All good things must come to an end – unless they are a marriage, motherhood, and salted cashews (because please, let me keep some joys in life). Jokes aside, which in times of sadness and moments of being uncomfortable you all know I can’t resist, it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to NP Amsterdam. Or at least, we say goodbye to the form or vessel of what we know and have come to know NP Amsterdam to be.
Ode to a friend – The Retirement of Dani
Friendship is defined as the state of being friends. It is not some grand meeting at the beginning that measures and sustains a friendship but rather the time that exists in the mundane, in the ordinary. It is the state where you no longer exist in this universe alone but in relationship of mutual affection between two people. I found such a bond with Dani.
IWD Feature: Dani in Amsterdam
Jet set with us to Amsterdam, where we continue our International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month (US) celebrations and find Dani (she/her). Dani has championed her city from the start of the pandemic through now and is the glue that keeps the folks in Amsterdam motivated to #JustShowUp.
Be runnin’ up that hill – By Kate Driessen
It’s the soundtrack to Chariots of Fire that rouses me from my sleep. Day of the Athens Marathon. A slow-motion montage of 16 weeks of tempo runs, threshold runs, trail runs and Sunday long runs plays in my head and I AM SO HERE FOR THIS. My roommate’s humorous yet motivational choice of dramatic run-themed tunes continues, and so, possibly foretelling of unexpected sporting glory, I hurriedly get dressed, vaseline my feet, grab my gear and hit the streets.
He Married a Marathon Runner
I met Hugo November 16, 2020, after swiping right on Tinder. It was definitely love at first swipe. We immediately bonded over parenthood, our love for sports, and the weird coincidence that both our white and black French Bulldogs bore the name Stella. He is a volleyball player/cyclist, and I am a runner. Within weeks of dating me, Dani and I planned an impromptu ultra-marathon together. Hugo could not comprehend why anyone would want to run that far. I tried to bait him into the marathon frenzy by sharing memories of my sub-3-hour marathon in Amsterdam and my Elvis Presley dressed marathon in Las Vegas. He refused the bait and vehemently swore that he would never run a marathon.
Athens Marathon – By Stephan Griesel
The entries open and I am first in line to enter or so I thought. Signed up, little confused with the different entry types but luckily, we have friends who have done it in previous year’s and they can point us in the right direction. Advanced package, lets go! Advanced entry definitely sounds like it fits since I have done quite a few marathons 🙄. Oh yes, turns out I am not the first in line, the runners that signed up in the pandemic, have precedence. I am in the last batch 🤣.
NPSUMMIT10 Travel Grant
UPDATE – August 10, 2022.
A few months ago, we launched a campaign to offer financial assistance to November Project members from around the world to attend NPSUMMIT. We received a dozen applications and fundraised a few hundred dollars towards our $4500 goal to bring up to 3 members to Philadelphia. After the tragic passing of NP Malaysia Co-leader, Robert Ling, we pivoted fundraising efforts in order to support his family and to cover the cost of his repatriation. With 6 weeks to go before the event, the Committee in charge of the financial assistance program composed of Co-leaders and members has decided to halt the outreach until the end of the year and focus their efforts on the 2023 Summit.Applications will be accepted through June 30
Review process will be in July, and grant recipients will be notified by end of July
Travel arrangements will be made for recipients shortly after being notified
A few months ago, we launched a campaign to offer financial assistance to November Project members from around the world to attend NPSUMMIT. We received a dozen applications and fundraised a few hundred dollars towards our $4500 goal to bring up to 3 members to Philadelphia. After the tragic passing of NP Malaysia Co-leader, Robert Ling, we pivoted fundraising efforts in order to support his family and to cover the cost of his repatriation. With 6 weeks to go before the event, the Committee in charge of the financial assistance program composed of Co-leaders and members has decided to halt the outreach until the end of the year and focus their efforts on the 2023 Summit.
While this is an unfortunate decision, we believe that under the existing circumstances and the tight timeline we’re working with, it is the right decision. The applicants have been informed of the details and understand the reasoning.
Going forward, the committee will review the tactics and the learnings and will outline the fundraising plan for 2023. The tax-deductible donations received this year will be rolled into the following year’s budget.
On behalf of the NP Summit Travel Assistance Committee, thank you for your understanding and support.
…..
A first stab at making NPSUMMIT more accessible. Looking for that sign to attend Summit? This is it.
You’ve seen the posts. You’ve heard about the hype. What IS November Project Summit?
Each year, NPers around the world gather for a short but intense weekend of racing, cheering, and connecting with one another. (Racing optional)
As fun as it is, as lively as it is, as FOMO-inducing as it is, we know that for some, it’s just not a feasible expense. So, this year we are trying something out. And if it goes well, we’d like to do it again next year. Maybe even bigger?
This year, we are fundraising an NPSUMMIT Travel Grant for up to 3 people from across the globe to attend NPSUMMIT 10 in Philadelphia, September 16-18, 2022 (up to a $1500 value). *We will be making travel and hotel arrangements for recipients.
Here are the deets:
All Are Welcome at November Project Amsterdam
By Dani Holmes-Kirk
The night before 30 June’s Pride workout for NP Amsterdam found me scurrying around my house trying on a number of rainbow combinations and constantly asking my wife for feedback.
“Babe… is this too much rainbow?”
“Do these neon rainbow pants clash with my rainbow cape?”
“This rainbow cape or the new rainbow flag that I can turn into a cape?”
Things I Have Missed About November Project- Jessie Brunner
This week we bring you a guest blog from Jessie. Read her story, her comeback, and her special connection with November Project Amsterdam. So grab a cup a tea or coffee, sit back, and enjoy this heartfelt post. We are so glad you are here!
The first in-person workout after lockdown reminded me of all the things I love and have missed about NP:
And I will run 120 kilometres
What is next for you? If I had a page of frequently asked questions for my life, this would top the list. Whether it was when I finished my world record for fastest time to hula hoop ten kilometres or fastest marathon dressed as Elvis Presley or running a sub-3-hour marathon or running my first ultramarathon, people are always eager to know what my next goal will be.