Image sourced from Double space photography
Meet Alex, a strategist & runner splitting his time between Toronto and NYC. He finds himself shifting between start lines, magazine racks, and dinner parties.
I enjoy stretches of uninterrupted road, so the obvious route for me is the Martin Goodman Trail along the Waterfront, which I’ve used throughout my marathon build, making the route a bit tired at the moment. It’s my off-season now, so I’ve been enjoying planning routes through the city. Running on Ossington Ave, which is lined with bars, eateries, and curated shops, makes it the perfect transition spot from early coffee to a late-night bar crawl. P.S. I’m notorious for running Strava segments on my way home from a night out on Ossington. College St. offers a scenic atmosphere with a hum in the Sunday air as shops set up for the day, quieter and less crowded than Queen West. Post-run, although I don’t recommend running on Queen West, the route ends in the back roads of Queen West, where I spend my post-run ritual. Because my routes are rarely out-and-backs, transitional pieces that feel and look good are integral in building my running capsule wardrobe.
The run is an easy, Sunday 6KM. Check out my route here.
Run outfit: District Vision Glasses, Soar Running Long Sleeve T, Pruzan Straight Marathon Shorts, Asics Superblast
Image sourced from HULLMARK
The route ends just steps away from White Squirrel Coffee Shop, a quaint window service style shop that draws in a line of early risers. I grab a Flat White and cross the road to Nadege for a classic croissant. I'll either sit on the patio or take it across the street to Trinity Bellwoods Park. After that, I'll pop into Type Books, the neighbourhood indie bookshop. Sometimes I have a book on order to pick up; other times, I like to browse their new arrivals. My friend and I co-host an event series called Between, and a recurring event we host is Between Pages: a blind book exchange. I'm always curating books for that event, so I like to keep tabs on new releases.
Daytime outfit: Off Paris Green Corduroy Hat, KOTN Rib Tank, Pruzan Fitted 6" Shorts, New Balance 991v2
Image sourced from Between Space
As of late, I’ve been spending my nights at Between. "Between" is an experiential studio—a home for Between: A gathering series by Andreja Klobucar and Alex La. Transcending the traditional supper club while reviving art salon culture, we explore the intimate nuances that ignite profound connections within our community. We establish third spaces to celebrate moments, in-between. This is a reflection of our shared desire to create space for a different kind of socialising, shifting away from ego-centered, shallow interactions. We encourage guests to come as strangers and leave as friends. This is a space for like-minded individuals. Our past salons include Moonlight Affair: A Lunar New Year Dinner, Between x SOHO House: Anatomy of a Letter, and Between Pages: A Literary Blind Date. This concept arose during marathon training. I still wanted to socialise then but struggled to find options that felt good in the moment, and the morning after (early long runs often fall on the morning after). Despite not being in race training at the moment, I tend to gravitate towards a Between night versus bar crawling.
Evening outfit: Pruzan Running Uniform Cap, Adidem Astrisks Therapy Camp Collar Shirt, Wanze Work Trouser Heavy Cotton Twill White