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