Parkour

Woke at 09:10, with enough time to make rice with pork on top. Microwaved peas and added garlic to the rice; put the lot into the purple fruit box with pork floss and headed out. Ran to the station and got there in time for the train to TH in time for the 443 bus (which was a little late) to Pirrama.

Saw Richard and Blake heading into the park as the bus went past, thus knew where to go to meet them. Walked past an older ~27-32yo couple on the bench; they turned out to also participants.
People trickled in, Sophismata being the last to arrive, having parked closer to the shops, fountains and play equipment. We totalled ~8, excluding the 2 instructors.

Headed upstairs with our bags and Blake to warm up; it wasn't very extensive. Went for a jog; were taught to run on the fleshy parts of the front of the foot rather than landing heel first. Crawled on hands and feet, which was easy.

Learned to jump and land, first on the huge steps, then on the brick ledges set into the grass. The aim is to land on the closer half of the ledge, and to stick the landing... because there could be drops on either side. There was much exclamation of 'I died!' as people failed to stick the landing.

Moved to grassy area, where we learned to roll. Richard demonstrated its usefulness by leaping off a railing onto the grass and rolling out... sadly we didn't do that, we just rolled. Shoulder to opposite hip, first on the grass, then on concrete if confident enough.

Then there was speed vault and lazy vault over the wall. Hilariously there was a bare patch of dirt on the grass-side where clearly many others had landed in the past.
The speed vault is one arm, one opposite leg on the wall; ideally it's one arm and no legs. Both sides were practiced. It is used to approach a wall perpendicular to one's path.
The lazy vault is right arm, then left leg swung up onto the wall as though kicking, giving momentum for the right leg to pass under, with the left arm as support. It's used to approach a wall parallel to one's path and continue forwards in the same direction.
One of the younger participants fell over. He was in white.

Headed further up to the ramps, where we learned to wall climb. The trick is to put the first foot at hip height and push into the wall; the second foot is ... actually I'm not sure what to do with the second foot; at some point one also launches upwards. The aim is to get into a position where the arms are then able to pull oneself up over the top. Richard leaned on a wasp nest and got stung.

Then we were challenged to travel up stairs to the road in 9 jumps. There were ~60-80 steps, with 2 flat landings in between. I got there in 15.

Were taught to hang on a side of the wall, with arms straight and feet against the wall, but only so far so that the knees are under the armpits. It is possible to bounce off the wall from this position; it is also possible to drop a leg and then swing it up into tuck really hard to get some momentum. I never managed that though.

Were taught to go over a wall from a height on one side and a long drop on the other - safely! It is much like a basic beam mount; nothing particularly new or difficult there. The hand placed upside down should not move, because when moving at speed, it's better to only have to readjust one hand.

Then attempted to climb two walls, leap down one and then roll out. I never made it over the second wall.

Then did more of the crawling. It was ridiculously difficult.
Then there were lunges. They were ok... until we were supposed to sprint back. That did not work -at all-.

Will probably go again. It was much fun.