Parkour is the art of moving. Parkour enthusiasts practice the art by maneuvering their way over, around, and through obstacles in the most efficient way possible. The sport requires no special equipment or playing surface. It typically is played in cities, which by their nature provide a suitable series of obstacles.

Parkour originated in France in the late 20th century and retains the original French terminology for many of the moves. The object of Parkour is to move in such a way as you would in an emergency, when every second counts. Practitioners, called “traceurs” for reasons that I don’t know, run as if trying to catch or escape from someone else moving at peak efficiency.

The originators of Parkour resist the idea of Parkour as a competitive sport, instead considering it to be a self-development activity. Predictably, Americans generally don’t view it that way. Here, we consider any physical activity worth doing is worth doing competitively, and competitive Parkour tournaments are making their rounds in cities across the country.

In America, Parkour has evolved/melded into Free Running. The primary difference between the two is that while true Parkour places the highest emphasis on efficient movement, Free Running values creative movement above all else. Parkour features a few predetermined moves, including vaults, drops and rolls. Free Running is constantly generating new and increasingly spectacular movements, which generally don’t have names and often cannot be duplicated.

In the Rowe family, European Parkour, American Free Running, and an episode of “The Office” have merged into something else altogether. Rokour, which is the official name for our own particular brand of the sport, involves my two sons running through the park, going out of their way to jump on and over every obstacle within sight, and yelling “Parkour!” at maximum volume upon encountering each obstacle.

There is no particular scoring in Rokour. There are no winners or losers, per se. The game usually ends when the little one falls down and starts to cry. The game resumes again when he realizes it didn’t really hurt that bad and his big brother is getting away. I highly recommend Rokour for your next family outing. Just be sure to bring the video camera… and the first aid kit.

Located in the heart of the city of Nashua, New Hampshire, is Mine Falls Park. Unique to the city, it offers 325 acres of forest, wetland, and open fields. It is a park open for walking, running, biking, fishing, and, in the winter, cross-country skiing.

Most of the travels follow either the river or the canals; the scenery is always beautiful. You may see some interesting animals like the Belted Kingfisher or the Great Blue Heron that stops by once in a while. More details of some plants and animals you can find at Mine Falls Park are listed on a personal Website, www.hikingwithchuck.com.

For bikers or runners, the trails of Mine Falls are overall easy to intermediate. There are flat trails for a leisurely ride, but there are also some single-track runs that go along the river.  If you can find them all, the trail length totals to 10 to 15 miles. There are many entrances/exits to the park, so it can be used as a gateway for those traveling through Nashua. Mine Falls is bordered by the Nashua River on the north and by the canal system on the south. On one side you can reach Stellos Stadium by Nashua High School South, and on the other you will find yourself in downtown Nashua!

You might want to visit the dam where Mine Falls Park once got its name. It was originally a natural waterfall, but in the early 1800s, lead was allegedly mined from below the falls. A canal system and a dam were installed to drive the growing mill-yard during Industrialization. Today, it is the site of a small, privately-owned hydroelectric plant.

If you are looking for thrills and chills, Mine Falls Park is not the place, but it is definitely great for some quick moderately technical runs. In the summer it offers plentiful shade, and on the whole it can be very relaxing. It is a popular site for the residents of Nashua, yet it is never too crowded, and it is always well-maintained.

What is Hill Running?

When you mention hill running to others, the first thing that comes to mind is running uphill. This is not entirely accurate because it can mean downhill running as well. It is important to take note that uphill and downhill running are believed to be equally beneficial. Uphill running can improve strength, stamina, and sprinting is emphasized. Downhill running can be beneficial as well, though it is typically blamed for various types of injuries because of a person’s balance problems.

Downhill running is compared to “over-speed” training. That is, it improves your stride since you are able to run at a dramatically faster rate compared to level or uphill running. The key to deriving the most benefits from downhill running is to choose a good incline where you can run comfortably. It is important for you to be able to run at your hardest without braking or having to lean back.

Take note that braking is often the culprit for most injuries when running. Leaning forward is recommended. Also, most experts suggest that the runner should visualize using his toes when in motion. Doing this can improve speed and stamina without additional effort.

Getting Proper Rest

Resting is one of the most overlooked aspects in running. In order to be good at running, it is important to have a mindset that resting is equally important. It gives your muscles time to recover and rebuild. For example, if you have a hard training the day before, try not to push yourself the day after because it will only result in a mediocre run. Instead, run at your peak every other day while you run for fun in between. The seventh day can be used for cross-training such as bicycling or even just resting. It will prevent burnouts and enables you to be the best runner you can be.

Many are concerned with running during winter time. As a result, some people stop their regular running routine. However, it is important to realize that the body actually generates heat during exertion, so running in cold weather is actually less dangerous compared to running during the summer. With the right clothing and some common sense, anyone can continue this activity in the winter.

Winter Clothing

The key to remaining comfortable is to wear dress for the occasion. This is especially true if you intend to run in cold weather. Take note that the clothing required for a sedentary walk in the park is not the same as running. A popular guideline among runners is the “20 degree rule”. That is, when a person intends to run, it is recommended for him to dress abound 20 degrees warmer compared to the temperature.

Of course, there are occasions when dressing more warmly is required to be on the safe side. With experience, winter runners will discover what type of clothing they should wear to be comfortable and safe every time they run. Most dress in layers because it is easy and convenient to get rid of layers one by one, depending on the weather condition.

Some runners with sensitive skin are concerned about winter fabric. There is no reason to worry about this today because modern fabric uses a technology that rids moisture away from the skin. This helps the runner avoid being clammy, wet, and cold underneath the layers. Aside from protecting your torso, though, it is critical to remember your neck, hands, and feet.

Wear a stocking-type hat because it provides additional warmth while being easy to stash in your pockets. Wearing gloves is a given because it keeps the hands warm while special winter shoes should be used to minimize the risk of slipping.

I just started college in Boston, MA. My classes have not started yet, so I have some time to explore. I have found the best way to do this is to go for daily runs.

Every day I take different routes and try to find places to go visit. I’ll run for 15 minutes and then turn around and go back to conclude a 30 minute loop. The first day I was having so much fun on my run that I did not want to stop, but I knew that if I went too far, I’d never be able to find my way home! Of course, another reason why I knew I had to turn back was to save the excitement for future runs!

Running is a great way to get in shape. By running around, I can see what is around my school and all of the fun random spots around campus. Another plus is that it also takes less time than if you are walking around the campus and the area. I will be able to find what is worth going to again and the shortcuts to class. A few of my friends do not really enjoy going for long walks, so when I go running, I get to see the sites that I normally would not have seen.

Around my college’s area, it is a good idea to run with a friend or a group. Getting a running group together wasn’t even that hard to do. At first I was a little nervous to find a group of people who would run at my pace. I was self-conscious that the people I was running with were going at a pace that was uncomfortable for them. However, I was wrong!

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