The 8 Immutable Laws of #GOvember2024

Welcome to the 11th annual GOvember challenge! We've been around the block a few times and then a few more times and then one more time, so we have lots of advice on how to run your Best Ever GOvember. For the best support, join our Facebook group. Or read on for the rules/answers to FAQ/and our best advice:

1. We highly recommend grabbing a map (and yard sign) at the store. We love our sponsor Swati Saxena for printing the maps for us- they’re in store now and ready for you to start obsessing over. Putting on the GOvember Challenge is a big labor of love for Lively and we look forward to it every year. If you love it as much as we do, I hope you’ll consider doing some shopping with us and supporting us. It would mean the world to us. Can’t make it in? Print a map here. 

2. You may only pick one level, so pick it well and plan it early. There are three levels and you can only win one level. I have done them all and love them all, but my favorite might be the Betty level? Just hard enough that I feel like such a champion when I finally finish. 

3. Anyone can win, even participants! We have all had it happen: it’s November 29th and you still haven’t been able to knock off that weird little area by Trader Joe’s. Or maybe work caught up with you and you had to ease off walking/running. We totally get it. So just bring you map in any state of completion to the wrap party (December 4, details to follow) and you’re still eligible to win. We’re all about that inclusivity at Lively.

4. Bring your map in to Lively when you finish for photos and congratulations (but the big celebration will be the Wrap Party). We LOVE seeing your maps! Bring them in when you finish so we can take a photo and post it on our socials. We’ll also spend some real time holding your hand and commiserating about ginkgo berries. But this year we won’t be handing out any prizes until the wrap party, so hang onto your map for that!

5. You’re not allowed to ask if Ludacris is really an Oak Parker.

6. Run Harlem early. I think Harlem is the straight up worst street to run in all of Oak Park. No parkway, loud traffic, annoying drivers, dangerous bridge.. So I highly recommend doing it on Day 1 and never looking back!

7. Frontload the month. The days get shorter and the weather gets miserable quicker than you think! Get out in the beautiful early days of November and pack in as many miles as possible. Trust me- you’ll thank me for this when it is sleeting out and you haven’t seen the sun in days.

8. Be honest. In the immortal words of Aristotle, “You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. And honor is the most important part of GOvember because Anne and Kate don’t have time to police peoples’ GPS data”.  OK that last part is maybe a paraphrase, but you get the gist. The honor system has worked for us all these years and we don’t see a need to change that. So run fast, run often, run Prairie Ct, and run all those dumb cul de sacs. And remember: there’s no rule against swearing.