Mount Royal: The Natural Stairmaster

Thanksgiving is my favourite long weekend of them all. There's just something about the autumn leaves, family coming together, and the comforting scent of fresh apple pie. Growing up, my family would gather at my cabin north of Montreal for some turkey as we packed up the place for the winter. Keeping to tradition, my grandma, the matriarch of the family, rallied the family complete with all the cousins, aunts and uncles to perform the cabin-closing rituals. I was super excited to head up north on Saturday because it always means vibrant leaves, chilly lake water and incredible food. First on the agenda is taking in the dock, which dismantles into about seven pieces and then is brought onto shore before the snow falls and the lake freezes. For some reason, there is always confusion as to how it should be done: "Didn't we do it differently last year?" "No, I think this part comes out first..." "Was it always this heavy?!" As everyone grows older, the responsibility is passed down to the younger generation. Taking apart the original dock my grandpa made is not an easy task, especially when trying to avoid filling my waders with cold lake water! But it's a tradition and a piece of family history that will never change. Once warmed up from a little heavy lifting, the family splits up into pre- and post-production teams (the "pre" group preps the feast, "post" group is on clean up). I was on post-production this year so I went for a short hike.

We often get into a rhythm in the city and forget about the wonders of the great outdoors, and my, are these wonders wonderful! Beyond the city limits lie endless amounts of adventures. The opportunities to be active outside the confines of the monotonous treadmill or lukewarm waters of the Memorial Pool are certainly few, but their rarity make them all the more exceptional. I love walking through the bright yellow birch and rich green pines, feeling the crunch of leaves as I step over a rock, and hearing the squish of the damp moss below my feet. The crisp, cool air keeps the sweat away and as I climb higher up the hill, I can see my breath below my nose. Stored in my muscles are memories of hiking in the Rockies all summer and I keep thinking, "This is so much more fun than the Stairmaster!" Besides, the outdoors are a natural gym!

"I can see campus from here!"
The view from the top of Mt Royal 

Many of us go to the gym regularly because it is convenient and when you team up with a friend or join a class, it's pretty fun. However, for the sake of our sanity, it's important to switch it up every so often. We don't all have the chance to go up to a cabin by the lake every weekend, but we do live in a fantastic city that has an incredible amount of green space. If you haven't taken a walk, bike ride or jog up Mount Royal yet, I strongly suggest you do so. The fall colours are spectacular, the sounds of city are muted by the towering trees and the feel of the gravel and mud beneath your shoes or tires is much more satisfying than the whirring of a stationary bike or the swish of the elliptical. And winter approaching doesn't mean the end of outdoor activities either! Outdoor rinks are not in short supply in this town and the mountain is perfect for tobogganing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and good ol' fashioned walking (they plow the main path). Besides, a little fresh air never hurt anyone!

Don't have anyone to venture out with? Make some new friends with the McGill Outdoors Club!


See ya on the mountain!

- Martlet Girl

Who is Martlet Girl?

Who is Martlet Girl? This is a question maybe a few of you have asked yourselves in reading this blog. Well, if you're a female student enrolled at McGill who is somewhat interested in being active, you are Martlet Girl. If you are a female varsity athlete, you are Martlet Girl. If you are a girl who goes to the gym once a month for the odd spin class, you are Martlet Girl. If you don't even know where the Sports Complex is but you want to find out, you are Martlet Girl! No matter your major, no matter your sport, you are Martlet Girl. That is the beauty of her. She's all of us. So, every few weeks, I'll post a profile of a real Martlet Girl to let you know a bit more about who I am!

This week, I am Sarah:

Name: Sarah
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Major & year: Voice performance, U1
What's your favourite sport?
Basketball. It's a fun and active team sport.
How often do you use the McGill Sports Complex?
Ummmm... not too often. I should probably go more.
What is your favourite food?
CARROTS are probably my favourite snack food. I'd eat them whenever.
What's your favourite workout song?
Strong Will Continue by Nas & Damian Marley
Any guilty pleasures?
Netflix haha
What are your hobbies?
Music and horseback riding.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A music teacher.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I'd like to go to Italy. It is a beautiful country with lots of interesting architecture. And I would love to one day sing on an Italian Opera stage.
Have you ever been injured in sports?
Yes, I've been injured a few times. Once was while I was riding. I don't remember how it happened, all I remember is that I was going over a jump. Then the next thing I remember I was outside of the barns with a wicked headache. So I had to go to the hospital and get a CAT scan. I had a minor concussion.
If you could try any sport or activity that you've never done before, what would it be?
Tumbling. How cool would it be to be able to flip through the air??


