Topic: Ideas for more organization of traceuses

[MissPK]

Um... this is really none of my business and I don't know you or your situation, but for the record, this sentence made me really mad. At the risk of passing premature and unfair judgments, that strikes me as a really disrespectful thing for him to do.

Just had to throw that out there.

Yes it's very frustrating..   Nice to see someone else who sees it this way. Thanks

[indobaby]

I went to my local running store and was chatting with a girl there that said she wished she could do this kind of stuff, I told her that she could she just has to commit her mind to it. That got me thinking to get the running stores involved on a level that will help people locate anything from fellow traceurs to jams and the like. The lady there was actually really interested in featuring information at the store or possible just getting a group of people together who are truely interested.


Becky

[Alissa J. Bratz]

Awesome! Go for it, Becky! When I first started, I went to a running store to ask for shoes and, not being a runner, really needed help picking out shoes. It was one of those stores where they analyze your stride and talk to you about the type of running you like to do and stuff, and recommend a shoe. So when I told the guy what I was needing the shoes for, he had NO idea what to suggest for me, and ended up actually giving me the worst possible shoes for parkour (although it wasn't his fault, he was mystified by the whole thing... to be fair he DID suggest great shoes for me as a beginning runner!)

So I think it would be awesome for you to start something like that. Most running stores already kind of do running groups/clubs and stuff, don't they? (I know the ones here do).

If you're feeling like giving it a go, go for it and let us know how it turns out! Alternatively, if you want suggestions/ideas for how to implement it, let us know. I think it's a great idea!

[indobaby]

Muse,


     What kind of shoe did they recommmend for you and what kind of shoe do you recommend yourself. I would like to be able to help these guys make the best recommendation for other people and myself, being a newbie and all.

[Alissa J. Bratz]

They recommended a Nike "Air Structure Triax" (that's what it says on the box anyway). They recommended it because as a beginning runner my form was horrible and the shoe has a very thick, wide, stable heel and I believe their thinking was that it would keep me from rolling an ankle.

It was horrible for parkour because of the thick sole and stiffness. Also, the tread was a rubberized waffle tread glued on to the foam sole, and that shredded right off after about two cat leaps. The foam underneath was soooo slippery I might as well have not even been using my legs in parkour at all.

The "recommended" shoe for parkour is different for everybody but in general you want a good fit, a flexible shoe, some cushioning but not too much, a sole that won't shred off (grip is nice but as long as the shoe doesn't slide off of everything there is no huge need for any kind of massively grippy special rubber). Lightness and breathability are good too. If the sole is all in one piece, rather than tread patterns glued on, that is best. Plastic anywhere on the sole is dangerous.

A lot of people wear trail running shoes; I have heard that Raceblades (can't remember who makes them) are popular as well as Nike Dart and Free. These are shoes I have heard people talk about a lot but I haven't had any personal experience with them so I couldn't tell you one way or the other.

It would be worth it to look at the Ariakes and do a little compare/contrast with running shoes that are out there, to give you a place to start.

I personally wear kayaking shoes for parkour, the Ahnu "Bodega" and I like them a lot. This was after trying the ill-fated Nikes, and a pair of 5.10 Savants which were way too thick, stiff, and heavy.

There have been quite a few ladies on here who have given shoe reviews, and in the Consumer section there have been a lot of people discussing shoes. I would encourage you to read through those to get an idea of what's out there and what people like, to help you as you help these running stores. Even better, try as many shoes as you can, although this does take time and $$.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

[Photo Ninja]

Hi ladies! I'm a newbie Traceuse practicing in the Frederick, MD area with a bunch of guys and one other girl Any other ladies in the area? The guys are really nice and supportive when I try to do stuff, so I don't have an issue training with them. Just wondering if there are any more ladies in the area that would like to come out and train with us?

[Alissa J. Bratz]

Hey there! I used to live in Frederick! How cool! (Now I am many miles away in Madison, WI)

Primal is based in DC, so that's a great resource for you, definitely! Welcome to the forums!