Just Show Up… and Show Out

This blog post is brought to you by November Project Atlanta tribe member Allison Lerer… she’s a hype lady. Always there to help out a tribe member in need, checking in with regular texts if she knows you’ve had a rough week, cheering you on at a race. Here she is!

So when I was asked to write a blog post for November Project Atlanta, it was pretty nerve-racking for me as I am not much for writing and blogging (this is my first blog). However, after my race yesterday I was inspired on a different level that I wanted to share with whoever reads this. read more

July 1, 2018

Peachtree Road Race & July Events for the Win! (ATL)

June was a crazy month. I mean, we had a stretch of 7 days of straight NP ATL action. So in July, we’re taking a step back and slowing it down.

…just kidding. It’s already the first week and we have events happening non-stop!

We kick off the first week of July with a handful of events around one of the world’s largest 10ks – the Peachtree Road Race. If you’re in town visiting ATL for the 4th, running the race, or cheering at the race, come work out with us!

July 3

Peachtree Road Race Expo | 12 -2 PM | Georgia World Congress Center

We’re teaming up with Back On My Feet Atlanta, who has graciously allowed us to work at their expo booth during their Treadmill Challenge. From 12-2pm, we’ve got a group of NOVEMBER PROJECT runners on the treadmill running to raise money for BOMF. If you don’t know much about them, they are a great, national organization that combats homelessness through the power of running, community support, and essential employment and housing resources. You’ll hear more about them soon, because we’re hosting a workout with them later in July!

If you can’t run but want to donate money to their cause, here’s the link to our page, listed under Tribe Leader Alexa’s name.

re-Peachtree Road Race Yoga for Runners | 7 PM | Piedmont Park Visitor Center read more

June 9, 2018June 9, 2018

Stein Esser – NP Came During a Time in my Life When I Really Needed It (ATL)

The below is a guest blog post from one of our longtime members, Stein Esser. He won ATL tribe’s Positivity Award, and has an amazing story to share.

This week, I won the November Project Atlanta Positivity Award for being So Chill, So Popular™.

If you had told me a year ago that I would win something for being a positive influence on others around me (and have a catch phrase), I would never have believed you because I was in the midst of a particularly brutal, year long bout of depression. I’ve touched on it in a previous blog post,=&0=&but In light of recent events with the passing of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade, I feel like I would be doing a disservice to this award if I didn’t share my own history with chronic depression.

I should first say that I am incredibly fortunate to have grown up with a loving family and friends. I had an amazing childhood and upbringing. If you ask people that know me, they’d say I’m kind of an oddball. I’ve always loved comedy and goofy humor. But at the same time, depression is something that I think I’ve always dealt with in some capacity. For me, I think it emanates from a deep fear of rejection and failure. As a pretty introspective person, those feelings of self-doubt could snowball into a constant barrage of negativity. As a result, I’d go through periods of depression that could last any amount of time. If I had to describe it, it’s like constantly hating yourself so much that your body hurts and you’d rather feel nothing. And so, to get by, you check out mentally and emotionally. While all of that is going on internally, to the outside world, you’re either a robot that’s going through the motions or an asshole that’s projecting negativity. It really fucking sucks.

Depression is really hard to talk about. The stigma of it all puts you in a shame cycle. Ideally, you could say, “Hey, my brain feels broken. Who can relate? WHOOOOO” (shout out to Logic). I’ve always been fortunate to have had people support me and help pull me back out of my depressive episodes. They may not have known it, but their simple act of kindness or just reaching out really went a long way.

I am so grateful for all of the meaningful connections I’ve made and positive experiences I’ve felt this past year. I feel like my genuine self again and am more present than I can remember. Depression is something that I don’t think will ever leave me, but it’s more manageable. A philosopher named Sean Francis Early once said “Fuck them, Be you.” For me, that’s a powerful message about being true to oneself and telling that negative self-doubt shit to fuck off. To win the Positivity Award means so much to me not only because of all I’ve been through but also because I’ve made it a goal to reciprocate those good vibes. When a person seems checked out/low/sad/tired/depressed, just be there for them. It matters.

Here’s Stein’s speech that he gave for the Positivity Award.

You can check out Stein’s hilarious Instagram stories by following him: @steincasso.

Stein – with so many expressions when he won the Positivity Award.

June 6, 2018June 17, 2018

June Hype – Hills, Grassroots, Yearbook Photos (ATL)

June is THE MONTH for hype at November Project ATL!

How big? So many events we needed a blog to talk about them.

Number one goal: Break 100! We did it for Global Running Day, let’s do it again!

In addition to our regular Wednesday and Friday workouts (always 6:27am) see below for special workouts and events!

Find all our workouts here on Facebook or here on Google calendar.

Sunday June 10

Atlanta Streets Alive | 4-8 PM

We’re an activity partner so we’ll be out hosting fun pop-up workouts all evening long! Check out the Interactive Map (may be live Thursday 6/7) to find out where we are! Somewhere by Centennial Park.

Wednesday June 13 and Friday June 15

To celebrate Pride Month here in ATL we’re tagging with limited edition rainbow #grassrootsgear! Bring a WHITE shirt – two days only!

