 am and possibly still dark (and CHILLY ok?!???? No one show this to my Minnesota friends) sometimes all you want to do is huddle next to someone you already know as you’re still trying to wake up. That has been me at NP_LAX countless times. Once I had been a part of the tribe for awhile, I took for granted all the friends that had made me so comfortable in this magic community. Right before I was co-leader I would roll in, sometimes before the bounce but sometimes as it was ending, scan the crowd for people I already knew, and latch onto them. I wasn’t purposely trying to exclude anyone, I just didn’t think about it.
The view this morning was as beautiful as your spirits as you powered through those partner exercises and flew around the Observatory. 10 Bojans are no easy feat for anyone, and everyone pushed themselves and cheered on each other with their remaining breath until the clock ran out. Then just in case that wasn’t hard enough, we threw a pretty mean burnout at you with questionable regards for safety (#safetythird), banking on the fact that everyone has signed waivers and that you guys can handle a little danger. Not only did you all stampede down and up that trail faster than the herd of wildebeest from The Lion King, but you broke no bones that weren’t broken already. I call that a success!!!!!
Some of our tribemates raced yesterday and everything worked out perfectly and they crushed goals and PRs. To those runners I say: WE ARE SO PROUD!!!!!!! Some of our tribemates raced and for whatever reason, it was a tough day. To those runners I say: WE ARE SO PROUD!!!!!!!! Every NPer that crossed the starting line crossed the finish line. That is an unbelievable accomplishment!!!!!!
Then there are those warriors who didn’t run the course, but ran the mile 19 hydration station. I AM SO PROUD!!!!!!!!! We did such an awesome job that we were asked about volunteering during other races throughout the year, and were also asked back to run a water station next year at LAM. We killed it. Everyone was full of energy and silliness and fun but was also attentive, efficient, and hard-working. Lily and Brad’s cup-holding form was flawless. Kurt’s cup-stacking skills were nothing short of breathtaking. Jasmine opened boxes really quickly. Shani and Aari were professional Gatorade-stirrers. Matt Siner let no cup go unfilled. Jonathan had some fun with latex gloves. We all pooled our talents and I gotta say, it was a smashing success.
And then there’s Molly Goldstein (it’s my last chance to make that joke so I had to take it!) aka Molly Pearlman and Rachel Goldstein. They insist on being modest and acting like it wasn’t a big deal to run the water station, but I’m going to tell you that it was a big fucking deal. Those two have been putting work in for months to get that hydration station together, including outside meetings they had to attend. Our station was one of the *****elite***** hydration stations and that’s because the LA Marathon knew they could trust Molly and Rach with important shit. We were also one of the late hydration stations, which meant Molly, Rachel, Ron Pearlman, Cynthia, and Kevin stood out there with water and Gatorade until every last walker came through. P.S. Even though there were a couple other hydration stations that were supposed to be open late, they packed it up earlier than us and peaced out. But the NP station didn’t because we care about everyone and that is why we are simply the best.
My heart is so full and I can’t stop happy-crying every time I think about getting to scream my ass off and hug and kiss you guys as you came running down the course towards me. Every one of you lit up my world. Steve was full of grit and determination but his smile said everything. Marcus was like, “WHEEEEE is this supposed to be hard?!????” Tona, I will remember that hug forever. And our group hug around the Prices was the cherry on top of a truly incredible day. 
Keep doing great, LA!!!!!!!!!!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day you crazy wonderful fools!!!!!! Today also marks another important holiday for many members of the tribe: LA Marathon Eve Eve. There’s nothing like being surround by people crazy enough to run 26 miles to keep you motivated through those burpees and bananamans! And there’s nothing like being surrounded by people who will be waiting eagerly at Mile 19 to scream out their lungs for you to get you amped for Sunday (because you weren’t enough already).
If you’re on the fence about coming to the cheer station Sunday, please PLEASE come. Apart from the benefit of supporting your tribemates, it is an extremely rewarding experience. The first cheer station I ever went to I was not stoked on being there – if you haven’t known me long you might be thinking, “Come on Maggie, you get stoked about everything!” But I solemnly swear that I have my grouchy moments and being forced to go to this cheer station was one of them. It was a non-scenic marathon in Ventura and it was a stop on the way back from a camping trip. I was tired, dirty, and under caffeinated, but I was dragged there because everyone else in my car was going. I stood with the other NPers and cheered because other people were cheering. AND IT WAS AMAZING!!!! You’ll find that at some point during every cheer station, a runner locks eyes with you. Maybe they yell, “thank you!” but maybe they only have enough energy to barely smile. Still, there is no doubt that your cheer takes that runner out of the negative headspace they’re inevitably living in at mile 19 and puts them back into a state of believing in themselves and feeling strong. You will make that difference if you come out, and you will walk away feeling like the fucking amazing person that you are. Also Willie aka the Planking Champion of the World has promised me he will be stopping mid-marathon at the cheer station to plank with me. Because Willie is absolutely nuts.
Did I mention that you guys were crazy strong today?!??? I personally witnessed every single one of you knock out tricep dips and box jumps that I will dream about tonight. Personally my favorite moment was when I went to adjust Stephen Ruiz on his dips and he said, “Mags, I know what I’m doing, but I’m phoning it in right now,” and then proceeded to show me 10 tricep dips so beautiful that I was reduced to tears. Or maybe it was seeing Angelo do box jumps one-footed. Or maybe watching Akiko and Ashley complete the circuit over and over like two world-dominating machines. Maybe it was seeing how Angel and Adam Kaufman held their planks until their legs shook so hard they gave out – but they refused to drop a moment before then. SCRATCH ALL OF THAT – my favorite moment was everyone yelling “Top o’ the morning to ye!!!!!” during the bounce. We are all extremely skilled in our accents.
See you kids around this weekend!!! Marathon runners, we are very proud you. In the words of our very own James Greenebaum, “You’ve put in the work, this is your victory lap.” Your tribe can’t wait to celebrate your victory with you.
DO GREAT, LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NEWS
I don’t know about you guys, but I have a hard time exercising when I don’t know how far I’m going and/or how long I’m going. I get crazyyyy in my head (more-so than usual). I can be planking for thirty seconds and if I don’t know how much longer I have to be there, that voice in my head chimes in and tells me I can’t hold it any longer. Before becoming co-leader I would strain my ears desperately for the sound of “less than 10!” or even better: “less than 5!” or better yet: “last minute!” Sebastians without a minute-by-minute countdown? Forget it.
Happy birthday to us, NP LAX!!!!! This morning’s birthday celebration felt like the perfect culmination of everything that we are. Sweat was flying, the energy was poppin’, newbies had faces that reflected awe/terror/curiosity/joy as they got the shit hugged outta them, and the cake-eating contest was thoroughly ridiculous. We’re going into year three strong!!!!