Free Fitness Movement. All you need to do is show up!
Things learned:
2018 was so great for many reasons, many roses, perhaps a couple thorns and buds to look forward to in 2019.
– At some point, people think you are too loud and that’s okay
– NP Ottawa does a GREAT NINGA workout
– We are still really great at being weatherproof, remember the rainstorm stadium workout? Or the -37 on the bridge?
A big shout out to all those who showed up today. We want to thank each and everyone of you who did what was uncomfortable to wake up and get yourself to TD place this morning. You all give me so much energy that I can bring to the rest of the people I interact with the rest of the day. I know last week’s PR day was a tough one on the legs and it takes a lot to make your way back to do those stairs again. But all of you make it worth coming back. Although we have a permanent #verbal for every workout every and that it won’t ever be cancelled, it’s always way more than that which keeps me coming back for more. We are very grateful for this community and you showing up the next Wednesday is the only way it all keeps moving.
Bear crawls, you love to hate em. Waking up to see that sunrise. WOAH. No other words. New faces, we love you. Second, twentieth or fifty sixth timers faces we love you. Lunges, MEH, goodbye glutes see you in a couple days. Learning that the statue is a monument. Visitors and travellers. This morning was full of sunshine, smiles and some sweet, sweet sweat.
Now although, these photos are captured beautifully and truly showcase the most outstanding city in the world #aintthatthetruth. They would be quiet uninteresting without any people in them. November Project doesn’t run without YOU or the friend, brother, co-worker or sibling you brought today. It definitely would not be running if you didn’t show up last week. That’s the truth. This energetic, positive, hyped on life Wednesday morning ritual is truly a game changer for anyone out there wanting more of their day. So, have you gotten into the groove of making November Project part of your weekly routine? Why stop there…introduce this groove-love that you have to someone new. Maybe a peer, an aunt, your mom, a colleague who’s to say that they can’t get hooked on this too. The sky is never the limit.
Here’s to bringing soles together,
Lauren and Liz
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
I remember someone once telling me that every day in August was like a dreaded Sunday but for a month straight. It’s probably the worst comparison I’ve heard. Except, when people compare cats and dogs. I mean I can understand it, July is over and we are now approaching the last month before things kick back into gear. By gear, I mean the time in which kids return to school, summer contracts end and the days are slowly getting shorter and shorter. Those that you ride the bus with or take your lunch walk with might start talking about snow flying soon. Well we live in Ottawa so snow is going to fly, that’s reality. The days are getting shorter and pretty much everywhere in Canada and across the world students, teachers, parents and adults are heading back into some style of a daily routine that does not consist of camp, eating popsicles and long coffee talks in plus 27 degree weather. Really though, there remains another 31 days before that sets all in. And when it does it’s not this dramatic event that occurs. People move on from summer into a new routine that involves layering more gear and being prepared for shorter days. Life does not become this obsolete darkness that people find themselves hermitting into or that we hear so often of.
Completing a full tour. CHECK
Completing two full tours. CHECK
Earning a PR. CHECK
It’s been three weeks. Three weeks since we have not felt the impact of the stairs. Maybe you were grateful for the time we spent in the Aberdeen Pavillion completing movements and running past giant tulips. Maybe, you found your groove in the #sunrise6k or maybe just maybe you have been counting down the days till we found ourselves in TD Place Stadium again.
Can you recall a time that you were excited to run stairs before November Project? Or a time that you were excited to challenge yourself to complete one more section. Maybe this morning was it.
Now, not anyone can walk into TD Place Stadium and just run stairs. This is not an everyday event that occurs. You can like many other Ottawians purchase a ticket an attend an Ottawa Fury or Redblacks game and partake as a spectator, which is an experience in of itself and we highly recommend. You can sit amongst 24,000 people and hear the roar of the crowd but does it feel different when your moving up and down those sections continuously for 29 minutes and 23 seconds? We would have to argue yes, hands down, without a doubt YES. Racing is HARD and it HURTS but showing up this morning and moving alongside other sweaty humans makes it that much more fun, enjoyable and motivating. Knowing that you are not alone is probably the most reassuring part of the whole morning, that someone will give you a high five, call you out to give 1% more or push you to the top. This is really a shout out to all of YOU, who keep pushing the pace and the number of sections co
mpleted. Shout out to Caroline and Seumas for the chase and for crushing those stairs this morning.
We hope your Wednesday has a little more pep, skip and pure joy to it.
Here’s to bringing soles together,
Lauren and Liz
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
This is where the blog really starts..
Alright so we are heading into a homerun of a weekend here in Ottawa. That’s right the one and only Ottawa Race Weekend is upon us. If you’re not racing join the cheer party. PS. don’t forget to wear your #grassrootsgear
ou ran UP. If you have not yet felt these things, you can probably push yourself a little harder next time. But it’s finding the sweet spot. What about the people whose calves were tight for 6 days post stairs? Or who felt fatigued from the Wednesday before? You don’t know while you’re doing it how much you will hurt. You were tired and your lungs hurt and you used your hand to push yourself off your leg like it’s the only way to take the next step. That first time at the stairs is a killer, and same with the next one. And to be honest, they all hurt. It’s so hard, no matter what your athlete background, your 5km time, your Boston Marathon time, your age, your gender. It’s always hard. The toughest part is finding that sweet spot where you feel you are pushing as hard as you can, but you can keep one step in front of the other. But know that it’s hard for everyone, but that’s why having someone next to you huffing and puffing keeps you moving.
One thing I’ve heard about the stairs is like starting to run. A tough run might mean you start with 500m, then walk, then another 500m, or maybe 1 km, or 2km and slowly build up. You quickly notice how much better those distances feel, how your body adjusts to the breathing, to the movements, to finding a rhythm. But you’ve started with something where you’ve had success, something you know you can do again. You didn’t start with 20km, and then not walk for a week. You’ve started running to be sustainable. The compound effect would suggest that someone is better off beginning small and remaining consistent, that someone who runs 20 km on their first day and then has to take the next two weeks off to recover. You don’t always know what this is like on the stairs, so Wednesdays are to figure that out.
Notice that there is no pace or number of stairs that you need to run. There is just time. How fast you go is up to you. The stairs is a big challenge to take on- it’s hard no matter what you do. How can you find the groove where you just keep on moving? How can you find that pace where you can do the things you want to do the next two days or 5 days and not say no because you can’t can on and off the toilet without assistance.
You may have perhaps already nailed this stadium thing and you know all of this. Or maybe you’re considering not coming back because it’s just to hard. Trust us, you will get better, you will get stronger, you will get smarter at the stairs. They are not as simple as people might think if they have never been.
And with that, knowing that everyone is pushing themselves as hard as they can go, encourage everyone you pass by, or when anyone passes you. Keep right so others can pass you and know everyone is working their tail off. They also woke up this morning, knowing how stupidly hard these things are. And when you’re done, be proud, no matter how far you got or how fast you were going. You kept moving.
Thank you for sharing your morning, your time and your energy with us. We are glad you came.
Here’s to bringing “soles” together
Lauren and Liz
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
2. CHEER STATION, your reading it here! Ottawa Race Weekend if your not racing come join the party. Cheer party that is. Saturday, May 26 | 5K & 10K we will be posted at Pretoria Bridge from 4pm onwards. Sunday, May 27 | half & full we will be posted up around the 18K/39K mark along Colonel By. Right around where Concord and Echo meet from 8:30am onwards.