Race, Brunch, Repeat

Had reservations about battling the weather via a jog to work. Perfect timing as I headed out at 6am - cleared up and enjoyed an easy 6km to work.

No chance to run at lunch (meeting), so turned out to be my lightest day in a long time bar a mini bricks after work.

30 min cycle home via Pyrmont, then a short 2km bricks around the block. More driven by restlessness.

Joined Wongy for an easy 11km around Hickson wharves. Really letting the legs recover from a tough last 4 weeks. Felt good for doing such a slow 5:40 min/km.

Elected not to ride home given the rain. Looks like next few days will be nasty.

With 16km banked on Monday, my legs still feel a touch sub-par. HuRTS session 8x5 min with 90s rest starting at Stone Pillars. Cut this in half ... that was my plan.

My maiden brunch at Pinbone was a runaway success on every level. Restaurant-quality food at highly digestible pricing.

These guys cater for sophisticated palates that can actually appreciate several of the Asian-inspired choices. Shame on several rookie diners who I observed eating just eggs on toast.
Two health warnings:
- Sunday wait times comparable to the check-in counter for my Tiger Airways flight last month
- Upstairs acoustics no better than that same Tiger flight with 3 bawling toddlers onboard.

I order brown rice congee with pumpkin based on (i) from a 21km morning run (in rain) and (ii) my love of pumpkin.

Turnaround is rapid and out it comes after 10 min.

Malted brown rice congee with mushroom, pumpkin and a poached egg - $18

Delicious and warm! Spoon #1 leaves me at contemplating a face-in-bowl situation. Think of this as a love child between a classic HK congee comfort food and a perfectly creamy pumpkin risotto.

I absolutely loved it and score this 10/10, no hesitation. After spoon #4, I stood up and proclaimed this a top 3 dish in Sydney.



I figured a side of 1/2 avocado would be a clever addition. My mistake. This was not particularly complementary and in effect a low yielding $4 investment.

A good friend gave a verbal 10/10 to the egg white omelette just 30 min earlier. Lucky the wife chooses this else she'd be forced into this regardless.

Egg white omlette with prawns, pork floss and chilli - $18

Chilli and pork floss, very unique

Pinbone menu

- Food - 9/10 - incredibly tasty flavour combinations with healthy choices a big plus.
- Value - 9/10 - a $20 note gets you fine dining and $2 change for tipping .. unprecedented.
- Other - 9/10 - never seen such good service in a 'trending' cafe.
- Overall - 9/10 - a runaway success and a feed that you reminisce about in times of despair.

Pinbone is now in my top #3 brunches in Sydney.

Pinbone - top 3 Sydney brunch

Will I be returning?
yes

How can I be happy with such a tiny prawn omelette?
Underlying prawn count very good - next time this needs the side of toast.

.

A good close to the week. Though I wanted to truncate my usual long run (legs flat), I still to post a solid week of mileage. Late night out was no obstacle to an early am start.

Headed down to the Bay Run turning westward and basically wondering around Five Dock, Chiswick and Drummoyne. I've committed to one 'cross-training' session a week. Hence 0-10km, every 500m I stopped and did 5 double push-up burpees. It hurt.

After 10km I switched to just 10 push-ups every 1km. Finished the run coming back around the Iron Cove bridge with my shoulders in a bad state.

In effect, session was a half mara plus 30x10 push-ups. Came away feeling similar to a dentist visit - hate it at the time, but pat on the back in the aftermath.

130km for the week. Feeling a little flat to be honest.

Friday - Redleaf
Nice and easy run joined by Conway. Started on Macquarie and headed around Potts Point, Rushcutters and back around the hills of Darlinghurst. This is the course we were doing in the lead up to Xmas (normally ending in a quick dip at Redleaf pool).

Didn't get to swim, but turned back at 8km. Pace was pretty mild, around 5:30s but the hills keep the quads honest. Got back covering 16km in 1:20. A long lunch break but acceptable for a Friday.

Also the first time I'm using these bright green New Balance. $78 on sale from The Iconic - didn't even know they sell sports shoes but by far the best price around.

Light enough for racing at 214g, low drop (6mm). Feel is pretty soft but responsive enough. Will see how long these last before deciding whether to buy more.

New Balance Zantes

Saturday - with the dog
No need to push hard nor accrue miles this weekend. Found some company in Molly (my Cavoodle) for a run through the suburbs of Haberfield, Ashfield and Summer Hill.