Are you a Martlet Girl? Want to be featured on the blog? Drop me an email at martletgirl.mcgill@gmail.com!


See ya next week!

- Martlet Girl

The Wonderful World of Intramurals

I love sports, though I’m not especially talented at just one. Admiring my older brother play hockey, I made up my mind that I was going to play too. However, my lack of hand-eye coordination proved a minor handicap. For a while I thought I was pretty good at soccer, but the professional dream died when I was 15 and still playing house league. Next, I decided that I would be perfect for varsity rowing: I’m competitive, a good swimmer (just in case the boat tipped), and ridiculously enthusiastic even in the most hopeless of situations. That ship sunk when I realized my weakness: I like sleeping too much. So what’s a gal like me supposed to do for a little playful competition? Then it donned on me: intramural sports!

McGill’s fifteen intramural leagues allow students, staff and alumni of all calibers to get a bit sweaty and have a lot of fun. Last semester I played on an indoor soccer team with a few friends and although I was significantly less skilled than my teammates, I had a blast! Even though we were playing in the lowest level, we showed up at every match in coordinated t-shirts, running shoes laced up tight, and our game faces on. If you’re thinking, “Well, I’ve never played any of these sports before, so I won’t sign up,” then you are missing out on the purpose of intramurals. Our goalie had never played soccer before and our captain had kicked a ball maybe twice in her life. Your level of experience is irrelevant. The most important thing is your willingness to try something new and your determination to have a great time!

Still not sold yet on joining an intramural team? That’s cool. Consider maybe a pickup game of volleyball, badminton, basketball or soccer. Squash and tennis courts are also available if you have a friend to join you on the trek up to the Sports Complex. If you’re like me and prefer winter sports, don’t fret! Before the outdoor rinks are set up and the cold temperatures set in, check out the McConnell Arena for recreational skating and shinny hockey. They even have regular timeslots for figure skating!

Just because you’re not a Redman or a Martlet, doesn’t mean you’re a benchwarmer! Gather your friends, roommates, lab partners, and even that guy who sits behind you in history class to create a team. Intramurals can be a great way to loosen up and make new friends. Also, the winning team gets a championship mug!

Handy links:
McConnell Arena Schedule
Top 11 Things You Need to Know About the McGill Sports Complex
McGill Athletics - Recreation 


Fun fact: One in five McGill students is on an intramural team! Are you one of them? Leave a comment below telling me your favourite thing about intramurals!


-Martlet Girl

Fill the Stadium doesn't disappoint

Well, we’re back! Our carefree summer days have been replaced once again by classes, conferences and labs. However, the beginning of September also means the start of school sports! Last Friday night, McGill’s Redmen football team squared off against the Mount Allison Mounties in the annual “Fill the Stadium” game at Molson Stadium. The pre-game party began outside the field gates with cheap food, drinks, live music and good friends. Red Thunder was there in full force and for many it was their first varsity event! During the hour-long festivities before kickoff, the swarm of red grew as first-year rezzies trickled in, fresh-faced and eager, while the upperclassmen reunited with old friends.

To the cymbal clashes and celebration themes of McGill’s Fight Band, the first quarter started the game off with a bang and shot the Redmen into the lead with 25 points over Mount A’s zero. The atmosphere at this game was one of the best I’ve seen at Redmen football and definitely helped push our boys to nab another ten points in the second quarter. Marty the Martlet pumped up the crowd, Red Thunder with red and white face paint led the 2,000+ fans in chants and there was even a guy in a red morph suit running around. Whether you follow Redmen football religiously or have never seen a pigskin before, anyone and everyone at this game had a spectacular time.

