One of the most iconic things to do in Ottawa during winter is skate on the Rideau Canal.

The canal itself is a remarkable and historic place. Construction began in 1826 under the supervision of Colonel John By, and the settlement that grew around the project was originally called Bytown before eventually becoming the city of Ottawa. Today, the Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains one of the defining features of the city.

In winter, a 7.8 km stretch of the canal transforms into the Rideau Canal Skateway, which holds the Guinness World Record for the largest naturally frozen ice rink in the world. It quite literally runs across the city.

Last weekend, I decided to see if I could complete the full route both ways — about 14 km in total (I skipped the small loop around Dow’s Lake on the way back, so the way back was a bit shorter).

And I managed 🎉

It took around two hours, including breaks.

Coach called this solid aerobic volume and mostly positive. I’m glad I didn’t run out of breath. The fatigue I felt wasn’t cardiovascular; it was mostly from balancing and using muscles I’m clearly not used to using on skates.

I went for my normal run the next day. Now, the day after that, I’m not feeling any unusual fatigue or soreness.

Coach says:

• The skating was aerobic cross-training, not overload
• Your recovery capacity is solid
• Your current run volume is well within tolerance
• No hidden plantar/knee vulnerability

So overall, I handled it pretty well, I think 💪