Middle East meets hipster Sydney East in a homely yet different feed at Kepos & Co. This is a welcome injection of modern Israel into an otherwise student overpopulated, culturally confused Waterloo. With a peak price of $29/dish, deep-value diners should stay away. I may discard my bulk Twinings chai tea-bags after warming the throat with this $4.50 aromatic Masala Chai blend. Spicy...
Lorie gave a first rate massage on my quads and I now have a new pair of legs. Perfectly content putting easy kms into the legs today. Conway, Charlie, Nathan and Sammy had similar ideas at lunch. Flat elevation, easy pace and sunshine made this a real Spring treat. We skipped Hickson wharves and headed to Barangaroo Point. Cut the run short at...
An all-male turnout for Centennial loops in fabulous Spring weather. With the likes of Jerome, Timmy, Enda, Eoin, Jeet, Wiseman and Glen all finding late season form, the 4:30s pace was going to be tough. First 10km had me venture solo across Newtown at 5:30s to make the 7am start. The pace lifted and the extra 2-3kg from a huge feed last night...
My brunch cravings often oscillate between (i) rustic and hearty, OR (ii) fresh and healthy. The pre-requisite for both is value, satiety and uniqueness. Cornersmith's 'garden-on-a-plate' concept is deep in camp (ii). Unfortunately, small portions are no deterrent to a beehive of Inner West hipsters and aspiring dieters alike. 9:30am Sunday kick-off starts with a seriously smooth skim flat white. Cornersmith: 1, home Nespresso...
AM: woke to some pretty tired legs. Recovery has not been quite as expected. Enjoyed an easy 7km through Glebe on my way to work. PM: the crew today was just four - Jerome plus two new guys Matt and Andis. The lawyer count was three. Good to see some new faces joining the squad. Pace was an easy 5 min/km out to...
Rookie error yesterday post a humid lunch run - did not hydrate. Paid the price with a scratchy throat and an under-recovered set of legs (today). Skipped a morning run and even then almost didnt turn up to the 2km intervals with HuRTS. Start at Park Hyatt, finish at Barangaroo Point. Session turned into a progressive one, latching onto a few trusty pacers...
An ad-hoc recovery out to Centennial with Conway. Pace was remarkably easy, but the disruptive nature of road crossings, uneven paths and undulating hills removed any changes of a recovery run. I love the park intraday. 14km all up in 70 min. ...
I'm in that place where I need to nail consistent speed but struggling with flattish legs and no races in the pipeline. AM: found a weather gap and took my chances with an easy 8km commute. 6 min type pace. PM: lunch session a nasty 45 min fartlek, 60s on, 30s off. Decided I'll do half the set at higher intensity. Gave the...
Battled mother nature alongside Charlie, Conway and Sam on horrid conditions. We checked out the new Barangaroo track. Nice set-up, but not wide enough presumably for large group intervals. Good company all round. Pace was bang on 5 min/km. Felt so sluggish at the start, then magic from 7km. Charlie thrives in such conditions. Wet weather specialist. 12km all up in 60 min....
A return of the Centennial routine with HuRTS. Sticky weather, on-off rain no deterrent to anyone aspiring to Blackmores, Melbourne or other 2H races. Big win making the 6:30am start. My mood deflated seeing Enda, JFen, Jeet, Steve, Ali (new guy) and another intent on a brutal (for a Sunday) 4:30min/km. Come 7am, we were joined by Birchy and Anthony. Some big few...
Majestic Harvest squats in an abandoned theatre then steals the highly successful marketplace-cafe model. Industrial decor, bread on wooden boards, cold pressed juices, fry pans used as plates - a hipster beehive. The only show worth my time is an honest, unique and filling feed that is tax-free from gimmicks. Turns out, the true theatre here is one of irony. Coffee art is...
Out across the Bridge to Cremorne Point and Mosman Bay in cracking midday weather. Beautiful views of the city whilst accumulating junk mileage with colleague Matt. Too hilly to be a recovery run. 13km all up in 70 min. 5:26 min/km average pace. Soreness with some minor swelling under left arch. A sign I need to switch shoes, or stop running. I'll probably...
I'm slowly try to reintegrate double speed. Yet within 5s of waking, I knew my legs were not ready for the Rushcutters intervals at lunch. Tuesday 2x20min left me flat, a feeling that a 6km jog to work did not erase. Nonetheless, I've successfully convinced Matt from work to join HuRTS and could not back down. Session was 6x1km off 5 min cycles....
