Week 32: Highgate Hill to The Bakers Arms: Dad’s Day Handicap (17.7km, 1hr 47min)

The decisions on the choice of run and breakfast destination was handed over to the Husband on this special day.  It was Father’s Day handicap this morning by his decree. As can be expected from a planning engineer, he profiled each runner’s average pace and determined departure times.  I can attest to this as he had scrawled his calculations on the kitchen bench. Without Bronwyn and her early wake up, we all had a little sleep in, with me setting off on zero at 6:20am. The Husband and Milly were next away at 6:30am (Milly did not have a choice at her departure time or distance). Caitlyn was set a shorter course today, as her ultimate goal in New Zealand is the half marathon. She exited at 6:45am. I’m beginning to think I clicked on the wrong button when entering the distance selection!  Ashleigh, our youngest and current non-runner, due to a netball injury, only needed to roll out of bed and drive to breakfast; she therefore departed at 8am.
The Husband chose his favourite two runs and combined them to extend to 17km.  It includes the river loop via the University of

Queensland, Coronation Drive, around the Botanic Gardens and the City to the Story Bridge then back via Kangaroo Point.  Caitlyn detoured off at the GoodWill Bridge to accommodate her requisite 12km distance. I added 500 m to my loop with a slight addition at the beginning:  while unsupervised, I unwittingly headed off in the wrong direction!  Realisation hit me and I was able to adjust before I mounted an attack on the hill climb on Laura Street.
Observations of note this morning were an increase in families out running, including fathers assigned their special powers today directing their offspring into some early morning exercise.  At around kilometre 6 at the Regatta ferry stop, I encountered a flotilla of rowers; perhaps representing rowing fathers.  They were accompanied by a drone overhead filming their progress up the river.  The river was tranquil and serene this morning, perfect conditions for rower, biker and runner alike.
At kilometre 9, I perfected my consumption of the banana I had been carrying.  Training notes recommend trialling different food types as a means of replacing muscle glycogen stores over longer runs. Having discovered jelly beans are chewy and difficult to manage, I have fallen back to the old stalwart banana.  I can’t come to the gel packs that are commercially available.  To date my experience of gel has been sickly sweet. I perhaps might feel differently over 42km.  Consistently, I have also found that a couple of glasses of wine are highly effective for recovery on the night after a run.
I arrived in second to the Bakers Arms, with Caitlyn rested and stretched, suggesting she had been there for 11 minutes.  Dusty and Milly came in panting heavily 9 minutes after me.  As way of explanation, the Husband explained he did not anticipate all the Milly comfort stops enroute and would otherwise have been along more promptly.  Ashleigh, dishevelled with blanket creases still imprinted on her face, arrived in last.
The Bakers Arms Specialty Bakehouse is tucked away at the start of Logan Road in Woolloongabba.  It sits in good company in a cute character row of shops opposite my favourite café ‘The Pearl’ (Week 10).

Brioche French Toast

Truffled Mushrooms

The team made their selections from a menu with some mouth-watering unique twists on themes we have experienced over the last 31 weeks.  Conveniently we all chose a different dish, ensuring broad dish coverage.  Other than Caitlyn, who coveted her delightful looking Truffled Mushrooms ($15.50), we shared our dishes around until they found their decided favourite owner (this seemed to come about as a result of Ash joining us for breakfast?).  Ash’s Brioche French Toast with citrus mascarpone, vanilla poached pear and maple syrup ($14.50) had a final resting place with the Husband, who has a sweet tooth and weakness for all things French or Belgian (Chocolate, wine & Tintin).  My Bangers and Beans ($17) were coveted by Ash, who is a bean fan.  It was a tasty and generous portion of house made baked beans, grilled bratwurst and kransky sausages on toasted ciabatta.  Having enjoyed half of the bean dish, I happily dove onto the Husband’s Savoury Breakfast Bowl ( $17) and, having sampled the other dish flavours, proclaimed it as my favourite.  It included little portions of Kipfler potatoes, sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, spinach, spicy tomato sauce and a fried egg topped with Greek yoghurt, coriander and red Chillies and accompanied with flat bread.
The Baker’s Arms has the right ingredients for a BOTR:  Tasty, well presented food, teas, coffees & juices; courteous & thoughtful staff;  a central location with a quiet street setting;  and a funky last-Century décor.

Bangers and Beans

Savoury Breakfast