Way to crush those stairs today y’all! We certainly had A LOT of #stairsforbreakfast.
So, last week, you heard from Dee.
This week, let’s hear from her newly-minted hubby, Lucas.
Lucas has been part of the NP Canada crew for many years now. As part of our acknowledgement of #thebig10 this year, let’s hear from Lucas on his NP journey.
When Lazina asked me to write a blog post I jumped with joy and quickly responded and said I would love to but I should probably write my wedding vows first (at the time of writing my wedding is in 12 days).
So now that the vows are out of the way I can write this and hence you now may have a clue as the title choice. Before we get into the love story I need to back up and tell you a little of my history. Like many at NP I have journey of a tale that includes resiliency, courage, community and well love.
I got into running in spring of 2014 when I was trying to quit drinking and drug use. It was a short lived 2 months as I slipped back into my addictions and my very fast spiral to a bottom. Fast forward about two years a treatment center and a new found recovery program and I picked up the running shoes again. I ran alone for mostly two years. I had heard of NP through some friends (mostly from their Strava) and I had seen it live in action on Walterdale hill as I’d drive by to work and think “those are some crazy fuckers getting up this early, I’ll stick to my afternoon runs”. Well, come August 2018 and a girl I was seeing at the time told me to come out to NP. Wanting to impress her, I obliged (the relationship didn’t last long but my love for NP would). So, one warm August Friday morning I arrived and walked up towards a large mass of people gathering at the bottom of the hill very nervous (I have anxiety and social anxiety and really try to avoid crowds). That nervousness dissipated once the bounce started and Jenn or Nadim yelled that first “YALL GOOD” to which the group (myself included) screamed “FUCK YEAH”. There’s just something about yelling a bad word with a hundred other people without a care in the world that’s more invigorating than a cup of coffee. And well that morning I was I hooked.
I started to become a frequent face Wednesdays and Fridays at NP and then I started to run into some people I knew. I started following people on Strava and noticed people named Sonya and Steve were running KMs before NP and thought who in their right mind runs extra miles before running hills or stairs (little did I know it wouldn’t be long before I was one of those people). Well, it wasn’t long before my friend Scott introduced me to Croissant club on Sunday mornings where I met Steve, Sonya not to mention a bunch of others like Steve Csorba, Mike, Lisa, Ben, Sean/Mike/Kelly Freeman. And all of a sudden in a short time I had gone from a lone wolf runner to having a community of friends around me
all because I just #showedup one Friday morning in August of 2018. All of a sudden instead of showing up for just me and my fitness I was actually showing up for the social, the community and the relationships.
Now in 2019 I was single ripping up the tinder/bumble circuit and failing to find to love. My new found friends from the running community took it upon themselves to try and set me up with eligible bachelorettes of NP. Enter Deirdre (my Fiancé, though at the time of reading we are likely married). She was a feisty fire-ry redhead who was also a long-time member of NP Can. We went for Eggs Benny one morning and well as you can probably guess the rest is history. In addition to her boys Jacob and Kobe we have added two more to our little family in Ben (3), and Arya (9 months) whom you have probably seen at commonwealth. One on Dee’s chest and the other on the shoulders as she hikes the stairs (she
truly is a strong momma).
I truly didn’t realize how important the NP community was in my life until Covid hit. And I was one of those stubborn ones who continued to show up for Unofficial mornings on Friday at Walterdale after NP shut down. As we all ran and kept our social distance and waved as we tried to keep some semblance of community and togetherness alive. That eventually petered out and I was left running mostly alone for a year or two. My love for running waned, my mental health took a hit and I missed it. So dearly. Although
now it just seems like a weird blip on the radar like an “oh yeah that happened, that was weird”.
I celebrated 7 years of Sobriety this year and while my recovery program is a big part of that I also thank and credit NP and the community as a large part as well. Today I consider NP one the foundations, the keystone if you will, and the initiator of a lot of the life I have today. NP has given me a sense of community that I can’t get anywhere else, it has given me humility a continually humbles me (thanks ol96er). It has given me my fiancé and my family, it has given me my close friends today, it introduced to me to Ultramarathons (I previously thought only marathons existed), It has given me drive and purpose, it has given me relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime and most importantly it has given
me a place to show up for free judgement free and be part a part of something truly special. When I look at my life today, I can trace nearly every root of it back to NP and its beautiful community. So, you can bet I will continue to #justshowup on Wednesdays and Fridays rain/shine/subzero deep freeze (not a fair-weather runner anymore). So big shout out to our leaders Rob and Lazina for continuing to lead us to greatness and every member for showing up and being part of this limitless community!
~ Lucas
Announcements
- Friday at 5:58am – we’re having #hillsforbreakfast with a side of fresh grassroots gear! That’s right, it’s a TAGGING DAY! Last week’s rain may have washed out tagging but thank goodness there’s always the next Friday! Bring exactly one (not more) bright or light coloured shirt and we’ll get it tagged!
- August 30 at 5:28am- it’s the return of the ol’ 96er / Gristle challenge. We’re also hosting a third challenge now too- the Tenderloin (great idea Cynthia + Jen!!). OR, show up at our usual 5:58am to crush 30 mins of stairs.
- September 4- it’s a holiday Monday! #justshowup for something so incredibly fun. You’ll see. And yes, plan to stay later than normal to participate in a special workout. #rowrowrowyourboat
- September 6- it’s time for YEARBOOK PHOTOS!! The theme for this year is 80s! Anything and everything 80s!
~togetherisbetter
Lazina
Share via socials:
