Final- Week 43: Queenstown International Marathon- 42.195 km, 4hrs 22 minutes

I envisaged finishing my blog with a picture and one line, however, loyal readers have demanded something more (my mother can be quite insistent).  I’ve been busy savouring the sites of the South Island of New Zealand and it’s over a week since we crossed the finish line.


I will endeavour to capture the experience with a summary:
• Although, I have nothing to compare, if you are going to complete one half or full marathon, I would highly recommend Queenstown, NZ. The scenery was stunning and the trails firm packed , with only a few hills. One runs out of suitable adjectives to describe this splendorous location
• The race is well supported and there was a sense of festivity and camaraderie provided by the local community.
• A warm lemon drink is effective in hastening peristalsis when pre-race terror cause a freeze of all necessary bodily functions.
• Despite having a race plan not to start too fast, I failed to pace myself and blitzed the half marathon. The next 8km was steady, after which things got really tough.
• The aid stations were well dispersed every few kilometres and offered water, energy drinks and jelly beans. At the ~ 25km station I was pleased to view some banana on the stand and broke off a piece, delighting in this as my regular running nourishment. It was only on later reflection, I suspected I had taken one of the volunteer’s snacks! Even in my delirium I reflected on the fact that there was only one banana and I spied no other bananas on the course. ( confirmed by Bronwyn and Emma)
• Thanks to nurse Bronwyn for the neurofen I took at 32 km when the ITB pain was fully established.
• With 7km to go, I was feeling mentally okay, however was stopped in my tracks with excruciating cramping in one of my legs. Having witnessed fellow runners pulling out of the race with cramps I now understood their agony. While attempting to stretch and contemplating whether finishing was a viable option, my fairy god mother appeared. An angel from amongst the spectators arrived at my side and asked if I was cramping, she then proffered “CrampEase’ spray, instructing me to lift my tongue where she sprayed a small amount on the underside of my tongue. It was immediate and miraculous. I was able to move forward without cramps. With a grateful thank you I shuffled on. ( subsequent google research advises that CrampEase is an oral spray containing four salts to relieve cramping)
• At 6km to go, my legs were appealing to me to walk. While wavering, an older gentleman by the name of Kelly appeared at my side, with laboured breathing but a purposeful forward momentum. I determined that if he could keep running, I could also. (He looked to be on the other side of 70). I stubbornly paced off Kelly, and in a brief exchange established he had run over 40 half marathons and 9 full.  We were both fairly spent and in quiet dogged companionship covered the last few kilometres.
• The “1 kilometre to go’ sign was utter joy and relief.
• With names on our bibs the cheers and personal words of encouragement, over the last few hundred metres of the race, was just the incentive needed to help propel me forwards across the finish line.  Kelly and I shook hands, and he retreated into the crowd
• Having completed her half marathon earlier in the day, Caitlyn greeted me at the finish line all smiles and enquiry. I had no energy to converse, mumbling something incoherently to her while in semi repose on a chair. It wasn’t until I inhaled a banana and energy drink that I was able to respond.
• Bronwyn and Emma arrived across the line in due course, all smiles and delight with what we had all achieved.

Other than the incline to reach it, Bespoke Kitchen was a perfect location for the last BOTR. Tucked away just below the gondola on the hill overlooking Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, it is a beautiful spot and served all day breakfasts ( we were a little later than our usual schedule).   Although not normal protocol, the team enjoyed some local beers with their breakfast orders. (All part of the necessary rehydration practices after running a marathon). Everyone was delighted with their meals.  I ordered one of my old favourites, Eggs benedict (NZ $19), served on toasted English muffins with bacon, spinach, oven dried tomatoes and apple cider hollandaise. The eggs were deliciously runny and the flavours delicious.  Bronwyn enjoyed her aoroki hot smoked salmon with spring onion croquettes, rocket and a fried egg (NZ $19.50) nearly as much as her local brew.  Caitlyn and Emma selected simpler fair, only feeling like sourdough toast. Suffice to say, there’s not much I can say about sourdough toast but apparently the Jams were delicious and the toast faultless. We loved the meal and location so much; the team returned for lunch on a subsequent day and were equally happy with all meals.

Hot smoked salmon

Eggs Benedict

It was with a joyful exhaustion and light hearts we shared our meals and regaled each other with race stories. Emma wisely counselled us that you can eat anything you like for 24hrs after a marathon. Bronwyn and I have subsequently upgraded the permissible time frame to 7 days.

Thanks to Queenstown for the inspirational location at which to undertake a marathon. Thanks to my fantastic friends and family for sharing this project with me enjoying good food and providing lovely company. Like all children that grow up and move on, I will miss my morning BOTR companions and nourishment but look forward to 2016 and a fresh goal ,yet to be determined. My running shoes are not ready to be hung up just yet.

Week 42: Highgate Hill to Merriweather Café (12km, 72min)

Café Merriweather

This time next week, we will be well into the marathon, conquering one kilometre for every breakfast café visited over the last 42 weeks.  On reviewing the history of my posts, it seems so fitting that our concluding run is the same distance as the very first run we completed back in February. It was all about the food this morning; however, in standard BOTR fashion I will provide a few details as to our delightful morning run.

How perspective can change!  In February, I was lamenting the early daybreak starts. The alarm is now rarely required. The expanded crew assembled at 5:30am, minus the Husband, who declared his coaching ‘job is done’.  Milly, the four legged pace-setter, started out with great gusto, eager to maintain poll position, excited to be leading her pack an another adventure.  Milly, is a positive symbol of the training regime, resembling a greyhound rather than the usual rotund state, so often associated with her breed.  Jon and Emma accompanied us, ensuring our tapering was adequate, sharing some final race tips and nutrition advice.  Or was it just for the great company and delicious breakfast?

