Meet Katie (YEG)

Monday: Sunrise 6k – Meet at the corner of 105th Street and River Valley Road.

I can’t think of anyone who can better embodies the latin phrase for day carpets, Carpe Diem. I’ve seen her put her hand up without hesitation for absolutely every adventure she can find. You’ve likely seen her big smile, or heard her funny accent at our workouts. And if you somehow haven’t, you can meet her through her words as she goes deep into why she shows up. Ladies, gentlemen and barking dogs, please meet Katie.

 

I have two ways I can answer the question everyone asks me: why would you leave Australia to live in Canada? 10/10 times I give the surface level response – my partner Patrick is doing a teaching exchange and it’s a really great way for us to see another part of the world. It’s not a lie, but it’s the simple answer I can give.

 

The deeper answer leaves me open to more questions. It requires me to talk about my feelings and myself, because the truth is, I lived out a nightmare.

 

5 years ago, I visited Canada with a group of friends and my partner. We were snowboarding; he had an accident and subsequently passed away from his injuries. From that moment, what I knew life to be, the present and the future, was no more. It was completely flipped upside down.

Running for me, began as a means of necessity; I’d never liked to “just run” for the sake of it. I found it was a way I could, literally, run away from my problems.

 

After some time, the purpose of running, in my life, shifted. I actually began to enjoy running and started to form a healthy relationship with it. I’m not a fast runner; I never have been and I never will be. And that’s okay! For me, it’s about over coming the mental challenges and showing myself I can continue to climb mountains and do things I never thought possible. I also like people, so I enjoy working out in groups.

I knew moving to Canada I’d have to find something to satisfy these needs. I don’t like gyms, but had resigned in the fact, I’d probably have to pay for a membership, because what kind of crazy, exercises outside in an Edmonton winter?

 

When we arrived in Edmonton, Patrick’s exchange partner connected us with a group of her friends. Prior to our ‘blind friendship date’, I did my homework (aka social media stalking) and thought I’d connect well with one of the girls – she posted about doing yoga, going to farmer’s markets and about a running group she was apart of. I thought to myself, if we meet and she turns out to be the weird, hippy type, if nothing else, at least I’d find out where the best cafes in town were. Fortunately, the connection was real and she was a cool chick! Already knowing she was a part of a running group, I took an opportunity to ask in my best naive voice – so…where do you workout? She excitedly explained she worked out with a group called November Project, that meet up, outdoors, all year round. It was the beginning of January; snow covered the ground and it was -15 degrees outside. She invited me to come along. My eyes lit up!

I didn’t go that next morning, but I did show up the following Monday. I’m glad Sarah didn’t explain too much about NP, because the unknown made it all the more exciting on that morning. I vividly remember my first NP workout – it was under a bridge, covered in graffiti and the guy running it made us act like ninjas. I also remember thinking at the start, did everyone just scream out fuck yeah?! Cool!

 

Initially, I loved the anonymity of NP. No one knew me and I could choose what I shared with people. I wasn’t defined by my story or what I did for work. If people wanted to hangout with me, it was because I did or said something they could relate to or they enjoyed my conversation and company. But, the more I’ve become apart of this community, the reasons I love it have changed.

If you’d said to me 6 months ago, I’d be sharing my story in a public forum, I would have laughed at you! But the more I’ve gotten to know different individual’s and have learnt about their lives and the adversity they’ve faced, the more I’ve grown in confidence (by taking strength from them) to share parts of myself. I know it’s a safe space and by giving a little of me, I’ll receive 10 fold back. The reaction from those in the tribe I’ve shared my story with already wasn’t a sympathetic one, where I could tell they felt sorry for me. Instead of saying: that’s terrible, I’m so sorry, it’s been: thank you for sharing that with me. A simple response, but one to me, shows respect and gives me confidence to own my life experiences, rather than shying away from them and pretending like they haven’t happened.

I consider myself to be an optimistic person. I like to find the positives in a situation and believe all people are good people. At NP, I feel this attitude to life is reciprocated by the smiles on people’s faces, the real embraces and the genuine happiness shown for other’s achievements.

 

NP’s given my week’s structure, allowed me to discover pockets of this beautiful city, but most importantly, it’s enabled me to form connections with like-minded, authentic people. I love that it also connects people all over the world via social media. Contrary to some people’s views that social media’s full of narcissists, I take daily inspiration from seeing people proudly share the goal they crushed, the gratitude they have for the community they’re apart of and seeing what they do with the friends they now call family. I also love that families share NP: the parents who are teaching their children the importance of an active lifestyle and the parents who get to connect with their adult kids more often in a week, because they just show up.

It’s clear that Andrew, Jen and Nadim dedicate a copious amount of time and energy to the tribe as leaders: we can all see this in the fun workouts and blogs. But, the true testament and success of their leadership lies in how the group would function without them, because of the culture and environment they’ve created. It’s in the language used, the morning rituals that leave a smile on your face and the weird things they make us do, that get us out of our comfort zones! You may not know it, but you consciously and unconsciously give so much to the tribe, by the encouragement you freely throw out, the random acts of kindness you show another or the way you pose a question, when someone needs it asked, because they’re having a tough time in life. After almost every workout, I leave having taken something that makes me smile and laugh or adds a little extra perspective to my life.

 

Whilst in Boston recently, a newly made friend said to me, how different would your experience in Canada have been, if you hadn’t found November Project? The tribe and movement is strong and I’m so grateful it’s become an important part of my life.

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