A Warm Winter.

 

Ben – Running Precision.

 

I had planned to be out this weekend, as it had been months since I was last out [1] and the weather was set to be sunny for a change this weekend. It was looking promising and as if nothing could go wrong, well that was until Friday arrived when that lovely predicted sun changed to rain all day. Typically it always seemed to be rain on a Saturday, why was the weather not giving us a break for our weekly community jam? I wanted to train, as I’m sure many others did too. James wasn’t going to be out this weekend as he was busy watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the cinema. This was one reason I was expecting the weather to be good, as it was Sod’s Law (Murphy’s Law) that he wasn’t to be out and then miss a glorious day of training, being envious in the process. A similar thing happened when he wasn’t out one weekend [2] and then the Derby guys had come over and we adventured to the Victoria Embankment area to train for the day with many photos.

I ended up going to bed at around four o’clock binging on various TV show as I expected the day to now be rainy due to forecast, so what would be the point in going early to bed to awake to that rubbish outcome. After all, Sunday was looking the better day and I could train then instead, with no worry of rain ruining the day. I woke up at quarter to twelve to Adam having sent me various messages asking if I was awake yet and still up for training. I said yes I would be up for training, though he had expected me to say no. The floor outside was damp, wet in places and it looked overcast like it might rain again. But even with this, I said I would go out and he offered me a lift into town on his way, though I had around an hour to get ready and head out to meet him. I had to rush around to get ready, I didn’t expect to be out for long so it was easier to get ready than normal and I packed very little for the day ahead.

 

Shakespeare Street.

 

We ended up walking from the forest up to the new spot (seen above) as we called it, on Shakespeare Street near the Trent University. An area I had yet to sample, but some of the community had trained there before, as it had been built in the summer. The floor was still very wet and it seemed like it was going to be one of those days. As we arrived at the spot, I could see Holbrook and Parrish already jumping around. I guess we weren’t the only ones wanting to be out as it wasn’t raining, it didn’t go unnoticed that Holbrook had a black eye either, ouch. A funny story from when he was out at a gig. It felt good to be out, at a new spot getting ready for the day ahead. I felt energized, I wanted to get as much as possible done there before we no doubt got moved off. From what people had told me from training there a while back the security was on top of people using the area, with it still being newly created and so our time may have been limited.

A woman walked through the area as we were trained and said ‘don’t injure yourself before Christmas!’ To which Parrish told her his present was life insurance. Frankie had text when I checked my phone and that he was at Plaza and no one had arrived yet and that he was going to go home. It would seem no on was out yet then, I expected people to still be there and was planning to visit Plaza after I had trained at this spot for a bit. I rang and told Frankie where we were, and directed him the best I could to where it was located. Out of no where just like John Cena, Jack arrived along with Noah, Jp and Mat.

The Three Hour Commitment.

 

Zade (Me) – Muscle Up.

 

With some unpredicted rainy weather, it seemed that many were not venturing out today. I don’t blame them either, I’m exactly the same when I wake up and see a sodden, rainy concrete jungle with more dark clouds on the horizon. It may have been only ten o’clock but the weather was terrible, wet through and still pouring down with rain that instantly dampened my mood for training. I logged in online to see what others were going to do, in regards to the weather and to no surprise, it seemed no one was going out… Fair play to the ones who did (do) still go out on the rainy conditions, even if it is just to be a Plaza session. I once would have done the exact same thing, with the thrill of training rain or shine but as the years have passed that passion has since faded along with the hunger and drive. I prefer to be at the safe sanctum of home, in the dry and await a warmer, more predictable day. Where a more favourable outcome of warm sun rays and dryness would unveil to me when I pull back the curtains of my man cave. Phil wasn’t out today due to him tweaking his ankle earlier in the week and wanted to rest up. Of course that had a sort of domino effect, along with the weather of other people making plans to not be out either.

