Home for the Holidays

Exams, exams, exams! They're almost over! Soon I'll be bundled up on my couch surrounded by family and good food with a hot coco in hand. I'm one of the unlucky students who got stuck with my last final on the 19th, so I can't start dreaming of sugar plums dancing in my head just yet. In the meantime, I'm dreaming of easy-grading profs and sympathetic TA's.

The top 5 things I'm looking forward to this break are:

5) Sleeping in my own bed. There isn't quite anything like getting home to find your bed all made up with clean sheets eagerly awaiting you to jump into its heap of plushy softness!

4) Dad Jokes. You know, the kind of jokes all dads make that are filled with lame puns and laced with an eagerness that says "I'm so happy you're home!" They're the best kind of jokes and no matter how lame and silly they might be, they're the funniest and make me never want to leave home again.

3) Real home-cooked meals. The best is that first moment you walk in the door, duffle bags in hand, and the comforting aroma of cookies, shortbread and the fireplace wrap you up in an invisible blanket of awesome. Just as you put your bags down, dinner appears on the table and it's all your favourite foods! Home is awesome.

2) Snowshoeing with the fam. I love the outdoors, especially in winter and when my parents told us they were planning a little family holiday to a cabin in the woods, I got all giddy and started jumping up and down. When my family goes snowshoeing, it often turns from a perfectly relaxed winter hike to a messy snowball fight and races to the next bend (if someone doesn't get pushed into the snowbank first, that is). All in good fun, it develops into a snow war where my little sister and older brother team up against me. As you might have guessed, I'm the one who usually ends up in the snowbank.

1) Skating on an outdoor rink. Could I be more Canadian?! This is one of those timeless pleasures that I can't get enough of. Be it a frozen pond, canal, river or the soccer field around the block, I love lacing up my skates and feeling my edges cut through the ice while snowflakes land on my nose.
Need I say more?

Sleep lots, laugh lots, eat lots and play lots.
Keep active and have very happy holidays, McGill!

- Martlet Girl

Gearing Up for Winter

Cycling to class is a great way to get some exercise, save money on a metro pass and help the environment. Though now that winter has started to set in, many of us find ourselves looking for alternatives to our regular bike habits. Walking to class still gives you a light workout, but we don't all live in the ghetto so we turn to public transit. But the busses are crowded and the metro is stuffy... so what else can we do? Why not keeping cycling?

Winterize your bike and yourself!
Photo courtesy of Bikurious Montreal

Montreal's winter can try to push us off our bikes and onto the bus, but as long as we do it safely we can continue cycling throughout the winter! I know this may sound like a crazy idea, but hear me out. Winterizing your bike isn't as complicated as it might appear. Having the right tires is crucial: traditional road bikers often opt for mountain bike tires because they're wider and have better grip. To really gear yourself up, look into a set of studded tires (found at MEC & other outdoor shops) to keep you safer on the ice. Bike fenders generally sit pretty close to your wheel, but this means that snow, slush and ice get caught easily between it and your tire, which slows you down poses the risk of getting your tire stuck. Looser fitting fenders will do a better job at preventing unwanted and dangerous buildup. Also, word has it that car wax on your frame can help ward off rust and slush build up. Once you've winterized your bike, time to winterize yourself!

It's important that you dress appropriately when biking outside during the winter. This includes waterproof outer layers (jacket, pants, mits, shoes). Don't be afraid to look silly by dressing properly (you're already looking silly by cycling in the snow!) because by the time you get to class you'll be dry and happy, and you'll thank yourself for putting on those rain pants over your jeans. If you don't have waterproof shoes, putting plastic bags over your boots is a cheap and easy alternative. And you'll want to dress warm, but not too warm as you will heat up on your ride to school. A thin hat, headband or even a balaclava fit well under a helmet. Start of a bit cooler so you can allow your body to warm up comfortably. And don't forget eyewear: if you're not willing to break out the ski goggles for your cycle along Sherbrooke, lab goggles make for an excellent substitute!

If you want some help winterizing your bike, check out McGill's bike co-op The Flat in the SSMU basement. They have some great suggestions on how to keep yourself going this winter!

(And if all efforts fail, you can always try this!)

Have fun, good luck, and stay safe :)

- Martlet Girl

Go Red Go!

Ok, imagine this: You're standing at center ice in front of a packed house. The score is tied after three periods and overtime. Now you're in a shootout. It's just you and the goalie. Your teammates before you failed to get the puck past the goalkeeper and now all the pressure is on you. You feel the sweat dripping down your back. Taking a deep breath, you skate toward the net. You fake a slap shot and the goalie goes down. With an open net you sink the puck and the crowd goes wild!

What might sound like a scene from a ‘90s hockey movie was real life for McGill defenceman Keven Dupont on Friday night.

At 7pm the Redmen faced off against the University of Toronto at the McConnell Arena.I’m ashamed to say that this was the first Redmen game I’ve attended. The atmosphere was amazing, there were hundreds of people there and everyone was completely immersed in the game. It was as if every time Toronto scored, McGill fans took it personally. The jeers for the Toronto goals were strongly contrasted by the "Ole ole" cheers following the home goals. Despite the emotion in the crowd, it was clear that everyone was there to just enjoy some good hockey.

