Tag: Positivity Award

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Meet Sally, a professional baker and a positively great human (DCA)

Today we present the newest recipient of the Positivity Award, Sally Roach! What amazes us about Sally is her thoughtfulness around helping the NPDC community. When we announced that we would be celebrating our fifth birthday last fall, Sally — an incredible baker at The Hamilton — immediately reached out, unsolicited, and offered to bake us a cake for the birthday. There were A LOT of people at that event; we didn’t finish the cake until the end. That was one BIG CAKE. And then when we had Show & Tell at REI last month, Sally baked hundreds of cookies to help keep folks warm and content during the outdoor event. Those gestures, totally unnecessary but greatly appreciated, plus Sally’s constant good energy and exuberance at workouts are why she received the PA. OK, I’ve written long already. Get to know Sally below and find her at a workout! read more

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Weight Vest – Free with Membership

November Project San Diego

Let's not forget our roots. Come to work. Come to get fitter. Come to push yourself harder than you would by yourself or at any other workout. We tell you to "be happy" and "be bright." But don't forget that sandwiched right in the middle of it all is the call to "be strong."

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Positively Phil — meet our newest Positivity Award recipient

We say this often, but it really is true — when we give out the Positivity Award, it’s usually overdue. Such is the case for the newest PA recipient, Phil, who commutes from Annapolis for every workout. Phil is a family man, an embodiment of the community that he runs and smiles with, and an all-out great person. He personifies how NP truly brings together people from different backgrounds, different stages of life, and different physical places! OK, I’ll let Phil speak now. If you haven’t yet gotten to know him, I hope this helps — and introduce yourself at the next workout, too! read more

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Chris Jolly embraces positivity and is pretty fashionable, too (DCA)

We can’t say enough great things about Chris Jolly, who received the Positivity Award last week. Jolly inspires and pushes those around him every week, is ubiquitous in the DC running scene, and is arguably the most fashionable NPDC runner (watch out, Dan Martin!). But enough from us. Get to know Chris from this Q&A and find him (and the PA) at the next workout! (PS — follow his adventures with the PA on Snapchat at @npdc_positivity).

1) How, when and where were you introduced to November Project?
I originally saw the runners from NP super early in the morning, as I was heading to Tenleytown. At first glance, I thought was a boot camp class or some other workout happening in front of Lincoln Memorial. Afterwards, I saw it posted on RWB’s social page. From there, the attempts I made to show up were failures — failures because I wasn’t focused and determined to get up that early. So someway, I made it up in my mind to make it there. I don’t know what I was thinking other than, “Lets see what this is all about!”

2) What do you remember about your first workout?
What I remember most about my first workout (August 2016) is (former co-leader) Kaelan introduced me and another guy as the two loners who didn’t get invited or had friends accompanying us. We stood in the middle of the cirlce, and people welcomed us by chanting our names over and over. Quite surprising, but I enjoyed it. I also remember telling myself during the workout, “I’m not as fit of a runner as I thought,” and running along the never-ending lengthy reflecting pool over and over. I also remember ending the workout, and saying to myself I have to come back and do better and this is exactly where I should be.

https://www.facebook.com/NovemberProjectDC/photos/a.651616268362207/651617588362075/?type=3&theater


3) What motivates you to keep you coming back?
The photos! Also, to be honest, it’s the community, the intensity of the workouts, the drive from others, the competition within myself to do better, the way we are #weatherproof, the accountability of verbals, chasing the top-hat on PR day #futuregoals, and running with people within my pace group and challenging them and myself to push harder.

4) What does winning the Positivity Award mean and represent to you? read more

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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.

 

 

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Meet Sarah, you’ll SMILE (DCA)

We said it this morning, and it bears repeating here — Sarah Waleszczak embodies everything that we love about November Project. She wears her grassroots gear with pride. She brings an infectious smile to every workout. She doles out A+ hugs. She jumps into every workout with a zest we should all strive for. She even laughs at our jokes!

OK, I’ll stop blabbering and let her talk for herself. Meet Sarah here (and at next Monday’s workout!). Follow her and the PA on Snapchat: npdc_positivity

1) How and where were you introduced to November Project?
I was introduced to NP DC by a couple different avenues … Jake, Steve, and Steph Wolfram kept mentioning it at soccer on Saturday mornings as I was their referee (recently dubbed “the best referee in District Sports” without an ounce of bias). I also started dating Dustin last year and he made sure I actually came to a workout, bikesharing across the Memorial Bridge on a muggy ass day in May. The rest is history.

