Fourteen and a half years ago my husband (of two days) and I headed to Chateau Montebello for our honeymoon. This past weekend we returned for some rest, relaxation and of course a little running. I hope that another fourteen years will not have to go by before we return – it is simply a wonderful place to spend a winter weekend.
A lobby like no other.
The Chateau, located on the Ottawa River between Ottawa and Montreal, is billed as the world’s largest log cabin. Built in only 4 months in 1930, it is a stunning piece of architecture anchored by its beautiful hexagonal stone fireplace. The moment you walk in you feel like you have stepped back in time. The dim but cozy lighting, the scent of 85 year old wood, the sloping floors and the crackling fire leads to an instantaneous sense of relaxation.
Even the ceiling is beautiful!
I know everyone is fed up with this winter, but this season that doesn’t want to end served up a perfect weekend, so perfect I found it hard to wish for spring. A light snow fell most of the day on Saturday while today offered slightly colder temperatures but clear and sunny skies. Yes, winter can beat us down and wear us out, but it can also be stunning in its beauty and sense of calm.
A peaceful Sunday run.
Of course runners have had their own complaints with this winter. Bad footing, freezing temperatures and bone chilling winds don’t always mix well with our sport. Many runners this season have simply resigned themselves to a treadmill, which while I understand is sometimes necessary, I still consider to be a bit of a shame. Even with access to treadmills at the resort, I chose to run outside and I am so glad I did. I think in order to do so though, you have to be prepared to dismiss what your training program tells you and simply do what Old Man Winter allows.
I ran up this hill both days, it may not look like much but there was a sign noting it was a 13% grade!
I ran 7km of cross country ski trails on Saturday (5k with my husband, something we never get to do) and ran another 4k today. Not exactly long runs, but what amazing workouts! To explain just how challenging running in the snow is, I just have to look at my average pace times. Last Saturday I ran a comfortable 19k at an average pace of 6:10 min/km. This past Thursday I did 22km, with more hills than I can count, with a pace of 6:24 min/km. Saturday’s Montebello 7k run in the snow finished at a 7:10 pace, and I was working hard to get that. Today’s 4k run, with even more fresh snow, was slower! If I were just to look at the stats on paper, I would think I had done little training this weekend, In fact, I feel I did just the opposite. There was no speed, there was little distance covered, but I know every step I took helped get me a little closer to being ready for Around the Bay.
Running…and relaxing!