SPRING GREETINGS
Spring had sprung here in Quebec, and after a swift thaw and one glorious 20c day, the snow has returned. I’ve been sitting in the house all day, watching the snow fall while marvelling at the array of birds in our feeders. I am home in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, a place that was in my dreams during the seven month absence this past fall/winter. I always say my greatest ‘sacrifice’ for sport is spending so much time away from home, but must admit when I return I appreciate everything this secluded place offers. The birds, the silence and the view of the valley below our wooded haven in the hills….these are but a few of the elements that make this a special place for me.
The end of the skating season always brings me back just in time for beginning the sugaring season. Usually, it’s about a week after returning that I see the steam billowing from the forest in the same places, year after year. Maple syrup steam that is, and it’s precisely this time when I take the salivating walk to my neighbour’s ‘Cabane à Sucre’ or ‘Sugar Shack’.
There’s so much steam inside the small cabin where the sap is boiled down into thick syrup that one cannot see the person standing two feet away. You can taste the maple in the air and I always walk out, at least two hours later, with aching teeth and a sore tummy from not only too much fresh, hot syrup, but also the donuts that are dipped into the cup of sugary heaven.
Yes, this is but one of many activities I partake in during my off-season. My allotted ‘time-off’ equals about 3 weeks, and then it’s time to exercise again. Not so much for fitness, but more so because of my appetite for things like the above mentioned delicacies.
The training regime recommenced April 1st. Peter, my uber-fit husband, and I set out for a spin on the mountain bikes. There’s so much dirt on the paved roads in Quebec after winter it’s dangerous to ride anything but the knobby tires. Five minutes later it began to rain, and after twenty minutes it began to rage, with the wind and rain making it nearly impossible to neither see nor steer the bikes.
And still, we rode on.
The joy of riding and freedom I felt, rain and all, reminded me of why I love to train. That feeling of fatigue from exertion that only comes from training is what I crave. Only now, it’s not training, it’s simply fun. I realized on that day the importance of enjoying exercise for the freedom of movement it provides, not because I have to do it, but because I want to.
The next two days we enjoyed riding in the sun, and now it’s been dumping snow all day.
As much as I love my bike, I think I’ll go for a run today!
I hope you’re all having a great spring.
Warmest regards,
Clara Hughes
