I’m Part of a Group of Early Risers Who Work Out – Year-Round – Outside the State House. You Might Like It, Too.

What are you doing next Wednesday morning at 5:31?  

If you’re like most, you’ll be sleeping, or just waking up to begin your morning routine. It’s few people’s favorite time to stumble out of bed and out the door, especially when it’s cold or raining or snowing, or when the wind is howling. It’s soooo much nicer to roll over and drift off again, or sit down with a cup of coffee. 

However, for the past seven years, a group of people who’ve surmounted those urges has been gathering on the Providence Place mall side of the State House every Wednesday morning, regardless of the weather.  

They’re part of Providence’s edition of the November Project, a free 45-minute exercise program. The idea was launched in Boston in 2011 by two young crew athletes who were seeking a way to stay motivated to work out during the often-uninspiring winter months.  The pair made a pact to continue to meet every morning through the month of November.  It’s been going and growing since then. Today, Providence is one of 50 sites, spread over ten countries and four continents. 

Several things distinguish the November Project. It’s volunteer-led and invariably a good workout. Sometimes there’s a theme. Sometimes it’s a little bit goofy or silly. Once I showed up and everyone was wearing a tutu, for some reason that now escapes me. I wasn’t wearing one because I’m not on social media, but it didn’t matter. The people of November Project Providence are always very open and accepting. 

There are people of multiple abilities, ages (spanning over four decades, in Providence) and body types, ranging from those seeking to get back into shape or to desperately hang on to what they have, to hard-core athletes. Workouts are always designed so everyone can participate, with alternatives or modifications to the different exercises. Not everyone can do a full lunge or a classic pushup. And not everyone does. People do what they can – pushing themselves within their own limits. My knees don’t tolerate much jumping after years of abuse. So I modify jumping jacks and other knee-stressing exercises to suit my limitations.

The last Wednesday of each month is known as “Personal Best Day”; each person goes up and down the State House steps as many times as they can in 40 minutes. Some people go up and down like frenetic yo-yos. Some walk. I plod up and walk down, paying attention to my knees. Several times this winter we’ve been there as the State House workers have been clearing snow from the steps. That led to some friendly banter.

And there’s always music. On a given morning you might hear Motown, Taylor Swift, The Beatles, and plenty of stuff I’ve never heard before. Often the music has some tie to the day’s theme. Sometimes the link is laughably tenuous. It’s all about making the challenging fun and collegial.

Most people, when they first hear about the November Project, have at least a politely interested response – up to the point when the start time is mentioned. I understand.  

However, it may still be worth a try.  You may come to look at early mornings in a whole new way.

November Project Providence workouts are different from many people’s usual solitary exercise regime. But, no matter the weather, if it’s Wednesday, there will be people at the State House. 

It’s about showing up and, by your presence, holding others accountable to show up, as they do for you. The hardest steps are the ones that take you out of the warm bed and out of the house. After that, what’s a push-up or burpee or two?

 

David Karoff has lived on the south side of Providence for over 40 years.  Now substantially retired from a career in the local nonprofit sector, he makes sculpture, hangs out with his grandchildren, and tries – with diminishing returns — to stay in shape.