Our route was a derivation of the signature river loop, commencing with an easy descent down Dornoch Terrace through to the West End River Cat stop.  From there it was a pretty meander around the wide loop of the river, past West End markets and into South Bank.  We completed a quick circuit around Kangaroo Point Cliffs and stairs, negotiating the boot camps and fitness groups in full flight on this demanding stair case. I declined to follow Jon’s advice in clearing the path by using my shoulder charge technique, introduced the week before. The return back past the South Bank pools was too tempting for Jon, who, throwing caution to the wind, took a quick plunge in the recently refurbished lagoon while I rounded my distance off to 12km. For those of you jumping to conclusions, be reassured, he did remain fully clothed, and at no time exhibited any Darcy like elegance.

Merriweather Café is well located for the active commuter, overlooking Musgrave Park in South Brisbane.  Our reconnaissance of this venue last week provided some interesting insights into how the same scene could be interpreted so differently.  I was captivated by the delicious looking pastries at the front counter (made on the premises) along with an appealing rhubarb dish, while, strangely, all the Husband could recall was the large proportion of elegantly-dressed women he declared were breakfasting there? Obviously this was an ideal location for the BOTR team.

Potato and Caramelised onion

 Today, we arrived at the Café opening of 7am and once again, with our larger numbers, were able to sample a good portion of a new menu.  It is mostly pros for this breakfast venue. The dishes are on the pricy side but there is not a hint of pretentiousness with it’s friendly staff and wholesome locally sourced food.  Every dish was fresh and delicious.  Caitlyn’s potato and caramelised onion and pork belly ($20.50), perfectly crisp.  My Green eggs and ham ($19.50) resembled a terrine of ham hock layered with silverbeet.  The chimmi chirri (finally chopped parsley, oil and garlic) not only broadened my vocabulary but also my taste buds.

Green eggs and ham

Bronwyn’s flat bread with sorrel, hommus and pickled vegetables ($18.50) won the pretty prize with the pickled beetroot a stand out.  Emma’s fruit loaf with ricotta and stone fruits ($17.50) looked delicious and was respectively enjoyed.  Jon chose the more traditional poached eggs and bacon on sourdough: crispy bacon and perfectly poached eggs rounded the dish off to perfection.  The Café bases its reputation on good coffee and it did not disappoint the coffee connoisseurs amongst us.  Unfortunately, like too many baristas who have mastered the indelicate, steam-powered coffee-bean crushing machine, the time-garnered, simple ceremony of adding hot water to tea-leaves lovingly nurtured high on the slopes of cool climes let down the character of the place: at $5.00, it was overpriced and weak.

Flat bread

The Merriweather Café can be forgiven for the disappointing tea and slightly elevated prices, and as a result of its unique and tasty menu, location and friendly wait staff, could be a contender for the BOTR top 5.  A fitting finalé for what has been a fun filled and enriching project.

Good luck next Saturday BOTR team!   Those early morning sacrifices over the last 42 weeks have been fun.  They’ve helped convert me from a sleep-in sloth to someone more akin with those always-too chirpy, early morning running-types who exude a certain smugness about the righteousness of their lifestyle.  Our full range of emotions have been exercised along the way, with the greatest impetus provided by the feeling of impending doom around Week 35:  it helped propel us over the ever-increasing training distances so that we can at least look at the challenge ahead next week with a calm demeanour and a quiet confidence in our ability to complete just one more run, albeit over a distance for which our ancestors invented four wheels and attached an internal combustion engine to them.   

Fruit loaf

Bacon and eggs

Week 41: Highgate Hill to The Chelsea Café (22.8km, 2hr ,13min)

Coconut bread

This last 2 weeks is referred to as “tapering and race day phase”.  The term ‘tapering’ is a great comfort with its implication that most of the hard work is done.  It’s time to roll out all the stiff and tight spots (of which there is plenty) and maintain forward momentum and happy thoughts.  Negative thoughts such as “we’re all doomed” need to be cast aside.
It was hallowed company this morning with running royalty couple Jon and Emma sharing the BOTR.  Jon kindly ran me through my paces, assessing my marathon readiness, while Emma conducted a review of Bronwyn’s preparedness.  Caitlyn, whose goal is the half-marathon, was accompanied by The Husband at a later time for a shorter run, with Milly the Labrador as the pace-setter.
The early departure group left at 5am with the later trio getting away an hour later. In the absence of The Husbands’ mapping talents, there was a little bit of deliberation amongst the squad as to the best route to ensure a target distance of 21km.  We apprentices deferred to our esteemed coaches and were presently underway.  We traced our way along the familiar but always beautiful Brisbane Corso to the Indooroopilly Bridge. The Brisbane summer is fast encroaching and made for humid conditions.  I am confident I could have harvested a reasonable level of salt off my skin by runs end:  perhaps a business opportunity better left unchartered?  I discovered the delights of chocolate flavoured Gu as we approached the bridge.  From the bridge, Jon and I went via Lambert Road, Hillside Terrace and the Esplanade towards the University of Queensland.  I had a moment of reflection and silent thanks to The Husband for the tough run last week, finding the few undulations around St Lucia no particular impediment.  I accidently shoulder-charged a gentleman out on his morning perambulation and despite humbly apologising felt terrible with my lack of coordination.   We otherwise arrived at Coronation Drive intact where Jon set a straight and speedy course along the flat stretch of the Brisbane River towards the City.  I was grateful to take the Cribb Street underpass and find myself in view of the Suncorp Stadium, The Barracks and breakfast.
Our comrades filed in recounting their running endeavours, all relieved to take a seat, or in Milly’s case, a pole, in the pleasant and breezy courtyard of The Chelsea.  The Chelsea is reminiscent of an old English Pub and offers a great outdoor location with large tables, friendly service and plenty of space that would suit a large group.

