Outdoor Rinks!

We all know Montreal is like one big skating rink in the winter when it snows, hails and pelts freezing rain. Sometimes our only defence seems like to stay inside with a hot cup of tea until they sprinkle the sidewalks with salt. However, we have other alternatives! When it's too icy to walk uphill to the gym and the streets aren't cleared to go for a run, that's when it's time to layer on the warm clothes, sling your skates over your shoulder and head for the park around the corner.


What better way to spend your weekends other than partaking in a truly Canadian sport? Despite the appeal to skate to school on some frigid mornings, check out Montreal's many outdoor (and free!) rinks. Some have chalets so you don't have to freeze your fingers as you lace up, but many are just a frozen section in the middle of a park.

Parc Lafontaine

This weekend I went skating at the rink in Parc Lafontaine (south of Rue Rachel and east of St-Denis by a few blocks) and had a blast! There were quite a few people but the section maintained as a rink is massive so there was no issue of bumping to people. I hadn't been skating in about 10 months, but for me it's like riding a bike. I was lucky enough to have my parents teach me to skate around the same time I was learning to walk so it's second nature. Toss in years of competitive figure skating and I'm practically at home when I step on the ice. Skating is one of those sports that everyone can enjoy no matter skill level or age and is perfect for group outings!

Try it this weekend! All outdoor rinks are free. If you don't have your own skates, cheap rentals are available at chalets like at Parc Lafontaine and at Beaver Lake on Mont Royal. Click here for a map of all outdoor rinks in the city!
*Note: some are specified for shinny hockey and other activities (see the coloured icons at the bottom of the page).

So grab your skates, grab your friends and go skating!

- Martlet Girl

Busy, busy, busy!

Sticking to our New Year's resolutions are tough, but surprisingly, I've had an easier time with mine this year. I admit, it helps to be bound to a twice-weekly course that I've already paid for and friends to tease me when I miss one. Monday's class was the fifth so far this semester and I know I may sound a little ahead of myself, but I already feel like I'm getting stronger! With this enthusiasm I decided to dip into the gym to do some free weights.

I knew that evenings at the gym were busy, but I had no idea how busy! Doing a scan of the main floor I noticed that only one treadmill was free, two Stairmasters were free and a handful of bikes (mostly the recumbent ones). Everything else was in use. I turned around to chance the weight machines, but it seemed like each one was occupied. "Okay, well, let's try the weights upstairs since that's what I came for anyways," I thought to myself. Not even at the top of the stairs I could tell I was out of luck. As my last hope, I went to find the mats on the other mezzanine for some stretching post-spin. Holy smokes. So. Many. People. I have never seen a gym so full! Feeling rather stunned I decided to just give in to my tired muscles and I headed home.

From my experience, the best time to go to the gym would be midday. You're almost guaranteed a machine and/or workout space and you don't feel the same pressure to keep to the time limit. Seven-thirty at night is certainly the opposite. Sure, it's conveniently after your long school day, but if you can squeeze in a workout during your lunch break, I highly suggest it! That way you not only skip the gym wait times, but also the cafeteria wait times.

Good luck!

- Martlet Girl

Carnival

Colourful Carnival fans!

Last Wednesday was a special night as the McGill Redmen faced off against UQTR (Université de Québec à Trois-Rivières). When I walked into McConnell Arena that evening, I found myself in a swarm of multicoloured jumpsuits, red t-shirts and beer. Not only was this a Red Thunder game, but Carnival participants were there to double the hype. Now, what's Carnival you ask? Well, imagine frosh in the winter. Except this one is team-based, everyone wears jumpsuits (aka "puke suits") and compete in drinking-related games to win the week-long event. Needless to say, these enthusiastic, inebriated folk made the game all the more fun.

It was hard to tell what side the fans were on just by the sight of them: when McGill scored, everyone was on their feet cheering, arms around each other and ordering another round in celebration; when UQTR scored, everyone was on their feet booing, arms around each other and ordering another round to ease their woes. Thankfully, there was more to celebrate than to cry about. The Redmen won 4-2!

If you're looking for another chance to cheer on our teams, come join the fans for some more hockey as our boys take on the Concordia Stingers on Friday at McConnell Arena. Also on this weekend: the McGill Team Challenge for our track and field stars at the fieldhouse and Martlet volleyball versus Sherbrooke on Sunday at the Love Competition Hall (in the Sports Complex).

Check out the McGill Athletics homepage for all the lastest info on our varsity teams, tickets, how to get there and more.

- Martlet Girl

Spin and Trim

Last night I tried my first ever spin class. I was expecting it to be challenging, by WOW was it tough! The class is called Spin and Trim so we cycle for about 50-55 minutes, have short stretch and then 15-20 minutes of exercises to strengthen other parts of the body before a longer stretch at the end. Once the class was over and my heart rate was back to normal, I realized how much I enjoyed it! But before I got to that blissful point... well, it wasn't easy.

I have never cycled on a spin bike before, so I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into. From the looks on the faces of others in the class, I could tell I wasn't alone. Once everyone was perched on their bikes, the teacher put one some music and we were off! She was shouting out motivations left and right and as the music tempo increased, so did our speed. We went over hills, rode flats, did sprints and I thought I was going to hurl. This was way more intense then I was expecting! Sometimes she had us standing up while we worked our way up a hill (which is a lot harder than she makes it look). The toughest part for me was when we had to stand for 5 seconds, then sit back down, then stand, then sit, and so on. After that, I was sure my legs had turned to jelly. That was confirmed to me once I stepped off my bike: my legs were shaking and with each step, I swerved a bit on my way to the mats. The core exercises the teacher led us in were tough, especially for a girl who’s trying to get all those muscles back. I struggled most with the plank: I could barely hold it for 20 seconds! However, our teacher assured us all that by the end of the class we’ll be able to hold plank for 2 minutes… wish me luck!

All these difficulties aside, the challenge was exciting. Once I got over the unwelcome feeling in my stomach, it was really fun! It was cool to try something different and I’m looking forward to feeling myself get stronger. In the meantime, my bottom is sore, my legs are tired and my spirits are high. Next class is tomorrow!
 See ya then!

- Martlet Girl

My New Year's Resolutions

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful break and brought in 2013 with a fresh set of New Year's resolutions. I sure did!

This year, I've created a set of goals that will get me back in shape now that I'm feeling a bit stronger after my injury over the summer. I divided my goals up into short-, mid-, and long-term:

• My short-term goal is to go swimming today and hit the gym on Thursday. (It may seem a little too short, but I have to start somewhere!) I'm hoping that by starting the first week of the semester on the right foot it will guide me to greater success over the course of the year.
• As for my mid-term goal, I've joined a spin class that runs twice a week throughout the term. For some extra motivation, I've registered with a few friends. I'm signed up and payed for so there's no backing out now!
• The long-term goal I have in mind is to get back to running. I'm hoping to lace up my running shoes sometime in late spring or over the summer break. This goal is the most daunting for me as I have been in and out of running over the last few years while I try to recover from various injuries and illnesses. What used to be part of my daily routine now scares me a bit... It's tough to get back into it every time and my lack of consistency doesn't help. But this time is a different story! I'm determined to find my way back.

Throughout the semester I'm also going to try a few of the drop-in classes. These Pay-As-You-Go fitness classes have something for everyone: spin, zumba, tae box and more! There's tons to choose from, so don't make any excuses!

See ya at the gym!

- Martlet Girl

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