INFO FIRST, BLOG SECOND:
TODAY –> WAS DOPE LIKE NICK’S HAT SAID! Sorry if you missed out this morning, we had PRs dropping like hot cakes and a very large crew of racers joined us from Under Armour with coffee and bagels for the hungry racers. Will they be there next week? You know there is only one way to find out..! Not to mention some people cashed in their #PRcoffee at Light Street Cafe.
FRIDAY –> we are on the move as it’s the last Friday of the month. Location pin to be dropped tomorrow. Stay tuned but you don’t want to miss out. Depends who you ask but these tend to be the most fun Fridays of the month.
BACK TO SCHOOL!!!
I know it’s the end of September but I am just starting to get myself geared up in the post-summer shakedown. Summer is fun and it’s our time to recruit new faces to November Project before it starts getting chilly and hard (er) to get out of bed in the morning. Despite being out of school for many moons I still like the “Back to School” gimmick to get myself focused. Having fallen (mostly) off the training wagon after #5UMMIT I find myself in a place where what used to seem easy seems hard now, otherwise called out of shape. Nothing like sucking wind trying to chase down your best friends on multiple tempo runs. It’s during runs that suck that I am reminded of the role that November Project has played in showing me how to push myself to run faster and train harder and that it doesn’t have to be lonely. It pushed me way out of my comfort zone as a runner and as a human and I want more humans to experience that!
These days I finish most runs and think “woof maybe I won’t ever get back into the shape I was in 6 months ago” and THEN I remember that all of this is the cycle of running and that is why I (and hopefully many of you) love it and keep coming back to it. It is the thing that keeps me sane while also some days makes me feel insane. Some months we need more time to focus in on other things. And some months are set aside to train hard and reach new goals. Running is (hypothetically) easy because it doesn’t require a specific time or place just shoes and you can go. I use running to think clearly with zero distractions. Often my brain lights up during solo miles with ideas and locations for workouts or other NP related things and if I don’t write it all down within 5 minutes of walking in the door I’ll get distracted with the busyness that is life and forget. The cycle of running can be viscous but on those days I try to let it motivate me to keep putting in the work and miles to push myself and others around me.
As the one who pushed all of you to sign up for your race this fall here I am excited AF to cheer you on and watch some of you demolish goals that you thought were “impossible” four months ago. The Baltimore Running Festival is coming and I am pretty excited for October 21st! I am starting to think that so many people are racing it might just be me and Nick at the cheer station! For me this “racing season” watching the transformation of runners and friendships growing at NP has been and continues to be magically fun. While I have moved away from the old school NP “#worldtakeover” because I don’t believe that is the legacy November Project deserves, I do want to share this magic with the world and I want your help. SO now is a time to think during this “Back to School” frenzy when was the last time you told someone new about November Project and invited them to join you? Are your classmates or colleagues sick of hearing you talk about it? What about the barista who gets you the caffeine you need at 3PM after PRday?
If you get as high of endorphins and friendships on Wednesday morning as I do then help us grow this thing by sharing it with new networks. Do you have ideas for workout locations that you think would engage some newbies? HIT US UP. We are genuinely all ears and like to hear from you guys. As leaders we are only a very small part of how this thing grows but I feel pretty strongly (and hope you do too) in its ability to connect people and ignite them with the same charge we all have to take life by the horns at zero dark AM and crush some miles or laps or burpees. If you know some other people who like to surround themselves with people who believe in the power of human connection to jump start their day make sure they know about November Project and let’s grow this thing to connect more people. Most importantly, if you used to come to NP or have never come to a workout but happen upon this blog, come out and join us! You’ll be welcomed with open hand hugs (you’ll have to come to see what they are all about) and real hugs, if that’s your thing. Mostly it will be a warm environment where people are genuinely happy you’re there and will push you to step out of your comfort zone to meet new friends and interact with each other. What do you have to lose?
With lots of thanks for a rockin’ morning!
Bryson