Hotcake

This was an opportunity for the Queenstown

Mushrooms and eggs

bound training squad to discuss logistics and
make important decisions such as the food we were planning to eat and the champagne we would require for rehydration after the marathon.  Being a larger number it was also a chance to savour a wider selection off the menu.  A pattern was starting to emerge when Emma ordered poached eggs and tomatoes again ($13.50).  Her eggs were cooked to perfection and portion sizes appropriate for a needy athlete.  In BOTR spirit, Jon departed from his normally strict regime and tried the buttermilk blueberry hotcake with vanilla bean and maple syrup ($15.50).  Like a Pacific Island experiencing the effects of global warming, the hotcake was drowned in maple syrup, making the dish look like a treacly sludge.  Reminiscent of his fairly floss topped pancakes a couple of weeks ago, The Husband was again presented with the prettiest dish of coconut bread topped with cherry labne (creamy Greek yogurt).  At $9.50 it was the value-for-money choice.  Caitlyn deviated from her usual avocado influence and enjoyed her poached eggs, creamed mushrooms and sourdough ($18.50). The mushrooms were declared the best on the tour to date.  Bronwyn made all the right sounds while eating her cauliflower fritters with bacon and slow roasted tomato, drizzled with cumin garlic yogurt ($14.50).  In stark contrast to Jon’s very damp dish, my Huevos Rancheros ($19.50) was adequate but perhaps a little drought stricken with its lentils, avocados, fried eggs, chilli and sour cream sitting on a crispy tortilla base.  Additional spice, from an accompanying bottle of Mexican chilli, helped provide a little more kick.
The Chelsea provided the BOTR crew with quality breakfast and great Merlot coffees in a roomy, relaxing setting with the right amount of attention from the wait-staff.
It was with quiet satisfaction that we wandered back across the curvaceous William Jolly bridge towards home with this great team of runners, recounting the many kilometres and breakfasts that have led to this point.  With only one more weekend run to go, the BOTR crew are as ready as we ever could be to tackle the challenge ahead.

Huevos Ranchos

Cauliflower fritters

Week 40: Run of Many Ascents- Highgate Hill to Morning After (32km, 3hrs 24min)

I am late writing about this week’s run.  Like all people who have suffered through physical torture, I have needed some separation from the agonizing experience before I could re-live it on paper.  Perhaps the process of writing it down will prove cathartic and help me into a happier place.  The red wine is, otherwise, helping.
It all began with my Pollyanna-like blind confidence in deferring to the Husband to plan the trail needed to expeditiously complete the last big hurdle en-route to the marathon:  the 32 kilometre training run.  One might suggest that 21 years of marriage and many experiences of being ‘extended’ (lost) on unusual hiking trails would have aroused me to show greater interest in my fate.  Emma, my trusted trainer of two weeks ago, mysteriously had to travel to Victoria when I mentioned The Husband was planning the run.  Bronwyn chose to venture out on her own session with her good husband when I mentioned The Husband was planning the run.  Caitlyn decided a sleep was in order when I mentioned The Husband was planning the run.  I was oblivious to what, on reflection, appeared obvious to others and blithely embarked on the ROMA training run – the Run of Many Ascents.   The Husband was really very kind, offering to accompany me, and, after the passage of much time and the drowning of some memories, I am grateful for his commitment to my goal.  During the activity, however, I felt no such affection towards the “coach”.
Rather than recounting kilometre after sweaty, despondent kilometre (of which much is a blur) I will provide a brief summation of the experience:
• I set the alarm for 4am at the insistence of the “Coach” to accommodate a small breakfast of weetbix, muesli and honey
• The morning was absolutely stunning and, I find myself surprised at how much I am enjoying the quiet peace of the wee early hours.
• The Husband took an early lead and remained, annoyingly, 10m in front of me, I believe, in an effort to rally me along.  It had a contrary effect and made me feel like I was moving too slowly and failing.
• After the third or fourth hill (I lost count!), I gave up on my personal pace goal, accepting that this was really about survival and getting to the end with my soul intact.
• At kilometre 10, I suggested he might like to run ‘with me’ or a little behind, providing a much preferred emotional advantage.  At least I wouldn’t have to look at him, looping around waiting for me to catch up, looking so bouncy and chirpy.
• I’ve seen what’s behind the freeway wall on the Centenary Motorway and it’s not pretty when you’re running 32km. It’s quite a steep climb with false summits. My suspicions, that he was attempting to kill me were aroused when we entered a section of cycleway that was sign-posted  ‘no pedestrians’
• What nearly broke me was the Zig Zag trail from 17 mile Rocks Park to the Oxley highlands, followed closely by another valley and hill climb:  at least in NSW they provide a steam train for the Zig Zag trail.  I perambulated through the glorious steep wilderness while despairing for flatness.
• The trial of lemon flavoured goo was a success and it did not lead to any of the unfortunate side effects sometimes mentioned by experienced runners. I did feel a positive energy effect after consumption at 10 and 20 kilometres.
• After being lost in the Mountains and the Wilderness, I began to recognise ny surrounding as we passed the half-way mark and turned towards the lowlands and the river loop around Graceville and Tennyson.
• The hills eased to river flats and I found myself with a little bit of reserve to pass through kilometre 24-28 with relative comfort.  The Husband was last sighted around 26, calling out to keep going and he would see me at the café destination. He wasn’t looking so chipper at that point.
• While shuffling up Gladstone Road hill, I suspect I cast a sorry looking shadow, furtively hoping the walkers and cyclists who passed me appreciated I was at the end of 30km and not just 3.
• I thankfully reached the Morning After café and my husband, who had ingeniously and maybe considerately run past home and collected Caitlyn and the car.

