The three-time winner has been sidelined from distance running due to hip and pelvis stress fractures.

Two years away from the sport has allowed Tamsett to get strong enough to again compete, and the Sydney distance runner is focused on getting back to her best form on the road.

In the nine kilometre bridge run at the Sydney Running Festival she finished second behind Victoria Mitchell.

“I went surprisingly well in Sydney, and when I saw her (Mitchell) on the start line I thought ‘I’ll just let her go,” Tamsett said.

“But surprisingly, she wasn’t that far ahead of me (20 seconds) which was a good feeling.

“Burnie will be really important for me, but I’m trying not to let my brain acknowledge that fact because sometimes you can train, and train, and train, but there comes a point where you have to swallow your pride and throw yourself in the deep end.”