Our friend Jenny is leaving us next week for a sunny place they call “The Bay Area.” This is despite the fact that we have a bay (Chesapeake. Heard of it?) and definitely had it first (I’ll need a geologist to back that claim up). So while San Francisco might be inheriting one of our members, one with a massive smile and even bigger heart, we couldn’t be happier that Jenny showed up one day, and then kept showing up for many, many more. Just to ensure that we miss her a lot a lot, Jenny wrote a great blog post to remind us all of how great she is. Jenny, we’ll see you soon. Thank you for your warmth, fantastic joyful energy and delicious cookies.
I’ve started writing this post a few times now. I’ve procrastinated because IT WILL NEVER BE
PERFECT and what do I have to say anyway? But, this season with NP_BAL has quickly come
to an end, and there is no more time to wait. Earlier this spring, my partnerーa great guy you’ll
never see at a workout but who always helps me #justshowupーwas recruited for a super sweet
job at a company that makes some fruit-related tech products. So, we’re moving to the San
Francisco Bay Area for some new challenges and yet-to- be-discovered adventures.
NP has become an important part of our household routine and my personal stability during a
few months of transition. During my job search, NP was often the only consistent thing in my
weekly schedule, and I made plans around it. While I didn’t always want to get out of bed (who
does? bed is wonderful), I never regretted being there. I grew to treasure the awkward moments
and embrace the sweaty hugs.
In preparation for our cross-country relocation, I have been making a lot of lists. Since the
moving chaos is real and more eloquent thoughts will have to wait for another day, I made a list
of my feelings about NP and about leaving you wonderful humans:
– Grateful that #NP_BAL came into my life when it did. I was finishing up a tough school
year and was looking for free fitness (read: change, challenge, something new), when I
ran into an NP blog post written by my classmate, Anna Abelson. I messaged her and
was like “what is this thing” and she responded immediately with excitement. She added
me to the social group and invited me to the next workout. The rest is history.
– Amused by Smaltimore. For example, the unbreakable Grant Chang started improv
comedy with my partner and I got to know him (and bum rides from him) through NP, all
around the same time. Then, I started working on a very small food policy team with the
brilliant Sarah Buzogany. The list of Smaltimore moments goes on and on.
– Proud of people for taking care of themselves, whether it’s stepping into
#NP_retirement, challenging the community on white supremacy, or achieving that next
PR or conquering a big race.
– Empowered to take up space and advocate for inclusion in the fitness community.
Empowered to seek fitness for the joy that movement brings. Empowered to
find/discover/build a fitness community in my new home.
– Amazed by how fucking badass and fast and strong you all are. Seriously, the
athleticism is impressive. I know everyone wants to be faster/stronger/etc., but just
remember, ya’ll are already killing it.
– Sad to be saying goodbye for now. Depending on where we end up in the Bay, we may
or may not be close enough to regularly partake in NPSF. However, I’ll definitely look
around for some stairs and hills to climb in California.
Recently, my partner has commented on how much braver I’ve become over the last couple of
years in Baltimore. I think NP and the process of reclaiming fitness (another story for another
day), are a part of that. It’s hard to wake up when it’s dark and cold, or bright and muggy, and
do stuff in public with strangers. I tend towards introversion, especially in big groups or until I
know someone well. But earlier this week, a colleague in the Bay Area who sees me in all the
NP posts asked if I’d be her running partner when I moved out there. A year ago, I would have
been too scared. Now, I proudly told her that I will not be fast, but I will be consistent. I know I
can show up, and I have you all to thank for that.
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