A Trip to Remember--Rendezvous3

Waking up on the morning of day 1 of the Rendezvous gathering, I was full of energy and adrenaline, dissapointed yet happy that the forecast was rain all day. Left the hotel, walked across the bridge, found the Traceurs and waited in the cold and wet for training to begin. Entered Queen Elizabeth Hall, got my wristband, met some new people, and training began. Jog to the top, warm up on the roof, quadripedie through the puddles, and a pretty tough upper body warm up. Split to groups, set out for stations, Parkour with the best took off.

Vaulting, sliding, jumping, bench to bench, we each found our own path from one end of the area to the other, learning to be aware of our bodies head to toe. Precisions and tic tacs off the walls and benches, fast and slow, low and high, long and short. I was learning more about why I move, how I move, how I can be more aware of my movement without really thinking about it. Lunch followed, time for some rest and refueling, and then back to more training. Intense warm up Yamakasi style in the parking garage, bouncing forwards, backwards, circles, one foot, two feet, in a crouch position, calve raises, spins, high jumps and more. Followed were handstand holds, vault combinations, quadripedie forwards and backwards, up and down stairs, on wet, slippery rails. Wall runs, climb ups, traversing in cat and combining it all. Flow, precision, roll, climb up, drop, leap, land, vault, land, and repeat...ending with a race around the center. I was tired and sore, but satisfied and pumped for the next day.

Sunday I got to Academy Sport in Westminster a bit early, waited around for a while, and set out with everyone for a 25 minute jog....forwards, backwards, and side shuffling both sides. Came back indoors, shoes off, and more Yamakasi style warming up, bouncing and sprinting in place till my legs were on fire. Quadripedie around the room, and a difficult upper body warm up to finish it off. I sprained my ankle at the first station unfortunately (thank you Tyson for the icepacks, ha), but it partly ended up being good, in a way, believe it or not. I took the time to talk to Forrest for a good while about my injury and past ones, as well as becoming a teacher and other future goals I have. The conversation was a great one, and one I really needed, and I thank Forrest for every moment of it. Following was time for video and pictures, talking to others, and continuing with some upper body training. We finished with a great cool down, and it was done. It was a trip well worth taking, and one I will never forget. Thank yous go out to everyone! Can't wait for next years =]

To be, and to last.

-Nick