Whether you’re just scoping out November Project on the social media, a newbie having rocked your
first few workouts, or a burpee-loving hoisty-addicted stair-sprinting regular, you know that November
Project is about two things: #FreeFitness and Community. We use our environment as a roving partygym
spreading the #SweatyHugs and #Positivity throughout our cities and in the process transform
ourselves into #badass #buttsofNP.
June 2014, when NP was still new to MSP. Rob was there.
So, in light of all you know about November Project, I just have one question for you:
How much money would you spend to NOT get fit?
Yeah, you heard me right. You may not have thought about how much money you spend avoiding
#FreeFitness in your own life.
Of course, I’m talking about your car, specifically. Tally up the money for car payments, maintenance,
repairs and fuel and you’re into thousands a year on two tons of metal that spends most of its time not
moving. Worse yet, when you’re in it you are missing a great opportunity for #FreeFitness.
November Project inspired and strengthened me to make the car-free lifestyle realistic. I’d see co-leader
Holly running 5 miles to the workout, or co-leader Ben riding up with his biker gang to lead us through a
kick-ass workout that left me shaking, and then repeating their morning transportation “workout” to get
on with their day afterwards. Like a kid reading his first superhero comic, I dreamed about being fit like
them, handling a crushing NP morning and adding on another 10 or 20 miles of biking before breakfast.
Sure enough, the easiest way to get fit enough was to #justshowup. I started commuting to work – a
simple 5 mile ride each day – a few times a week. On occasion, I’d have to run a couple of extra errands
and the miles piled up. Over time, commuting days became more frequent.
Finally, a year ago in April, I made a personal pledge to leave the car behind for good. Sure, the winters
in Minneapolis are no joke, and there are a good 3 months I consider unbikeable although some
#weatherproof souls go year round. At those times, I use mass transit, or the occasional ride share as a
last resort. As much as possible, I am still in motion under my own power instead of sitting down.
There he is, the man and his bike.
The benefits of the car-free lifestyle have been tremendous. As a runner, I’ve always struggled to get
my cross-training in, an oft-neglected part of a runner’s training. Now my cross-training takes me to
work and back and happens just about every day. Surprisingly, it takes me only about 5 minutes longer
to bike than to drive the five miles because of traffic lights. From time to time, I add on a few extra miles
on the way home just for fun. Although I still own a car, as I have a teen-aged son who uses it, I have
saved a lot of money in repairs and fuel as the mileage has decreased. Even though I had been training
and racing pretty hard on the track, after giving up my car I shed that last 10 pounds I’d been trying to
get rid of for years. I’m headed to my 35th high school reunion within 5 pounds of my high school
weight. I hope to erase that last overage by August.
So what’s holding you back from some more #freefitness?
FRIDAY: University of Minnesota Boathouse Stairs! 550 East River Pkwy Minnneapolis, MN. 6:27am! #justshowup
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