HI BALTIMORE!
Fresh from your fourth new co-leader, Lizzie/Harkies/Coach/Hey-u-fuggin-guy, I’m happy I’m here!!!
First off, wanted to give a heartfelt “WAHOO” for all the excitement that so many of you have brought my way after Sunday. I’ll be honest – the NP_BAL Leaders are already so loved – I was nervous about the announcement. Would it be as exciting for everyone else as it was for me? Would people give their nod of approval or feel that I would “annoy them but louder now” (the latter is a direct quote, shoutout to Jess Lewis for her loving and kind words… the answer is most definitely YES). Would I add much to this awesome, supportive and all-in community? Some are yet to be answered but my hope is that the response is FUCK YEAH.
My love for November Project and, more importantly, NP_BAL started a little over 3.5 years ago when I moved to Baltimore for nursing school. Pat O’Neil, retired NP_BAL leader, sent a short but demanding text – “Yep, still doing that NP thing! Just show up. Linwood and Baltimore at 630 am on Friday!” From what I had seen on social media, it looked fun and engaging, approachable yet challenging, and something I’d be down to wake up for at the crack of dawn. And from what I gleaned from Pat’s text, finding out seemed easy – all I had to do was show up.
So I did. It was sweaty; I got some high fives and hugs, I said Fuck Yeah kind of quietly because I was scared to swear in public, I probably puked on the hill, but Dawn, who was the first person I met, said “Good job Lizzie!!!” literally every time I saw her on the hill, both that Friday AND the next. If you’ve been a newbie, here, or anywhere, you know just how meaningful that is. The more I grow to know November Project, the more true-to-form this first Friday became. Minus the fear of swearing. I’m now a full believer in a good swear word said very loudly now and again.
Through November Project I’ve made friends, found training partners, fell in love with running again, ran a lot of races, hit some big PRs, became immune to incredibly high caffeine intake, solidified my love-hate relationship with burpees, tripled the amount of neon stuffed in my dresser, fulfilled the daily hug quota each Wednesday and Friday, and now believe that 6:30 am is actually quite late.
With all that NP and its people have given me, I hope to give that energy and commitment back. I also hope my commitment to this community and whatever it means to each of you transcends Wednesday and Friday mornings, and you find new ways to reach out to me and the rest of the co-leaders – to give feedback, to give praise, to remind them that they are annoying (aka hyping) you but louder, whatever it is.
With all of that said, as some of you know, I am a nurse, and if you know nothing else about the profession, you probably know that we are constantly complaining about being at the mercy of our schedules. Some Wednesdays you may see me only at 5:30; some Fridays I may be bouncing in my scrubs before I dash up the hill to work; or waving to you as I ride down the hill on my bike looking like a character from a popular Zombie TV show having just worked a night shift. With that though, brings a lot of exciting possibilities for added workouts, extracurricular NP activities, and other ways I can make you all suffer – I mean fitter – with more free fitness fun!
I am jazzed to create new work outs, rehash old ones, shout really excitedly at people to run faster and jump higher and tri-dip lower. I am excited to talk shop on running, to learn more about Baltimore, to get to know some of you better, and to add a little of my own spark to this magic.
If you see me, and I have that look on my face that we may have met but I don’t remember your name albeit being VERY pleased you’re here, save me from an embarrassing moment and shout “HEY, I TOLD YOU ALREADY IT’S SALLY” (NOOOOOO, NOT SALLY!) and I’ll return the favor with an enthusiastic high five or a hips-in hug.
I’m so happy all of us are here,
Lizzie
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