Week 24: Highgate Hill to Melange Café (10.5km, 65 minutes)

A comment from a work colleague has made me reflect on my weekly musings. The descriptions of my runs have, perhaps, not been a true reflection of the muscular pain and joint stiffness that has been associated with my endeavour thus far.  In an effort to entertain, I may have glossed over some of the physical and mental anguish and agony experienced to date.  I am, after all, yet to complete a run, free of hip, back or leg pain in some part of the body.  I have noted that the discomfort shifts throughout the body parts as the run progresses.  There is definitely a psychosomatic element when longer distances are attempted.  It was with mixed emotions (mostly self-doubt and gripping anxiety), that I witnessed the physical exhaustion and obvious pain people were in as they crossed the line at the Gold Coast Marathon last weekend.  No longer just an intellectual exercise, this was now personal.  In less than five months, I too will likely look and feel like those crazy people.  The only comfort was that they all seemed to be hobbling across the line with insane grins on their tortured faces.
This morning the wind felt like it was blowing straight off the Antarctic ice caps.  Fortunately, tapering before next week’s half-marathon meant a shorter, more relaxed run was allowed this week.
It was just Caitlyn and I and we followed the undulations of Highgate Hill, across the Goodwill Bridge, and around the river to the Story Bridge before crossing the neck of New Farm to Newstead and Skyring Terrace.  The resistance created by the westerly wind howling over the hill towards Bowen Hills somewhat hampered our forward progression and provided a harbinger of what Queenstown could potentially throw at us!  We found our way onto the Victoria Links cycle path, whose treed passage provided some protection from the battering.  From there, it was an easy descent into the Roma Street Parklands and breakfast.

Melange Cafe

Melange Café is located within the Roma Street Parklands and sits within a beautiful glass and steel beamed structure which is apparently based on the design of the old railway station - all space and light.  The friendly and chatty staff commented that it had been created to withstand a cyclone with its tall ceilings and open ventilation.  It was being well tested while we bunkered down around our generous pot of tea.  This well-ventilated location would be even better enjoyed on a sultry summer’s day.  Caitlyn ordered the Vego Breakfast Bruschetta; turkish bread toast with spinach and avocado, topped with a delicious combination of tomato, fetta,  red onion, cucumber, capsicum and balsamic vinegar.  My Spanish Scrambled Eggs was also tasty, perhaps a little under seasoned.  It included nicely caramelised onion, chilli, pieces of sausage, tomato, capsicum and spinach. Dress warm for a cold winter’s day and enjoy the ambiance of Melange.

Vego Breakfast

Spanish Scrambled eggs