No, I did the ice skating in Holland, I was born there you see.
I did speed skating on a sort of track of ice of 400 m. Did all the training and races there. Went to other tracks, the one where the major championships are held. All the things you do when you are mad about a sport. It is a very technical sport, you have to pay a lot of attention to the tecnique. So you could let yourself sway over the ice, with your hands on your back.
You have got me going now ... homesick to the icerink. Because you are all the time bend in your knees, pushing away your legs sideways, you get very big quads and bum muscles.
And when there is enough ice on the lakes and rivers, you go and skate there. The technique is a bit different and the ice can be more teacherous, with cracks, ribbles, frozen snow. But the views in the middle of lakes and rivers on top of the ice.....
Since I live here I have been lucky that there was iced lakes when I went to visit the family. But it was difficult to get so enthousiastic for a sport over here. I didn't do running in Holland. I did a lot of cycling (obvlously), but find that too dangerous here, no respect from car drivers. Horses, yes. Cyclists, no.
Gradually I am getting more into running after several attempts. Here in Yorkshire you get a good treatment of views, that keeps me going. Lots of hills as well and they are getting easier.
I need to be outdoors for sport, I can't do any undoors.It is just not the same. Except for swimming. In Holland you can do that outdoors in the summer as well.
