elissasmith.ca

My whole life I have tried to bring myself to believe that I enjoy jogging. I used to enter myself into long distance races, I did group training for rowing and skiing, I even have all the fancy running gear.

It was a bright sunny Saturday morning and I was out for a jog on the river underneath the Canadian Parliament buildings. There was a dog that was running in front of me without a leash. I was envious of the dogs ability to dodge between obstacles and run freely wherever it fancied.

On that fateful day “Urban Frolicking” was born.

Not to be confused with free running, Urban Frolicking is about empowering yourself through uninhibited movement through public spaces. Jumping on obstacles such as park benches, meaningless hopping, imitation horse trotting, traditional skipping, and exploring new areas are encouraged forms of self-expression and tension release.

In grade school skipping was my main method of transportation. Lately I have noticed a general trend in myself- I’m getting back to who I used to be a decade ago! I now enjoy humming as a past time, drinking organic milk, eating peanut butter and jam sandwiches, and wearing bangs. Lets hope I don’t start wearing neon orange and pink polar bear turtle-neck sweatshirts and calling myself “Flower”.