Wisconsin Notes: We’re going to rotate Wednesday locations quarterly. As of September we’ll be on the 606. For those of you who want to know the reasoning behind the switch, read on.
Two of the topics we discussed in depth at the Meeting of the Minds was inclusivity and diversity. Each city needs to take those lessons back home, and we as co-leaders need to determine which ways we can (and should) encourage and foster inclusivity and diversity in our own communities. We believe that exploring neighborhoods for a longer period of time is one way to promote these ideas. The 606 unites Wicker Park, Bucktown, and Humboldt Park. By working out on the 606 we hope to connect with the populations of these neighborhoods. And by working out in the same location for three months, we hope to recruit more members. One week someone from Humboldt Park sees us on her morning commute–running ramp repeats, alligator walking, high fiving each other–having fun at 6:30am…the next week maybe she stops and asks what we’re doing, who we are…and the third week she joins us. Wouldn’t it be terrible if the week after you join us we moved away!? Exactly. So we’re going to stay and cultivate some new relationships in new neighborhoods. Let’s recruit everybody who wants to be a part of this community.
We recognize that changing locations for an extended period of time might make it impossible for some of you to attend Wednesdays for three months. Instead, we hope that by making the rotations seasonal rather than monthly, you can adjust your Wednesday schedule and make room for us. Creating a morning routine and having it changed every month has its drawbacks, too, and we see a benefit in making the change less frequent, allowing us to still explore different locations throughout the city. Can’t stay for the full workout? That’s okay. Showing up for thirty minutes is better than zero minutes in our eyes. Also, staying put for a period of time allows newbies from that neighborhood to find a routine that includes our workouts.
Like all communities of people tend to evolve, so too has November Project evolved over the years. Calling out people for breaking a #verbal has become a thing of the past. That said, accountability is one of the important founding principles of November Project. When Bojan and Brogan committed to working out every Monday – Friday for an entire month they were being accountable to each other. We challenge you keep your November Project friends accountable and to join our quarterly Wednesday locations, even if slightly less convenient. Be creative: carpool, bike gang, run gang, designate the 3rd CTA car from the front to meet up, heck, you can ever scooter gang to the workout since we’re on the west side. Whatever method of transportation possible, it’s probably better with friends.
Lastly, something to look forward to: Faux PR Day. Working out in the same location for 3 months means we’re going to do a unique, location-based PR Day style workout in the middle of the month, and then we’ll repeat it twice more. With the help of your accountabilibuddies, you’ll show up to the workouts each Wednesday, and you’ll smash Faux PR Day records each month.
We’re excited to explore this new park–November Project goes west! Just show up and join us any Wednesday at 6:18am, we’re here through November. And of course you can catch us every Friday at The Bean at 6:00am.