Started with the usual HuRTS Wed crew but quickly lay down the opposite of the gauntlet. Declared I was running 5:30s (vs the usual 4:30 pace). I find this pace (Mon, Wed) is a key ingredient to better quality Tues and Thurs efforts. I did stick with the core group to Mrs Mac Chair, before dropping back. This time, it was Wongy (as...
I normally LOVE the 2x20min but today really hurt, in a good way. HuRTS turnout continues to grow (may 30) with now good spread from 32 to say 42min 10k runners. Upfront CT was absolutely smashing it, leaving Barts, JFen and I doggedly chasing. First half felt OK, helped by verbal and drafting assistance by my go-to training partner of late in JFen....
A planned easy one with Conway, Timmy and Sam. Guest appearances also from Jerome, Enda and Wongy helped by the 'main' crew catching us at Hickson Wharves. Generally a chat-type run and a good chance to stretch the legs. The return took me to Opera House before I called it a day. 12km in 57 min. Sore lower back has flared up again....
Cross Eatery emits the seasonal produce, healthy vibe more at home in the Inner West. Long tables are a safe-place for a food-loving finance professional - sip a 3/4 latte, munch a breakfast salad whilst after taking iPhone egg-yolk shots. Try this in Martin Place and you'll be arrested. Sydney now boasts a sophisticated brunch at mid-range pricing in an office perimeter. Historically, this...
Saturday - Centennial Hamstring certainly tight from yesterday's effort. Jogged from Inner West to Centennial at recovery pace, circled the outer dirt track before extending the loop around Queen's Park. Doubt any km split was sub 5 min. Finished up at Moore Park Golf Course, where I had a pram demonstration booked in at 8:30. 16km in 1:30. Ave. pace too comfortable to...
Beautiful day to be the first to venture down the new Barangaroo track. Last effort at the City Mile Dash in 2012 - 5:10. Had zero plans to race, but then CT throws me a bone on Tuesday with a last-minute fill in for the mixed team. If I paid $45 for every 1.6km run, I'd be in slavery. With last Sunday's C2S...
Some mild soreness under the left foot, swelling perhaps? Often arises after a heavy week (or three). Took it very easy with 11km around Hickson wharves and down to Pyrmont. Pace was 5:30s, helped by Matt and Wooey also recovering from solid 58 min C2S efforts. Barangaroo still remains closed. Shame. Will look to run the City Mile Dash tomorrow with CT, LJ...
Started with the Wednesday crew at 5 min/km, but quickly dropped back to 5:30s when I realised Wongy had similar slow ambitions. Tried and tested recovery type run down to Hickson, then back to CQ. 10km all up in 57 min. Still well off feeling 100%. CT has asked me to fill in for the City Mile Dash on Friday. I suspect the...
Still scratching my head as to the 30 strong turnout for the 14x3min intervals around Farm Cove, just 2 days after C2S! It came down to a shirtless JFen, leveraging his fresh legs, to led each rep. Notable Sunday survivors backing it up included Timmy, Sam, Macca, Gleeso and Lambert. All with varying degrees of success. I skipped two reps whilst on a...
AM: I can happily add 'junk' to the routine with no forthcoming races. 6km to work around Blackwattle Bay PM: A planned recovery run with Conway, Nathan and Sam starting at Macquarie St. Pace was an easy 5:30 min/km. The HuRT squad passed us 6km in at a faster 4:30 min/km. Got back covering another 12km. Though Sunday was only 14km, the cumulative...
Without question, the worst course but best social event of the year in the City2Surf. Today a beach-side breakfast, good support and exchanging war stories was well worth my 48 min of discomfort. From the HuRT squad, there were some serious PBs, offset by the usual no-shows, DNFs and some 'tough days at the office'. Day starts with the wife back on chauffeur...
Just 5 months old, this authentic Lebanese roaster-bakery has no blogger coverage and is a hidden gem in the poor-side of Marrickville. This is the opposite of the Surry Hills or Bondi trending cafes. du Liban is simple - Middle-Eastern comfort food with spice and price aggression. Perfect for those wandering the grungy industrial outskirts under the flight path. These girls are in...
