Free Fitness Movement. All you need to do is show up!
In the past few weeks, we’ve made an announcement about adding new sponsors to the global November Project family. We also stated that November Project will start accepting donations as we are now a non-profit organization. Since then we have received requests for more details regarding how we will allocate the funds donated. Hopefully, the following breakdown will help answer those questions:
Today we’re proud to announce Brooks as the official footwear and apparel sponsor of November Project. Brooks has been woven into the fabric of NP Seattle since the early days. From the CEO down to the newest hires, they celebrate the culture of bettering the world through running and movement. Based on these shared core values, it didn’t take us long to get excited about the potential of our combined reach. The Brooks influence will be multifaceted, including financial support, access to new footwear and apparel, resources for our leadership training and the annual November Project Summit, entries into Brooks-sponsored running events, and activations on a local and global level. We’re ramping up to do some very cool things together and couldn’t be more excited.
We believe barriers to fitness shouldn't exist, one of the reasons we are a free fitness group (no money in, no money out) and our members don't pay any fees. Because of this, we need your help.
Dear November Project Universe, the time has come for another NP Homework, and this one is going to be stellar. It involves bicyles, the great outdoors, painted #GrassrootsGear shirts, and of course, awards for the best submissions. This year, our friends from Bern Unlimited will reward 10 of the funniest, silliest, most creative, or as we call it “The X-factor’est”, submissions from around the world with Bern Helmet of the winner’s choosing. To be selected in the exclusive group of 10, you have to follow the rules below:
Post a photo on Instagram between Monday, August 6th, and Monday, August 13th. Photos posted after midnight EST on August 13, will not be considered eligible.
You must:
Phone filters that alter photo color, brightness, etc are allowed. Tools that can add or remove items that are not in the original photo (photoshop or bunny nose/ear filters) are not.
The winners will be selected by the panel of esteemed judges, whose identity shall remain anonymous to prevent any attempts at meddling. Our 10 winning photos will be posted on @novemberproject Instagram on August 16 and the winners will post photos with their Bern Helmets after they arrive.
So folks, get out, get on your bikes, and get creative. As of right now, the NovemBern week is officially open.
Recap by Tribe Leader Alexa Lampasona
Saturday was a day of EPIC adventures for the NPATL tribe. Some would say we are overachievers. Some would say we are crazy. All who participated would say we are the most fun group in town.
Here’s the rundown of activities. Did anyone complete it all?
BIKE to Stone Mountain (16 miles)
After my shoulder injury, I was out for leading the bike. Thanks to the tribe members that stepped up to navigate the group on the Stone Mountain PATH – Joev Garvey, Niamh Dolan, Maddie Giegold, and Stu Lipkin. They made all the riders feel comfortable riding on the roads!
TRAIL RUN around Stone Mountain (5 miles)
We teamed up with Big Peach Running who brought out water, a tent for shade and nutrition, and our fearless tribe member Matt Taylor led the large group runners on a 5 mile run around Stone Mountain on the Cherokee Trail.
HIKE up and down Stone Mountain (2 miles RT)
We were worried that a 12:30 pm hike would be miserably hot. But we were blessed with a cooler front of summer storms the night before, and a cloudy sky hung around most of the day. As our group reached the top, we saw a wall of rain in the distance, slowly moving toward the mountain. We admired the view of Atlanta and the surrounding metro areas. The Debate began- do we yoga?
YOGA at the Top of the Mountain
Yes… we did yoga. Yoga Steve, the leader from NP’s Buffalo tribe, led us in a short and quick flow yoga on the mountaintop. A few raindrops hit us, and we feared the downpour was coming. But then, as we finished in Shivasana, we realized that the rain never came!
SUP on the Lake
Our friends at Mountain High Outfitters supplied us with SUP boards, and Tracey Pearson from Prissy Tomboy led groups out into the lake, teaching them the foundations of stand-up paddleboarding. Everyone who biked or drive the 3-mile journey to the far side of the mountain had a blast!