Poached eggs

The Morning After Café is a new addition to the West End café scene and has a modern street appeal, with smart décor and layout.  The menu suggests something a little different with some reasonably priced options, but a hint of pretention with its ‘cultured’ butter and ‘unrefined’ granola and a waiter who exuded a certain air.  The coffee drinkers were positive about their brews but there was some cons for me with this place.  The Husband ordered simple and tasty poached eggs on toast with cultured butter and tomato relish ($9). He was happy with his choice.  My eggs benedict with cotechino (Italian sausage), spinach and hollandaise ($17.50) was a little underwhelming.  The poached eggs were overdone and the sausage was very salty.  The dish looked a little over priced for what was presented. Caitlyn had sourdough toast with Fig Jam ($8) as her second breakfast.
The Lamborghini Gallardo circuiting the block looking for The Parking Place in front of the café symbolised the feel of the Morning After Café: Nice presentation and great looking waiter and food, but it feels too try-hard in the more Citroen duex chevaux, hippy, happening West End neighbourhood.  Time will tell whether their clientele will evolve to suit the café or whether the café will evolve to suit their neighbourhood.

Eggs Benedict

Toast and jam

Week 39: Highgate Hill to Little Clive Café (12km, 76min)

Choc fudge pancakes

This morning’s run was marked by new discoveries in familiar territory. The Husband set the course and unveiled little spots of gold in the nearby neighbourhoods.  The BOTR team was reunited for this run with our International runner back from her acclimatisation in Singapore and Milly the Labrador invited along for the shorter 12 kilometre distance.
It’s a mini - taper week before a long run next weekend.  Despite being a shorter run, a signature of the Husband’s trails are the meandering undulations that make it feel a lot tougher and further.  I am sure I will thank him for it when I encounter the first mountain in Queenstown.
We departed home and immediately ascended Gladstone road towards Dornoch Terrace and then into Dauphin Terrace and so around the terraced laneways high above the river, looking down onto the University of Queensland.  Rosecliffe Street park was a pretty little pocket of wilderness before we re-emerged onto Gladstone road, gratefully making our descent, through Dutton Park onto the river and the Brisbane Corso.  We tracked the full bend in the river and enjoyed new territory on the Esplanade towards Yeronga.  A pedestrian path took us up onto Heritage Close and past Rhyndarra – a beautiful colonial homestead which functioned as a military hospital until the 1990’s. This beautiful riverfront location, hopefully, was making for a peaceful spot for recovery and rehabilitation after the ravages of war.  Riverview Place led us back onto the usual circuitous cycling/ running route along Kadumba Street.  We crossed Fairfield road onto School Road and ran down the Avenue of Remembrance into the Yeronga Memorial Park.  The last couple of kilometres seemed like a progressive hill climb through Fairfield and Annerley to Clive Street and, at the summit of the steepest climb, the Little Clive café for breakfast.  The prompt service, in providing our weary four legged runner her own bowl of fresh cool water was a big tick in my book and set a positive precedent which held throughout the dining experience.

map

Avocado and feta

It was all about the food today. The Husband needed little encouragement in ordering the house specialty of Choc fudge pancakes ($18.50).  Who wouldn’t love a triple layer of pancakes with choc fudge sauce, blueberries, raspberries, crowned with bright pink fairy floss and popcorn, with a surprise stash of caramel immersed inside the pancake?  We noticed the envious looks from the children at the other tables.  He did kindly share tasters with all of us as a means of sharing the calories around.  His only con was the popcorn had gone a little soggy.

We spent our walk home pondering a suitable alternative to the popcorn settling on an optional macadamia or some derivation of nuts.  Having difficulty making a decision, Caitlyn and I negotiated splitting the Little Clive Breakfast board ($21.50) and the Avocado and Feta plate ($13.50) between us.  Both meals had great plate appeal and followed through with the taste.  The mix of coriander, fresh chillies, macadamia dukkah and lime made for zesty and delicious flavours.  The, not so little, Clive breakfast board had perfectly cooked poached eggs, mushrooms, chorizo, pork belly and tomatoes.  Bronwyn, fresh off the plane from Singapore, ordered the Smoked Salmon ($17.00) on turkish with beetroot creme, poached eggs, pickled onions and soft herbs.  She enjoyed the dish, however, would have liked some more of the beetroot crème.  The coffee authorities advised the cappuccino and double shot long black were great quality.  Milly enjoyed bacon rind, pork belly skin and a morsel of smoked salmon.  Her demeanour conveyed great love for her dishes however lacking in her preferred portion size.
Little Clive provides friendly, professional staff, an enticing menu and a laid back seating area on the deck or inside the café.   The food was on the more expensive side of the BOTR’s breakfasts to date, but the portion sizes and culinary expertise meant we didn’t feel short-changed.  Little Clive café provided an enjoyable and positive breakfast like Goldilocks’:  neither too big nor too small; neither too rich nor too lacking in flavour; and all-in-all it was just right.
It is with trepidation we look towards the closing training weeks before race day.

