Ever Heard of Parkour or Free Running?

I have found that not many people seem to know about parkour -  also known as free running, also known as urban running - although, it's got many thousands of enthusiasts around  the world. I first read about it in the Tamp Tribune a couple years ago. There was a link to a web site, so I checked it out because I was curious.

Wow!  I think I watched that first video about six times. I was amazed to see human beings, young men in their teens and twenties, it appeared, running through urban areas and scampering over objects, running sideways along walls, flipping, like chimps. I had never witnessed such finesse and agility.

A free runner runs through some urban landscape, leaping from object to object in a way that I didn't think humans could. For example, the runner will run full spead to the top  of a staircase and then leap up and run, sideways, taking two or three steps on the wall next to the staircase and then land at the bottom and keep running. Check out this video and Google 'free running' or 'parkour' to learn more. Parkour video

Parkour originated in England, I believe, but now it is growing rapidly in popularity here. There are hot spots, apparently, where it's most popular. I believe Boulder, Colorado is one. By the way people who do Parkour are called traceurs, as well as free running.

I recommend that you do not try this. I don't think I would ever have done it, even when I was that age. In fact, unlike running - the kind we do - not many girls do parkour. I can't believe anybody does it, but I still think it's cool to watch.

My nephew Zack is a traceur who lives in Boulder, so he's explained a bit about it.Here are two more videos. I hope you enjoy them; I find them fascinating.

Video 2

Video 3