Tag: Positivity Award

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CHEERS to our April Positivity Award winners, Emma and Hannah!

Within NPDC, we don’t just have athletes who work hard on race courses — we have a team that cheers hard to support others too! These cheer stations are a staple of our community. They’re inspiring, they’re fun, and there a way everyone can participate on race day.

In April, NPDC awarded the Positivity Award to Hannah Silverfine and Emma Israel, who in addition to coming to workouts every week, have been integral to organizing cheer station for the many races in Washington, D.C. You can get to know them a little more here, and we hope to see you on the course or cheering with us in the future!  read more

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PA Award: Shy Porter (and Welles Robinson) on Creating Community Through Books

An image from the NPDC book club.
Shy (left) and Welles (right) hold the NPDC positivity award in front of the Joan of Arc statue at Malcolm X Park. Both are smiling.
NPDC’s March Positivity Award Winners, Shy Porter and Welles Robinson.

Last year, two NPDC community members came together with an idea: What if we took our love of reading and combined it with our love of this community? Now, the #bookworms channel of NPDC’s discord is filled with chatter of our favorite reads, plus details on upcoming discussions planned months in advance.  read more

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The NPSD Positivity Award… not canceled.

It’s been over a year since we’ve met in person but the spirit of the November Project wasn’t canceled along with the rest of 2020. In fact, there were times where it was stronger than ever. The most recent recipient of the positivity award during this time is proof of that.

Gretchen Walker has been an epic addition to November Project San Diego community since her contagious smile preceded her arrival in 2018.  Even though she was a self proclaimed “not a runner” from the start, she continued to show up week after week, and, little by little, this “non-runner” suddenly completed a half marathon!  But, her improved running abilities are not why she is special to all of us who know her at NPSD.   Her positivity and “go get-em” attitude has been a constant encouragement to others from the start.  She is kind and caring and will always go above and beyond to help a friend.  Running on a team with Gretchen?… There’s probably some sort of matching outfit coming your way. Running a 50k?… She may show up with a recovery kit and some bath salts. Just because she cares.  She started her own business healing people through massage and many of us at NPSD have her to thank for our bodies feeling good come race day.  This girl was a positive force to be reckoned with and there was no stopping her. read more

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Not clowning around — Positivity Award winner Carrie Clowney strives to make a difference, connect during quarantine (DC)

Yesterday, we surprised Carrie Clowney outside of her building — as she returned from a morning bike ride — with the Positivity Award in a socially distanced presentation. Big thanks to Austin MacDougall for doing the behind-the-scenes work to help us plan it and film it. Carrie has been a consistent force of good during quarantine in the NPDC world. She brings positive vibes to the daily Zoom plank + coffee calls, she’s delivered baked goods to friends, she’s connected with NP folks from other cities and more. This award is long overdue! Enough from us, though. Hear from/get to know Carrie below.

How does it feel to be the first NPDC quarantine recipient of the Positivity Award?
 I feel honored! I think we’ve done a great job of finding ways to stay connected with NP through quarantine – virtual workouts, virtual coffee, virtual happy hours – so it seems fitting that we bring back one of the last parts of NP that hasn’t gone virtual, the Positivity Award! I think Mary (Finkebone) stated it nicely on Facebook, we need the Positivity Award more than ever now that we are physically separated from each other.   read more

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Let me be Frank…..

PR day is definitely one of my favourites. I love seeing people at the start line. Nervous about lining up, giddy to have the flag go down, coming out hard and trying their best to hold on.
It’s a bit animalistic and I LOVE IT!!!

There are some people who don’t love it though. Whether they will ever be the fastest, or the most efficient burpee, or last the longest. read more

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We Stan for Spigelman (DC)

Alex stands in front of a metal Joan of Arc statue holding the PA, a wooden rowing oar handle.
Alex and Joan of Arc: Two pillars of NPDC

ALEX SPIGELMAN. We could probably write a novel about this dude and why he’s deserving of the Positivity Award. Whether it’s pushing others around him by beast-moding every.damn.workout, giving words of encouragement, offering to help us behind the scenes, providing insightful sports commentary, or simply asking how someone’s day is (and actually caring about your answer) — this guy is all-around incredible. He embodies everything that November Project is about, and we’re proud to have him as a part of the NPDC community. Did I nearly cry when we gave him the Positivity Award? MAYBE, but that’s besides the point. Alex answered some questions so you could get to know him a little better, because honestly, everyone in the world should have the pleasure of knowing him. read more

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He couldn't sleep one morning, then found NP — Mike's story of Positivity

Last week to kick off the new year, we gave out the Positivity Award to Mike Deloge, a stalwart source of good vibes in the NP community. Without further ado, get to know Mike (and find him at your next workout).

Mike stands with the Positivity Award in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

How, when and where were you introduced to November Project? 
In May of 2018 I went to bed one night thinking, “I should join a running group to stay motivated and keep active.” Whenever I’d thought about running groups in the DC area, though, I thought of some of my friends who are strong, fast runners — words that I would not use to describe myself in any way — and had been intimidated by even considering joining a running group for fear of not keeping up. The next day I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and, unable to fall back asleep, decided to run down to the Lincoln Memorial to watch the sun rise. Waiting to cross Constitution Avenue around 5:15 a.m., two young ladies — who later introduced themselves to me as Noli and Kate — asked me if I was going to NP and when I didn’t know what it was, they told me to join them and thought, “Well, why not?” read more

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A slam Duncan of Positivity: Meet Jim (DCA)

Jim Duncan, Positivity Award winner

Last week, we couldn’t be more proud to present Jim Duncan with the Positivity Award. What stands out to us about Jim is his constant presence, his willingness to always put in the work and go as hard as he can every workout, his reliability (he’s NEVER been late), and his listening (you won’t find Jim asking for workout details after an explanation!), among other things. Meet Jim below, and of course come find him (and the award) at a workout MWF! read more

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NP book club [MTL]

Raise your hand if you like reading! I’ll have to trust you’ve done this on account of this being a blog and I can’t see you as you read this. I love NP because it allows me to connect with people through my value for physical activity… but what do I connect with people about over post-workout lattes? My preferred topic is what I’m currently reading. read more