Claire Charlton lives, writes and runs in Detroit She’s an expert at keeping up…and getting out of the way. Her overactive curiosity hasn’t yet landed her in too much trouble. At least nothing she couldn’t run away from.
I spend an enormous amount of time talking and writing about running safely in urban environments. So bear with me as I go in a completely different direction.
An article in the Independent newspaper in Britain has my attention right now. Author Jimmy Lee Shreeve, a 40-something dad, describes his routine as he picks up his 10-year old daughter Imogen from school.
Rather than just walking (or driving, as we do here), Shreeve and protégé “free run” home. They hit the streets, catapulting themselves over garbage cans, scaling walls, cartwheeling over bushes (well, maybe they don’t go so far as cartwheeling, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.)
It’s called urban running, free running, parkour… but it’s more like urban gymnastics. It’s like skateboarding without the skateboards. Trick biking without the bikes. It’s fun, effective transportation and a great workout all wrapped up in one neat package.
Shreeve says he was turned on to free running after learning about a discipline called “parkour” from fitness instructor Frank Forencich. He loves the way he can incorporate mind and body into a workout that uses whatever concrete steps, trees, balconies and skyscraper happen to be available. It’s all about adapting your body to the rigors of the environment, sweating a little as you make your way across the city, and having fun all the while.
Now it’s time for you to put on your running shoes (or try a pair of urban hikers), conjure in your mind the best chase-scene soundtrack, then get started – starring in your own music video or feature film while outrunning the imaginary bad guys who are hot on your heels.
Here are some moves to get you started, taken from Shreeve’s article (he says "beginners should proceed very slowly and carefully." Yup. Heed that suggestion.):
Basic jump: Launch yourself forward, landing on both feet, bending the knees to absorb the shock. Complete the manoeuvre with a somersault.
Blind jump: A precision jump in a situation which makes it impossible to see the landing spot.
Tic-tac: Run up, use the foot to grip into a small hurdle, and propel yourself from it to leap with greater ease over the next obstacle.
Cat leap: Run towards the target, place both hands on the wall, leap between them, with the legs through the middle of the arms. Land on both feet.
Precision jump: Identify a very precise landing target, and being able to judge the exact leap necessary.
Wall run: Place a foot on a wall to propel yourself forwards and upwards over a barrier.
Monkey vault: Run up, and use either one or two feet to leap and use both hands to grab on to and cross an obstacle.
Claire Charlton lives, writes and runs in Detroit She’s an expert at keeping up…and getting out of the way. Her overactive curiosity hasn’t yet landed her in too much trouble. At least nothing she couldn’t run away from.
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