 

He shoots, he scores!!
Photo by Derek Drummond

Barely two minutes into the first period #8 Ryan McKiernan scores for McGill, revving up the crowd. The first period ended in a tie 1-1 and fans didn’t see another goal until the third. Despite the lack of scoring, the crowd was going crazy over the fast-paced game and the heated fights, which were quickly broken up by the refs. By the end of the third, the score was tied 2-2 so play went into overtime. Five minutes later and still no goal, we were on the edge of our seats as the refs called a shootout. The first three shooters from each team were unable to score. Fourth one up for McGill was #20 Keven Dupont. His intimidating speed and quick reflexes were too much for the Toronto keeper. It felt like one of those classic "He shoots, he scores!!" moments. When Toronto's fourth shooter failed to score, McGill fans were on their feet cheering and hugging each other. I felt swept up in a wave of excitement, emotion and school pride. After a rocky start to their season, the defending national champs seem to be back on track, especially after another win against Nipissing on Saturday!

 

Go Red Go!

 

- Martlet Girl

Aussies in Awe

The McGill Martlets are the best women’s university hockey team in Canada. They’re excellent skaters, have great positioning and have amazing team chemistry. They’re fast, aggressive and very agile. To people who know hockey, they’re a fantastic team. To people who don’t know hockey, it all seems like magic.

Provincial champions
2011-2012 season

On Saturday, I took a couple friends visiting from Australia to the Martlets game as they faced off against les Carabins of Université de Montréal. Neither of them had seen a hockey game before and they were completely in awe. As the Martlets whizzed around the ice, the Aussies admired the girls’ skating speed and stickhandling prowess. By the end of the first period, McGill was up 2-1. While the visiting Carabins scored only one goal in the second, our girls soared ahead to finish the period 7-2. In the end, les Carabins were no match for the quick and powerful Martlets who dominated play to win 8-3.

To the anthems played by Fight Band, we cheered on our team and reveled in McGill’s greatness. One Aussie said, while she donned my school hoodie, that it felt like she went to McGill as she stood and roared with the crowd. “We never see ice hockey! If anyone back home saw this game, they would have been very impressed.”

Congratulations on another win girls!

-Martlet Girl

#McGillPride

McGill is a university to be proud of and its students certainly prove its high caliber year after year. Since its early days, McGill students have pioneered new sports and have risen to become world-ranked athletes. To be a part of this legacy is daunting and inspiring. With the McGill name printed on our jerseys comes a reputation for excellence, good sportsmanship and hard work. To join the #McGillPride bandwagon, here are some points to be proud of:

-       May 13 and 14, 1874: McGill played Harvard in the first ever football game in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

-       The McGill Hockey Club, the world’s first official hockey team, was formed in 1877.

-       In 1891, James Naismith (BA 1887 in Physical Education) invented the sport of basketball.

-       Percy Nobbs was the first McGillian to represent Canada at the Olympics. He competed at the 1908 London Olympics in fencing.

Some more contemporary people and teams to be proud of:

-       The McGill Martlets hockey team is ranked first in the country.

-       The McGill Redmen are the defending national champions in hockey.

-       The McGill Rowing Club has produced a heap of world-ranked athletes and Olympians: Alison Korn, already an accomplished rower on the world stage, won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic games. Mara Jones and Sarah Pape, two former McGill rowers, placed eighth and seventh respectively at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. The following year, Mara won gold at the World Rowing Championships in Japan.

-       This fall, the McGill men’s badminton team won their first tournament in school history.

-       The cross-country running Martlets captured the provincial title this fall for the third year in a row. What’s even more impressive is their consecutive winning streak from 1988 to 2007.

-       Brianna Miller, who plays rugby for the Martlets, was named player of the year for 2012 in the RSEQ women’s rugby league. Since 2010, she has scored 270 points in 19 league games.

-       A notable McGillian is Mike Babcock. Graduated in 1986, he currently coaches the Detroit Red Wings.

-       Also hockey royalty, Montreal Canadiens goalie and six-time Stanley Cup winner Ken Dryden graduated from McGill with a Bachelor of Laws in 1973.

-       In 2002, Kim St-Pierre (B. Ed. ’05) became McGill’s first female Olympic gold medalist. She played on the Canadian women’s hockey team in the 2002 and 2006 Olympics.

-       Jennifer Heil, a well-decorated freestyle skier, currently studies management and political science at McGill.

Are you proud of our fellow McGillians’ accomplishments? I definitely am!

#McGillPride

- Marlet Girl

An Urge to Erg

Over the last couple of months, one of my roommates has been gradually encouraging me to join the McGill Rowing Club. At first, I thought, “Man! This sounds like so much fun!” My enthusiasm quickly turned to doubt as I realized how much I enjoy a good night’s sleep. However, she is persistent and keeps feeding me reasons why I should give it a try. “The people are really great and totally keep you motivated!” she says, but then reading into my expression continues, “and the mornings really aren’t that bad. You get used to it pretty quick.”