There was only one crisis during the event – tribe member Ben Nantasai got stung by a yellow jacket on his ankle less than 10 minutes into his trail run. Now, for some it would mean a painful ankle. For Ben, it was life-threatening. He is severely allergic to yellow jackets. He called me as he began running back to our tent. The few of us that stayed behind for the run went into overdrive, looking for his epi-pen. I sent tribe member Casey Nicodemus running out to meet Ben on the trail. I didn’t tell Casey which way they went…. So naturally, Casey ran in the wrong direction. And he didn’t have his phone. Ben called again, saying he was almost back to the tent. He hadn’t seen Casey. Another person was sent to bike around the road on the mountain looking for Casey; someone else ran the trail in the opposite direction. When Ben arrived, we gave him Benadryl and ice. Finally, 10 minutes later, Casey was tracked down and returned. He saved the day by administering the epi-pen. Then another tribe member, Winnie Lojk, stepped up and took Ben to the ER so that he could get treated when the epi-pen wore off. Tribe member Courtney Mueller drove to the hospital to stay with Ben while he was on watch at the hospital for a few hours. Ben survived the incident but had to cancel his plans to head to The North Face’s Basecamp event in Chattanooga, as he had doctor’s orders to stay inside and recover. What this showed to me was how connected and selfless our tribe members are. Everyone pitched in to help. You can’t beat the community in our ATL tribe!
One of the biggest things we got out of this day’s event is the number of new friends that we made. Throughout the day, we met several new faces who hadn’t yet attended our workouts, some due to location or work schedules. For us to be able to show more people what NP was all about was HUGE! We hope to do another event like this soon!
+*0+*
Over the last six and a half years, the co-founders of November Project, Bojan & Brogan, have been expanding the movement while it continues to grow organically through passionate and dedicated volunteer leadership, weatherproof workouts, and supportive communities, all at the cost of zero dollars. But with expansion comes evolution and November Project is proud to announce the next chapter of the movement, as a nonprofit organization. This year, with the support of everyone in our community, the structure of November Project (NP) will be one that involves more than simply two co-founders.
The goal of NP as a free fitness movement will remain the same. At our future and existing
locations around the world, we will continue to work hard at cultivating a culture of inclusivity, and will never stop proving that fun, fierce, free, and efficient morning workouts have the power to positively change the places we live in. The new arm of the NP nonprofit is one which we are incredibly excited about. We aim to use the spirit of NP to host our first community outreach plan that aims specifically at youth. After all, the NP rulebook for accountability, human connection, intense fitness, and support for all fitness levels could make an even larger impact if we use these tools to train a younger generation, creating healthy habits from an early age.
Financial resources to support the efforts of the NP nonprofit, the ongoing movement, and to keep great humans in the NP family at an organizational level, will come from personal
donations, grants, in-kind donations, and strategic partnerships. One of those partners, The North Face, has been powering November Project movement for the last three years and will continue to support NP at a global level through access to outdoor training gear, storytelling via various media outlets, leadership gatherings, and the annual November Project Summit. NP will pursue other partnership that will broaden the opportunities to bring free fitness to more people, but The North Face will remain the exclusive apparel, footwear, and equipment partner, and just like the last three years in this partnership, will be the reason November Project is able to continue the growth. Details on how you can directly support (aside from just showing up) will be revealed in the weeks to come.
The November Project team and the Board of Directors are ecstatic to progress this movement into the nonprofit space and set even bigger goals to achieve in the years to come. Hold onto your hats, folks, it’s about to get even crazier!
I’ll let Stevie take it away:
How do you measure, measure a year (or six)?
In bounces, in sunrises
In miles, in doggos
In sweat, in hugs
In tears, in laughs
I always knew that someday, these would be the good old days.
Some of you know me very well, some of you know me as that crazy girl who races a lot of Ironmans, others know me as one of those girls that loves doggos, and some of you don’t know me at all. I’m not the fastest, I’m not the strongest, and I’m not the loudest at any workout, but what’s for certain is I give one damn good hips in hug.
As I enter my final days as a District resident after 6 years, it has been impossible to not reflect on what an impact and impression this chapter has left on me. I’ve lost myself and found myself in this city, I’ve learned what type of person I want to be and what type of people I want to have in my life. But most importantly in my time here, the last few years in particular, I’ve learned gratitude.