Clive's breakfast board

Smoked salmon

Week 38: Highgate Hill to Denim Co (28km, 2hrs 49min)

It’s all new territory now.  Running distances which I would have dismissed as fantasy in my pre-marathon goal life, are now a reality.  I was in hallowed company this morning; having gleefully agreed to running with local running identity, Emma, in her ‘wind down’ to her 50km trail run next weekend!  Bronwyn, my usual BOTR team mate was Singapore bound to acclimatise her training to more humid locations.  Both Emma and Bronwyn will be running the Queenstown Marathon in four weeks time.

With Brisbane summer around the corner we determined a departure of 5am to beat the heat.  There is something mystical about being awake to see the sunrise with the heady scent of jasmine in the air.  Never one to go without food for too long, I conducted a small trial of pre-breakfast before departure and set the alarm for 4:15 to fit in some weetbix and honey to sustain me on my long journey ahead.

Emma has a catalogue of routes around Brisbane and we completed her ’28’ Gateway Bridge loop this morning.  It was a great benefit running with Emma for her ability to maintain a steady pace.  I am yet to perfect a consistent velocity and run a hare –tortoise affair based on emotions and undulations.

In the first few kilometres we followed our reptilian river via Kangaroo Point, Dockside, Mowbray Park and onto Wynnum Road towards Balmoral and Morningside.  Having passed at least 3 fellow runners in the opposite direction who all greeted Emma, I was provided an insight into the sub culture and community that represents running.  Emma was able to provide detail as to who was training for what event with the New York Marathon imminently approaching for some of her running family.  We made our way towards Lytton road with the slow build towards the Gateway Bridge. My lovely companion even provided food supplements along the way with pleasantly tasting Gu Chomps and chocolate balls every 5km.  I had only left home with my small banana stored in what I thought was a discreet position, although others may have thought I’d had some lopsided silicone enhancement.  I discovered that the Gateway Bridge is very symmetrically a 1km rise then a 1km descent.  The view from the top is quite spectacular and something not able to be enjoyed from the car deck.  I finished my banana on the way down and we continued towards Kingsford Smith Drive and the City.

Around Hamilton (17-18km) my enthusiasm began to ebb.  Mentally I was aware I had another 10km to go and our breakfast café seemed a distant aspiration.  On my request, Emma’s chirpy banter and recount of recent films provided a fantastic distraction through to kilometre 23. Her enthralling chronicle of death and survival in the film ‘Everest’ inspired and diverted me through Fortitude Valley towards the river frontage under the Story Bridge.  At kilometre 25, survival relief (and likely a consistent running pace) helped make surprisingly easy work of the last few kilometres through Riverside and the Botanic Gardens and over the Goodwill Bridge into South Bank.

Despite the still early hour, Denim Co at South Bank had but a few seating options left with a line of people gathered to order at the counter.  Despite the busy conditions, the staff maintained a calm professionalism while providing an efficient and friendly service.  It was easy to relax and settle into a beautiful Brisbane morning on Little Stanley Street overlooking the green space of South Bank.

Emma ordered the bacon and eggs ($13.50),  accompanied with tomatoes and Turkish bread; a simple but tasty dish, with the perfect amount of run in the poached eggs, a feat not accomplished by many breakfast cafés in my travels to date.  Emma’s flat white ($3.50) was declared perfect.

My balsamic mushrooms ($15.50), with poached eggs ($4.00) were also delicious and cooked to perfection.  The mushrooms were seasoned beautifully and accompanied with spinach and a little pot of smooth and tasty feta with Turkish toast.

The BOTR journey has been all about finding those cafés providing good food, friendly service at the right price, in a pleasant location.  Denim Co is a great example of this.  Combined with my lovely running companion and mentor, Denim Co rounded off a perfect morning.  

Only four breakfasts to go until the big day!

Bacon and eggs

Balsamic mushrooms

Week 37: Mountain View Challenge-Half Marathon to Monica’s Café (21.1km, 2 hr 3min)

Maleny is a picturesque part of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland with spectacular views of the Glass House Mountains and ocean stretching out in the distance.  Around this time in our training program there was a suggestion we could enter a half marathon to vary our training.  The first local half-marathon to be suggested by Google for the 11th October was the ‘Lions Club Mountain View Challenge’ in Maleny.
The 4am wake up was my earliest running date yet, but I felt surprisingly invigorated with pre-race nerves.  Equipped with bananas and vegemite sandwiches I met up with Bronwyn and we made our way to Maleny.  The pretty drive from Beerwah seemed to involve a substantial gain of elevation, providing a suggestion of what may lay ahead of us for today’s run.

