Free Fitness Movement. All you need to do is show up!
We truly hang on to that workout longer than we should. Seriously, it’s ridiculously dark in that stadium. Multiple times I looked down and couldn’t see the step, but I knew it was there (and it was), but I couldn’t see it. Also, why was it so windy on the concourse before the bounce?
That’s what I kept wanting to tell the alley this morning. But, alleys don’t talk and I’m not sure if they listen, so that conversation didn’t really go anywhere. It’s a reference to the show Suits if you’re really confused right now. And since you are probably wondering what else was going on in my head this morning, I was just trying to make sure that my left hand, and everyone else’s left hand didn’t bear crawl into the treat left behind by someone’s furry friend. Some got close, but we all dodged it… or did we?
At the end of the workout today, I took a minute to sit and think of how fortunate we are to have such a cool community in Edmonton and beyond. This morning, there were a number of birthdays, including a 7th birthday, and a 1st birthday. It brings a huge smile to my face knowing that on the second day of school, kids are so excited to come up and get their birthday boom. And in case you haven’t realized it, standing in front of 200 people like that is quite intimidating for a 7 year old. When he’s older, he’s either going to be very comfortable with public speaking, or extremely terrified of it. I’d like to think it’s the former. It was also Isaac’s 1st birthday. How cool is it that he gets to grow up around so many amazing and supportive people? Also, for the parents to place such an importance on the community and the people that they prioritize bringing their children out to November Project, it is admirable. We know it’s tough. We know it’s not easy for so many of us to just make it to the workouts and truly, showing up is the hardest part. That’s why the hashtag is #justshowup, because it is the biggest obstacle. The other really cool thing about the community is that it extends beyond Edmonton. If you’ve been fortunate to visit November Project in another city, you have like-minded people all around. This past weekend, I travelled to Ottawa to see a NP wedding. For those that know Seumas, we may have lost him to the NP Ottawa, but it’s pretty cool knowing how powerful this free fitness thing can be in some people’s lives. This weekend really reminded me how special this entire thing is.
The Dark Knight
We had our third finisher of The Gristle this morning. But I can’t figure out what is more elusive: completing that beast of a challenge, or the finisher himself. Many have asked me who he is and where he came from. The truth is, we don’t know! The only thing we know about him is that he’s The Dark Knight. He’s like our Bigfoot. There have been many unconfirmed sightings, and trace evidence of his existence. I was there this morning. I watched it happen, and then I watched him get on his bike and ride off into the sunrise. Now that I think about it, did it really happen?
He’s the finisher NP Canada deserves, but he’s the one we need right now. So we’ll chase him, because he can take it. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A Dark Knight.
Today, on Treaty 6 Recognition Day, I want to share a story on my own personal leadership journey. For those with a keen eye on detail, you may have noticed that I use the word, tribe, less and less. In fact, I’ve been trying to avoid using it for almost 2 years now. That means, not using it on social media and referring to NP cities and NP communities.
I’ve always been intrigued by the mental game. You know, that feeling when you’re running and you want to give up, but you tell yourself that it’s just your brain telling that its too hard and that you’re actually capable of more. Or, is that your body sending you signals to dial it back so you don’t injure yourself? Over the past 6 years, I’ve seen people push themselves beyond what they ever thought was imaginable and accomplish some incredible things. I’ve also seen numerous people push themselves to the point where they sustain an injury. So, where is the line? When are we working out too much? Is there such a thing as too much? If you’re looking for the answer to this, you’re not going to find it here.
It has been quite the weekend. It surely looks like we took the divide and conquer approach to everything. We had people off at Sin 7, some at the GWN Triathlon, others at the Edmonton10k, and even people as far as France spreading the good vibes of NP. I had some conversations with people from Vancouver, Calgary and San Diego this weekend and they all commented on how they admire the NP Canada crew and how strong and supportive everyone is. And this is what they’ve seen not just from this weekend, but from what they’ve experienced over the years where they’ve been, and from what they’ve seen of us.
Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that we are an extremely fortunate group at November Project. In a way, it has almost become normalized that we have photographers around to capture all of these amazing moments we share in the early hours of the day. There are some days when I’m doing something really cool in the afternoon or evening and am hoping there is an image capturing the moment. And I have to remind myself that having a photographer nearby is not a normal thing. It’s really not normal to get such amazing photos of you in action.
There are so many examples of where our body and our mind are giving us mixed signals and we have no idea what to listen to and which way is right. Is that an injury or do I just need to work through this discomfort? Did I hit a wall, or am I actually about to collapse? All this smoke reminded me of a situation I was in last year in which I spent a ridiculous amount of time contemplating.
Every time I write an intro to these blogs, I want to talk about how inspiring this person is. I probably sound like a broken record, but I truly find these blogs so inspiring and so insightful as to why people connect with November Project. Back in 2016, I had a conversation with the sister of today’s blog writer (who I’ve known for years) and she was telling me how her brother is “hooked” on November Project and how she was so happy that he was part of such a positive community. I don’t think I’ve ever shared that with him, but as I have watched his journey over the years, I keep thinking back to that conversation. I keep thinking of how proud his family must be of his journey and the work he has put into it. So, I’m so excited that he was happy to share that journey with all of you. Meet Sean.