Hard Work and Never being Happier

It was a Tuesday morning.

After months of planning and I think I was more nervous than standing on the start line at the World Championships a couple of months previously. The time was finally upon us. It was time to tell my story to the entire country, a story that had an impact I never dreamt it could. Responses came in from friends and family, people I had never met, in countries I'd never visited. 

I was overwhelmed. That morning I tore round training, adrenalin was pumping as I knew whilst I was out training my "coming out story" was going out to the nation on the Victoria Derbyshire Show on the BBC. 

For most of that day my phone didn't stop, social media went crazy and I laid with my head in a pillow waiting for it all to go away. I had no idea it wouldn't and that the follow up interest was crazy. From newspapers, to radio interviews in USA, appearances in Hamburg and even nude charity shoots in London. There are so many people I have to thank, to list them would be wrong. However, there is one special person, who requested to be involved my story despite only just recovering from a very traumatic personal period in her life, that is of course the brilliant Victoria Derbyshire. So thank you Victoria, for caring so much and helping tell the story the way I wanted to. 

The whole thing was meant to give me the opportunity to put the news out there, it was never there to be any sort of major sport story. I wanted to get it out in the public well before the Olympics, as it wasn't something I wanted to be a distraction if it were to be leaked prior to the Rio Games next summer. I said in the interview it wouldn't change my life, and personally it hasn't. I've always had a supportive family, partner, training group and friends. Which is why it was so easy for me to come to the decision to speak publicly about my sexuality. However, it feels that everyone else has inspired me, with their stories, their supportive words and the interest in me personally and following my sporting endeavours. I will use this and put it all towards a great performance every time I step onto the track, as I think that is the only right way to thank everyone for all the love and kindness I have received.

Thank you for your support! 

Even to those who responded on social media saying "this isn't a story" you are right, we just need the rest of the world to see that! Then everyone in sport can try and live an open, happy life and no one needs to speak publicly about something which is so personal.
But it got a lot of attention still today, which must be very intimidating for so many who are contemplating living openly and being happy with whom ever they love.
So I am truly honoured and it made me very emotional (see my thank you video) to hear that it reached so many people and helped even just a few, that was a major bonus! I now want to become 'just' another gay athlete as this soon will not be a news worthy story. 

I want to inspire more with my performances to come, especially next summer in Rio, and the following summer of 2017 at the London World Championships. 

So that brings me onto the really important stuff, training!

Including a bit of biomechanics fun at Leeds Beckett University back in November...

The last few months have been building up nicely. My first big block of work finished at the end of November and it was a great few weeks of work. I then started my second big block a few days into December and smashed through to possibly a PB week for December, big mileage and strong speed! 

 

Also this year I was privileged enough to make it onto the World Class Performance Plan, or as many of you know it Lottery Funding. So a big thank you to British Athletics for the recognition of my hard work and believing what I believe, that I am going to continue to develop right to the front of the pack, and push towards a medal. I wasn't happy with 24th in the World this year and they way my training has been going along with my 100% focus every day on Rio I certainly will be moving forwards next season. 

Having had some interest from kit manufacturers this season, still no one has shown much interest in me representing their brand. I mean what am I doing wrong am I not a good role model, am I not interesting enough? I'll just have to go out next year, smash more National records and get more Olympic Qualifying times and then destroy it in Rio. I love to use this sort of thing as pure motivation!!! 

I have started using snapchat now, well trying any way. So you can follow me on that, just search my username - tbosworth5. I also finished my Christmas present wrapping this afternoon, so all I can say now from a very organised Tom and a Tom that has never been happier, is Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and I hope to inspire you all into the Olympic year!! 

#TomWalksFast

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World Athletics Championships - The final steps

One week to go!

An athlete trains their guts out week in week out to make a major championships. The pinnacle of their sport making those brutal winter sessions and long periods away from home all worth it. Always leave it in your hands, never allow a shred of doubt to enter any one's mind - you're good enough to compete against the best - end of!

- Watch my 'One Week To Go' video! -

For years I dreamt of making a World Championships and over the last 3 it has become more and more real. Now it is and I'm a week out from the biggest race of my life am I nervous? No, I'm just training and preparing as normal like it was any other meet. The emotions and anticipation have started to build as they would normally, can't say any less than its all going to plan.

Up here in Gifu, Japan I've had wonderful support from British Athletics support staff and other coaches as my personal coach was unable to make it out here to the altitude camp. Physio Cat has kept me in one piece, as well as the help in training which has been perfect!
I had brilliant company and drinks man Steve Cram on the bike with me a few times as well as the best pace maker on the track Captain Kate Spilsbury! - Kate did a great job on the track, it was just a shame how she tried to drive me and other athletes off the side of the mountain on numerous occasions, we can't all be perfect I guess!