The race is an endorphin happy blur of many hills and gorgeous scenery.  General impressions and learnings included:
• Maleny locals are friendly and welcoming and present as great race companions. The race numbers were small and encouraging.  I would compete in this race again for the ease of parking, frequent and friendly Lions Club volunteers’ drink stations and no waiting lines for amenities.
• This was a race with the quaint echo of yesteryear characterized by pin on cloth bibs, a start gun and a multi race timer at the end of the race with your bib number and time being matched.
• The area around Maleny is beautiful running scenery-with rolling hills, rocky peaks of the Glass House Mountains and contented dairy cows lazing in the richly green paddocks.
• Chocolate melts very quickly and can make one appear a little incontinent if located in a bum bag.  Alternatively it may end up smeared all over ones mouth (in the case of Bronwyn) Melted chocolate, none the less is a very welcome race supplement.
• The Mountain View Challenge is aptly named and makes any previous hilly events pale in comparison for it’s repeated climbs and ongoing ‘undulations’. I am pleased to report that a fellow competitor, who came in after me :),  noted she had competed an ultra -Marathon (50km) a few weeks ago and found this event tougher. She reassured me that I would be ‘all good’ for my marathon in a few weeks!
• A positive associated with hill climbs is the accompanying descents.

There are a variety of attractive café options in the main street of Maleny.  Monica’s café looked busy and the option of lounging in the upstairs loft enticed Bronwyn and I through the door.   We both wearily ascended the stairs and made ourselves comfortable in cushioned comfort.  Bronwyn kindly descended the stairs and ordered the Sweet Corn, capsicum, coriander and polenta cakes, layered with smoked salmon, smashed avocado and topped with baby spinach, dill and sourcream ($16.50).  It was a wise choice and my plate envy extended to the look and taste of her dish.  It’s been a while since I have selected the signature ‘Big Breakfast’ at our breakfast cafés.  With the Garmin watch telling me I had burned 1539 Calories I felt the poached eggs, chipolatas, sautéed mushrooms, hash browns, roast cherry tomatoes, toasted sourdough and tomato relish was well earnt ($18.50).  It was heartily consumed, however was let down by the overcooked poached eggs, greasy chipolatas and bacon which had the texture and appearance of having been sat in a bain-marie for a little too long.  Not all was lost with a very tasty relish and sourdough as well as crispy hash browns and sweet tomatoes.

The Lions Mountain View Challenge in Maleny was a wonderful, picturesque and challenging run which enabled us to trial our running pace in a low-key environment.  We learnt we could compete but still had some promise of even greater potential on the fast-approaching Marathon day.  The café provided sustaining food in a wonderful and picturesque setting which also had a hint of greater potential.  Overall, a successful day and satisfying finish in a welcoming setting.

Polenta cakes

Big Breakfast

Week 36: Five headlands-Narrabeen to Gustos on the beach: (24km, 2hrs, 29min)

Sunrise over Narrabeen beach

I’m flying solo today.  I have no one else to apportion blame for the elevation, exhaustion and pain this morning. On the upside, what better place to agonize than for a second time in the beautiful Northern Beaches of Sydney?   Adorned with a new pair of bright pink compression socks, my newfangled heavily discounted 2XU compression tights ( thanks to Caitlyn), Caitlyn's Garmin watch , a banana and one caramel Tim Tam bite,  I departed at 5:30am.  I was greeted by a beautiful red and golden sunrise peeping shyly over the ocean with the promise of a perfect day.  The first few kilometres were tentatively taken, nursing some new stiffness in my hip and feet. As I warmed up, the lubrication of joints seem to take effect, or possibly, the other body parts deteriorated to establish equilibrium of sorts.

I ran through Collaroy and over the Long Reef headland. This is a magnificent outlook and, for me, one associated with many fond memories, including running with my family dogs and school excursions where we pretended to study the rock platforms that jut out a distance into the ocean.  I dropped down onto the firm sand from Long Reef into Dee Why then began the hill climb to traverse the northern headland of Curl Curl. Forlornly, I ran past my chosen breakfast destination with 17km to go!  I followed the boardwalk between South Curl Curl and Freshwater beach (as mentioned in last week’s meanderings). The swell was quite big, however, not deterring the few rock fishermen throwing caution to the wind and waves.  I cut across behind Freshwater Beach and heaved myself up the uneven and tough stair climb up over the Queenscliff headland.  The view looking towards Manly beach was a comfort to weary limbs. The Garmin confirmed that the road signs are correct in their distance of 12 kilometres to Manly from Narrabeen. Did I have another 12 kilometres in me?  I wrestled off the temptation to bail into the emerald ocean by joining the early morning ‘Bold and Beautiful’ ocean swimming group.  The sheer terror of admitting that I am entered in a marathon in just seven weeks was motivation enough to keep me moving forward.

I continued around the Fairy Bower to Shelly beach, perfecting the consumption of my banana while running, then returned back around to the Manly Cove and crossed to the harbour side.  There is a spectacular trail from Manly to the Spit that is 11km long and follows the harbour foreshore through bushland and beach.  I made a small indent on the more gentrified section of this path towards Fairlight.  I turned around at 17km and retraced my steps towards the Manly beachfront, hoping for a miraculous surge of energy from my mini Tim Tam (it wasn’t too bad and easier to eat than jelly beans while running).  I don’t need much excuse eating chocolate and thought it might be worth trialling on one of the training runs.  Queenscliff headland and more steps were encountered at the 19 kilometre mark.  I dropped down onto Fairlight beach and it’s hard packed sand accompanying the low tide and made my way around the rocks and a little path towards the ocean pool. The final few kilometres involved sheer grit to reach the target of 24km. The best part of the run was the soothing dip in the South Curl Curl ocean pool at the end.  I did lend only a moment to considering whether my fancy tights were intended for saltwater.

