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

Winter Adventures

Its finally winter and I mean winter!
I am three months into training and in the real heart of winter training. Its cold, windy and wet out, but after the fabulous generosity of so many people last month in my "Talent Backer" campaign, I have a new type of motivation when it comes to training.

So much has changed in the last month, with a big thanks going to Tanya Arnold at BBC Look North for getting my story out there! From this publicity, came some very exciting turn of events.
Back in November I announced a new partnership with 17Management, who will represent me through to 2017. Working with the 17 team will open so many doors that on my own I would never have been able to, and am so excited to work with Ian Byers and the team. They already have got me a ticket to party with some of the biggest names in sport this Sunday at BBC Sports Personality of the Year in Glasgow.
The disappointing news that I would not be on Lottery Funding this coming season hit me hard, as I had hit every target I thought that was required of me. However, after some productive feedback from British Athletics I was able to move on and put all my efforts into winter training. From that news came the successful "Talent Backer" campaign, which brought in 17Management which has led to a Sports Personality of the Year ticket and a brand new website, www.tombosworth.com with more surprises just round the corner. I am so thankful to Ian and the 17 Team for everything so far!
I even have got some cool new Tees from new clothing line High Rise Club to try out, so keep an eye out for me wearing those and let me know what you think!

At the end of the day though, this time of the year is when the hard work in needed and racing is still a long way off. This can mean it can be hard to find motivation. Thanks to all those who donated last month to my "Talent Backer" campaign I have renewed motivation. I am starting to hit some great form in training, except a current small hiccup, of a cold, which is just part of working hard in training (especially when its freezing cold).

I will be tweeting and posting pictures on Instagram this weekend from Sports Personality and my adventure to Glasgow, so keep an eye on my social media.

The recent news "99% of Russian athletes were doping at London 2012" was horrific for athletics, however, not surprising. Race walking has been hindered by doping Russian walkers for over a decade now. This news is terrible for Athletics and I am slightly ashamed. However, I know many athletes who compete clean, train hard and deserve their rewards. I am proud to train and compete off my own physical ability and setting new personal bests is down to my hard work and nothing else!

Another possible concern for athletics, mainly triple jumpers and race walkers along with some swimming events is the news of the IOC changes from the 28 sports at the Olympic Games to 310 events, 10,500 athletes. Come Tokyo 2020, I hope to be there competing and in my prime, but with this news there is a small chance these events mentioned could make way due to the spread of events that could be on show with limited athlete space. Athletics takes up 47 events at the Olympic Games and over 2000 athletes taking part in athletics alone. Historic events such as race walking should not suffer from these rule changes. I say, stand proud IAAF, either we have all of athletics or none at all, there is no negotiation. There can't be an Olympics without Athletics! With sports included in the Olympics with other 'bigger' competitions, it is wrong that other events and sports should suffer. Football have age limitations and the World Cup, so should be the first to go if space is needed. Golf and Tennis also both have other competitions, which their athletes feel are bigger than the Olympic Games. So I hope the IOC do not punish hard working athletes who strive only for Olympic success, by allowing others to compete who have their main aims set away from the Olympics.

Thanks for reading, Its time for one last push before Christmas and new year, before my sights turn to racing in the spring! I can't wait for 2015.