www.guygiard.com
Full interview at https://journalmetro-com.translate.goog/inspiration/3007038/qui-est-ce-coureur-des-neiges-torse-nu-en-short-a-10c/?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en
Who is this snow runner, shirtless in shorts at -10°C?
Caroline Samii-Esfahani, February 25, 2023
Guy Giard, a 63-year-old Montrealer, runs shirtless in summer and winter, even though he says he is shy. With a red nose always in his pocket, to greet passers-by, the humanitarian clown with the look of a southern vacationer who seems lost in the snow, loves the direct contact of the air with his skin. He will not change his look!
In winter, Guy Giard, nicknamed Mr. Happiness by some, rises with the sun. He drinks his half cup of coffee and watches the weather. Reasonable, the charismatic soft-spoken man prefers to jog when the temperature stays above -15 degrees Celsius, when the wind is weak and there is a beautiful sun. The weather is ideal, so they put on their shorts, their t-shirt, their fluorescent orange water shoes with spikes, their fanny pack and their whistle in case of a fall. Mr. Happiness is daring, but careful!
The year-round vacationer from the Southwest
It all started in the summer of his 60th birthday when Mr. Happiness started running, driven by the "frustration of mid-life" during the pandemic. Overcome by the summer heat wave, he got so hot that he got over his shyness and took off his shirt. He never wore it again! Indian summer arrived, followed by trees adorned with flakes, he stayed dressed as a vacationer in the south. The Concordia Bachelor of Arts with a certificate in humor and laughter yoga began to listen to his body. Attentive to his tolerance for discomfort, he likes to push himself, but gradually to avoid injury. "As long as it's pink, it's okay," confides the snow runner.
Once outside, the 60-year-old athlete removes his top and ties it around his waist. Then, shirtless, he runs along the St. Lawrence Canal in the St. Henri district and listens to the chirping of the birds until he reaches the Quai de l'Horloge in the Old Port. Round trip, his morning run lasts 12 km.
This humanitarian clown, who has accompanied Dr. Patch Adams to hospitals to make patients laugh in Latin America, Russia and India, admits that for every two pleasant reactions from strangers, one is less pleasant. Some grumpy people prefer to turn their heads and ignore him. It can't be easy!
What about the summer?
In summer, Guy Giard runs dressed almost like in winter, but barefoot!
