Saturday - 16km tempo around the Bay Run

Probably one of my favourite sessions this one! Most people dread it (I'm looking at you Darren, who will go and enter a race in order to avoid these long tempo runs). The Bay Run is a great place for it as well, as you can simply put the hammer down and go on autopilot. Plus, the public show a general sense of awareness around this track - something that locals around the Northern Beaches could learn a thing or two from. Anyway, not the greatest conditions this morning - intermittent showers and a progressively increasing southerly wind that got worse each lap. Spoke to Gary beforehand and he suggested to run slightly faster than last time. So I did that, went out slightly faster than four weeks earlier. Got through the first 10km in around 33:53, and felt strong but definitely not easy. Still had a bit left, so really just consolidated until the 14km mark (a slow kilometer between 13-14km where you go climb up to the bridge) before really giving it a bit for the final stretch into a nice headwind. Finished the 16km right at the mark this time (I think I finished slightly short last time out) in 54:32 - 11 seconds quicker than last time, in much tougher conditions. 3:24's. Shuffled very slowly back to the car for 25km all up. Definitely no double today! A big week ahead, no rest day and 10 runs! A good solid hit out before two back-to-back races in early May. Getting my confidence back, and feeling strong!