As well as the support the team also really embraced race walking which as you all well know I have been fighting for a long time now to be closer to main stream athletics in the UK.








Jenny Meadows felt she could be a good walker, and decided to give it a go. She literally picked it up at the firs attempt and we battled it out in a race walk off!

Tom vs Jenny - Race Walk Off! 

Training at altitude can be tough but ensuring an easy start will allow you to fit into normal training soon enough and I was able to smash out some PB sessions up the mountain. It also helps to have such quality training partners in the GB team, well they weren't really training partners for me more just brilliant motivation to be training on the track at the same time as these guys tearing it up round the track. Race Walking couldn't have been more in the middle of British Athletics!

Charlie Grice post track session

Me and Mo after training

Great news is that the race looks like it will be on BBC 2 at 1:30am (UK time) on Sunday 23rd August. I'll have to put in a big performance and it is also the second day of the women's heptathlon and I hear we have a few talented athletes in that! 

Don't expect to hear much from me in in race week I like to keep to my self in the final few days as well as China have blocks on Facebook and Twitter (@TomBosworth) You can always keep an eye on my website, TomBosworth.com Make sure you use #TomWalksFast. 

Now is a perfect time to thank you all for your support in getting me this far. I am truly thankful and it would mean a lot less to be here without the support from my amazing Family and Friends as well as all the Athletics fans around the world. Thank you! 

I'm soon to be Beijing bound - let the next leg of my journey be a successful as this!

All the best from me on the volcano in the clouds.

#TomWalksFast

Crazy Spring Training

Spring training, it was the perfect opportunity to get another big block of work in between Lugano 20k and the European Cup on the 17th May.
That was the plan any way.

After a solid performance in Lugano, I had a slightly lighter period of training to allow my self some recovery time from all the races. We decided not to do another more international 20k's this spring to allow my self a big block of training, to raise my fitness to the next level. By the beginning of April I was back in the swing of things ready to put in 6 big weeks of training. However, life sometimes gets in the way and I had the first disrupted weeks of training of the year. Little niggling pains and a very random cold meant I didn't get the most out of those first two weeks of training and, because I over think everything, I panicked thinking my season was doomed!!

Of course this is just any athlete always thinking the worse and after a week at home where I put in a decent week of work I was feeling far better. That week finished off with the British Athletics National 20k. I was not targeting this as a race, but planned to use it as a tempo session and do just enough to win. In the end my training pace was still enough for me to win the race by over 10 minutes. Which is slightly disappointing in terms of depth in British walking. However, with a strong group of juniors walking 10k on the day, and a few others having bad races for one reason or another, was it not for that my victory would have been much closer than it was.
I was happy with my time of 1:29:16, as that was my second 20k session in 3 days, both in the exact same time. A real indication that I am in fine form, after all 1:29:00 was my PB in 2011, now its my training pace! I was also very proud to lift the National trophy for the fourth time in my career. I hope to better the current record number of wins which stands at 6, by the end of my career.

I started off strongly and maintained my pace throughout the race, I even had the chance to enjoy my training session and make the most of the winning feeling!

Having done a total of 25k that morning (I did 5k before the race) I was pretty relieved when it was over, as I had put away the first big week of training since Lugano and my legs were feeling it. However, I still had time to do my celebratory victory dance as you can see above.

Getting my hands on the trophy again along with another British gold medal was a nice way to round off all the racing I had done through March and April.

This week of decent milage and high quality work was a springboard back into form and I truly felt back on track. I went on to clock another couple of big weeks of training from that meaning April ended up being a decent month of work, which we hoped for. Panic over!
The fatigue was building up from all the big tempo work we doing, and despite some painful sessions I didn't let the fatigue stop me and my resilience really showed through. It hurt a lot!! - as you can see here... #PainFace




Next week I head back to Torrevieja where I spent a month training back in February to prepare for my next race. It is close by to Murcia where the European Race Walking Cup is being held on the 17th May.
You can see the full GB team for the Euro Cup here... European Cup GB Team. This will be my fourth European Cup, I made my GB debut at this championships in 2009, in the Junior boys 10k, so it's pretty special to me.

It could be a bit of brutal race if its a very hot day, so it's important to have the exposure and I please to have the opportunity to head back to Torrevieja two weeks prior to help my preparation for the race. I hope to back up my 12th place finish from last years European Athletics Championships in Zurich in Murcia next month.