Pete wasn’t out either and with so many not wanting to train the elements, even James decided not to go out, as reluctant as he was of not getting out for his weekly mobility for the elderly. It was strange to see a session at the weekend to be such a washout. As time went by it began to get warmer and slowly that tempestuous, bright sun revealed itself, enticing those who had not already been out time training to perhaps now make there way into town… Even I thought, I’ll go out for a few hours! Even though I was late, very late. I left at half past two to hopefully get to town for three. I rang Mat to find out where people were at, he said they were at Orange walls. I made my way there to find a few of them (Mat, Adam, Alex and Jack) sat around not really doing much and was informed the rest of the people out were still over at Plaza. It was then a U-turn to make our way over to Plaza to find that James had come out after all. Femi was out, along with Ant too. Much to my surprise even the foreign rapscallion Denis was there, if in jeans. He had said he would be out when I asked before I was leaving myself, but I didn’t believe him, not until I saw him in person with my own two eyes.

 

James & Adam – Portrait.

 

My upper back was pulled, how I have no idea. I felt it go while carrying my bag on my way to Orange Walls, since then it hurt and felt tight. What a great start to the day, it’s the worse possible pain if it pulls severely and one that last for weeks and I have to ride it out until it passes, trying not to aggravate it through workouts. Now it was drying, the next area to venture to was High Pavement, unlike most times we visited the area and people would stand around and want to move on due to hating the area. Something remarkable happened, today people actually enjoyed it! They were jumping around and finding things to do. The focus for me today was the main catleap, which looked insanely far now. Maybe my weak legs couldn’t handle it jumping wise, maybe I’m just not back to the same stage I used to be or it was just THAT far?! Either way, it was depressing to no longer see what to me, used to feel like a small and easy jump to do. The humidity was starting to rise, layers came off as it felt more like spring was finally here. I suggested a striding move to one of the walls then vault over a wall onto the pebbles, but it was too hard to even try for me at least. While Femi and Denis nailed it after giving it a few attempts. Denis even did a few flips, though he had said he wasn’t out to train…

Always the one to be tempted by things. James was working on running precisions I joined him and so did Ant. Well, that was until Ant was quick to point out that it looked like the wall we were landing on was moving and unstable. Only when he did it himself, did it rock and then we decided against jumping to it any more for fear of making it topple over. Ant was amazed that he used to do the main catleap, much like myself as now he said its seems mental. That and it’s hard to know how far he could jump these days and is one of the reasons he wasn’t sure if to do it, even if he wanted too. I kept looking at it, it didn’t feel possible but I wanted to do it again, to prove to myself I could. Why is the outdoor world so scary?! Perhaps I would twinge my ankle, maybe wouldn’t make the distance, so many things went rushing through my head.

First Session of 2014!

 

Parkour Hotspot – Urine Nation.

 

With my sleep pattern well and truly messed up I was in two minds if I would even be awake in time to go out to Saturday’s training session. I had only had three hours sleep Thursday night and then for the rest of Friday I felt extremely drained and hoped that would make me be able to have a good nights sleep and wake up at a more acceptable time for the weekend training session. I crashed to bed a little before ten and then slept easily until 4am, at which time I felt wide awake like I should get up due to having enough sleep. I decided to go back to sleep and woke up at 8am before lolling and sleeping lightly until 10am when I finally got up and had enough of my bed and sleeping. I arose to see it was terrible, rainy weather outdoors, this was normally the case as it would be fine all week long and then be rubbish come the weekend! The weather never helps my mood, nor does it make me motived to go out to the session. I wasn’t expecting many, if anyone, to be out today in this dreadful weather, though I had seen that Pete had already made a status about him being out and had tagged the rest of us to see who else was up for being out too. So far only Phil had replied saying he would be out and a few others from U:R. I didn’t get a reply on Facebook chat for the Bulgarian moaner Denis, nor did I get a response from Yaz, no doubt both still in dream world and with that I got ready to go out.

