Had to set my alarm too early at 5:30am, but wasn't feeling too tired in the morning. The reason for the early start is the parkrun starts at 7:00am in Queensland due to the temperatures.
The trains to my destination Zillmere were only running every half hour which didn't really coincide with parkrun, there were closer options but it's the only Z parkrun in Australia so had to cross it off the list, and the course looked good too - grass instead of the usual concrete for most suburban locations.
I decided to arrive 45 minutes early instead of 15 minutes, which was a good idea as I was able to do a longer warm up and figure out the course. It was a lot of open grass fields, so it was a little more complicated than the usual course.
From the start some guy took off way ahead - like usual I thought I was due for another second place finish - 17th firsts and 21 seconds in total, not as bad as I expected. However I managed to jump into the lead during the first kilometre and finished about two minutes ahead, so nothing to worry about. I think I might have cut one corner a little, but the watch recorded 4.98 kilometres.
Had a bit of time for cool down before the train back - it's definitely good to check the trains times first, saves waiting around at the station for 20 plus minutes. The buffet breakfast at the hotel was not bad, some good muesli and mixed berries with yoghurt.
Just enough time to get another train to Toombul then a short bus trip over to Brisbane Airport DFO. The DFO wasn't quite open yet so checked out the Woolworths for any different products. Nothing much except a new range of Oak flavoured milks had been released, the Chokito one was decent but ridiculously packed with sugar, far too sweet.
The DFO was open, started at the Nike store of course. They had three different colours of Pegasus Turbo but 12.5 was the largest. Found some regular Pegasus 36 for half price though so worth the trip. Didn't find much at the other stores so got the bus back.
Had only done a little bit of walking, but my left shin was already really sore. It's a constant problem I have on every holiday from too much walking, always the first place where pain starts. So took a break and found some lunch in the shopping centre, then walked across the road to Kedron Brook. It's part of a long bike track but looked like it had some potential for running also.
After lunch went back to the hotel on the train to drop off the shoes, but the TV remote wasn't working! I was only stopping in for a few minutes anyway so asked the reception to have it fixed.
The hotel was walking distance to the CBD, so just did a bit of exploring for the afternoon, since I haven't been to Brisbane in more than 20 years I think.
The city seemed to have a few more older buildings maybe, like the Anzac Square and City Hall. Stopped in at a few shops in Queen Street mall and found a magnet eventually.
Ended up at the 'city' version of botanic gardens - lots of runners but no tan track, so a bit disappointing overall. An observation already, hundreds of people on rental scooters everywhere, and they can go pretty quick too so you have to be careful. I'm guessing they work better in Brisbane as the city is smaller and a bit less congested, and there is a better path around the outside of the city to use them on.
I walked across the pedestrian bridge to South Bank, which I found out later was part of the city parkrun course - doesn't seem like it would be a very good route though. Had a bit of rain so stopped for another rest which was long overdue, then found a banana stand and Ahmet's Turkish restaurant!
Finished walking along South Bank which seems like a good place, man-made beaches and swimming pools and lots of restaurants. Back across the bridge at the other end to the CBD again, most shops were starting to close.
I found a Mexican restaurant near the hotel, ordered a burrito but they put the sour cream 'on' the burrito and the guacamole beside it. Worst constructed burrito ever.
Got back to the hotel with some time to rest and watch some NBA and NBL on TV.
32,000 steps including 10.25 km running
The trains to my destination Zillmere were only running every half hour which didn't really coincide with parkrun, there were closer options but it's the only Z parkrun in Australia so had to cross it off the list, and the course looked good too - grass instead of the usual concrete for most suburban locations.
I decided to arrive 45 minutes early instead of 15 minutes, which was a good idea as I was able to do a longer warm up and figure out the course. It was a lot of open grass fields, so it was a little more complicated than the usual course.
From the start some guy took off way ahead - like usual I thought I was due for another second place finish - 17th firsts and 21 seconds in total, not as bad as I expected. However I managed to jump into the lead during the first kilometre and finished about two minutes ahead, so nothing to worry about. I think I might have cut one corner a little, but the watch recorded 4.98 kilometres.
 |
| Zillmere parkrun. |
Had a bit of time for cool down before the train back - it's definitely good to check the trains times first, saves waiting around at the station for 20 plus minutes. The buffet breakfast at the hotel was not bad, some good muesli and mixed berries with yoghurt.
Just enough time to get another train to Toombul then a short bus trip over to Brisbane Airport DFO. The DFO wasn't quite open yet so checked out the Woolworths for any different products. Nothing much except a new range of Oak flavoured milks had been released, the Chokito one was decent but ridiculously packed with sugar, far too sweet.
The DFO was open, started at the Nike store of course. They had three different colours of Pegasus Turbo but 12.5 was the largest. Found some regular Pegasus 36 for half price though so worth the trip. Didn't find much at the other stores so got the bus back.
Had only done a little bit of walking, but my left shin was already really sore. It's a constant problem I have on every holiday from too much walking, always the first place where pain starts. So took a break and found some lunch in the shopping centre, then walked across the road to Kedron Brook. It's part of a long bike track but looked like it had some potential for running also.
After lunch went back to the hotel on the train to drop off the shoes, but the TV remote wasn't working! I was only stopping in for a few minutes anyway so asked the reception to have it fixed.
The hotel was walking distance to the CBD, so just did a bit of exploring for the afternoon, since I haven't been to Brisbane in more than 20 years I think.
The city seemed to have a few more older buildings maybe, like the Anzac Square and City Hall. Stopped in at a few shops in Queen Street mall and found a magnet eventually.
 |
| A.N.Z.A.C. |
Ended up at the 'city' version of botanic gardens - lots of runners but no tan track, so a bit disappointing overall. An observation already, hundreds of people on rental scooters everywhere, and they can go pretty quick too so you have to be careful. I'm guessing they work better in Brisbane as the city is smaller and a bit less congested, and there is a better path around the outside of the city to use them on.
 |
| Kangaroo Point cliffs. |
I walked across the pedestrian bridge to South Bank, which I found out later was part of the city parkrun course - doesn't seem like it would be a very good route though. Had a bit of rain so stopped for another rest which was long overdue, then found a banana stand and Ahmet's Turkish restaurant!
 |
| South Bank. |
Finished walking along South Bank which seems like a good place, man-made beaches and swimming pools and lots of restaurants. Back across the bridge at the other end to the CBD again, most shops were starting to close.
I found a Mexican restaurant near the hotel, ordered a burrito but they put the sour cream 'on' the burrito and the guacamole beside it. Worst constructed burrito ever.
 |
| What is this? |
Got back to the hotel with some time to rest and watch some NBA and NBL on TV.
32,000 steps including 10.25 km running
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