On a slightly more serious note, a couple of European race walkers recently have failed drugs tests and both admitted to cheating. I have been asked my stance on this. My stance is not up for debate, I have been asked a question so here is my answer. If you fail a test, serve your ban, return to athletics if you wish, but with a life ban on international competition, no exceptions, the same rule for everyone. Its the athletes own responsibility to know what they put in there body, there are many aids to help the athletes, e.g. the WADA app. That does not mean companies do not have a responsibility with their products. But if you have any doubt on a product, especially with supplements don't use it. I'm not sure why a healthy athlete would use them any way, the risk of cross contamination is high and there is always a far better, natural source of the supplement they are using.
Thats got that off my chest!

I'll update you all if a few weeks from Spain with my final preparations for the European Cup. I'll also let you know if I've got a tan of any kind. Fingers crossed.

For more information on me head to TomBosworth.com
You can follow me on Twitter @TomBosworth or like my Facebook Page.

#TomWalksFast

PB's, British Records and Worn Out Trainers

Since opening my season 4 weeks ago at the British Athletics Indoor champs in Sheffield, my season has been gaining momentum and that doesn't look like stopping any time soon.

Two weeks after the Indoor championships, I raced at Coventry at the Molly Barnett 10k open race walk. I set my 10k PB there in 2014 of 40:19, the second fastest time in British history. This time around I was determined to set a new 10k British record to go with my 5k record. 

It was a pretty nasty day in Coventry with the rain falling and wind blowing making it tricky racing conditions. However, the wind stopped just before the race and the rain made for good racing conditions and focused into my warm up. Focusing on my drills after an easy 15minutes of walking normally gets me focused.  I did some strides and thought to my self, I feel like crap. How am I going to walk 10k?! Just start and see how it goes, all I need is to show form to get selected to race for England in two weeks at the Lugano EAA race walking permit race. 

I set off steady and walked a 4:04 first kilometre. Knowing I had to walk under 4:02's average to get the record I was very happy. I then picked up the pace to constantly under 4minutes. At 5k my split was 19:44, I was feeling good but the speed was starting to really hurt my legs. My stomach was struggling to deal with the intensity of the walk and at about 7k I was feeling very sick. I knew I just had to cruise the last 3k and could still get the record, but I pushed on as I did't want to leave anything to chance. I crossed the finish line in a new British record time of 39:36 and became the first British man to go under 40mins after a slightly slower second half. 

Winning and setting a new 10k British Record, 39:36.

The race took everything out of me and the next 48 hours I was a zombie. I had no energy and felt like I could sleep for a week! I couldn't really celebrate the victory or the record as focus had changed to the race two weeks later in Lugano, my first 20k of 2015. 20k is the international distance so this race really is the first major target for 2015. I received a lot of support after the race as many athletes on twitter congratulated me and were amazed I could walk under 40mins for 10k, when they can't even run that fast. These kind of performances will help to move the event on in the UK in 2015, and get it the respect It deserves. 

I believed I could smash the 20k British Record in Lugano and went into the race very confident. I started the race at a steady pace, however, I found my self in 3rd place at 5k, and was feeling great. I was well under British record pace at this point. I knew 4:06 average k's would see me walk under the British record of 1:22:03, my PB was 1:22:20 for 2014. Last year in Lugano I finished 21st due to illness before the race, so as I moved into the second half of the race I was excited to be in the bronze medal position a new experience for me. My 10k split was 40:45, a little quick but I was happy and after a little spirt I had moved up to 2nd place, behind the 50k and former 20k World Record holder Yohann Diniz! Diniz's World 20k record had been broken over night! So he set off at record pace (literally) to try and get it back, but was unable to, despite setting a time of 1:17:24 just a week after he set his PB (former WR) 1:17:02. The new world record is 1:16:36 set by Japanese walker Suzuki. 

I held onto 2nd place from 13k to 16k, but then my stomach caused my problems again and fatigue struck my right leg causing me a lot of pain. The next 4k was slow and I slipped off British record pace and down 4th place in the race. After a battle with a Greek athlete in the last two k, I managed to hang on for 4th place missing out on a medal and British record by 30seconds. However, I was only 13 seconds off my PB. My final time of 1:22:33 was my 4th time under the World Championships qualifying time so I had achieved my main goal, but was very disappointed to have missed the record. 

Here I am in the lead pack early on in the race.

7 - Me! 2 - Caio Bonfim ended up in 3rd place, 3 - Kevin Campion ended up finishing 11th.

A slightly disappointed me as I crossed the finish line for 4th place.

The England team was full of quality this year. We had 5 athletes qualify for the European Race Walking Cup, I qualified for the World Athletics championships and Emma Achurch (junior girls 10k) walked the European Junior time. Quality all round.

