As the sun comes up and over the mountains in Stellenbosch you are bound to see dozens of activewear-clad inhabitants running through the streets. On a Monday morning at 6:30, an entire group of these runners begin from the Curbside Coffee trucks located on the corner of Soeteweide Street and along Bosman Street to go on a 6 km run, “just for fun.”
The Curbside Coffee Monday Miles run club is a conveniently located run club that is open to runners who want to go at a 6:00 to 6:30 min/km pace. While members of the group often speed ahead (especially if the prospect of a free coffee is up for grabs for some friendly competition),
runners are welcome to join the group and follow the route at the pace they choose.
Brendan Phillips, the owner of Curbside Coffee, explains that, “I started Monday Miles at the beginning of last year with a simple idea: use the community around Curbside Coffee to bring people together for something fun, healthy and positive. What started out as a small group has grown into one of my favourite parts of the week.”
He goes on to say, “No matter how many times you’ve been, there’s always someone new to meet and to chat with along the run. It’s a steady paced, social run where we keep things comfortable for most of the route— until the last kilometre, when we pick it up for a little push.”
Whether you want to get out there and PB or you are simply doing it for the kudo’s, the Monday Miles run club is consistently an enjoyable run that makes the route fly past and starts the week the right way. Plus, it will never be a bad run if you get to have one of the best coffees in Stellenbosch after smashing some segments.
Phillips says “[I would] love to see Monday Miles keep growing and become a part of more people’s weekly route. Because honestly, there’s no better way to start the week than with good company, a solid run and a great coffee.”
By Emma Theron