Last week Molly did a surprise 8km tempo (oval) plus 4km to and from down at King Georges. Had a morbid curiosity how long she lasts at 5:30 min/km.

Initial expectation was maybe 12km? Well about at 15km (in Leichardt) she started fading. Not a bad effort but the hope is to get her up to 20km. The poor dog has no idea what's in stall for her.

All clear from the doc. Iron levels normal vs. Xmas when it was way below recommended level.

Anyway heading out the door felt like magic. No rain? What a privilege. Legs feeling strangely heavy so my 7km to work was slower than usual.

Matt from work sent an email around to Wooey, Charlie and I for a 4:30 pace 10k run to Balls Head (North Shore). Though he's sharpening up for a Byron Bay tri in 2 weeks, I felt that pace would be very aggressive session given the hills.

Started slow and rang along the bridge with Wooey. Slowly picked up the pace and reeled in Charlie and Matt as we tracked past Waverton station and into Balls Head. Felt better the longer I went. Did some good low 4s splits and surged the hills.

Last split along the bridge was 3:50. 11km all up at 4:35 min/km. Poor Wooey looked pretty spent by the end. On the flip side, Charlie and Matt are in the best shape I've seen.

19km for the day.

Wow what a day. So I reasoned last night that surely, the weather can't get much worse than Mon/Tues....

The decision by CT to shorten the fartlek was met with absolutely no objection. In units of minutes, one set is 3 on, 1 off, 2 on, 1 off then 1 on, 1 off. Since and repeat for 4 sets. Turnaround at 18 min.

Amazed at the turnout on a completely horrid day: pissing down rain, howling winds. I was so disincentivised to venture out but did so at Charlie's urging.  20-25 strong crowd. Goes to show who really loves running.

Front included the likes of CT, Tucks, Quentin and 2 others. Even the jog down to the Stone Pillars with Charlie had me craving a hot chocolate in a hot bath.

Personally I felt so flat. Maybe it is the last 3 weeks of 120k plus? Couldn't find the extra gear to run with the front and found myself 40m back at the turnaround. Found good company in JFen for the whole 4 sets.

Got back in 36:20. Not bad given you battle headwinds plus hills. Mentally, one of the toughest sessions I've done in recent memory.

Covered 10km at 3:39 min/km. 

First 5km  - 3:38, 3:34, 3:32, 3:36, 3:51
Second 5km - 3:33, 3:35, 3:36, 3:51, 3:50

There's this awesome new feature on Strava called Flyby. Showed a replay of the relative positions of runners for a given run. Seems I fell just short of the bridge underpass.



I actually jogged in earlier that morning. 2 battles against mother nature and came out alive. 20km for the day.

A run through Blackwattle Bay in pouring rain left me completely drenched and miserable before work.  

Decide to take the 'soft' option on a lazy Sunday morning (and not race). Ducked out at an easy pace down Paramatta Road just after 6am.

I promised my stomach a second round at Revolver, post a top quartile eggs-in-skillet performance (review here).

With Perth Parkrun friends Hamish (H), Sally (S) and Maddie (M) in town and my desire to impress, I figured this a safe play.

House made spiced chai latte - $4.50

My chai latte was particularly creamy. The sweetness was too much, made so by an over-excited barista with a can of sugar dust and a bottle of chai syrup. Did not quite seem too 'house made'.

Old school chocolate milkshake - $5.50

Choc-milk is nostalgically predictable for an 8 year old or a Filipino of any age. The metallic housing plus straw brings me back memories of Paragon in Katoomba.

Really took it easy today. Undecided what the coming weekend might entail (running wise that is). Would like to keep the legs fresh. Resisted the temptation to run at lunch.

Great excuse to run home from work. Crossed Pyrmont bridge then circled the wharves before tracking Blackwattle Bay. 10km all up at 6 min/km.

Should I do the 30km SMC on Sunday (Smithfield)? We'll see.

With a new routine of a 10pm bed time, I'm finding myself up earlier and earlier.

Brought Molly down towards to King George Park, near the base of the Iron Cove Bridge. Almost instinctively, took the shoes off and proceed to run in circles for 8km (500m laps).

Felt better the longer I went. Had the dog chasing me the whole way. Turned into a tidy little barefoot progressive tempo.

Splits were: 4:46, 4:18, 4:12, 3:58, 3:56, 3:50, 3:43, 3:30

With the warm-up and warm-down, 13km in total.