Here is me and junior 10k male Callum Wilkinson, one of the brightest young talents race walking has in the UK, looking awesome in our sunglasses! Callum has a PB of 44minutes for 10k and will be looking to qualify this spring for his GB debut at the European Cup.

The week of the race I had a major shoe problem and was forced to ditch my current shoe for an older version as it was causing me ankle pain and was unable to train. It was very strange, as the older version of the same shoe was fine. It was missing most of the sole as it had done many miles of training, see for your self below...

So now I have a few easy days, despite feeling fine to get straight back to training I know how important a rest is, mentally if not physically. My quick recovery just shows my fitness, how it has moved on a level this year. Many athletes are never happy after a good performance if it doesn't go perfectly and that is how I am feeling this week. Despite getting the 20k British Athletics qualifying times for the World Athletics championships in Beijing (1:24:00) and the Race Walking European Cup (1:27:00), I am still frustrated by missing the record time. I feel I could race again next week, but that would be crazy, having some control and patience in a situation like this is key. The season is long and I want to be able to be competing up the front of the race in Beijing in August. 

I now have another block of training before the European Cup in Murcia, Spain, for GB, however, may use some races in the UK as training races. It's always good practice to race, even if you are only using it for training and I enjoy supporting the home events. 

For more information on my adventures you can follow me on twitter @TomBosworth or Instagram TomBosworth or keep up to date on my website, tombosworth.com Keep any eye out for a big announcement next week!! 

I am constantly looking for sponsors as I am currently not funded this year to allow me to train full time, so please get in contact through the website if you are interested in supporting me. 

Thanks for readying, get inspired to better my 10k PB, and run under 40mins! Use it as inspiration to get out the door this spring. 

British Indoor Champs

I arrived home from Spain on Friday 13th Feb and a late night Nandos was in order as I was starving! After the biggest block of training over the last month I headed into the British Athletics Indoor champs that weekend on what I thought were very tired legs. 

Saturday I had an easy 8k walk at Roundhay Park in Leeds before driving to Sheffield Sunday morning. An indoor race is always a good way of checking fitness and technique. With the camber and slightly bouncy surface you know if you make it through an indoor race with no warnings your technique is pretty sound. Especially as its a short race so I was traveling at near top speed. 

I was aiming for a PB for the 3000m walk which before Sunday was 11:44, nothing much else. I didn't think I could challenge the British Record which is 11:23, although I new my fitness was good enough to beat it. I just thought my legs were too tired from the big block of training in Spain. 

I set off, the indoor champs distance is 3000m, and just wanted to cruise the first kilometre. That's exactly what I did hitting 1k in 3:54. I pushed on, aiming just to maintain that pace, but quite easily saw my speed increase. The next k was 3:50, so hit 2k in 7:44, what happened next I didn't expect. The speed just kept getting faster without any effort on my part. I didn't have a clue what time I was on for and coming round with a lap to go I realised I was close to the British Record but it was too late then. Before the race I had decided if I had a big lead I would hype up the crowd by waving my arm up and down, which got a fantastic response in 2011 when I broke the 5k British record. 

It did so again, and the buzz meant I flew round in a time of 11:30, the last 1k was in a time of 3:46. Had I known I was going to go so fast so easily without picking up any warnings for technique I would have pushed on from the beginning and got my self that British 3k Record. 

Any way this result was just a massive confidence boost and clear sign of my fitness and technical development. Just get me to the next race. I just love racing, especially when it goes well! 

I hoped to be pushed slightly over the shorter distance, however, ended lapping the entire field which featured some very bright junior talents who are pushing into the senior scene. 

Next aim is to tackle a 10k and then its my first 20k in a months time at the Lugano Grand Prix in Switzerland, where I will be challenging my PB and potentially the British Record which is only 17 seconds faster than my current 20k PB. 

Bring it on!

This week it was back to normal, despite being very tired from travel, racing and training we had a good squad camp including some of the best British junior walkers all visiting the centre in Leeds for the week for workshops and training. 

Monday was back at the circuits and over the next few days did some steady walks and couple of track rep sessions and straight back in the gym. 

The work never stops. But have eased off the high milage this week due to fatigue and with an eye on the next couple of races over the next few weeks. Just need to preserve my fitness going into my first peak of the season. 

It was great also to get the recognition from British Athletics from all my hard work over the last few years with the article on my progression this year. 

http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2015-news-page/february-2015/18-02-15-bosworth-newsletter/

So its back to the roads tomorrow putting in more milage, after all its a long season and need to keep building the sponge to make a strong base to my training cake! 

#TomWalksFast

For more information visit www.tombosworth.com
Twitter: @TomBosworth