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