GETTING THERE CAR Highway 138 east from Quebec City for an hour to a well-marked Le Massif sign indicating a right turn. Follow the mountain road and you are there. FLY Daily, direct flights from Ottawa to Jean-Lesage International Airport at Quebec City. Rent a car, then follow the directions above. BUS Directly from Montreal to Le Massif with L’Express du Massif, 514-990-5914 ACCOMMODATIONS Provincial Park, Sentier des Caps de Charlevoix, 418-823-1117 or 1-866-823-1117 www.sentierdescaps.com Petite-Rivière-Saint-François is 10 minutes from Le Massif and has B&Bs. Baie-Saint-Paul is 20 minutes away with B&Bs, hotels and motels. Tourism Quebec’s guidebook lists accommodations and activities in the Charlevoix region, 877-266-5687. Le Massif 418-632-5205 or 877- LEMASSIF (yes, it has eight numbers) www.lemassif.com
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OTTAWAOUTDOORS WINTER 2005-2006
Cold Weather Running Don’t let the Ottawa winters slow you down BY JOHN STANTON IN THE CANADIAN High Arctic, instructors in a survival course tell air force pilots that there is one thing they must overcome to survive in a world where temperatures of –70ºC are not uncommon. It is the psychological fear of cold. They also teach that the heart is an efficient heater and that pilots can function comfortably with a little help from proper clothing. Instructors note that in high mountain ranges, tiny organisms survive on rocks warmed by the sun while temperatures around them are well below zero. The organisms have their own microclimate. We’re all somewhat larger organisms, but we too need to create a similar microclimate if we’re going to enjoy running in winter. So many people ski and climb today that layering clothing is no secret. It’s just common sense. Wear polypropylene underwear next to your skin with a breathable outer, windproof suit made of a fabric such as Versatech, and you are in business. Another layer should be added IN BETWEEN THEM on very cold days. And there’s no doubt you’ll remember your mitts and tuque. There’s a special joy in being the first footprints in the snow. The mental discipline that is often needed to get one foot out of the door when the snow is falling is exactly what comes in handy during the latter stages of a marathon. Get going!
SOME COLD WEATHER TIPS: } Adjust the intensity of your workout. It doesn’t matter whether you cover the same distance you might on a summer day. You are out running. Decide on a time rather than the number of kilometres. } Warm up properly and start at a comfortable pace before easing up into a tempo that is slower than your normal training pace. } Shorten your stride to improve your footing on icy roads. Many runners insert a handful of small drywall screws on the outsides of their soles to give them greater traction. } Carry coins or a cellphone so you can get help in an emergency. Perhaps carry the cab fare home. } Run into the wind and coast home with it at your back. } Run with a group if possible. } If you are going out by yourself, tell someone your route and estimate how long you will be out. Find a route that allows you to cut your run short and get help if you need it. } Remember up to 50 per cent of the body’s heat is lost through the head. Wear a balaclava or tuque to keep you warm.
} In extreme temperatures, cover all exposed skin with clothing or petroleum jelly. If you are running with a partner, check each other’s face regularly for the white patches that mean frostbite. } Run facing the traffic and wear reflective gear. } Chapstick your lips, nose and ears. } Many a gentleman has found the hard way that it is best to protect future generations with a wind brief. } Keep your speed work for dry, indoor surfaces. } Seek a warm, dry place and medical attention if you suspect hypothermia. It’s caused by a drop in the body’s core temperature and it’s dangerous. Signs are incoherent, slurred speech, clumsy fingers and other signs of poor co-ordination. } We know of no runner who has frozen lungs in subzero weather, and we know some people who run outside when it is –40ºC. The air is warmed by the body before it enters the lungs. If you find breathing cold air uncomfortable, wear a face mask to help warm it. } Change into dry clothes as soon as you can after your run. ≈ John Stanton is the founder of the North American-wide Running Room and now new Walking Room stores.
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
PHOTO BY RF STOCK
night I heard Nicholas screaming from somewhere in the pitch dark that he was locked in the outhouse. I was slow to rescue him because I was laughing so hard. Nicholas was unimpressed. Later, his time to laugh at me came when I found an ingenious way to heat up my sleeping bag. Turning a pot upside down on the wood stove, I placed the bag on top until it became toasty-warm. Unfortunately, it tipped off and onto the top of the stove. With a gaping burn hole in the cloth and the contents all over the floor, only duct tape saved the day. On our last night in the cabin, we were greeted by four adults and six small children – a result of overbooking. The provincial park authorities provided us with a free snowmobile ride to another cabin, but we arrived in the cold dark with no paper to start the fire. We tried the small, damp guest book. No dice. What to do? We could choose from two alternatives: a book Nicholas had bought with his own money (but had already read), or my coffee filters. Nicholas ranted that it was a crime against humanity to burn books, but at -24 degrees F that thick, dry book seemed like the best choice. In my world, dark, freshly ground French roast coffee is a morning necessity. I won. Actually, looking at the whole adventure, we both won. If you’re looking for a great winter get-away, try Le Massif.
