This morning I led my final workout as co-leader of November Project San Francisco. It was rather apt that it was on at a Friday Hills. The workout that solidified my love for NPSF those first few weeks in 2013. I love the simplicity of it. One hill to hammer up and down however well you can. By the end of 30 minutes, no-one knows how many reps everyone else has done. It doesn’t matter. But we’re all doing it together. Sweating. High-fiving. Suffering. Smiling.
New Sheriff in Town (NPSF)
Thank you to everyone who came out this morning for NPSF’s 5th Birthday! It was fun, weird, amazing, and a damn good workout (so I heard). As my first post I was planning to talk a bit about my history with November Project; however, I think today calls for something different.
We all live in an amazing city and we’re all fortunate enough to see its awesomeness and explore its beauty. With all its beauty though comes its many issues: homelessness, mental health, gentrification, etc. Lindsey Bolt said it best, “perspective”. We have created and continue to grow this awesome community full of awesome people who support each other through the tough times and the great times, but there are still so many people in SF and around the world that don’t have a community like this. We need to spread this awesomeness, show as many people as we can the power of community.
Ham Sandwiches -> Seven Summits (NPSF)
This morning’s workout gave us a cultural explanation of the Irish version of the taco. The quick and easy snack. Prepared out of the boot of the car. At the gate of the sports field. In the kitchen. The basic. The glorious. The ham sandwich. Here, my boy from back in Ireland, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, explains how to make the perfect ham sandwich in food form:
When exhaustion feels so good (NPSF)
We realised this morning that it’s been over three years since we started this PR course, back in the Spring of 2015. Often it seems like people actively avoid the last Wednesday of every month. It’s a rough workout. You put your head down and hammer. Grunting as many words of encouragement that your lungs will allow as you cross paths with your friends on the stairs. When you hear the description, it seems like 3 sets of 10 burpees wouldn’t so bad, right!? But after pushing that descent, you hit 4 flights of stairs. And then those 10 burpees are slow. They’re heavy. A little wayward at times. The onlookers are teasing your form (cheers Iain!). You forget your count. Shite, I think I just did 12. Or was it 9. Done, time for another lap. 1 step OR 2 steps. Ahhhh, don’t stumble.
Team Ali (NPSF)
This morning, we had our co-leadership crew grow by one more, as Ali Fauci was announced as the new leader of November Project San Francisco. On April 4th, Laura moves to the East Coast…. so we will finally have someone sort out that crew in charge at Harvard Stadium. And hell it would be an awful idea to leave the Tribe in the far from capable hands of Zip & Paddy.
Spirit Week (NPSF)
As we near the single greatest sporting event of 2018, the Tribe is getting a little bit excited. Sunday will see the showdown of all showdowns. The showdown the world has been waiting for. The event the Tribe has been training for over the past four years. The November Project SF WINTER OLYMPICS!
Four years ago, we took to the hallowed grounds of Fort Mason and tested the Tribe across 4 events…
By Golly it’s Positivity By Holly (NPSF)
What does this silly wooden oar handle mean to me?
It embodies the true value of November Project — if you’re not pulling your own on the oar while rowing, then the boat can’t move forward–if you’re not showing up or giving it all you’ve got at the workout, then you’re not contributing to the community that relies on each of us. I’m going to share how I grew to love NP and it global impact through traveling.
Our 2017 (NPSF)
2017 was quite the eventful year. The fifth year of this movement running the streets of San Francisco, and the seventh year of #worldtakeover. As we just welcomed the 45th Tribe to this movement (Grand Rapids, Michigan), it has been amazing to watch this November Project steam train keep rolling and rolling spreading the gospel of free fitness and community across the world.
You’ve been grammed (NPSF)
Instagang!!! Yes, we get it. The sun rose this morning. It was amazingly pretty. Other people will have a severe dose of FOMO from sleeping in. San Francisco is beautiful. Probably the greatest city on the planet. WE KNOW!! But as co-leaders hustling you guys up and down our plethora of hills, there’s nothing that kills us more than the whole group stopping at the top of the hill, stopping their Garmin (#fakestoppages), whipping their phones out, and spending five minutes getting that perfect sunrise shot (I’m looking at you, Charlie! You could have got another hill repeat in the amount of time you were cropping the exposure of that filter shot! Photography. Words). By all means, these photos and your IG posts are an integral part of spreading the word of this amazing movement. But this is a free FITNESS movement after all. So we’re going to make a democratic compromise. Please keep taking your photos, BBUUUUUTTTTT we’re introducing a toll. A tax (too soon!?). Let’s call it a reward for taking that photo.
Tamalpais (NPSF)
Tamalpais – támal pájiṣ – “west hill”
This one’s been a long time coming. Such a pleasure for us to bring the Tribe to the top of Mount Tamalpais this morning, with many of us cresting East Peak for the first time. After yesterday’s annual celebration of gratitude, we all need to remember how fortunate we are that the older generations had the foresight to preserve these public lands for preservation of many native plants and animal species, for our enjoyment, and for giving us a platform to remove ourselves from the cities, to #optoutside and embrace our outdoors. The majority of the mountain is contained in protected public lands, including Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, and the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. It adjoins the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (which in turn adjoins Point Reyes National Seashore) as well as several Marin County Open Space Preserves. This provides nearly 40 miles of continuous publicly accessible open space. It’s a pretty spectacular backyard we have! P.S. Help out your parks. Sign up for our volunteer trail restoration in the Presidio on Saturday December 9th (Fill out the sign up doc).