I’m grateful for the friend who convinced me to #justshowup three and a half years ago (hi, Doc!). I’m grateful to have the opportunity to cross paths with humans I never would have if it weren’t for the group of crazy yahoos who started and those who helped to grow this movement into what it is today. I’m grateful for fitness, movement, and what my body can do. I’m grateful for the consistency of this tribe when everything else in my life seemed to be uncontrollably chaotic. I’m grateful for every moment, every bounce, every hug, every sunrise, and every laugh along this crazy ride.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I was so lost when I first showed up to Lincoln that cold November morning in 2014. And now as I begin to take some leaps of faith to follow my passions, I’m finally feeling found. NP_DC, thanks for being you and helping me to find that courage to believe in myself again as well as helping me find that inner-weirdo that got silenced. I’m glad you’re here.
Until we meet again…..DREAM BIG, HUSTLE HARD, LOVE FIERCELY, AND PET ALL THE DOGGOS.
Oh and hi, SEE YOU SOON NP_BUFF!
It’s not goodbye, it’s see ya later!! Jason, YogaSteve–take good care of this gem.
Much love, DC
For the 14 weeks November Project Buffalo has existed, we’ve had nothing but temperatures going up from May through August and no rain. Who knew Buffalo had that nice of weather? Call it our “Wednesday Best Day” vibes, call it luck, call it what you want–but this tribe hasn’t been challenged by the weather. November Project prides itself on being unmessable (it’s a word, ask Baron Baptiste) when it comes to weather. Buffalo has had nothing fall from of the sky except for sunshine and rainbows.
Does this tribe have what it takes to show up when it rains? Does this tribe have what it takes to show up when it drops 30-40 degrees? And most importantly, does this tribe have what it takes to show up when its 9 degrees, snowing, and windy?!?!
Answer: we don’t know. Is it in our own minds that anybody else cares? Anyone else is watching? Anyone else will call us out if we don’t show up? Maybe, maybe not. Will Edmonton laugh at our temperatures when they’re at -30 C celebrating and we are bitter and cold? Will Boston really show us how strong, proud, and tested they are as the winter months progress?
If I know one thing, it’s that the other tribes have shown us that it is possible, doable, and even enjoyable. They’ve shown us that the winter months count the most and are the most memorable and tribe building. BG himself quotes some of his most memorable Wednesday mornings when it was cold, dark, and wet; but the love, grit, and connection was at an all time high. We are not in this weatherproof thing alone, because others paved the road for us.
I’d like to think we have what takes, because Bills Mafia fans still show up in late December Sunday mornings dressed in Zubaz and camo gear ready to take on 8 plus hours outside. They yell, chant, and stay until the end of the game. I grew up on snowball fights, fort building, sledding, and walking to school in the those months (sorry it wasn’t uphill, into the wind, blindfolded).
Do I think we can lead epic bounces in the winter? Yes. Do I think some of our tribe can’t wait until the day the weather challenges us? Of course. Maybe all this time everyone has been fooled into thinking Buffalo has bad weather, but really we are the San Diego of the northeast. Can this city rally when the alarm goes off at 5:20AM and collectively show up for the greater good? Hall of Fame Buffalo Bills coach sums it best with “when its too hard for them, its just right for us.”
Game on mother nature.
News:
Devils Hole/Whirpool Trail jog/stairs/hike Pop Up 8/13 8am. We are tagging shirts after
Brogan Graham challenged us to get to 500 in one workout
Fun random fact about Buffalo : Buffalo is home to the longest running race in America. The annual YMCA Turkey Trot started in 1896 and claims to be the oldest continually running public footrace in North America
Wednesday Best Day
The Lake Effect
Every year, the only time Buffalo makes the news is because we had a giant lake effect sno
w storm. This year, I am proud to say we have come onto people’s radar because of our November Project tribe. Whether on social media or in conversation, outsiders will say some combination of “Look at all those people”, “I didn’t even know that many people lived in Buffalo”, “Where is Buffalo?”, or “How are you doing this?” It’s simple, I call it “The Buffalo Effect.”
See, unlike most other larger cities, Buffalo (Yes, Buffalo has over a million people) is not full of transplants. We are a city full of people that still keep in touch with their high school friends and probably still see them on a regular basis. Buffalo is a place where your parents still live in the house you grew up in and going over for Sunday dinner is common. Buffalonians know their co-workers and probably their families as well. If any problem comes up like car, home, or business, a proud Buffalonian will say, “I got a guy. Here’s their number, they’ll take care of you.” We do have some transplants in Buffalo, and they soon find themselves absorbed into the friendly and welcoming culture Buffalo offers. Loyalty and integrity is the only way to stay in business and maintain relationships around here.