2) What do you remember about your first workout or thinking at/after your first workout?
My first workout was at Lincoln and it was HARD. I was just coming back from a broken ankle and hadn’t been in the cardio game for a while. I remember the stairs being a lot, but I made a couple friends, notably Carter Henderson, as he stayed with me and did all the talking (I was wheezing) running around the memorial. I was also unseasonably sore that Thursday/Friday. Jump lunges are good for the butt, but are a pain in the butt.

3) What motivates you to keep you coming back?
The smiles and the hugs are definitely up there, but let’s face it – a lot of people from NP grew up playing some sort of sport, and that sense of competition never really goes away. For me, it’s competition with myself. I remember my first Meridian Hill workout thinking I never wanted to come to a Monday workout again because of how hard 15th Street was. The second time, it wasn’t quite as bad. Now, instead of just trying to make it up the hill, I try to chase or beat people up the hill, and I relish in that feeling of getting to the top completely breathless to do some spice. 

The other thing is that people are just so dang nice. You know when you’re running alone, training for a race and it gets boring, or you’re having a bad running day, or you just don’t wanna be doing it? But then race day comes and whenever there are people cheering (no matter how weakly), it amps you up until you forget that 10 miles have already passed? That’s NP. Constant cheers of, ‘You got this, we got this, stay with me.’ We are our own cheering section.

Oh, plus Dustin. Whether he’ll admit it or not (he’ll insist that I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to even if it’s good for me haha), he’s been my accountabilibuddy SO many times, especially in the winter. There was a period that I didn’t show up because it was too cold or whatever, and he did. I’m a little embarrassed at how jealous I was, and still am, seeing pictures of him or any of my friends at NP when I could have gone, but chose to stay in bed. I don’t even have to workout with Dustin (cough … I can’t because he’s too fast), but just getting me out of bed is all I need. And the feeling once the workout is done? Priceless.

4) What does winning the Positivity Award mean and represent to you?
First of all – it was unexpected! I was really surprised until Steve said “this person laughs at ALL of my jokes” (guilty), and then Maria said “Bills Mafia” and I knew it was for real for real.

The Positivity Award represents a lot for me right now. I’m struggling a bit with stress- working full time, reffing, Ubering, and grad school. I recently let that stress get to me a couple times, but when I’m at NP, I don’t think about any of that. Possibly because I’m deliriously tired, but most definitely because I’m around other happy people and it cycles those smiles and laughs right out of me. I’m usually pretty good at masking negativity in everyday life, but at NP, I don’t have to pretend. It’s genuine joy, and I feel extremely lucky that I can emit some of those positive vibes onto others three mornings a week.

5) How do you explain NP to your Mom? read more

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Positive together — meet Anne & Jason (DCA)

I met Jason and Anne the Friday before the Marine Corps Marathon in late October at Canal Park for our Friday workout. I welcomed them. I tried to remember their names (it usually takes me two to three times, TBH). I figured, them having just moved to DC, I’d see them again soon (turns out, it was already their second workout and I saw them again Friday at the post-MCM party). Since then, I’ve seen this new NP Power Couple over 50 times because Valentines Day was the first workout they missed. The first! They have yet to miss a social event. They’re regulars at post-workout coffees. They’re UBIQUITOUS! And as much as they love each other, they are always striving to meet others at each workout.

Folks, when we talk about how NP allows one (or a couple) to join and embrace and become fully engaged in a community, Anne and Jason embody this. And I have no doubt that just because they received this stick, this oar, this Positivity Award, they will stop coming consistently.

OK, I’ll shut up now. Get to meet them in writing, compare their answers (what is this, The Newlywed Game??), and then introduce yourself at a workout!

1) How and where were you introduced to November Project?
J:  We were in DC for an advocacy event and while Anne and I were out running, someone from NP came up to her and said we should join and she even showed me a photo. We had never heard of it before but there wasn’t one in San Antonio so I kind of forgot about it. Then, I heard Brogan’s interview on Rich Roll’s podcast and I really wished there was a tribe in San Antonio. Fast forward and I accepted a job in DC, so while we were in the process of moving, I thought about how now we would actually be able to check it out.

