This blog is a reflection from this past November Project Summit, but also how it comes back to our local community and the dedicated members and courageous newbies who show up to Parliament Hill.
Coming down off an amazing weekend at NP Summit 5.0, is going to take some time for those who attended. You know when you talk to people every day about November Project? And you try to describe it, and how cool it is, and that you think they’ll like it, and that it’s not a running group, or a bootcamp, or a workout class, but a community? Well at NP Summit, not only did you not passionately attempt to tell people how great you think it is, but you often couldn’t walk by a group of people without them talking about something NP related. Each person has taken away something different from NP, or has impacted their life in someway, maybe small, maybe big. This weekend’s event is a difficult experience to describe because there isn’t a whole lot that compares to working out alongside 1500 people around the world. How amazing it was to turn around the corner and look into the sea of people filling Harvard stadium stairs, where it all began. Looking up part-way through the workout to see every section of the stadium filled with people from around the globe.
It was a very unique experience this weekend when racing through the trails (or bouldering up some rocky areas up to the summit, or sliding on your bum to make sure you didn’t fall on your face), you weren’t the only one cheering on the person next to you racing. Instead, there was constant interaction between racers, hikers in the woods, encouragement, or some kind of connection big or small. You see an NP tag and without speaking one word to one another, already have a connection to them. Or when you pass the water station at the top of the hill greeted by huge cheer station, you forget to get water because you’re too excited and inspired to grab a cup. When the cheer squad crowd sounds fade, you realize immediately that that was a mistake, but the push you need from the people lingers long enough to get you to the next one.
We share this story of the weekend with you because we want to share the community that is outside of our city. That you are not the only ones who briefly struggle to wake up for the 6:29am workout on a Wednesday morning, that every member of the 43 tribes around the world are doing the same. Members may show up for different reasons, but most quickly realize that it’s not just a workout. We share this with you because this NP thing is new to many of you and that we want you to know that you showing up on a Wednesday morning is not a small thing, that your presence matters, is appreciated and is noticed. That you are not just a member of 65 members in Ottawa, but a member of 43 cities and thousands of members in this worldwide free fitness movement. If you want to, take some time to check out videos of this weekend, or weekends past at summits, listen to others’ stories. Here is a snapshot to get the youtube party started. Shoutout to @dooterfilms for their talent. https://www.facebook.com/NovProject/videos/1227823143992781/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE
Here’s to bringing “soles” together.
ANNOUCEMENTS
- WE ARE ONE WEEK CLOSER TO CANADA’S 150FOR150. Have any verbals been dropped? June 28th 6:29am it’s going down and it’s going to be epic. #recruiteveryone
