When college rowing buddies Bojan Mandaric and Brogan Graham vowed to stay in shape post-graduation, they didn't want to shovel out hundreds of dollars to join a gym or even drop $20 for a yoga class. So they returned to one of their most grueling college workouts: the stairs at Harvard Stadium.

Five years later, there are nearly 800 others running those steps with them at 6:30 am every Wednesday. Their routine, known as the November Project, now has thousands of participants and free workout clubs in 20 cities, capitalizing on what's become a popular fitness trend, with other groups and individuals also gathering in iconic spots to get their sweat on.

Sites include national monuments, historic landmarks and other public spaces around the country, ranging from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, to New York City's Gracie Mansion, the historic home where the mayor lives.