Gustos location

Sometimes the food really does take a back seat to the location and Gusto on the beach is one such example.  This café sits within the South Curl Curl surf club right on the beach. They could be serving mediocre food and people would still line up for the view. The menu is interesting with a hint of pretension and prices. Caitlyn, having completed a neat little 10 kilometre run, ordered the Breakfast Burrito ($12), a well-priced

Breakfast burrito

multinational affair of Brazilian black beans and Portuguese chorizo, scrambled eggs and guacamole. It was heartily consumed and declared to be quite tasty. Julie-Anne, a long-time friend, joined us for breakfast and chose one of the current breakfast stalwarts -‘smashed avocado and tomato salsa with some bacon on the side ($14 +$4.00).  It was the prettiest dish of our three with goats fetta crumbled on the top of soy and quinoa sourdough.  Julie-Anne and I both felt there was a lack of seasoning and hearty flavours to our dishes.  I had the two ‘Baked Eggs’ with ‘shakshuka’- a tomato, chickpeas, capsicum, rocket and goats curd with grilled soy and quinoa sourdough.  The dish looked enticing but didn’t quite round off with the flavours.

Gusto’s is an exciting five star location that BOTR will likely revisit for its proximity to the big blue more than for the palate.  A greater focus on seasonings rather than spicy superlatives would really set this location on fire.

Smashed avocado

Baked eggs

Week 35: South Narrabeen to Driftwood Cafe ( 25.4km , 2hrs 28min)

Note to self. Don't leave The Husband full control of the course planning as it always leads to hills, unnecessary pain, and suspicions of being lost (which can never be confirmed as The Husband always confidently trots out comments like its OK we just keep going South a little further then turn East: who really thinks in terms of comapss points?).

The running program is now all about 'going further' over the the next few weeks. This is as much about mental prepraration as physical.

We are visiting my Mum in Sydney this week and ,along with enjoying family and catching up with old friends, I have been looking forward to some new trails and the picturesques options around the Northern Beaches. Mum has recently moved to South Narrabeen. What better way to rediscover and explore old and new territory than by foot.

Narrabeen Lakes is a pretty spot that has been a popular location for water sports for some time. The beach and lake are in close proximity and offer a few excellent running options. A newly refurbished 8km trail circumventing the lake was our starting point. There are some testosterone laden ducks that are to be negotiated at the start (or were they geese?). In no time we are away from the busy hustle and enjoying a hard packed trail, with a mix of boardwalk and bridges through the pretty lake-side scrubland and wetlands. We then turned off the trail and skirted the Cromer Golf course and wove our way through some very undulating streets! My suspicions that a couple of waywide child cyclists had mistakenly following us off path was proven correct. We redirected them back to their mother who, no doubt would have soon noticed them missing .

I am a little vague as to how we arrived at Dee Why but it was hard work, very hilly and involved stairs. We joined another green stretch on the cycle way behind Dee Why Lagoon and North Curl Curl Beach. There is a fantastic dog walking spot behind North Curl Curl beach and the lagoon. Happy pooches of all shapes and sizes enjoy off leash time in the sand dunes with a chance to also swim in the lagoon.

With the beach on our left we ran towards Harbord and Freshwater Beach, which is a place I spent many happy days as a child, surfing and sun baking with coconut oil lathered all over through the melanoma and ozone free 70's and 80's. The boardwalk between South Curl Curl and Harbord is as good as it gets for scenic ocean views and closeness to the powerful surges of the ocean. In blustery conditions, we turned around hailed the statue of the Duke on Freshwater headland, a Hawaii'n who apparently introduced surf board riding to Australia, and headed on a more direct route back towards breakfast. There was one more large hill to take on at the end of Curl Curl beach into Dee Why. The hard packed sand of Dee Why beach beckoned us towards Long Reef headland. Stunning! Adding to the cooler conditions the sporadic side stepping of blue bottles ensured we weren't tempted into the water. At this stage I took the lead and remained so, with The Husband needing a 'moment' at kilometre 22 as we descended our last headland at Long Reef beach. We trudged the last couple of kilometres towards Narrabeen and Driftwood Cafe, and ended up exceeding the targetted 24km by an extra 1.4km. I have not felt the level of fatigue before that I experienced when I finally stopped. Perhaps a hint of what was ahead. Surely nothing a cup of tea and good meal couldn't repair.

Driftwood has an attractive street frontage and is a popular location on Ocean Parade in Narrabeen.

While prepared to revel in a delicious menu, Driftwood produced a fairly standard breakfast experience, lacking in imagination and with a Sunday 10% surcharge was a little underwhelming. Caitlyn and I enjoyed the taste of our Ocean Breakie: poached eggs , a meagre portion of smoked salmon on hash brown, avocado and a sad and lonely looking herbed tomato with home made hollandaise ($21.45 with surcharge). The eggs were a little over-done and the the hollandaise was a little bland and orange. The Husband was very happy with his Driftwood breakfast ($21.45 with surcharge), a generous portion of bacon, sausages, sauted mushrooms, eggs, grilled tomato and sourdough. Baked beans out of a can are always a little disappointing for me.

The strength of the Driftwood Cafe's fare is the size and mass of its offerings, but there are places which offer tastier food and much better value. BOTR have another Sydney run to enjoy next weekend and I and am determined further research will unearth a jewel for week 36.  

