Claire’s special weapon
A RELAXED Claire Tallent says five-month-old son Harvey has become the not-sosecret race walking weapon who could drive her to Commonwealth Games gold.
Tallent won the Racewalking Queensland 5km Invitational on Sunday, sampling the Currumbin circuit she hopes to conquer next April.
While husband, Olympian Jared Tallent, sat out the event with injury, Claire proved she’s nearing the form that took her to silver at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Now 36, Tallent has already recorded a qualifying time for Gold Coast but will enter a final, top-three shootout for places at the national trials next February.
However the Adelaide product will hit the track with one cuddly advantage.
“I like to see that little smiley face – to have my family cheering on the sidelines, it’s always great,” Tallent said.
“I wouldn’t say (becoming a parent) changes my ambition but, without taking away from anything in the past, you have a new perspective on things.
“It’s not that I don’t care anymore but it’s less important to me how I perform.
“That might be an advantage in some respects because you go in relaxed knowing your family is still going to be there when you get home and they still love you.”
It’s that tempered mindset that has Tallent training smarter, not harder, these days.
“You realise athletics isn’t the be all and end all,” she said.
“I train pretty similar in terms of routine but you value your time more because you know you have things to do when you get home.
“You really want to make the most of it. (Becoming a mum) puts the universe in perspective.”
Tallent, who says she’s feeling “really strong”, will next tackle the inaugural Australian Women’s 50km Championships in December.
“It wasn’t super fast (my time on Sunday) but I was really happy with the pace,” she said.
“It was just a great opportunity to see what the course was like.
“Racing on the Gold Coast is a real challenge for me.
“I come from a dry climate and getting a little taste of that (more humid conditions) is a reminder of what you need to do come April.”