Fans took a bit of a shower at the beginning of the third quarter when lightning ignited the sky and buckets of cold water fell on the field. We rushed to the upper bleachers and huddled together to brave the chilly winds while Fight Band kept our spirits up. The weather caused a delay in the game with only a few minutes left in the third. That filtered out the weak as only the most hardcore of fans stayed to reapply their war paint and toss on a jacket to keep our team going strong. The rain, wind and goose bumps were all worth it when McGill devastated Mount Allison 36-9, breaking the Redmen’s 23-game losing streak! History was made that night, guys. And it was epic!

Interested in other varsity sports? Check out the schedule of upcoming games on the McGill Athletics and Recreation website: http://www.mcgill.ca/athletics/newsroom/events/?channels=varsity_sports

Up this week: Pack the Pitch Thursday September 20 featuring the Soccer Redmen and Martlets vs U of Montreal. Pop vs. Jock Charity Basketball! Arcade Fire and their team of musical friends take on the best of the Redmen-Stinger team in an effort to raise a few bucks: http://popmontreal.com/events-tickets/pop-vs-jock/

Until next time,

- Martlet Girl

Adventures at the McGill Sports Medicine Clinic

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           Getting injured is never fun, but it is a reality that every athlete must deal with at some point. Whether it’s a torn ACL, shin splints, a twisted ankle or a bruised baby toe, an injury can set you back in your sport by interfering with training and competition. As a soccer player and track athlete competing at a high level, I had my fair share of tendonitis, knee problems and shin splints to deal with. As aggravating as those problems were, when I visited the McGill sports medicine clinic last Thursday I found myself wishing that I was going to see a physiotherapist about IT band pain or a sore back. While these injuries are certainly debilitating and can majorly disrupt a training regime, at least they do not interfere with the rest of your life as profoundly as does a concussion.

                I hit my head for the fourth time in 6 months while playing soccer at the beginning of March. At the time, I was completely symptom-free and ready to go. I was still careful not to head the ball and did not play as aggressively as I normally would, but I felt almost completely normal in sports and at school. Somehow, I managed to knock heads with a girl on the opposing team: not hard, but apparently enough to shake up the brain once again. All of my symptoms returned and I found myself unable to get out of bed for two weeks.

               I decided that my best bet in this situation was a trip to the McGill Sports Medecine Clinic to see a concussion specialist. I was lucky enough to get an appointment with Dr. Delaney, a man who is widely recognize for his contributions to this field. The first step of the appointment was taking the “IMPACT” test, a series of reaction-time, memory and spatial awareness tasks designed to make sure that my brain still exists. After toiling over that for a while and getting a massive headache, I finally got to meet with Dr. Delaney to discuss the test results and get his opinion on the best route to take in terms of recovery.

               The good news is that I still have a brain!! And it appears to be working reasonably well for most cognitive functions. The bad news is that I am experiencing 21/22 concussion symptoms quite intensely on a regular basis. Dr. Delaney prescribed no physical activity of any kind for a month, no more than an hour at a time on the computer, avoiding loud environments, avoiding fluorescent lights, no alcohol and resting as much as possible. Basically, I need to completely drop the “university lifestyle” as most of us know it.

                As an athlete, being told that you cannot do your sport for an extended period of time is always devastating news. As a student, being told that you have to drastically change your lifestyle in order to recover from an injury is a tough pill to swallow. Missing out on fun social activities in favor of resting in a dark room can be quite depressing, to say the least. However, an important part of recovering from any injury is staying positive and focusing on what you can do rather than on what you can't do. I'm trying to take my own advice and stay as positive as possible in a difficult situation.

Looks like my hour of screen time is up!
See you next week!

- Martlet Girl 

CIS Championships From My Couch

Fans of the Martlets and Redmen: it's CIS national championship season! This winter, McGill teams qualified for the competition in a number of sports, including track and field, men's and women's hockey, women's basketball and women's volleyball. Although making a trek out to Winnipeg, Edmonton or Calgary to watch your favourite team play might not be realistic for most students, diehard fans will be happy to know that there is another option. As I discovered last weekend, if you have a computer and a comfortable couch, watching CIS action from home can be a great alternative to enjoying the live action.

