RUNNING INFORMATION ARTICLES

Free Running

A cat in the urban jungle – this phrase may best describe someone who is doing Free Running. It is an activity in which a person runs, jumps, does somersaults, and just about anything while running on concrete pavements and flying off walls and roofs in the city. Yes, some even pause to quickly do a windmill breakdance on top of parked cars. It's pretty much an anything-goes type of pastime, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart.

Free runners (as the people who engage in this discipline are called) aim to go over and around "obstacles" in their path (think lamp posts, fire hydrants, traffic signs, garbage bins, stairwell rails, etc.) using the smoothest and most fluid movements possible. Advanced runners even try to go from building to building without going outside through the proper exits, and so they jump off rooftops or helipads and swing on fire escape ladders–in their most graceful, cat-like stances.

Free Running is often confused with Parkour, a similar activity in terms of technique but it is a different world when it comes to viewpoint and intention. In Parkour, the aim is to get from point A to point B in the shortest time possible (clearing all obstacles as you go), while in Free Running, you have to go in the most aesthetically pleasing way, sometimes even using the obstacles to create a very stylish movement.

To get started on Free Running, all you need is a trusty pair of Running Shoes and a place to run. For some, city parks and playgrounds provide the most basic obstacles. They view it like a skateboarder perceives a street course, where they can ride and do their tricks and exemplify their sense of balance, flexibility, and above all, creativity.

Try it out first with small, low obstacles such as newspaper boxes and gradually move on to benches and walls. A basic knowledge of gymnastics or a background in dance is needed to creatively link movements with back flips or circling poles or limbo-rocking handrails. Always, always test your landing–a wipeout usually happens in the dismounting rather than in running itself.

Just a few reminders: run on an empty stomach (preferably two to three hours after a meal) as this can cause a full belly to be upset. Drink plenty of liquids 15 minutes prior to heading out. Wear loose-fitting clothes like roomy jogging pants and sweatshirts, but be careful with tassels, drawstrings, and hoods: they can get tangled in something and ruin your run.

Free Running is an alternative sport for those seeking something cheap and fun and edgier than plain jogging or running. It takes guts and creativity to excel in this activity, but it's nothing a good round of practice can't bring.

Photo courtesy of Alexander Ferreira.

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