Parkour Musings

Happy Halloween, not always the best day for me, but today wasn't a bad one. I thought I would write down some of my fave parkour things I worked on this month to try again. 

I've been improving on my lazy vault, but not so much that I could vault over high things in class today, it just make me feel intimidated. But, in class on Wednesday one of the coaches showed us were you can lazy vault over a rail that has something next to it, like a building, so that you go between the two things - then you have two places to put your hands. Suddenly your lazy vault is two handed, but much easier. I could do it! I think a good way to practice would be to rely less and less on your second hand.

Today we were super mario and jumped off things. The thing that was cool was jumping down from railing on the side of the school, taking a couple steps, jumping up on the planter, then down. It was kind of boop boop boop. Definitely something to work on.

In class last week coach told me I should look more forward and less down while walking on rails. It turns out it does make a difference. I've been practicing.

I'm working on breathing more and being scared of things less, always a work in progress.

I can't believe it's already almost November!

Mt. Osceola

I took the day off today because I wanted a long weekend and I just didn't want to drive into work three days a week. I've become such a whiner about it, but I don't like having to commute anymore. So, instead of the commute, I drove up to New Hampshire for a hike! Yes, there's an irony there, but it's different when you decide to do it. I was thinking about Welch-Dickey because it's such a nice hike, but then I realized that I'd done it in April. So, I thought about Osceola since it's in the same geographic area, the road to it will close soon, and it's also a nice hike. Well, it was a nice hike, but maybe I shouldn't have gone for the 4000 footer - the top was in the clouds!

As I got to Waterville Valley I realized there wasn't going to be a view and thought about switching to Welch-Dickey since they have a number of viewpoints. But, then I realized I didn't know how to get to the trailhead for that one, and I don't get cell service in the mountains. Maybe the clouds would clear? I thought. They didn't. 

Anyhow, it's a nice hike, not too long, and there are switchbacks. I love switchbacks. The trail was covered in wet leaves, which made it a bit slippery for the way down, but it was really nice on the way up. About half way up I started to feel hungry - fortunately, with switchbacks you can walk and eat, which is what I did. As I got higher there were a few nice views, but then I could see I was getting into the clouds, and then it even snowed a bit (like, a half a dozen chunks of snow). At the top, the trail was really muddy, and I had fun rock hopping across. I brought a cheese sandwich on sourdough bread and found a nook out of the wind to eat it. Even out of the wind it was really cold - I was glad I had opted for my athleta long pants, my new lulu top, another top, and big puff, as well as gloves. I sat for 15 minutes and then headed down. 

On the way down, things weren't as good. My feet were killing me! I think it may actually have been knee and leg related, probably because I stopped doing the PT exercises. My knees have been bothering me, and so I was hiking more cautiously, which I think impacted my feet. Also, I went to take out my hiking poles and couldn't get them to open - that was a huge bummer. I carried them the whole way, for no purpose. I decided I need to start doing the exercises again before another hike. And to figure out how to open my hiking poles. There's no reason to be so tired at the end of a 6 mile hike (interestingly, all trails says it's 5.77 miles, but the maps say 6.2)

Because it was a foggy Monday I was able to park in the parking lot. I finished, actually got to change in an enclosed space instead of my car (there's an outhouse kind of deal there), cleaned up, and headed home. I looked at my watch when I left the parking lot and it was 10:30. I got to the top right at 12:30, so it was almost exactly 2 hours up. I guess I did stop to get out a snack, and briefly to chat with a few people. I think I was faster on the way up than down - I'm not that disappointed in my pace, to be honest. All and all, a better day than if I had gone to work!

 

Rock Circuit and Parkour

Today we did a really fun exercise in parkour - I keep thinking I need to write down the fun stuff so I can work on it after class - we did a lashee (which I don't know how to spell - it's French and means swing under something, or something like that). When I first started parkour I couldn't do them at all, but now my arms and core are stronger and I can do them a little better. There's one spot at the playground where you swing feet first through a rope net that I love doing. And then today coach showed us how to swing on one bar, over a slide-like thing, grab another bar and land. I have to get a video of that - it makes no sense to describe. But, I think it's something that if I work on, I could get better at. I also did a couple lazy vaults in my usual spot, and they were pretty good. On Wednesday I found a third place where I can do them :)

It was so nice out today that after class I went on a walk on the Rock Circuit Trail. I did my usual loop, only I did it backwards, which was equally nice. I think I like the part that I usually do at the start the best, so it was good to do it this way and have my favorite part at the end.

I took tomorrow off from work so I don't have to go to work, and because I wanted a few long weekends. I'm planning for a hike - I was going to do Welch-Dickey, but now I see I've already done it this year. I may do it again anyhow, but I'll have to do some planning. Hopefully more posts tomorrow.

Jennings Peak

I was going to do Sandwich Dome, which is 1.1 miles past Jennings Peak, but then on the way up I realized that the best view was from Jennings Peak and so there was no real reason to go all the way to Sandwich Dome. So, I didn't, and I was so glad I made that choice! Sandwich Dome is like 3992 feet - it it was 8 or 10 feet taller, the trail would be mobbed. As it was, I saw about 15 people all day.

Jennings Peak (and maybe Sandwich Dome) is definitely on my list of go-to hikes for the future. It was a super nice hike, some slabby parts, some really pretty woods, nothing too strenuous on the uphill - though the uphill part was all uphill without much break, and no crowds. It's a circle hike, which I did counter clockwise, and the way down was super steep at first, but then a really gradual and relaxing walk next to a pretty stream. 

I left home a little late, around 7:30, but it's only an hour and 45 minutes to get there. I had a new book to listen to, the trees are starting to change color so it's really nice out, and so the ride up flew by. I got to the trailhead and started out at 9:45. I thought I had started the GPS, but apparently I hadn't. I stopped after about an hour to see where I was (I was a little annoyed with myself for looking because I knew I had a ways to go, but then I was like "see me, good thing I looked"). Anyhow, I magically start my hike half way up the trail according to alltrails, but in real life I walked up there. 

It only took like 2 hours of walking to get to the top of Jennings - it's like 3.8 miles, so that seems reasonable. I stopped at a viewpoint and ate some grapes. At the top there was a nice dog, and 4 people, of course - until that point I had only seen 3 other people. While I was up there, 4 more people came along. It's always crowded at the summit. I had a bagel with cheese sandwich, an apple, and some pistachios. And then I took some pictures before heading down.

My feet were killing me on the way down. I spent a lot of time thinking about why my feet and legs hurt so much. In part I think because in parkour yesterday we did an endurance exercise where we alternated 5 squats on a rail with butt kickers one way across the basketball court (the short way, thankfully) and jogging back, for 10 minutes. Ouch. When I was almost back there was a stream crossing and my feet were killing me, so I took off my shoes to walk across it - so cold. And then I took my inserts out of the shoes, which helped. I think I need new orthotics

Anyhow, I got down and changed in the parking lot (couldn't do that at a 4000 footer) and then got in the car to go home. On the way back there was so much traffic, it took me forever (well, maybe 2 and a half hours). Fortunately I still had enough juice in my phone so I could listen to my book. At the rest stop where I used to get a hamburger I got a PB&J. I have to admit the bread was both stale and mushy, but it still tasted delicious! I got home and my legs were killing me so badly I took a hot bath and foam rolled. We'll see if it helps.

Definitely a hike I would do again. Not as superb as Welch-Dickey, but it can be a little more rigorous, and it's so much more peaceful. It wasn't the hardest hike for sure, though maybe giving that my last two hikes have been Washington and Isolation, I shouldn't judge. Good bang for the buck. Two thumbs up.