The battle to become the #UltraTribe

We do love a little inter-tribe rivalry here at the November Project. See how many IG likes @nov_project_DC got on that sunrise last week? Nah, me neither. But from #Sunrise6Ks to Summit Marathon Relay throwdowns, our athletic competitions have always been over ‘relatively’ shorter distances. But over the past few months, some Tribe members have been pushing themselves… longer, farther and into the iditoic realms of ultramarathons. Oh the joys of peer pressure!!

But one of the Tribes has self-proclaimed themselves as the “ULTRATRIBE”. Back at the original November Project Summit (Edmonton 2013), NP5280 (AKA November Project Denver) founder, Turbo Dan Turboletti, was reputed to have labelled the hypoxic Rocky Mountain tribe as the original #UltraTribe. And over the past three years, this confident self labelling has took over their tribe, now spreading from Ltd. Flanniel across to the rest of the Tribe.

Though now that huge numbers of the other Tribes have got bitten by the ultrarunning bug, a few other cities are eager to fight for that #UltraTribe title…

We all love a bit of smack talking and joyful teasing…. so here we have the breakdown of each of the Tribes and their respective previews:

Los Angeles

Home to the west coast Steve and perpetual verbal-breaker and former leader, Tara. If NP_LAX Bay2Breakers visits to San Francisco are anything to go by, it’s anticipated that these guys will be more focused on receiving the most-comically dressed costume award of the “Ultrarunner of the Year” awards. Rumour has it that Angel and Vanessa D are going to show up to the 50 miler start line dressed as Ben Otto’s “Minions”. HOLLYWOOD! What would you expect! Minions though? That’s so 2015!

Tribe Ultra Rating: 5 out of 10. Costume rating: A+

Boston

The Boston Tribe might have been smarter to fly out last weekend for the stairs-laden Quad Dipsea, but at this weekend’s race, we have to actually run on something other than stairs. Likelihood that Chris Capozzi and Em-Sauce are going to take a detour, park themselves at the Dipsea Stairs and cheer, hug and high five the shit out of the little old ladies of Mill Valley… 100%.

Tribe Ultra Rating: 6 out of 10

Phoenix

We’re not really sure if our desert Tribe have realised what they’ve got themselves in for. Phoenix averages a daily temperature high of 94 degrees Fahrenheit. The Marin Headlands average a daily temperature high of “Shit, should I bring my jacket? Nah it’s California, it’ll be fine…. Damn it’s the Bay Area, of course you always bring your windbreaker”. If the Phoenix Tribe can adjust successfully to the milder temperatures of San Francisco, they might do quite well. But more than likely as they’ll see the first sight of fog cover as they fly into SFO, they’ll be back in touch with Southwest and booking their first flight back to the desert.

Tribe Ultra Rating: 6.2 out of 10

San Diego

Don’t get me started on these guys. Weatherproof at a brisk 71 degrees. They’ve gone soft since they lost Padula. Yea, I said it. I honestly don’t know if there are any hills in San Diego. All I know is Nick Isabella is a magician behind the lens because it seems these guys just do photo shoots like 12 times a week. We get it, Angelo is more jacked than is potentially healthy and Brogan doesn’t work, but how does everyone else find the time to be a glamor model while running so far?

Tribe Ultra Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Minneapolis

Let’s be honest, Holly Reiland could kick all our asses. She’s got the skull tattoos to scare you shitless (new pre-trail run tactic, Eugene?) and that look on her face that says “I’m not scared of your emails, Laura.” Not someone to be messed with in ultras as she has a few under her belt. Rest of the tribe though? I know Jeremy R bested Paddy at ECS with his two-person fast team. Let’s take it to the 50k+ track though bro! If we were running on ice, this tribe would be a heavy contender but on warm dirt, don’t think it’s their scene.

Tribe Ultra Rating: 7 out of 10

Tammara

A tribe unto herself. She’s a boxing legend and another woman who would undoubtedly knock out 98% of all NP leaders (I’m thinking Kevin Waz #NP_CHI has a chance?). But is she prepared to back up all her smack talk? It’s possible that she’s just watched too many fight weigh-ins and has just been flexing her entire way from Calgary to SF. We’ll have to see if this has an effect on her late in the 50k race.

Tribe Ultra Rating: Unknown

Denver

Turboletti started the movement. Let’s give him his credit. Even I wouldn’t have gotten started in this game without seeing how much fun he had. And there are some really good runners at NP5280. That Rocky Mountain air breeds lungs I’m jealous of. Leaders Ryan “Splash” Wooderson (everyone call him that) and Matt Sellen (“The Sellen Machine”) are good all around athletes. But have you got the tribe that really love this game? Aren’t people just going to go skiing in like a week? I don’t know. It’s great to have a tribe that started this discussion but I just don’t see the fire. Splash.

Tribe Ultra Rating: 9 out of 10

San Francisco

Okay, let’s be objective here for a second. Paddy has run (and won) like 17 ultras and is now a TNF sponsored athlete. Basically he’s our cheat code. But even without him, this tribe is beyond badass. We’ve got tons of first timers in the 50k (we see you Tony, Mitch, Andrew Garcia, Ava, Kelly, and more…) and a legit 100-mile monster in Kristyn Kadala (last minute update: NPSF are trying to out-volunteer the other tribes too, so KK has decided not to race and is going to crush drop bag collection instead). Matt Schaar is doing the TNF 50-miler and recently won a 75k in New Zealand, a place where only the most competitive ultra runners dare venture. Laura and Zip are doing the 50k. Less of a positive more just a statement, really. Regardless, this tribe is full of studs who will not only run well at these ultra distances, but inspire their fellow tribe members to push themselves out of their own comfort zone.

Besides, everyone is literally coming to trails we carpool to every Saturday for this race. You’re welcome.

Tribe Ultra Rating: 13 out of 10

Awards Night:

The first ever Ultratribe of the Year award will be presented at our #ECSCA Afterparty. Saturday. From 7PM. Folsom Street Foundry. And don’t worry, the Paddy McZipsky-Green trio have already practiced their acceptance speech at least 7 times.

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