The winter is upon us…if you couldn’t tell by this morning’s temperature….or the day before that….or the day before that…..or….well… you get my point. Yet still we push on. Warm hugs, smiles, and coffee are the best cure for the winter time blues, and we have plenty of the first 2, and usually the last after the workout. People always ask… you workout ALL winter? Yes. Yes we do. There is something about the crispness of the air, the nip of the cold, and the subtle stillness of a city that preferred to stay in bed that morning that just makes you feel alive. For whatever reason, I have always preferred seeing the sunrise in the cold. Maybe it is because I know there are far fewer enjoying it than if it was warm – Mother Nature putting on a much more intimate show like when a musician decides to play in a hole-in-the wall rather than a huge stadium. If it is that, or if it is something else, I can’t think of a better way to spend the morning than working out with some of my favorite people before the sun comes up, then enjoying the sunrise with those same people, as Mother Nature plays an epic melody not dissimilar from Queen playing Bohemian Rhapsody, Led Zeppelin playing Stairway to Heaven, or Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
The Tribe Has Spoken – Crowdsourcing Fridays
Tribe!
You speak, and we listen. We wanted to hear what your favorite Friday workout locations from 2017. We took the top 4, and they will be the Friday location for the Month of January. Over the course of the year (Since the leadership switch) we visited 33 (Bethesda Fountain was not an option in the survey) different destination deck Friday locations across 4 boroughs (Sorry Staten Island). We had relay races, burnouts, played capture the flag, sharks and minnows, freeze tag, had workouts in squares, circles, parks, and castles, shivered, learned trivia (so many dead people) sweated, hugged, and high-fived all across The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.
The Happiest of Holidays NP
I was recently speaking with a tribeswoman here in NYC, and she was able to articulate something that I have never been able to express or even really come to terms with. I will keep her anonymous at this time, and let her talk about her experiences if/when she wants. What she said has been on my mind the past few days, and I am sure she and I are not the only ones who have experienced/are experiencing this same feeling, and I want everyone to know, if you do feel this way, you have an awesome support system around you, and if you need to talk, I am here for you.
Dear Tribe
Tribe,
We want to say thank you. This morning we received our holiday gifts, and despite tradition, it is still unexpected and humbling. The thoughtfulness behind each gift is startling in its sincerity and makes us think maybe you guys do listen after all (though we would have no indication of that based on the execution of some workouts).
A Different Kind of We Miss You

I want to take this time to highlight someone very special to our tribe. This morning we had the pleasure to make him our first tribe member to be awarded the PA twice, but if anyone deserves it, it is Lew. Some know him as Lew, or Joe, or Superman, or Wonder Woman, but whatever you know him as, you know him as a supremely positive, genuine, and selfless person who has likely impacted your NP experience whether you realize it or not.
Guest Blog from Casey Snedecor – A Better Place
Casey…..Casey, Casey, Casey. Where to start? Where to end? This blog post (though a little longer than any I wrote – because she is a much better writer than myself) defines what November Project is supposed to be (in my eyes). Casey, current PA carrier, exudes positivity and spirit like few I have met. Things are always better when she is around, and we are lucky to have her #justshowup at least once a week, usually more. Without further delay, I give you her #guestblog:
About Those Hugs: A guest Blog from Max Hoover, PA recipient
Max is always smiling, always working hard, always encouraging others, always everything we love about November Project, a no-brainer candidate to receive the Positivity Award, and a member of the tribe that truly helps make November Project NYC so special. Max, thank you for sharing, we are glad you are here:
Bridge Changes and Tagging Mondays
Tribe,
After months of deliberation, we have decided it makes strategic sense to move away from the Randall’s Island Bridge Day. We love and appreciate you all and wanted to provide greater clarity on this move by offering more background and context.
Back in March, we identified and outlined some goals that we would like to achieve. Many of you gave us great feedback that helped shape them:
A Guest Blog from Janelle Hartman – Timing is Everything and Nothing
Today’s guest blog comes from Janelle Hartman: a hard working, completely badass rockstar that we could not be more thrilled to call a member of OUR tribe. If you haven’t met her yet, you should, here is her story:
The road to becoming a part of the November Project Tribe-NYC.
My road to NP-NYC started about 2 years ago when I volunteered for the New York Road Runners’ Team Championships. I was working in the volunteer check-in and Paul Leak (yes, that Paul Leak of #paulleak fame) was the Volunteer Boss for the race. Many of the November Project runners came over to see Paul before they went off to what I figured were 5-6 minute mile paces for the Team Championships (you are welcome). I thought “I could never go to the workouts with these extremely fit and very young runners. I said to Paul, “I don’t think I could be a part of November Project but if you have a late December Project, that maybe more my speed…”
Something Old, Something New
We are in the thick of wedding season. Between J and I, it’s been weddings and bachelor parties almost every weekend.All the wedding stuff got me thinking about the saying “Something Old, Something New,….”, and how important it is to reflect on the old so we can appreciate the new.


