Free Fitness Movement. All you need to do is show up!
Ten weeks ago, I went from a recently accomplished half iron(wo)man in debatably the best shape of my life to being confined to a boot. Turns out, I fractured my tibia with a prescription of no running for 8 weeks. At first, all I thought was “ten weeks of not going to November Project.” What I soon learned was this setback was the reason why I needed to show up.
A redemption run that started as a solo, grassroots idea and quickly became a city-wide effort powered by friends old and new, and who are the epitome of what it means to #justshowup . This is Callie’s story.
It was about 2:30 am. I was shivering, curled up in someone’s tent, waiting for a friend to drive me and my tucked tail home from what was supposed to be a 100-mile finish at a 24-hour race around a 1-mile loop in Lisle, IL. Right from the start, I knew something was wrong. My body rejected all water and food (minus one mint and a sketchy fig newton) and I was stopping for the bathroom every mile on the dot. After 18 miles, that’s when I thought, “this isn’t safe anymore, something is seriously wrong.”
Another Friday, another no-longer-new PR day, another positivity award, and another new chapter.
Yet again, our re-located to Fridays PR Day has been full of all the sweat, all the fun, and the most gigantic stairs of all. The tribe left it all on the line, and despite the timecap getting truncated for announcements (we promise, it won’t happen again), inched their way towards a “full tour” of 15 laps. We’re most proud that, despite serious humidity, everyone drank water and no one fainted. Nice job, friends.
In case you missed announcements… NP CHI is officially bringing on a third co-leader! Dani Kruger is joining Chris and Stew to bring you loads of sweat, hugs, and fun as we continue to build and grow this weird and wonderful movement. We couldn’t be more excited, but at least as exciting (maybe more) is that we finally got to recognize our very own British Royalty. More to come on the new Trifecta of Leadership, but for now, we give you our positivity award winner… Sarah Beck:
What a way to start the day. Firstly with all of you and secondly, well, I still can’t quite believe it but I received the Oar of Positivity and I am in awe (no pun intended) of this and all that it represents.
Amongst those who know me well (and perhaps not so well) it’s an accepted thing that when I love or feel passionately about something I bang on, and on and on about it. Ad infinitum. I’m bursting with my latest discovery and want to share it with literally everyone. That is exactly how I am with NP. I get my leg pulled a lot: ‘Hey, Sarah, remind me again, what’s that running thing you do, the one you barely mention?’; ‘What’s that, you can’t stay out late Thursday night because you have to be up at 5am to do that thing you hardly discuss ever.’ ‘You exercised in the snow?! Are you mad? Oh, right, NP. Say no more.’ #mytinyhandsarefrozen (La Bohème)
I joined NP nearly two years ago not long after moving to Chicago. On a run along the Lake one Wednesday morning I got a random high-five from an NP’er. It was brilliant. I couldn’t stop smiling. He made my day. As I ran back through the group I spotted the tagged t-shirts and went home to Google who these people were. A company fitness group or maybe a local gym? The next week I stepped right out of my comfort zone and into a world of hugs and ‘fu*k yeah’s’. I’m more used to a firm handshake and a ‘how do you do’. I was out of my comfort zone for quite a few months but I kept going back. I found others too had stepped out of their comfort zones. We all had stories to share. If needed we put on our brave face to #justshowup. Suddenly I was part of the cool gang – we do Glow Runs and everything! The best unkept secret group that hardly anyone seemed to have heard of … until I started sharing – ref above! I relished the kind smiles and energy, the friendliness, the warm welcomes and the never ending encouragement. Our leaders (old, current and recently inducted) are inspiring. They ROCK. They are NUTTY AS FRUITCAKE (that’s a good thing). They are inventive AND they remember everyone’s name. How do they do that? I apologise if I’ve asked your name more than once or told you my name more than once when you had already remembered it. It doesn’t mean I’ve not noticed you, it just means I’m rubbish at remembering names. Also, I made a friend as a result of NP who doesn’t go to NP (gasp, I know, hard to believe). I met her as I walked home after a workout. She has an Australian cattle dog and we got chatting. #friendsmadebecauseofNP
I’ve always exercised representing my school in hockey and netball; taking part in athletic events throwing the discus, shot put and javelin (surprising everyone including me as underarm is my preferred way to throw) and joined in really, really enthusiastically when pop-mobility hit our town and much latterly Zumba. Oh how I loved Zumba. I banged on about that for ages. When I can’t exercise I feel out of sorts, grumpy and just flat. And so an early morning workout, one of which is literally at the top of my road, is a shot of joy. My friends not based in Chicago think I’m akin to Wonder Woman and on a never ending workout! I’m not either. I may be in a fair few photos on FB surrounded by many happy, smiley, fit people and I may like to repost those photos, but I am just one of the many and together we make (in my eyes) the whole. The best fitness family ever.