Saturday June 16

She Moves Mountains East Coast + The North Face Launch Party | 6-9 PM | The North Face Store Buckhead

Nearly one year ago She Moves Mountains held their first clinic at Smith Rock State Park. Over the last year, we have had over 300 women come to learn from us – empowering themselves by becoming self-sufficient rock climbers. Join us at The North Face store in Buckhead to meet the ladies and hear more about what they’re up to.

Wednesday June 20

Hillpine Hill Runs | 6:27 AM | Meet at Orpheus Brewing

DIFFERENT WORKOUT LOCATION! We’re running Hillpine, a steep hill in Morningside neighborhood of ATL. We’ll meet near Orpheus brewing at our regular time. Here’s the meeting spot.

Thursday June 21

Sock Puppet Making Party (For Yearbook Photos) | 7 PM | Coco and Stein’s Apartment

Yearbook photos are a November Project tradition – basically a headshot of all our kickass tribe members. Yearbook photos will be taken on PR Day, June 27th. Our theme is Sock Puppets. It can look like you, a pet, be a monster – whatever you want! Bring craft supplies & your favorite sock!

Friday June 22

Grady Stadiums with DJ Rob Sessions | 6:27 AM | Grady High School Stadium

Who else can say they ran stadiums and got in a hardcore workout WITH a DJ spinning beats… at 6:27 am? NP in ATL…that’s who!

Saturday June 23

Bike. Run. Hike. Paddle. at Stone Mountain | 8:30 AM | Stone Mountain Park

Bike 20 miles to Stone Mountain. Trail run 5 miles around the mountain. Hike 1 mile up and down the mountain. SUP on the lake. You pick – do it all or just do one activity! We’re partnering with Big Peach Running and Mountain High Outfitters for a fun day in the sun! If you’re biking, they will be leaving from Old Fourth Ward around 8:30 AM. Runners can meet at Stone Mountain starting at 10:30 AM. RSVP via the Facebook link AND Big Peach’s website here. Totally free, but please register for a SUP time slot on the event page.

Also Saturday June 23- Sunday June 24

Basecamp with The North Face | Chattanooga, TN

We’re the type of people that like to do a lot of activities on a weekend. Here’s an example. Directly from Stone Mountain, a group of us are carpooling up to Chattanooga to catch the tail end of Base Camp. Sunsets, music and outdoor vibes with NP Founder Brogan Graham.

Sunday June 24

Global #SportsBraSquad Day | 9 AM | Big Peach Running Store Midtown

Join us at 9am on Sunday, June 24th at Big Peach Midtown for a 3 mile fun run and/or walk to celebrate Global #SportsBraSquad day! The #SportsBraSquad started as a way for women to ditch their shirts along with their insecurities, and show the world what strength looks like. In 2015, the National Eating Disorders Association found that 70% of women don’t like their bodies. 70%! That’s a disappointing and frustrating statistic and the only way we can combat the self-loathing and hatred women feel towards their bodies is to change the way we see strength.

But ditching your shirt for the first time can be terrifying! That’s why on June 24th, Sports Bra Squads all over the world will be coming together to show the world that our bodies are strong as hell!Do you need to run in a sports bra? NO WAY! Only if you’d like to!

Tuesday June 26

Queen of Cream Ice Cream Run with Highland Runners read more

June 6, 2018June 6, 2018

#GlobalRunningDay – 175 Strong! (ATL)

You guys…. WE DID IT!

Through a collaboration with 3 of Atlanta running community’s top ambassadors, we rang in #GlobalRunningDay with more than 175 people!

First, we have to thank our partners for this event because we couldn’t have done it without them! Thanks to your strong communities in Atlanta – Atlanta Track Club and Big Peach Running Co.! Also, we had a huge group from Back on my Feet Atlanta come out. We are so stoked and can’t wait for future collaborations!

This is what November Project is all about – working together and building a community centered around FREE fitness that is inclusive for everyone, all ages, all fitness levels. For #GlobalRunningDay it seemed like a no brainer to do a staple NP Sunrise 6k.

Big Peach, the experts at hosting races in ATL, planned a 6k route around Georgia Tech. 6k=3.72 miles. WHY? Because why do people run 5ks? You know NP likes to be different. As the Sunrise 6k can sometimes be a competition, all who recorded the route on Strava will see their time –> https://www.strava.com/routes/13286724.

Thanks to the incredible pull of Atlanta Track Club spreading the word, the run even got a shout-out in Runner’s World!

The bounce was EPIC… we didn’t bother that we would potentially wake up people at 6am. (You live in the city, and this is one day a year!) After that, the group took off for their run (we were so big we had to go off in WAVES like a race. #goals)

As everyone finished, we brought them in with the cheer tunnel!

The day ended with a presentation of the Positivity Award to someone who’s life has changed through November Project… Stein Esser. We’ll get him to write up a blog post so he can shine in the spotlight… he’s a pretty hilarious guy!

See all the photos from the morning here.

June is BIG for November Project ATL!

How big? So many events we needed another blog to talk about them.

Number one goal: Break 100! We did it for Global Running Day, let’s do it again!

In addition to our regular Wednesday and Friday workouts (always 6:27am) see below for special workouts and events!

Find all our workouts here.