Spring in Canada

By now, if all went well en route, I should be in Tel Aviv. If the weather folks were right, I should be trying to convince my body that it does indeed enjoy 30 degree weather and that, ready or not, it will be running a half marathon tomorrow.

But I don't want to write about 30 degrees. I want to write about last weekend and the positively balmy spring weather we enjoyed in Ontario.

On Saturday afternoon, Doug and I, freshly showered and fed after our runs, headed to Burlington. We were going to a swim shop we had heard about that sells performance bathing suits. You know, the kind that don't disintegrate in chlorine. I was pretty fed up with my latest suit that I bought in January. It is already see-through in a few spots that really shouldn't be see-through. So we headed up the highway and bought new bathing suits that should hold up to our thrice a week swim sessions.

On the way home, we drove through downtown Burlington. Remember, it was March 9th, by the lake, a mere 8 degrees outside. Patios were open and hopping, couples were strolling along the waterfront and families were eating ice cream...outside.

I love spring in Canada.

Sunday morning, guess what we did?

We went cycling of course.

We were sensible enough to wait until 10:30am and, as the temperature hit 6 degrees, we joined our hardy friends for our first ride of the year. Flocks of geese flew overhead. The swollen rivers flowed fast and furious. The sun beat down and made the winter wind feel almost balmy.

I love spring in Canada.

Every spring, I wonder the same thing. I wonder how many people recently moved to Canada from another country and are about to experience their first spring. Does it feel magical the first time or does it take a few years before people are able to smell the change in the air? To spot the first buds on the trees and the first crocus popping up through the snow? To notice the extra minutes of daylight and the increasing urgency of the bird songs? To run without gloves for the first time in months and feel positively giddy?

I'm glad I got to feel that first taste of spring in Canada before I headed to Tel Aviv and into full blown summer.

Winter running

It's officially a winter wonderland outside.  A huge dump of snow last night has transformed the world and turned my 3 minute commute into an adventure.  But I'm not writing about today, I'm still thinking about last night. 

6pm.  It was dark and cold and the snow had just started.  Thanks to a gusty wind, the snow was flying horizontally across the parking lot as I walked towards the running store.  Who the hell is crazy enough to run in this?  Apparently a lot of people are.  There must have been 50 runners out and ready to go.  Some were completely covered in layers to the point that they were unrecognizable.  Others had bare hands and thin layers on.  Some, like me, still had their short summer socks on, leaving ankles exposed to the howling wind.

Doesn't matter what we wore - we were out there.

It's usually only the first few minutes of winter running that are nasty.  My body quickly warms up and I start peeling layers off.  Then comes the wonderful feeling of being part of something bigger than myself.  I'm no longer trying to survive the run, it feels like I've become part of the landscape.  Running down side streets, it's quiet and peaceful and so very beautiful.  Running along major roads, I see the looks on the faces of drivers freezing in their cars and can't help but grin. 

Running in Canada is an adventure.  And I feel so lucky to be able to experience, really experience, all of our seasons.  Running has taught me to recognize and appreciate the subtleties of nature - I can tell when the temperature goes up or down a few degrees, I spot the first buds on the trees and I know the difference between a gentle wind that signals a lovely winter day and a gentle wind that carries the promise of spring.

The snow is still falling outside and the drive home tonight is going to be another adventure.  Maybe I should have run to work today.