She’s a smile queen and a recruiting machine. The thing about recruiting – it’s great to have more people, we always want to have a big crowd bouncing and racing and encouraging others (and freaking out a few new people – and welcoming them into the tribe- every week is fun) – it’s not about how many people you tell to come to NP, it’s not about talking their ear off and selling yourself or the group, it’s about exuding an energy that tells that new stranger that the vibe is like nothing else, the workout is tough, and the value of just showing up is undeniable. She has such genuine love for this community that her words and spirit burst from her every time she’s near, and that’s what speaks for itself. Here’s a few words from out key lime pie sponsor:
TNF Endurance Challenge Series, Washington DC
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: ONE DAY ONLY (valid from April 21st at 12:01AM until April 22nd at 12:01AM) 40% OFF DISCOUNT for ALL RACES at #ECSDC. AFTERPARTY DETAILS BELOW.
When we say “Endurance Challenge Series” it’s a lot like grassroots, free fitness. There’s a lot of info packed into three words. We want you to get HYPED about both.
Breakfast ALL DAY by Hans Carlson
This blog post is brought to you by Hans Carlson, a tribe-less helluva guy that [sometimes quietly] spread his smile through the cities he visited. He showed up to one of the biggest days – biggest not in numbers, but in significance – for NP Amsterdam last October, and as the rain poured down in the darkness, he never lost his positive light. Thanks, Elliot, for tricking this guy into an NP #traverbal road trip and bringing him into our crazy cool family.
To Hug or Not to Hug
That’s really not a question. Today’s blog post is brought to you by Roderik, who quite frankly, reminds me of Dug from Up.
Where did 2016 go?! It seriously felt like it just flew by! Anyone else? IT’s kinda ridiculous how you can just blink and it’s another week, month, holiday and now year! Yikes. But it’s also SO awesome because you get a big “REFRESH” button now.
#NPSUMMIT Location & Details (Boston – June 9-11)
The 5th Annual November Project Summit, the weekend-long party/race/training/homecoming event that wraps in all of the tribes from around the planet into one city, will take place in Boston, MA on the weekend of June 9th-11th around the newly added The North Face Endurance Challenge Massachusetts trail race. Use the code NPINDV25 for a 25% discount on your individual entry. At this point, our main NP event of the weekend, the Marathon Relay, is sold out, giving us room to tackle new distances for those of you who are ready OR join the family mob high above the start/finish line at the first ever Summit Cheer Station (details below in Saturday). If you’re new to this event, you’ll see that there are racing events from 5K all the way up to 50K and we encourage you to sign up for whichever one fits your liking.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like #weatherproof
This morning demonstrated the impact that each and every one of you have on this tribe, this movement. You get out of November Project what you give into it. Know that that extra high-five or “good job,” or that purposeful hug for a newbie or “missed you today” text to a regular goes a long way. Felicia is leaving Amsterdam, but her impact will stay. In 2013, Felicia hung up the cover of Runner’s World Magazine on her vision board. It featured November Project founders Brogan and Bojan, along with a few other core members of the Mothership (Boston). She said she wanted to be as happy and carefree in running as they looked. I think her constant smile says it all.
Oost vs West (30.11.16)
For the last day of November, we rocked bridges with our bitches and hills with our homies and I tried to speak Dutch. Some things went better than others.
Oost vs West: it was a tight race, but Oost came out on top. This is the only acceptable outcome of the story, by the way. But no matter which side of Amsterdam is better at carrying little gum-balls, ONE at a time, across a bridge, without being tempted to eat them all, every one of you bitches and homies won today. Here’s why: you all got to see who in the tribe lives on your side of town. Now, it’s your job to get your stalker game on and find out which of your new friends lives in your neighborhood. OR you can just ask them. OR you can just check the google doc (and fill it out yourself). Know why? Because having an accountabilibuddy, someone who is going to text you on Tuesday night to wish you sweet dreams and wake you up in the cold, dark, probably wet, Wednesday morning, is GOOD. You know Robbie lives in a baller apartment in the Jordaan, right down the street from you? Tell him you’ll meet him on the corner of Rozengracht and Keizersgracht at 6:05, rain or shine, to run, bike, swim, or fly over to NEMO together. Know that Roderick drives his lazy ass to NEMO right through your neighborhood every Wednesday morning? Wait, you didn’t know that he drives?! Called out. Tell him to man up, meet you on a random street corner in the far Zuid, and keep each other company on your journeys to NP. You get the picture.
The Sun Shines on NP_AMS
In the words of wordsmith and tribe member David Doleman:
Who are we? We are the weirdest version of you, him, her and me. The version you only let loose when you’re sure you’re alone or with those you trust. We are your tribe, simply we are you at your very sweaty, smiling best! What and why, I mean really why would you do this at 06:30am? Why not? Trust me after your first morning, the first awkward bounce, a hug (actually more like several) from a random stranger, you will leave telling yourself “How could I not!” Fitness is free for all, no matter who you are or what you think you’re capable of. If you only follow one mantra in life, make it be #justshowup and we guarantee great things will come of it!
Celebration (26.10.16)
This morning I stood in front of you all, and as I sputtered out words at random, as I tend to do, failing to make sentences that are comprehensible to anyone except me, and perhaps my little sister, I promised myself that I would write it down instead. Here it goes:
Ten months ago, I knew not one of you. Each of you were across the ocean, living your own lives, rising with – no, probably after – the sun, and doing whatever it is that you all do for your day jobs. The thing about November Project, is that most of us don’t actually get to know each other on that level, that suit and tie part of life, because quite frankly, it doesn’t matter. I don’t know how many hours you spend in front of an Excel spreadsheet, how much money you earn, whether or not you like your neighbors in cubicle land, or even if you are employed. For the majority of you, I don’t know your age or your hometown, or how your life brought you to Amsterdam. But I do know this:
2016 NYC MARATHON TAKEOVER
Sunday, November 6, 2016. 50,000 runners will be headed from Staten Island to Central Park on at 26.2 mile, 5 borough encompassing tour of New York City. That’s right, the New York City Marathon is less than 10 days away and they hype of this city is building. And with that hype, we are buliding up a monumental week of #HYPE, of #FREEFITNESS, and a TOTAL CITY TAKEOVER that will lead to #WORLDTAKEOVER.