I arrived at Plaza a little after one o’clock and was surprised with just how many people had attended and were training today, considering the weather. It was wet but like all rainy days it seemed like it would be a day spent under the Crowne Plaza car park. Zain arrived and stated that he was here before anyone arrived and so he went for a walk around town before coming back later in hope that people would be out training by then. Pete text James to inform him, he was missing the homoerotic banter and myself at the training session and then I used his phone to sent a message telling James to hurry the hell up as he never arrives on time and is always late and then he wonders why he doesn’t feel the burn at the end of the day or understand why people want to leave early. Pete also text Yaz, but needless to say he didn’t get a reply back and with that I joined Zain for some friendly banter and a few light vaults over the blue railings and some skipping to loosen up and feel warmer. Zain was vaulting the rail, doing a lazy vault then went straight into a roll, while he practised this all I heard was a slip of a trainer and myself and Pete turned around to see Zain sprawled out on the floor with a groan of failure from slipping on the floor.

 

Ben – Portrait.

 

James came bounding into Plaza and was ready to train but not before some cheeky banter, trolling and a general chitchat. Zain decided he would try and tackle me as I skipped or even as I vaulted the rails, a ridiculous idea. He said we should try and vault and fight each other as we did so, and as I joke I went along with it and did a speed vault kicking him in the forehead slightly, and that was the end of that little game! I was next to Pete who was sat on top of the wall feeling uneasy, even more so when I pretended to grab his feet, while Zain wanted to actually pull on his feet and use them to help him climb up…

April Showers, Garages and Radford.

 

Random Time.

 

I arrived in town to find very few people at the meet up point for a Saturday, perhaps the predictions of rain had put many of coming out at all after how rainy the weather had been in the week. It was a sunny day never the less and we made our way up to Houses Two area to warm up. It was strange the sun went in and it began to be cold and people moved around or complained of the area not being as good for training. I started to do some press ups to which Denis came over telling me not to workout here and do that at home and then tried to push me over. Denis was mainly sitting around because he had an injured back from which he had done in gymnastics from landing on his head and it pulled and bent his back further than normal.

He was saying to Zain perhaps I’m not injured at all and I am just lying about the whole thing and really I’m doing awesome things without others knowing then one day I will be really sick and bust things no one thought I could do. The funniest part to watch was when the guys all had a small competition to see who could pop wall climb up the higher wall the fastest. I was having a drink only for Zain to tap the bottle from behind me and made me nearly spill all of it everywhere. He then ran off and I sprinted after him faster than he thought I was capable of and he shrieked as I chased after him. Before leaving, we had to wait for James who was late as always and we also had a call from Moonie and Will but decided to leave before they arrived due to being sick of waiting.

We took a walk down Alfreton Road and made our way into Radford area. On the way Yaz was eating his Jelly worms which he said had been imported over here, they were very tasty and were shared among us all. People spoke about how gangster the area looked as we walked through the estate and Flip mentioned he had came across this area before but decided not to stay due to people hanging around. We entered the first area which at first people didn’t really see that much to do until we started to train and open their eyes to what was right in front of them. Vince wanted to do the diving kong over two walls near a stair set, while others did the kong precision of it. People climbed up walls and onto the roofs. Flip and Yaz had a go at the various tic tac cats in the area and then later on they had a look at a black bar which was out the side of the building and was sturdy enough to support full weight and was used as a squirrel 180 cat.

 

Yaz – Tic Tac Cat.

 

One of the Tic Tac Cats was near a window on take off and Flip had already done it a few times and Yaz went over to check it out and see if he could do it, only for a window to open and a guy say ‘Yo, bludclot! What you doing near my window?’ To which Yaz replied ‘Checking out the wall’ for the mysterious person to respond with ‘You best get away from my window bled and leave the area!’ and then the window closed. Yaz seemed puzzled and we laughed about what had just happened and Flip asked what had happened too as he was ready to do the Tic Tac cat again. Later on when James was near the window just holding his camera the same person said not to take photos of the area or him and to put the camera away. Why be bothered though we are doing no harm and I guess if that person really was bothered they would come out and have something to say.

Denis and Zain were sat on a room chit-chatting and not doing training as well as eating bourbon biscuits. They had passed the packet to Moonie to eat some and Yaz walked by to try and snatch them from her and throw them back up to Zain and Denis. As he did this the whole packet fell to the floor scattering them all over the floor and everyone simultaneously saying ‘noooooooo’ as they hit the ground. I was trying to hold some human flags on the washing line posts in the area but they proved