I thank you all for welcoming me and noticing me. It means a lot it really does. I thank you all for encouraging me and inviting me to take part in a variety of events; for running way below your capabilities to keep me company and for making my time (actually my husband and my time – happy wife, happy life) here in Chicago, well, just perfectly lovely. I return your positivity with my smiles. I have good teeth apparently. My granddad said I would have made a fine horse! I think that was a compliment. He didn’t like me colouring my hair pink so I stopped that but I keep on smiling.
Sarah
Great work showing what being #weatherproof is all about. For those of you that had no intention of being weatherproof this morning and were caught off-guard by Indiana’s three seasons in three hours BS, here’s a handy guide to layering brought to us by our friends up in NP Edmonton; that will hopefully encourage you that, when properly outfitted, suffering through a little nasty weather is well worth the full, energetic day (and badass mentality) that follows…once you’ve warmed back up anyway.
Workout
It went a little something like this: pumpkin push-ups, medicine ball style; lunges with pumpkin shoulder presses; pumpkin tricep dips; pass-the-pumpkin-between-partners sit-ups. Get rinsed by the ever-changing precipitation and repeat. Those that dressed up and brought pumpkins, great job! Those that dressed down and didn’t bring pumpkins or smashed them while doing the pu[nt]pkin pass […and kick contest], not as great a job; still, you #justshowup’ed and proved a little (lot of) wind, rain, sleet, snow, and freezing weather won’t stop you!
Notes/Announcements
This post is written by an author who prefers to remain anonymous. As you read the blog, you’ll come to see why, as nearly everyone who has ever had the privilege of interacting with Kevin and Andy shares nearly the same gratitude for them and what they do for people every day.
For those that ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8k over the weekend we loved cheering for you. Saw some great PR’s happen.
Wisconsin Notes:
Don’t forget to log your laps here on the NP Tracker to keep track of your runs.
Wisconsin Notes:
Wisconsin Notes:
We talk about health and fitness. A lot. However, another extremely important part of what we do is creating a strong supportive community that allows all people who participate with us to feel safe and comfortable. The willingness to change, and just as important, the hard work that accompanies that change puts many people in a vulnerable position. One where they question themselves about how they look, how the next person is thinking about them and their effort, should I give up, should I keep going.
Today was an example of how we can come together as a group to get each other through those tough internal battles. Thank you for the high fives. Thank you for the hugs. Thank you for supporting each other. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for helping to be a part of something where people feel safe enough to want to come back and work their asses off each week.
We have an incredible community growing in Chicago and I want to thank all of you for helping to make each and every day we meet better than the last.
All Smiles Today – Andy
1. Fog Machine that pumps out an unadulterated 100,000 cu.ft/minute. Not one skyscraper is to be visible. For that matter neither are cars, the sun, or the lake.
2. Tons of speed. We’re talking Motley Crue levels of speed. Well maybe not that much, or even that kind, but you dont get #racingfit by having a mellow PR Day.
3. Hypemasters Bonnie & Crew throwing down an impromtu dance party at the top of our hill.
4. Uphill Sharks and Minnows with a sinkhole trap. Matty K. almost inadvertantly fell through to the November Project New Orleans workout. Thats how geography works right? F@&* it, we’re the talent, lets start the show…
Huge shoutout to the New Orleans and Boston Tribes for joining in the fun today (Mike & Anne Marie!) We met early to snap some crazy-beautiful mugshots in front of the Field Museum. I’m looking at them now and am weeping from how pretty our Tribe is. Yeah, thats weird, but whatever. After what could have been miscontrued for a professional photo shoot, the Tribe laid down some seriously fast hill loops. PR’s were had by many, and a great fucking time by all. This Tribe is growing and getting fit. #The TribeIsStrong