The day A & J discovered NP!

A: We were in DC on an advocacy trip we did each year, and decided we’d get our run in around the National Mall on Wednesday morning that week. This was back in 2016. I was running past Lincoln when a guy ran up next to me to stop me and introduce NP and invite me to the next workout. I remember taking a photo of all the people running up and down the stairs and thinking it must be so cool to workout there at the memorial. (Turns out it IS really cool.) There isn’t a tribe in SA, (SA has a big after work/evening running scene) so I didn’t really think about it again until we were all moved in here; and agreed we would come see what it was about in person. (Turns out it’s pretty awesome in person.)

Oh! I am pretty darn sure it was Tom who stopped me back then, too. Thanks!!! ️
(and I found said picture: April 13, 2016)

2) What do you remember about your first workout or thinking at/after your first workout?
J: It was the Push Up Challenge on Wednesday. I remember the bounce and how I went from sleepy, you know having just moved cross country, to getting pumped to workout! I knew immediately that this was the group for us, an energetic positive group working out in the morning.

A: It was a Wednesday and that first workout there were lots of hugs and SO MANY PUSH-UPS! The workout was when there was a push-up challenge with another tribe. I couldn’t believe how encouraging and strong everyone was, and I knew I wanted to be apart of it. We hadn’t even been here a week and I was stoked about the prospect of waking up early to join you guys again.

3) What motivates you to keep you coming back?
J: Well, it is no secret I love to run but running and working out with this great group of people is even better. I love the idea of being weatherproof and no matter what the weather is, everyone is in a great mood and ready to workout. I love the team atmosphere at NP, everyone is high-fiving and encouraging each other, it is a great and fun way to stay accountable. Oh and the coffee afterward is not bad either.

A: The bounce, the people, & the workouts! On the mornings that I’ve been sore or extra tired, the bounce is when my mood changes and I’m so happy we showed up. The people to push myself with and to laugh with, and that post-workout feeling is always good.

4) What does winning the Positivity Award mean and represent to you? read more

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PRs and pink skies [MTL]

WISCONSIN NOTES:

  • Great showing at the Ghost Race last weekend!
  • PR day #killedit
  • Céline is BOMB 💣
  • The Crate Escape this Friday night (Oct. 27th) at 7pm. Let us know if you want your name in the hat to possibly speak by midnight Thursday – link
  • Next week: “Halloween hangover” – Bring a pumpkin (or other large fruit if you’re feeling fancy) and rock a costume

    • read more

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    PRetty great way to start our day [MTL]

    Wisconsin notes: (This is a longer post with lots of info. Bare with us.)

    • The name of this blog post is a pun, duh.
    • PR day hills burn, but you people are amazing and crushed them for 30-whole-effing-minutes.
    • Benedicte is a smiley bomb, a lawyering wizard, and a true gem of positivity. Oh and we adore her.
    • Trails in Motion film fest. Link here.
    • Montreal marathon cheer station September 24th. If you’re not running, you’re cheering! Come scream your heart out all while rocking your NP grassroots gear!
    • #NPgiveback

    Happy Wednesday all!

    Congratulations on another amazing morning of running, giggling, and ingesting spray paint fumes. This morning you showed us power and persistence during the ruthless PR ascent of Place Jacques Cartier, all the while showing support and love for your fellow sweaty companions.

    Positivity Award

    Speaking of support and sweaty love; Benedicte.

     

    The wonderful face seen above is that of a kind person. This person works hard and smiles harder. She’s getting faster and stronger by the week, but she never boasts or brags. Instead, she beams positivity and care. So thank you Benedicte for being someone who always asks how you are, always means every bit of her hugs, and always shows up (…with the exception of next week when she will be travelling the world for a brief stint, missing us every moment of the way, naturally).

    Trails in Motion

    This morning we had some visitors with us to talk about the Trails in Motion film festival (happening September 22nd). This night includes documentaries that showcase everything from more standard trail running, to crazy human feats, to inspirational tales, to meditative screenings. This is a great place to meet other members of Montreal’s running community and to get inspired. Follow this link to buy a ticket! read more