Start Free Running
Free running is the art of movement through any environment with fluidity and skill. It is usually done in an environment cluttered with obstacles that a participant uses to navigate with in a complex way.
Steps
- You NEED to start off slow and small. During your first few months it is recommended that you condition your body every day and practice small techniques repetitively to build muscle coordination and confidence. Performing some form of Calisthenics & a bit of weight training goes a long way.
- Look online for other free runners in your area to train with. Do a quick search on freerunning in your country or state. If you train with an experienced free runner they should be able to guide you and give safety advice.
- Watch videos and learn how people move. This will mentally prepare your mind for when you go out and train. Think of the muscles you will be working. (This is known as muscle-mind connections.)
- REPETITION IS KEY! Practice that vault 100 times, practice that wall-run 100 times, practice practice practice. That is the secret to success in freerunning - repetition and practice. You will not wake up one day and be able to jump {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. But if you've been practicing your {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} jump continuously you will find that in a few weeks a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} jump is within your reach. Soon {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}, and so on and so on.
- Keep safe. Safety is a huge priority in free running. Always check your surroundings, always listen to your body, and never attempt anything to "show off". Freerunning is following your own path - you do not need to please others and get yourself injured, it is about pushing yourself to be better than what you were before and learning how to move fluidly and gracefully.
- If you're young and just got into free running, don't use it to "show off" in front of your friends. Getting injured isn't cool. What are you going to tell your mom then?
Tips
- Always wear shoes that have good enough grip for rails, ledges, and more importantly, for walls.
- If not practiced safely free running can be very dangerous. Be sure to start off with conditioning exercises to strengthen your body for the first few months and do small techniques. Stay away from large leaps and drops.
- Don't try anything you're not too sure of. Once you've had enough practice and experience your body will be well informed of what you can and cannot do. Always listen to your body!
- You may see videos online of free runners taking large drops and throwing in amazing flips and twists - these guys are EXPERIENCED and have trained very hard for a long time. Do NOT attempt any of until you have practiced and trained, preferably with someone who has experience with freerunning. You should avoid being on rooftops at any time when doing free running, as this is not only extremely dangerous, but not good for your learning, your practicing, and not good for the image of free runners, as this is defeating of the principles of free running.
Warnings
- This is dangerous in some situations and could possibly be deadly. Make sure you have utter confidence before you do anything you think might be dangerous.
Things You'll Need
- Running shoes. They should have treads and fit pretty tightly, so they won't hinder your running ability. Try to avoid cheap plastics. Look for comfort and cushion, but not too much because you need to feel your environment underneath you.
- Loose clothes. You should be able to move around with unlimited flexibility.Shorts & a sleeveless top are brilliant choices.
- As you're exposing bare flesh to the environment, you might get some cuts & bruises so be sure to carry a first aid kit (or at least some sterile wipes) with you.
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