Ocean Breakie

Driftwood

Week 34: Highgate Hill to Anöuk (1:10, 12.5 km)

Twelve kilometres today looks to be the last of the shorter weekend runs recommended on the training plan for the next few weeks.  We revelled in the thought of ‘only’ running 12km.  We aimed for a slightly faster but still comfortable pace.  Embarking in high spirits on the Laura Street hill, we followed the river towards the Story Bridge.  The anti-jump barriers (A sad but necessary piece of infrastructure) are finally being installed on the western side of the bridge, so we headed towards the Kangaroo Point Hotel and exuberantly attacked the stairs on the eastern side of the bridge.  The app on my phone has trouble with GPS connections around the iron mass of the bridge and had me running out into the river.  Instead, we stayed on the path and followed the river loop around the Botanic Gardens, under North Quay, up to the Kurilpa Bridge and Tank Street.  All was quiet in the river city as we made our way past the law courts into the Roma Street Parklands.  The last few kilometres were unfamiliar territory with only a partially understood route sketched on a scrap of paper.  We crossed over the Inner City Bypass near the landmark Normandy Hotel and tentatively followed St Pauls Terrace.  Following further consultation, we then sniffed our way towards the Paddington eateries via Wellington road and Great George Street.  A cruel sharp hill climb at the final 50m left us breathing heavily, eagerly anticipating our breakfast destination.

Kimchi Pancake

Anöuk café is in a cute character building located on Given Terrace in Paddington.  It was a recommendation from a work colleague to whom I am grateful.  The delicious after-taste pleasantly lingers even while I sit here with fingers hovering over the keys.  The very hill we had earlier suffered is what adds to the beauty of the Paddington area. The undulating aspect with pretty views across historic houses makes this gentrified location, with its edgy inner city vibe, a great spot to people watch and chill.
In true BOTR spirit Bronwyn yielded on her initial meal choice when it became apparent we both had our eye on the Kimchee Pancake with delicious pickle, chilli olive oil, topped with fried egg ($16). The flavours were beautifully balanced with a perfect chilli tingle.  Bronwyn oohed her way through a very appealing looking Quesadilla filled with pulled pork, black beans, corn and coriander salsa ($21).  Similarly, Caitlyn’s approval rating was also very high for her perfectly crispy bacon and haloumi stack, aioli and roughly chopped pesto, with a serve of sourdough ($16 + $2).  Fun and friendly staff, unique and delicious meals with an attractive but understated street presence is going to make Anöuk a tough act to follow in the closing weeks of our BOTR journey.
The positive appeal of Anöuk could be gauged in the BOTR crew’s discussion on the journey home, with it inspiring a discussion about which breakfast experiences to date should make the BOTR Top 5.  The crew unanimously agreed that Anöuk may supplant one of our other favourites out of the top 5, which will be announced at the conclusion of the adventure.

Quesadilla

Bacon Haloumi stack

Week 33: Highgate Hill to Café 63 (20km, 2hrs 6 min.)

Apparently it’s all about building distance for the next few weeks. Having always been a comfortable 5km runner, it still strikes me as remarkable that I am planning 20km runs.  At the risk of appearing to be a little tedious on running locations, I chose the familiar territory of the river paths again today with the additional twist in the last couple of kilometre negotiating New Farm.
It is noticeably getting lighter in the mornings, with the promise of hotter and sweatier runs around the corner.  The self-appointed early morning vigilante was back in the fold this morning and there are rumblings of even earlier starts in the future.  Bronwyn’s rationale is that it will be strategic to catch as much of the early morning cooler conditions as we can.  Unfortunately there is a lot of sense to this argument, so I may yet have to yield to an earlier alarm.
We departed home and followed a well-trod path across the bridge to The University of Queensland, following the undulating route through St Lucia to Coronation Drive.  It was then a flat easy run through the city, onto the New Farm floating river walk and up to the New Farm Park.  We took on the bend of the river past the chic Wool shed apartments then turned onto Beaston Street with an unexpected steep little hill climb up and over towards Brunswick Street at the heart of New Farm.  The pleasing reality of this morning’s run is that we both felt comfortable and not overcome with despair at the thought of having to extend a little further in the near future (a fortunate realisation!).

Stephanie Rice

Café 63 has the appearances of a great spot to stop and while away some recovery time.  It is attractively fitted out with flower pots and produce, welcoming street frontage and plenty of seating.  The size of the venue is mirrored in the extensive menu choices that left me feeling oddly underwhelmed.  Having perused the menu for some time, I finally selected the Stephanie Rice omelette ($18) with, on Bronwyn’s’ wise recommendation, a side of fresh chillies at no extra cost.  The portion was generous but, despite attempts of further seasoning it was a fairly bland nondescript meal redeemed only by the delicious fresh chilli.  Bronwyn couldn’t resist Gary ($15) (again) in a quirky twist mirroring her inability to resist her real life Garry.  In his meal form, Gary was a combination of smoked salmon, poached egg, mashed avocado and toast.  There was none of the usual lip smacking joyful sounds signalling her dining pleasure.  The chillies were a welcome addition; however, Gary on the plate was a mere shadow of his human form.  In true planning perfection, The Husband jogged in right at the finish line and joined us for a Tardis ($6), a winningly priced bircher muesli, topped with Greek yoghurt, berries and macadamia nuts.
Concerns about landfill have obviously not reached this corner of New Farm, as we were each provided a plastic water bottle with our meal. My request for tap water was met with a reassurance that the water bottle was complimentary.  Although well intentioned, I was left feeling deflated with this unnecessary waste.
We departed Café 63, assured of our improving strength and endurance following a satisfying two hours pounding towards our New Zealand goal.  The food fuelled the bodies, however Café 63’s airline style food with complimentary water bottles and unnecessarily complex menu was underwhelming.

Gary

Bircher