Charlie kindly signed me up for pacing duties for Matt from work. Final round of Corporate Cup and Matt was 1pt behind Will. These two have been neck and neck the entire season.

Monday - HuRTS MLR

Finally my bike is back in one piece. Thought myself clever enough to remove the wheel, replace the tube. Couldn't figure out how to refit the back wheel and called in the missus to help.

Worked a charm, meaning I enjoyed a double commute on the saddle.

Fairly solid turnaround for the HuRTS wharves run at lunch. Pace was expectantly easy. Good to see a few familiar faces including Brendan, John B, John W, Erika and Darren. Passed Renee and James on the return around Opera House.

Tuesday - Bay Run

Enjoyed the luxury of the Bay Run (rather than running to work). Grabbed the dog Molly for her 2nd ever run. She survived remarkably well for 8km. Good potential as a long run partner I think.

Didn't realise Cavoodles had good endurance genetics.

Adding the 6km run home, 15km for the day.

Molly at the Bay Run

Straddled on a T-intersection along Bondi North, this corner carries many demons. Each August in the City to Surf, you're fighting a 14km losing battle starting from Hyde Park. Heartbreak Hill has just stabbed you in the chest with a fork.

Roaring crowds, salty smell of the beach ...the tape must be 200m away!

Sadly that thought is as premature (and sinful) as 9 year old wearing eyeliner. Still 2km of pain before that celebratory sausage sizzle at the finishing chute.

Porch and Parlour

The young crowds swarm Porch and Parlour early on a Sunday. Indifferent staff, 30 min table wait plus 40 min for the food. Hanger-ridden heartbreak.

Porch and Parlour - camera shy patrons

The missus and I, joined by dog Molly start with a Chai tea. Just like Matt Hayden (in Cricket), a tried and tested opener.

Honey-infused chai tea with almond milk - $4.50

Limited menu, quality produce, lots of eggs and prepared with a twist. Our pre-agreed mandate is to critique the legendary Pea Pancakes and Devil's Breakfast.

Green Pea Pancake with egg, avocado, feta and salad plus grilled trout - $17 + $7

Adding trout to pancakes is on good authority. Here's a fact - eggs, trout and avo is a guaranteed menage et trois in the mouth. Add richly stock-seasoned peas and this is happiness.

Pancake rating? Great colour, pleasing crispiness and an unexpected rough interior. A high density almost left me craving fluffy pancakes in the aftermath.

Despite being well balanced and an optical pleasure, I became emotionally disengaged with each bite. No where near magical enough to repay 3 months of anticipation.

Egg yolk oozing onto the trout and pea pancake

Though the poaching job was solid, the twin shame was just one lonely egg and a hobbit trout (i.e. too small).

Devil's Breakfast - paprika and chilli coated eggs, chorizo, beans, potato and toast - $22

In essence, this was a heavily spiced chorizo-infused baked eggs dish on steroids. The oils from the sausage carried into the beans and sausage.

Only negative was fried potato under-delivering on crunchiness. At $22, I can't excuse the chef thinking one sourdough slice was acceptable.

No doubt a tasty dish for a stomach craving a warm hearty meal with a matching palate that likes a kick.

Other interesting choice was the Green Breaky Bowl. Didn't get to try but the adjacent table did.

Green Breaky Bowl - kale, spinach, quinoa, eggs and avocado - $16.50

Overall this brunch was certainly pleasant, healthy and satisfying enough. Now add the ridiculous wait time, poor service quality and premium pricing.

Very rustic fitout - highly appealing to the Bondi hipsters

My score summary speaks the truth:

Food - 8/10 - winning brunch staples combined with freshness, seasoning and technique.
Value - 6/10 - adequate servings but not impressive enough to warrant >$20.
Other - 6/10 - the service, wait time and awkward outdoor seating compromised the pleasure of a lazy Sunday brunch.
Overall - 7/10 - left mildly happy. Worth a visit only if you're a local.

Will I be returning?
Not for the food. Possibly only for a post City to Surf feed.

With a pending brunch in Bondi, I was highly motivated to work up a serious appetite. Food tastes best when one is hungry. Fact.

Wanted to join the HuRTS 7am group starting at Kiosk. Leaving the house at 6:27am left me 33 min to get to the Kiosk (8km away). Hence the precedent was set for an unusually hard run, with pacing moving to sub 4:30 min/km once I hit Paramatta Road.

