For most people summer is the time when they all get healthy, buy smoothie bowls, and start a finsta (fitness instagram). For me, though, I often have a harder time staying fit in the summer. Hear me out: I eat out with friends more and I am not a huge fan of the heat. Due to the heat and humidity, my workouts really suffered and I was in a workout slump and decided to try something new…That’s when I finally decided to try out the November Project Boston.

I have to be honest, I was terrified to try it. Their social media accounts are full of incredibly fit people that look like their form of relaxation is completing an ironman. I could barely sleep the night before as I looked for YouTube testimonials of people trying November Project for the first time. I just kept thinking of their slogan “Just show up”. I kept asking myself, “how bad can it be?”

First Week: On Monday, July 30, 2018, I completed a sunrise 6k with some truly supportive people at a bridge near Harvard University. They were instantly welcoming and I even found people to run at my pace 🙂 That following Wednesday, I did my first flight of Harvard Stadium stairs.  I actually completed 15 flights, and finished off the week with my first set of Summit Ave hills. I was sore but the workouts reinvigorated my workout motivation and I finally felt back on track.

Since Joining (A Plug for You to Join Me): I have seen myself become stronger (up to 26 flights of stairs in 50 minutes), make more non-work friends, and even develop and crush some goals. While I was not active in sports in high school, November Project reminds me of a high school team where no one gets cut and everyone just wants to be a bit better than they were the last time.

If you are on the fence about joining because you are worried that you won’t find people that are your pace or that you aren’t fit enough, I’m here to tell you that none of that matters. November Project is here to encourage you, motivate you, keep you accountable, and be there to cheer you on as you become a better you. On the first day of Summit Ave Hills, one of the founders of November Project Boston, Bojan Mandaric, ran past me and just said, “Good Job! You’ve got this” while I was slowly jogging up the hill. This story just speaks truth to the lack of judgment, how people meet you where you are, see you struggling and remember when they were there.

In order to spread the NP love, I brought my mom to the Stadium on Wednesday, September 26th for #NPPlusOne and I’m pretty sure I have another convert 🙂

If you are interested in joining the November Project in your city, you should totally go check it out. I’m telling you, you could not find a more supportive group. Check out their website here!