While at home in Chelsea visiting my family, I enjoyed the CIS Women's Hockey Tournament which took place last weekend at the University of Alberta. With a sister who has been recruited to join the U of A hockey team next year and a cousin who plays for the Laurier Golden Hawks, my family had a lot of interest in the outcome of the competition. On top of that, I love to watch CIS women's hockey because it truly showcases the best talent in the world in this sport. Case in point: Hayley Wickenheiser herself plays for the University of Calgary Dinos!!!! If you've been living under a rock for the past 20 years, Wickenheiser has been a member of the Canadian National Team since she was 15 years old, has played men's professional hockey in Finland and has won 4 Olympic medals (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010). She has been a pioneer for women's hockey and has inspired a generation of girls to get involved in the sport. To have Hayley playing in the CIS against the Martlets is basically the equivalent of having a younger Wayne Gretzky step out onto the ice to play against the Redmen! Inspiring, but also extremely intimidating.

It's safe to say then that the Martlets were pretty unlucky when they were matched against the Dinos in their first game of the tournament. It was a very even matchup, but unfortunately the outcome was a 0-1 loss for McGill. That goal ended up being the only one that the Martlets conceded in the entire competition. Still, because of this loss to the Calgary, the McGill team failed to win their pool and were forced to play for bronze against the Laurier Golden Hawks. I had a tough time deciding who to cheer for (family loyalty or school pride?), but regardless of my allegiance the game turned out to be a 4-0 blowout in favour of the Martlets. In the final, Universite de Montreal faced off against Calgary and ended up being pummelled 5-1 in a game that was never close. Because of the bizzare tournament format, the true "championship final" probably took place during the second game when Calgary edged out McGill by a narrow margin.

If you missed out on all of this action last weekend, do not worry. There is still a chance to see McGill teams in CIS competitions coming up very soon. Men's hockey, currently seeded in second place, starts their tournament on March 22nd. To stream the game live, click on this link. Women's basketball, seeded 7th in the country, is also going for Gold this weekend. They start their tournament on March 17th. Click here for more information and to watch the game live. 

Take a study break, find a comfortable seat and enjoy a game or two! 

Go Red Go! 

- Martlet Girl 

Nordic Skiing in the City

When I got back to Montreal last Sunday night after spending my Reading Break at home in Chelsea, I felt the usual sadness that comes with re-entering the city. The 25cm of gorgeous, sparkling, whiter-than-white snow that we had received over the weekend had been transformed by the city streets into a slushy, wet, grey annoyance. As I walked back to McGill from the greyhound station, getting splattered with slush from speeding drivers and already missing the ability to see the stars, I began to plan how to make the best of the situation.

Of course, I immediately thought of playing hockey, which I did earlier in the week at a new rink I had never been to before. As always, it was an amazing time and it felt great to be outside for a few hours. As the weekend approached and the temperature began to rise, I realized that outdoor hockey would no longer be an option. After dealing with the minor deprerssion that accompanied this realization, I began to consider alternative ways of spending my time and energy. Finally, it dawned on me: it was time to try something I had been meaning to do during each of the three winters I have spent in Montreal, but had never gotten around to before.

My adventure began at the Currie gym, where I rented my equipment. This in itself was a bit of a hassle because apparently you have to purchase the rental at client services before picking up the skis, boots and poles at the equipment desk. Anyways, after buying a rec activities card, returning said card, visiting client services and the equipment desk twice, and finding proper skis and boots that didn't look they were about to fall apart, I was ready to go!

On Friday, conditions were absolutely perfect. The temperature was hovering around zero degrees, the snow was gliding and my wax was working well. Although I know the trails of Mont Royal from my running excursions, it quickly became clear that when on skis or snowshoes, there are many other options just off of the main path. I found myself following reasonably well-marked trails through the woods in all parts of the park. Trail 2, located at the top of the mountain, was particularly fun. It snaked through the woods in a loop and featuring lots of exciting ups and downs. At some points along the trail I actually found myself completely alone, and almost forgot for a moment that I was in fact at the heart of a major metropolis. Since this was exactly the feeling I had hoped to find, I was more than happy with my experience. When I finished my ski and began walking home with a huge smile on my face, I wondered to myself why in the world I had not cross-country skied on the mountain before!

Although there might not be many days of winter left, I would highly recommend the Mount Royal cross-country experience. You can rent skis from the Currie gym for as little as $10, and they do function as they should, Martlet Girl guarantee! Take a study break McGill, and get outside!

See you on the trails,
-Martlet Girl