Arrived 3 min late, no one to be seen! Where did they go? I set out solo on the initial clockwise course squinting the eyes. Pace quickened to perhaps 4 min/km in the hope I'd catch the crowd. No luck, and the remaining 20k was fairly uneventful.

The beauty of Centennial is how little time is spent on road.... great for the legs.

Centennial Park

Wandered around Centennial, Queen's Park and dirt track surrounds as the km's ticked over. Some good splits for a 'lazy Sunday'.

32km all up in 2:17, or 4:15 min/km. 

I'd say Thursday's speed left a few niggles in the left foot again. Yesterday I linked up with Conway for a Hickson easy run. Looks like he's back from PF issues.

So this morning it was hard to say no to a lazy Bay Run recovery. Threw in a few sets of push-ups along the way, but finished the 12km in 69 min.

Long run tomorrow, likely Centennial or Striders (Concord).

My initial visit to Shenkin Kitchen was a resounding success. They say don't fix something that is not broken; hence a revisit (now with 6 mouths to feed) was due.

Photo journey below and the 9.5/10 was reconfirmed.

Shenkin clipboard menu

 Had The Bite last time. Falafel crust giving way to a creamy centre is magic.

The Bite - avocado falafel ball with roasted mushroom and sourdough - $16

 Chicken plus baked/grilled eggplant. Very filling, tasty but not life changing.

Twice cooked eggplant with chicken and Israeli salad - $17

Egg, eggplant and filo pastry....no surprises to the flavours. Solid execution.

First session in 6 weeks and I came away feeling extremely proud.

I've been avoiding proper intervals / quality since Feb using every excuse in the book - taper, reverse taper, niggles etc. Lucky Charlie D dragged me along else I'd be doing 6 min/km around Hickson Wharves.

20 min of hill reps on the grass near the Art Gallery. Big turnout of maybe 25, including Bruce, Steve, Champ, Pete W and Renee. None of the faster guys turned up so this left me to set the pace. Felt stronger and stronger as the minutes ticked. Great motivation always having people to chase.

Post 6FT and my TAS running, I'm really starting to embrace hills. No signs of quad fatigue, implying improvement vs 6 months ago. Covered 5.0km in the 20 min.

2nd half is a 5km tempo around Mrs M Chair. Started at an easy 3:50s pace and progressively finished at 3:30s. The only company I had was Tom Tom from Manly. Again no signs of leg fatigue.

6km run into work plus 12km at lunch. Feeling great.

Monday - LR via Lane Cove

With the folks back in town, I decided half way through a morning Bay Run recovery to head over to Artarmon for an overdue visit. For me of course, this means via foot (not car). Covered exactly 21.1km crossing Gladesville Bride then some back streets through Lane Cove.

The perfect half distance was completed via bizarre-looking zig-zagging outside the house. Simply wanted to complete the Strava Half Marathon challenge for April.

Tuesday - Rushcutters

What started as a pretty mild 'easy' run with Wooey down to Rushcutters turned into something quite different. 3 sets of 10 double push-up burpees before we cut the run short directly across the Domain. Weather deteriorated in matter of minutes and so did my enjoyment-level.

Left soaked, shivering and miserably after completing the 12km. With the 6km run to work, it was 18km for the day.

Thursday - Swansea farmland

Out at the crack of dawn for my last chance to explore Swansea. Did a lazy 12km south of the sleepy town. Hit several dead ends, found a few little hills and applied corresponding surges. Left foot felt a little funny again. Hence the low mileage day.

12km all up at 5:35 min/km.

Friday - Launceston Cataract Gorcge and Cradle Mountain

First observation in Launceston is this is one bloody hilly town. Today's run started along the pier walkway before diving straight into the trails of Cataract Gorge.

Launceston

Found a track to a hydro power station saying '2.5 hours return'. After many stairs, rocks and hills I found my way back in 35 min. 500m elevation change over 17km.

Cradle Mountain - Dove Lake walk

Did the double by driving out to Cradle Mountain with Lorie and strolling around Dove Lake. Tempting to have a go at climbing Cradle Mountain itself, but not fair to the missus. The 8 hour full day walk might still take me 2 hours.

Saturday - Launceston hills

Last full day in Launceston and I ran southwards into many unknown hills. The 300m elevation change felt a lot worse. Got back having covered 12km at 5:30 min/km.

