November Project is MORE
Dear Mr. Vogel,
By now you have heard from countless members of the November Project DC community. My story is not unique — many others have shared the connection and family they have found in NP. This doesn’t diminish the impact; on the contrary, I think it speaks even louder to the power that this movement has had on this city and its people.
After moving to DC I quickly became disillusioned with this city, my new city. People were not friendly; everyone seemed judgmental if you didn’t fit the typical DC mold. It only took two guys, Danny Metcalf and Steve Christensen, in the elevator of my building in October, 2013 to completely flip my perception of DC, and my life, around. When I finally showed up for my first workout at the Lincoln Memorial I couldn’t have felt more welcome. I ran up to Lincoln in the dark, in the cold, yet was immediately wrapped in a giant, warm bear hug. I left that day encouraged and excited for my next workout — but I had no idea what impact this community would have on me. November Project taught me how to be strong and confident, and gave me the friends who remind me that I am strong when it’s hard to see for myself.
Just as showing up in the dark to the base of the Lincoln Memorial introduced me to welcoming and incredible DC residents, NP Friday workouts taught me how to love my city. Visiting new parks, new locations, new places in the city I had never even heard of allowed me to see past the monuments and office buildings and discover the hidden gems of the district. It’s an incredible feeling to run towards a new Friday workout location and converge upon other tribe members in the last few blocks.
The Lincoln Memorial is more than just a set of stairs for us to run. The Lincoln Memorial was the start of this community in DC — we proudly spray paint the outline of this iconic monument on our shirts. I intimately know each set of steps at Lincoln, which I can step in twos and which I need to run one by one. The Lincoln Memorial is a place where I learned to push past the limits I arbitrarily set for my self — both physically and emotionally.
November Project is more than just a workout group. When I inexplicably passed out at mile 13 of the Marine Corps Marathon, a friend from November Project stopped his own race to help me. He sat with me while the paramedics arrived, gave me his own race energy gels, and made sure I was taken care of before continuing. Another NP friend sat with me in the medic tent, gave me his 2 jackets, let me take the last of his water when the aid station ran out. This friend followed the straggler bus on his bike for HOURS to make sure he met me at the end of the race. November Project is selfless.
Holding our workouts at the Lincoln Memorial, Meridian Hill Park, and countless Friday parks has defined this community and allowed it to flourish. I have nothing but respect for the National Park Service, but I have a hard time comprehending how a community that shown me nothing but positivity and support can be perceived as a threat or liability to you and your colleagues. I understand that rules must be followed, but please consider the hundreds of lives you would be affecting in requiring us to move our workout locations.
Sincerely,
Kara