When November Project started to grow, I began to see whole workplace teams show up together because one person encouraged them all to go. People would see friends in NP photos and message them about going, and they were there next week. Families starting showing up together. This is a city where people really support one another, and just like NP, if you ever bump into anyone out of town and you’re both from Buffalo, you probably have three mutual friends in common within two minutes of chatting. We may not be a metropolis, but we’re proud. We may not have all the things the big cities have, but people will literally give you the shirt off their back if you need it more than them. Buffalonians rally behind things they believe in, and November Project is no different.
The first email I received from NP said:
“Who says you can’t get more than 100 people in a workout?”
“Why can’t you be the fastest pledge group to get passed?”
“Why can’t you have more people coming than DC?”
I am proud to say that this city and this tribe made all this happen, not because of me or Jason, but because of ‘The Buffalo Effect.” In a time where we’re becoming more disconnected, this city is becoming more connected because we live and die by our sports teams, our families, our friends, and most of all–our community.
This is my Friend Jason, this is his experience of the Buffalo tribe after coming since the very first week!! Mad props for coming out the first week to see what this crazy, fun, challenging and November Project community is all about.
When one of my yoga instructors, Steve Procknal, first mentioned the idea of pledging NP in Buffalo, I immediately became amped and excited about doing so. But for all the wrong reasons. I wanted to be a part pledging NP for the reason I embarked on many ende(aor otherwise): I wanted to be admired by others for doing something I felt was unique and challenging that only a select group of individuals could accomplish. What I did not realize at that time, though, was how being a part of pledging NP, and later becoming a NP Tribe (AWESOME!) would expose a gaping hole of self-confidence in myself, but also help me to begin to repair that hole.
I always had felt that my self-worth needed to be supported and justified by others’ opinions of me, and that impressing others meant that I was a good and valued person. I often could not wait to tell people that “I” accomplished a yoga pose, “I” ran a half-marathon, or “my” team won a championship, because I craved responses such as, “Wow! Not many people can say that,” “You’re in great shape,” and “That’s so impressive.” These responses, i.e. validation from others, made me feel valuable and worthwhile because I essentially was being placed above others that did not accomplish such feats. If these responses were not received, the individual naturally was jealous and I was better for not being a jealous person.
That first chilly May morning pledging NP, I actually was excited that there was a rather small group. After all, I was one of a select few that had gotten up early, braved the cold, and signed up for the unknown. People would be so impressed. The funny thing was, 30+ other people had done the same thing and no one seemed particularly impressed that I had made it. Funnier still, the number grew and grew and grew in the coming weeks and still no one seemed impressed that I continued to show up. Even more funny, no one seemed to care one way or another about my workout performance. Perhaps the funniest thing was, for the first time in a long time, I didn’t seem to care that no one wasn’t impressed didn’t feel like less of a person because people weren’t impressed with me. And that was a good thing.
What I started to care about was that EVERYONE showed up, EVERYONE did the workout, and EVERYONE encouraged each other. I started to look forward to Wednesday mornings to see how much the Tribe could grow, to see people get out of their comfort zones, to give and receive high fives and hugs, and to meet more people in my community. Surprisingly, looking forward to these things made me begin to feel much better about myself as a person and helped me to start to grow true confidence. Being able to smile and interact with a stranger, to hug a neighbor, and to cheer on someone I never had met before made me feel indescribably better than wanting people to be impressed by me for the purpose of feeling better about myself. In short, I felt more whole and complete by feeling impressed by the efforts, experiences, and enjoyment of other people instead of longing
for validation from them.
I certainly do not think that I’ve changed 180 degrees in 10 short weeks or that I’ve now morphed into Mother Teresa. What I am certain off, however, is that I’m on my way to becoming a better, more open, and truly confident person and that I have NP and the Buffalo Tribe to thank for that. The old me would’ve wanted congratulations and applause for writing this. The new me? The new me is just happy that I could share this and thankful for the opportunity to do so.