Tasmania has bred several quality runners over the years. Having been 'chicked' by a local just two weeks ago (Six Foot Track), I was intrigued. The hills, the food, or both?

I flew down to Hobart just to investigate; armed with fresh legs, an empty stomach and a generous food budget.

Machine Laundry Cafe, Hobart (29 March 2015)

Machine Laundry Cafe, Hobart

Brunch #1 is crammed into the corner of Salamanca Square. Per the name, Machine Laundry Cafe combines a laundromat and cafe. Just like a Thai Ladyboy, this is the Tassie take on functional confusion.

Blackboard specials

Choices are breakfast staples with a twist. Whilst rare to see a non-vegetarian non-burger joint cook a decent lentil pattie, this is the risk I take.

Spiced lentil and vegetable pattie on seeded sourdough - $17

Picture a 150kg man riding a kid's tricycle or alternatively, a sub-40kg woman giving her husband (almost 2x the weight) a piggyback up a flight of stairs. Though the later has happened twice, neither ended in divorce. These images speak to the relativity of a monster pattie to the sourdough. I had to eat fast to rescue the poor bread.

Pickled veggie garnish on top of the lentil pattie

Lucky it tasted excellent. Centre was as warm and silky as mash potato and the sweet kick from candied chillis combined with salty capers kept each mouthful entertaining. In short a well spent $17 remedy for long-run-induced hunger.

With two pancake options, Lorie's next move is laughably predictable.

Parmesan pancakes with pancetta and chiili tomato salsa - $16

A 'bacon-effect' is delivered via pancetta, which avoids making this dish too heavy. Crispy outside but very fluffy inside. Well executed again.

Dunking bite-sized pieces into the chilli salsa ensured full body coverage and helped overcome the dryness of the pancakes.

Pancetta, parmesan and chilli salsa a deadly combination

This brunch spoke serious truths to the premise that Tasmanian's know how to eat. Biggest shame was a satiety level so high I missed out on lunch.

Score summary below.

Food - 8/10 - genuinely delicious dishes with the 'quirks' executed well.
Value - 8/10 - mid teens prices, generous servings. Amazing not to see more local cases of morbid obesity.
Other - 7/10 - very miserable and disengaged waitress. No synergy between washing machines and food, aside from stained pants.
Overall - 8/10 - highly memorable, no regrets.



Will I return?
Most likely.

Disclaimer - as the wife washes my pants for free, I didn't actually try the laundry service.

Pigeon Hole Cafe, Hobart (31 March 2015)

Excellent choices of bread

There's always a cafe that plays the 'fresh, locally harvested' card. In Melbourne-like style, Pigeon Hole adds this to a rustic decor and clipboard menu. This place was on the planned food bucket list courtesy of a colleague.

Pigeon Hole clipboard menu

Puffed quinoa salad with tomato, eggplant and raclette plus baked eggs - $14 + $6

A very delicate dish highlighted by crunchy pops of quinoa scattered amongst some leaves. Tasty, unremarkable and very unsatisfying. Raclette is a fancy soft cheese that I found too overpowering.

Kitchen turned down my poached eggs add-on request, and instead offered me for two baked eggs for an exorbitant $6!

Even with the eggs, I STILL felt this was an entree for an entree. Couldn't enjoy any of my five bites knowing that Farmer Weston's farm is probably a balcony herb garden adjoined to a CBD studio apartment.

Baked beans and raclette on malt & linseed toast with baked eggs - $14 + $6

Baked beans are never easy on the eyes. Nonetheless, beans and bread is a match made in heaven and one this kitchen nailed. 4x the price of Ikea beans on toast, but 5x more tasty. Any vendor that beats Ikea in value for money gets my nod of approval!

Lorie's decision to also add baked eggs is exactly why I married her ... genius.

I can tell the chef lovingly slow cooked fresh tomatoes and the good seasoning came through instantly. The chunkiness helped wrap each bean with flavour and saturate the underlying toast.

Excellent baked bean texture

Having eaten the majority of both dishes, I walked away with mixed emotions.

Food - 7/10 - fail salad (5) but best beans on toast I've ever had (9).
Value - 6/10 - not cheap and I was seriously hurt by such an insulting salad.
Other - 7/10 - great staff, space a little cramped.
Overall - 6.5/ 10 - love the flavours, like the produce, dislike the size of Farmer Weston's garden.

Baking the eggs in the Pigeon Hole kitchen

Will I return?
No

Produce sourced from Weston Farm