More and more, I’m tempted to give it a shot. I recall back in my CEGEP days I went erging with a few friends who were on the rowing team. They were also up at the crack of dawn and exuded an enthusiasm about the sport the way a kid talks about their favourite candy. I tried the indoor rowing machine (aka “erg”) at our school gym and had an awesome time! It was unlike any exercise I’d done before. I surprisingly found myself getting a full-body workout! I had grown up figure skating, playing soccer and running track—sports that keep you on your feet, so I was excited to find something with a completely new dynamic that gave me an excellent workout.

As for my fear of early mornings, I thought back to the days in high school when I ran for the McGill Olympic Club (a track club open to the public). Those years were full of early morning runs and practices. For a while, I was habituated to waking up early to get in a run before school and then heading to an evening practice after my classes. My roommate says the McGill team spirit and determined coaches definitely make the early hours worth it.

Besides, who wouldn’t be proud to be part of a team that produces Canadian University Rowing champions and world-class athletes?

See ya next rowing season!

- Martlet Girl

Stressed out? Swim it out!

Midterms are nobody’s friend. In fact, they’re really an enemy. They cause us to stress out, loose sleep and sometimes go crazy. It’s a season that everyone dreads and we beg to be over. During this time, most of us fall off our exercise schedules and some even turn to comfort foods to unwind (guilty!). I know I’m not alone on this, but when that happens to me, I feel even worse!

This midterm season, I’ve tried to stick to going to the gym a couple times a week. One of my favourite stress-relieving activities is swimming. For those of you who don’t have a gym membership, this is a perfect choice because you don’t need one! The Memorial Pool is open to all students and there’s plenty of recreational swim time throughout the day to accommodate your study schedule (check out the pool sched here!). I love swimming because it works every muscle in my body without having to set a foot in the gym! I’ve been swimming since I was kid and I have fond memories of my years on the summer swim team at my local pool. I’ve teamed up with a friend from those formative years who conveniently goes to McGill and we head to the pool every Friday afternoon. The routine and company is awesome and it makes it easier to keep each other motivated. It’s a great break from the books and adds a social aspect to exercise. The pool lanes are divided based on speed (slow, medium, fast) and it’s a relaxed atmosphere, which is just what I need during midterms. A huge plus is that there’s no time limit! The machines in the gym are restricted to 30 minutes, but you have the stamina to swim for two hours, go for it!

Next time you need a break from studying, grab your swimsuit and a friend and head to the pool.

P.S. Don’t forget your goggles!

- Martlet Girl

More than just a place to exercise

The McGill Sports Centre is a wondrous place. The building is huge! I had an exam there last winter and I nearly got lost. I was working my buns for quite a while going up a long spiralling staircase to find the classroom. I guess there’s no escaping exercise no matter what you’re there for, right? And people go through those turnstiles for a multitude of reasons: exercise, team meetings, work, injury, class – wait, ‘injury’? Yep, you heard me. Not only does the Sports Centre house the Department of Athletics, Phys. Ed. students, a ginormous gymnasium, the Memorial Pool, the Tomlinson Fieldhouse, the Fitness Centre, and squash courts, it is the home to the McGill Sports Medicine Clinic. In my opinion, this is one of the most amazing places amidst many at the Sports Centre. I have become quite familiar with the Sports Clinic over the course of my time at McGill and I can tell you that in this special corner on the third floor you will find the kindest, most fantastic group of people around. From the front desk to the therapists to the doctors, you can trust that you’ll be in good hands, no matter your injury.

Last year, I was paying a visit to my physiotherapist every week for nearly three months to help me with my third sprained ankle. You know what they say: “Third time’s the charm.” True enough, that time I actually ripped a tendon, whereas the other two had just been strains. A couple crutches, many bags of ice, some fun exercises and an ankle brace later, I was as good as new.

However, there’s another proverb that characterizes my injury history: “Not all good things last forever.” I consider myself a lucky person in many aspects of life, though with injuries not so much. This summer, not even a year later, I fractured my spine cliff jumping out west. In terms of the injury, it could have been a lot worse, but still, who breaks their back?! So, I spent two months in a rather colourful back brace and I’ve been in physiotherapy now since the beginning of term. I guess one shouldn’t be happy to go somewhere called a “clinic” every week, as it usually implies the sick and injured. But for me, this place means healing, recovery and support. I don’t know how I would have made it through the last month and a half without the Sports Medicine Clinic and its incredible staff. As I go through my recovery of tricky exercises, swimming, yoga, massages and heat wraps, I’m constantly reminded that healing requires a lot of patience. It’s hard not to jump ahead of myself in my attempt to get back to my previous level of activity, but as I slowly inch toward my goal, I’m guided by strong hands and smiling faces.

On behalf of all injured, to-be injured, and previously-injured students, staff and members of the community, I’d like to thank the staff at the McGill Sports Medicine Clinic for making our lives and roads to recovery easier, smoother, and safer.

- Martlet Girl