Updated 5.19.21 – see “Masks” section and “Community Committee” section for updates

We knew we’d say it eventually, but we also kinda believed that we might never say it. But we’re saying it: We’re going back to hills.

We’re. Going. Back. To. Hills.

WE’RE GOING BACK TO HILLS!!!

But wait…before you get too excited and run around with your arms waiving in the air and forget everything you’ve learned in the last 14 months of pandemic times, we’re not exactly going BACK to hills. Not like it was. We’re returning to the practice of running hills on Fridays, but some things are different. So please, please read the whole blog below, in order to learn more about what we’re doing, where we’re doing it, and why we’re doing it the way we are.

A little context

Capozzi and I (EmSauce) have been working really hard this entire time to make sure we have workouts–that are accessible, and fun, and hard, and do-able, and not boring or the same old thing, AND to be sure that we’re adjusting to the needs of our community along with the restrictions of the world. We’re excited about this new step forward with our fitness community–both to give everyone an opportunity to see more people, to gather for fitness (which has always been so important to the culture of NP), and to do so in a way that feels safe, approachable, and good for each of you. We welcome you to show up in the way that feels best for you. If that is in person or by Zoom, we want to see you on Friday. And if it is neither of those options, we fully support your choice to engage and connect with NP when and how you choose. There is NO judgment whatsoever regarding your activity level (now or ever), your activity choice, your feelings of safety, or the ways that you maintain your safety. We welcome you to try this out and see how it feels–understanding that we are putting specific measures in place to provide the best experience we can that includes both being together in a group and being safe.

We also welcome your feedback, questions, concerns, and suggestions, because we are doing our best to figure this all out–and please remember we’re still figuring it out. If you would like to communicate with us directly, please email us at novemberprojectbos@gmail.com, or if you’d like to submit communication anonymously, you may do so using this form (which is truly anonymous).

The Plan for Friday Hills

Starting Friday, May 14th. 6:30am-7:30am

Rules & Safety

WAIVER: Everyone who attends a workout needs to sign a NP Waiver. If you have not yet attended an in-person workout (and therefore already signed it) please click HERE to sign the waiver now.

*Why Two Locations

For those of you who’ve attended NP Boston before the pandemic, you know that Friday Hills have always been at Summit Ave in Brookline because it’s a giant hill, super hard/good/fun to run, and that’s just where we’ve always gone. But there are some reasons why we think it’s a good idea to explore other hills, and we hope that you join us in embracing some change and expansion of “what we always do” in the service of building community through social fitness.

1. “Smaller” Big groups is Better, at least for now.

Whether you’re eager to see people or feeling cautious about gathering, the reality is that the world is moving toward more interaction, less disconnection, more social, less “distance.” And a big part of NP is being together for workouts. So we’ve cautiously and patiently waited until the outdoor gathering size is more than enough for us to safely gather in groups and we’re splitting our large group into two with two locations. This way your experience in a “large” group at NP won’t be as large as it might have been, which makes it easier to spread out, easier to navigate the flow of people as we move, and easier to build greater comfort in outdoor groups larger than just a couple or few people. “Smaller” large groups hopefully meets both the need/desire to gather together and the need to not be overwhelmed in a very large group.

2. There is More Fitness Good-ness beyond Summit Ave.

We know how beloved Summit Ave is, and it’s certainly got bragging rights with its steep grade and its length from bottom to top. But we’re doing ourselves a disservice if we believe that Summit Ave is the only place in Greater Boston where we can get a good great hill workout. So, similar to the way we’ve learned over the years how many amazing places there are for Monday workouts, we want to deepen our connection to our greater city and learn to value the many spaces there are to run hills, get a great workout, and enjoy it!

3. November Project is Not a Location

The history of November Project Boston goes all the way back to it’s first official day at Harvard Stadium…and continues to the top of Summit Ave…and somehow includes all those many locations we’ve explored and sweat in around the city for #DestinationDecks on Mondays. And I’ve heard said so many times some variation of “NP Boston is the stadium.” Or “there’s no hill like Summit Ave.” And while these things have been true in the past, we think it’s time to question and reassess the accuracy of this. We’ve just spent the last 14 months being November Project Boston without a physical location at all. If there is anything this pandemic has taught us, is that November Project is much less about “where” and far more about “who.” November Project is this community of people, who come together to move in fitness that is fun, joyful, sometimes weird and silly, and overall just good for us. It is this collective of energy and kindness, support and togetherness, which so many of us don’t feel anywhere else–at least not like this. It’s the space in which we learn to see our potential, to rise to meet challenges rather than run from them, and to elevate others just as intentionally as we might have previously competed against them. November Project is about the community that is built through social fitness–and that is not dependent on the location. Sure, kicking ass climbing stairs in Harvard Stadium feels great and is fun and unique in all the land…but that stadium is not November Project. We exist beyond it as well as inside of it. And we exist beyond Summit Ave as well as running up and over it. November Project is the togetherness found even on Zoom, it’s the friendships built through Winter Social Motion challenges, it’s the silliness of birthdays celebrated at a distance, the virtual and real hugs/high-fives. It’s the experiences and memories, the opportunities and potential. It is family, relationships, babies, dogs, (even cats in backpack carriers), and growth and progress and that darn PR chain. It is community. It is fitness. And none of that is dependent on a location.

So we are going to build the experiences of NP in more than one location. Our plan is to spend 6 weeks at each additional hill location for the rest of the summer (and see how it goes to continue or adjust from there). Our objectives at these locations are:

Objective 1. to bring our existing community to new hill locations to enjoy what they have to offer for running hills.

Objective 2. to grow the community by connecting to more people who live in that specific area–by engaging with them while we workout, by informing them about the opportunity to join in workouts with us, and by building relationships with other fitness and community organizations in that area. (we ask you to help us build those connections & relationships with those people/organizations you already know by joining the Community Committee or by sharing info with the committee. )

Join the “Community Committee.”

The objective of this committee, made up of NP Boston members, is to identify local organizations (fitness, community, other) in areas where short-term NP workouts are or will soon be held and to support co-leaders in initiating connections with those organizations.

Expectations of committee include doing independent research, in conjunction with other committee members, and attending regular (weekly or bi-weekly) meetings (30-60min) to collaborate with other members and communicate with NP Boston co-leadership. If you are interested in joining please email: novemberprojectbos@gmail.com We are looking to get the committee going and active by June 1.

And Objective 3. to help foster more local connection and community who might either want to join NP workouts in other locations/Zoom, if possible for them, or to continue to use the hill and connect with others they’ve met locally for ongoing workouts, fitness, and community. We realize these are lofty goals, but we think they’re worth working towards. Each new hill location will focus on a different area of Greater Boston and will help us to more sustainably build relationship and connections with more of the city geographically and more of the many human beings in the city. We look forward to this opportunity, and hope you join us in enjoying the many spaces where NP lives and thrives.

That’s a lot of info, and if you’re still reading, I’m grateful. Again, if you have questions or comments, or just want to connect with us co-leaders, please reach out by email: novemberprojectbos@gmail.com or use the anonymous feedback form.

We can’t wait to see you–NOT hug you–and share some more fitness with you all.

Oh, one more benefit of reading the whole blog is to get this tidbit of info, which some people prefer to have…co-leader locations: Chris Capozzi will be leading at the Summit Ave hill location, and Emily Saul will be leading at the Prospect Hill location. Friday Zoom deck of cards workout is still right HERE.

With so much excitement and virtual hugs,

EmSauce

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