Out and back before the sun

A number of elements combined over the last week or so to force me to reschedule my 1h45m run (or 24km) run to this morning. With the added bonus of not being able to run to work, this meant an very early start, one that in the context of sitting here at 7am typing up this entry you probably cobble together a credible argument was so early as to technically be yesterday. Well, it felt that way.

I detest backing up the morning after a SW speed session, because it's tough to get out of bed, and the quality's just not there. It's fine for a Friday morning 30 minute shuffle, but for today's tempo run, I knew hitting the targetted 24km in the time alloted, particularly out and back over the Gladesville Bridge and through Drummoyne, was going to be hard. Sadly, not an excuse to dribble along at 5 min/km pace.

So, out the door at about 4:55am. Yes, you read that correctly.

West from home along Victoria Road, two laps of the Bay Run (one anti-clockwise including a full lap of Timbrell Park, one clockwise) and then back home for what GMaps Pedometer suggested was around 24km. Ran it in 1:50:26 for 4:36 pace, although I suspect I probably lost a lot of that in the climb up the Gladesville Bridge. Had to keep pushing myself along - it would have been very easy to drift off into a jog.

Saw Fats, Aunty Karin and the Striders' Wednesday group, which provided some highlights.

Still, it's done. And if one of the elements that forced this unholy effort pipes up about how inconvenient the late meeting is, I will break open her chest, tear out her heart and devour it as she watches,