A stellar year for Tamsett

Coogee resident Lara Tamsett narrowly missed out on defending her national 10000m title at the Zatopek Classic last month, earning second place to cap off a tremendous end to the season.

The diminutive 21-year-old athlete was running high on success after victory in the Rebel Sport Run4Fun in November. Tamsett also secured top-spot in the coveted City2Surf. It was a sweet family coup for Tamsett —her aunt Liz Walker won the event in 1997.

“To win such a publicised event in my home city meant that I could share the victory with all my family and friends,” she said.

Tamsett relishes pounding the pavement across long distances but there have been low times in her career as well.

“Not making the Commonwealth Games was a big disappointment,” she said. “You’ve got to learn to really savour the victories as they don’t come around all the time.”

Fond of the sport since her time in Little Athletics, Tamsett has been training seriously since age 15 with her coach Sean Williams. It was a natural progression for her, but an unusual one considering the low-profile of athletics in Australia.

“I often get frustrated and disheartened with the lack of publicity athletics receives in Australia, especially considering what a tough and competitive sport it is on the world stage,” she said.

Juggling an intensive seven-day training regime and a media degree at university is no easy feat. Despite the frustration that comes from sacrificing family events and the constant demands the sport makes on the body, Tamsett is adamant the key to being successful is keeping everything in balance.

“Running can be a very cruel and unpredictable sport ­- one week you’re winning races and the next you’re injured. It’s important to have other factors in your life.”

Like many athletes, Tamsett has had her fair share of racing superstitions.

“My mum always had to tie my shoelaces before a race,” she explained. “Otherwise, I was sure they would come undone!”

Tamsett is back in training for 2011 and has her sights set on representing Australia at the Olympic Games.