Walk on Stilts

 Completed April & June, 2022

(I will be going back for more lessons)

Of all of the items on my 40 Before 40 list, I never expected to like stilt walking as much as I do. I'm fairly afraid of heights and hate getting up on ladders, even step ladders. Doing a stilt walking class was going to be an exercise in conquering a major fear. Not going to lie, it definitely is still pretty scary but the scariness wears off as you get used to them.

I found that Mike Weakley with Stilt Fun offered one-one-one classes and allows you to wear his stilts for the lessons. I'd previously looked into some classes offered in Tampa, but they were peg stills and really only offered a one hour one off class, which is not what I was looking for.

I showed up to my first lesson very scared and was extremely intimidated by taking the tiniest baby steps. After several lessons, broken up by training for my summer races, I decided I really wanted my own stilts so I could practice at home. 

I'm still in the baby stage of walking on stilts, so mine aren't the full height yet, but I'm getting there. The photo below is at the lowest setting, but that had me clocking in at a little over 7.5' tall (which made me a foot taller than my brother Kyle!). I'm now at the second setting, but I really need to get back to it after my long break for all of my crazy running adventures.