November Project

Best. Thing. Ever. So grateful for this amazing spirited community and opportunity to be healthy and exercise for free! Guaranteed to kick your ass and warm your heart.

I joined November Project a couple months ago and let me tell you, I’m HOOKED. Having just moved to LA, this was the perfect way for me to meet new people. And these aren’t just the kind of people that you meet and are friendly with while you work out and then life moves along. This is the most uplifting, positive, wonderfully weird. I’ll go with charming, group of people you could possibly surround yourself with. Being a former collegiate athlete, I thrive in close-​knit family type settings and this group is exactly that. They have motivated me to get back to the collegiate-​athlete shape I was once in, and sign up and train for multiple new races. Knowing that everyone is in it together, kicking serious butt at our workouts, and supporting one another through our races, you really can’t find a better workout group to join in my opinion… not to mention, it’s FREE! Orrin and Steve run this group out of the goodness of their hearts and I could not think of more perfect leaders for our tribe. If you’re looking for a new fitness group, don’t hesitate to #justshowup. You will be greeted with open arms, sweaty hugs, and tons of high-​fives… and seriously, what more could you possibly want?!

JUST SHOW UP! It may seem intimidating to show up to a workout at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, especially if you don’t know anyone, but it is so worth it. Several reasons why this group is so awesome (in no particular order):
— It’s FREE. In a land where fitness classes can cost $ 20+, this is huge.
— It’s challenging. These workouts will kick your ass, but the support and encouragement (including high-​5s and sweaty hugs) pushes you to do things that you never thought were possible. You’ll get stronger, faster, more badass in no time.
— It’s fun. Seriously. NP is full of crazy hooligans who make workouts fly by.
— It’s social. Make lots of fast, sweaty friends!
— It’s for everyone. No need to worry that you’ll be the slowest one there; people of all fitness levels are welcome.

Sweaty hugs, it turns out, are the best hugs in the world and you’ll get that and so much more at November Project! I was invited to try it by a friend now show up weekender I can!
Look, if you like being in a gym, with people who look at you judgingly and being grossed out by weirdos truing to hit on you, this is not your thing.
However, if you enjoy happy smiles encouragement, friendship and sweaty hugs, well then all you need to do it just show up!

Here’s what you need to know:
*It’s totally free*
No one will ever ask you for any money. There’s even free merch — grassroots gear — you bring the clothes to tag, they have the spray paint and stencil.
*It’s at 5:27am and 6:27am every Wednesday at the Hollywood Bowl*
You can get there early if you want to stretch/​socialize/​warm up.
*Parking is a breeze*
Just drive right up into the lot at the actual Bowl. Also free. You’re highly encouraged to reach out to other members to carpool as well.
*Show up ready to go*
Usually the bathrooms are still locked up so there isn’t anywhere to change or shower.
*What to bring*
A water bottle (although there’s water fountains too), a way to time yourself (if you want), and workout gloves if you have delicate hands. Planking on gravel or concrete can be a bitch on your palms.
*Workouts are roughly 35 – 45 minutes*
Mostly cardio (running up and down stairs is the main event) with some other exercises peppered in (burpees, push ups, leg lifts, bear crawls, tricep dips, squat jumps, mountain climbers, etc). No weights or equipment needed. You’re usually done and back at your car by 7:35am.
*They’re big on community and online presence*
They take a lot of pictures during the workout and take one of everyone together at the end, and they post a ton of them on Facebook. Easy social media bragging/​motivation, but you can always untag if you’re more discreet with your workout.
*No one will ever shame you*
for taking it easy if you have an injury or are tapering for a race, or if you have to miss a workout for an emergency or for work. Everyone there has a different pace, some faster, some slower. You control how much you do and how hard you go. You will be cheered on regardless.
You may get poked fun of if you told someone you’d be at a workout but then just forgot or slept through your alarm. They were excited to see you and you let them down, c’mon, you can do better than that.
*Every Friday there’s a workout at 6:27am at different locations around Los Angeles*
Announced each week at the end of the Wednesday workout and on the weekly blog post online. Locations have ranged from Baldwin Hills in Culver City, to Griffith Observatory, to hidden staircases and paths around Silver Lake and Echo Park.
Sometimes they organize other unofficial fitness or social events through the community, like a free yoga class taught by a member or a group track workout at Burbank High each week. Participation is all up to you.
***My actual opinion/​review***
These are good people and they will make you a better person. Just show up.

I’ve been going to the November Project for a number of months now and have really enjoyed it. The first thing you’ll notice is that everyone is very friendly. Hugs are the standard greeting there. They mix it up every week with a different type of exercises, so it doesn’t fall into a routine. I’m grateful that there is a variety of people of different ages and shapes, because honestly, I kind of suck when it comes to running fast or going uphill. I do get a much better workout than at the gym. Part of the reason is the workout itself, but also it’s because everyone cheers everyone else on. You definitely get a rush with other people striving for you to push forward.
They meet Wednesday’s at the Hollywood Bowl at 5:27 and 6:27 AM. Friday’s are 6:27 AM at a random location. I know it sounds early and that was what was keeping me from initially going. It’s worth it though. My legs are looking good, I have more energy and there is a special feeling when you see yourself in the weekly pictures. Set that alarm and force yourself to go. You won’t regret it.

I’ve been attending November project workouts for almost a year now and simply put they are the best fitness community in this town. What makes this group special are the people it attracts. The vibe is extremely positive and uplifting. Both of the leaders, Orrin and Steve do an amazing job of keeping the workouts fun and challenging, switching it up every week.
With the Hollywood Bowl as the backdrop, the workouts usually consist of a mixture of running, stairs, and body weight exercises. It’s consistently a very hard, but very satisfying workout that can be modified for any fitness level.
This brings me to the people, you will not find a gym or bootcamp in this town with an atmosphere anywhere near as good as November Project. Every Wednesday morning there are consistently over a hundred people all cheering, high-​fiveing, and encouraging each other to keep going. The leaders set the tone, but it trickles down quickly to the newest members.
My biggest hurdle to getting fit, and I’m sure not alone on this one, has always been finding the motivation to get out of bed and workout. November Project has taken that totally out of the equation. The vibe of the workout is so positive, I’m never on the fence about getting out of bed or not on Wednesday mornings. I’ve seen massive results in terms of weight loss and fitness level, but that all feels secondary to the positivity I absorb from everyone in this group. It’s totally free and something I think everyone should experience at least once.