Inspired by Urban Runners

A couple of weeks ago I set a goal to do the same number of push ups as my age. So, if I was 15 I would be doing 15 push ups. I have yet to make that goal so I am hoping that if I write about it I'm more inspired to follow through with it. For me it is a matter of carving time out and remembering to do it.

Today I went to my local running store that was hosting a local parkour group meeting. Parkour is an urban form of running. I hear it started in Paris, thus the French name, and there is a Texas Chapter. These people are phenomenal!! They have so much strength and agility. Parkour uses one's own body to get around. They jump over obstacles, such as walls, fences and ramps. They climb walls twice their height. Some groups climb up balconies or jump from the first floor of the parking garage and then roll out in to a street and then keep going as if it was nothing more than a three foot jump. Only one of the people in tonight's group was a trained gymnast.
Here is a link to a video a friend told me about that does a cool job demonstrating what they do.
http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/207-vs.-parkour/ I'm inspired by watching them to again try to do my push ups.

In watching their conditioning and warm up exercises I would like to add some of them to my semi-normal routine. They did these push ups but their feet were closer to their hands so their rump was in the air. They did a plank form, so they were on their elbows and toes, and then moved their body in one fluid motion in a circle. They did butt kicks where they were on their hands and toes and their knees were on their elbows and then they kicked their feet up in the air. Some of them think nothing of spending five minutes in a hand stand. I may never be that strong, but I'm gonna try some of their strengthening exercises. Here's a link to a video showing a guy doing some of what the conditioning looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsjcW_NruTY&feature=related

So I'm inspired. One of the guys at last nights Parkour meeting said he has trained people from 5 years old to 53 years old. I am intrigued! I am awe struck by their strength, agility and ability to face their fears head on. They see an obstacle and have to face their fear to get over that obstacle, or around that obstacle in the most efficient means. We all have fears when confronted with obstacles, regardless of what that obstacle looks like.