Thanks for your Support

Before I describe my adventures at the European Athletics Champs in Zurich this summer, I have to thank my coaches in Leeds/Kent, my friends and family and anyone who has sent me good luck messages, for all your support.

I arrived three days before my race in Zurich, and met my room mate Lawrence Clarke, having met him originally for the first time at the Commonwealth Games in 2010!

Throughout the week in Zurich I met a load of athletes I’ve never met before and loved hearing their stories, especially Chris O’Hare, (O’Hairy).

The whole team worked together and the support for each other was awesome! One moment I will never forget is when Jo Pavey won Gold in the 10,000m. The whole team was cheering her on at dinner, and went crazy when she won! That really did set the tone for the entire championships.

Wednesday morning came around quickly, I couldn’t wait to race 20k. I knew I was in great shape, however, was a little nervous about the race course. A tight top bend and tram lines to work around meant it was going to be an interesting race, and I was right.

The pace started very slowly which threw me a little. All I had in my head was, this is a Championships, it’s all about taking positions, not the time.

I hit my 5k split perfectly, still just in the lead pack of about 20 athletes. At 8k, I decided to maintain my pace and not go with the leading pack.

I knew most of them would not be able to maintain the pace and so in the second half will come back to me. Again, I judged it correctly, at 9k I was 19th, over the next few kilometres I worked my way back up the field to about 15th.

However, the tight top turn played havoc with my right leg and my hip and ankle became tight and stuck, restricting my stride. I could see the chase pack ahead of me but over the next few kilometres to 16k I couldn’t close the gap.

The streets of Zurich were starting to get very busy now and there was plenty of support, I tried to use this but I couldn’t gain speed. So I reminded myself about my aim of just taking back positions, I knew I could sit in this position and just finish in an ok time and an ok position. But I wasn’t happy with OK.

So I pushed on, and gave my all for kilometre 17. Let’s see what happens, I pulled out a 4:09, 10 seconds faster than my previous few kilometres.

This spurred me on and I soon caught the next place, I moved on to the next one and then another two more. I guessed I was about 14th when I crossed the finish line, but was actually 12th. I was ecstatic, as I wasn’t ranked within the top 20 before the race.

This topped off any awesome season and now cannot wait to challenge a top 20 finish at the World Championships in Beijing next year.

After setting a new British record over 5k, the second fastest British time ever over 10k, and third fastest ever over 20k, I can really enjoy my holiday now before winter training begins.

My 12th place in Zurich was the highest place finish at the Europeans by a man in 32 years, but one of my favourite highlights of 2014 was commentating on the 50k walk in Zurich, two days after my 20k race for the BBC with Steve Cram.

Now it’s a few important weeks of rest, having some time with family and friends before it starts all over again. Seasons like these though, make all the sacrifices well worth it!

So for the 2014 season, that’s it from me!

#TomWalksFast

Thrilling Times!

On Tuesday my place in the British Team for the European Championships in Zurich was confirmed! Yay!

I will be the only British walker competing at the championships, but am currently training at altitude with the other GB Endurance athletes in Font-Romeu in preparation.

This will be my first European Athletics Championships and my second race for GB this season. I’m really looking forward to racing at a major championships which will be awesome prep for next years World champs and Rio Olympics in 2016!

I was confident of my selection for Zurich after getting the qualifying time (1:23:30) for the 20k twice this year. I hope to better my 1:22:20 from April in Zurich, or if the conditions are tough to put in a performance of that scale!

I also won the Trials for the Europeans in York in June which confirmed my place then and there. This one really means a lot to me.

After missing out on the London Olympics by 19 seconds in 2012 and being unsuccessful in selection for Moscow World Champs last year with only 3 ‘B’ standards, I was over the moon to get this year’s qualifying time done and dusted. It will also be counted toward next year’s World Championships in Beijing, so it was a meaningful progression forward.

In 2010, Johanna Atkinson (nee Jackson), current Commonwealth Games gold medalist gave me a few good words of advice. ‘Keep plugging away at those qualifying times, because as soon as you walk it, you will keep doing it’. It turns out she wasn’t wrong, but it didn’t feel like that back then!!

And so this season could not have been better so far. My new PB puts me 3rd on the British All-time list, I’m the first British man to ever walk under 1:23:00 more than once in a season, as well as reclaiming my 5k British record. But there is still space for one more big performance to top off 2014, and set me up nicely for 2015.

Training is entering its final stage of the season with only 4 weeks until race day.

Some strong miles here at altitude will set me up and that’s exactly what’s been happening. Training in such beautiful environments with the GB team has made it much easier and even enjoyable! I’m even getting a tan!

Great food, great coffee and great training! I even took a selfie after training it was that awesome!

Now I can’t wait to race in Zurich and make everyone who has supported me in Leeds and Kent over the years proud. My plan to make race walking big in the UK is still intact and stronger than ever!!

From a sunny mountain I sign off for now. #TomWalksFast