Tom Bosworth

Record Tom Bosworth 24th in the Men’s 20km at the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing Race Walking August 2015 Photograph source Michael Steele/Getty Images Asia Pac Race Walking Record – August 2015 Cambridge Harriers Open Race Walks (Incorporating the Nihill Shield Match - RWA England YAG v Ireland YAG) Senior Men’s & Women’s 10km U20 Men’s & Women’s 10km U17 Men’s & Women’s 5km* U15 Boys & Girls 3km* U13 Boys & Girls 2km* (* = Nihill Shield Races) th Saturday 17 October 2015 first event at 1pm April(Full 2015 timet able will be published nearer to the date once size of entry is known) Sutcliffe Park, Eltham Road, Eltham, London, SE9 5LW (Ample on street parking or Kidbrooke Station, journey time 23 minutes from Charing Cross with trains at 32 & 02 minutes past the hour) Entry Fees: Senior & U20 10km - £10.00 U17/U15/U13 - £8.00 Cheques made payable to Noel Carmody Closing date for entries = Monday 12th October 2015 Entry forms available from: [email protected] or via the RWR website http://racewalkingrecord.co.uk/ Race Walking Record – August 2015 International also clinched my third Olympic Games qualifying time, as well as going from ranked 42nd to finishing 24t! I also was the 8th European athlete to finish, moving up 4 places from last year’s 12th at the Europeans in Zurich. So there were some positives and obvious development. It has shown just how far I have come, that I can finish 24th at Worlds and be disappointed. It took me 4 days to recover before I was able to do much, so I have no doubt I gave it 100% on race day and would like to dedicate my Tom Bosworth’s World Championship Adventure first World Championships to my coach of 6 years Andi Drake who The Beijing World Athletics Championships is something I have was unable to be here in Beijing. A very worked towards for many years. From the moment I didn't make big thank you also needs to go to the man the team for Moscow 2013, I vowed to never miss a championship who put up with the teenage Tom and got again. Since then I haven't. Purely down to my commitment. If you me into race walking. Peter Selby the were to take a look at my training from the last two years it would Tonbridge AC race walking coach. The be like I was different athlete. That’s because the dream of man deserves a knighthood for his competing at these championships and not coming last was dedication to me and the event. becoming a reality and there is still so much I can do to improve. I was able to enjoy myself since the race. I That is the most exciting thing. started off at Beijing Zoo with Meghan Let’s get the important bit out of the way first. The race, wow! My Beesley, then did some sightseeing, risked first World Championships. It felt like any other races, same faces, my life on a scooter with Michael Rimmer hot conditions but we were stood on the start line in the Bird Nest and Kyle Langford at the Silk Street market and then headed to the Stadium in Beijing. At no point did it over power me, nor did I feel Great Wall and Summer Palace with Laura Muir and Coach Andy out of place. I knew I deserved to be there and this was a massive Young. opportunity. I started off and purposely went to the back; I knew it I also commentated on for EuroSport talking walking during the could be messy in the first few laps as we had to do the first women's 20k and men's 50k. kilometre inside the stadium. So I let that pan out, the pace was still A lot of the time you don't have the opportunity to get to see much quick enough, in fact it was perfect. After three and half laps of the of the places you travel to. This time I was lucky enough to have an track we headed out of the stadium, this is when I planned to make entire week to sight see and watch the awesome athletics! an early move. I moved up half the field as we made our way out to Overall I've experienced a lot. The race taught me so much to take the 1k loop on the road outside of the stadium. I felt terrible. I into future championships. There are plenty of things for me to didn't feel comfortable; I felt sick and thought this was going to be a work on and hopefully the support from British Athletics will very long day! continue to grow so I continue to show my worth on the As I settled though the pace was fast. But it felt easy. I started to not international stage. only feel good, but I felt great! I felt in the form of my life. I played it I dreamt of making a World Championships and have done it. I'm safe, till 5k hitting it in about 20:25, so not as safe as I thought, but now also only months away from fulfilling my Olympic dream it still felt so easy. I just kept pulling out the laps, on a course which I assuming all goes to plan. However, these dreams have started to really loved as it felt so quick. I hit 10k in 40:44 and reassessed the change and develop into ones of winning international races and situation, I checked all my indicators, legs - great, pace - strong, medals. For the first time in my career the final pieces of the puzzle stomach - settled, temperature - ok, head - focused. I knew as I hit lay in front of me. I was able to see what the difference was 12k that the K's were going to be between finishing 1st and finishing 24th. It will soon be time to head tough at this point and they home and get back to Leeds, recover, and put together my plan to were. I dropped a little bit of take me further up the field. The next two years are big in my pace, but nothing drastic I stayed development and by London World Championships in 2017 I see calm and really pushed on. I that as the start of many years of racing at the front of the pack made it to 14k still well under fighting for medals. personal best and National Record pace and started to I can't thank everyone enough for all your kind words, but 24th is believe that this could be a very not good enough and you can trust me when I say I will work harder special day. I gritted my teeth and become better than I ever have before over this next winter. th and pushed on. My season isn't quite finished with another 20k on Sunday 6 September in the Isle of Man, followed by a return to China for the Then nothing; my legs stopped IAAF race walking tour, 4 days of racing! turning, my drive disappeared and sharp pains just started shooting through my legs. I felt strong but the sun was beating down on my neck at this point. I felt energy disappearing from my body as I took each step. The wheels really did come off. I was so angry with myself that I pushed on and on. But I had nothing left. The sun allowed a fast 15k but the final 5k it punished me. I was relieved to finish. I was so distraught to see the time of 1:23:58. Well over 22mins for the final 5k. Gutted, I lay on the track trying not to cry. I got up and knew I'd have to speak with the BBC but didn't want to. I just told myself see the positives. I know now though that the pace was fast and the great thing was it felt so easy. I'm still young in the event and I plan to train harder than ever before going into the Olympic year. Soon I will be able to hold that pace, even in those conditions all the way to the end. I Race Walking Record – August 2015 In last event of the day, the M60’s, were coach, judge and athlete Chris Hobbs (Ashford AC) and Malcolm Martin (Surrey WC). Chris finished in the frustrating 4th place with a time of 26:03.17 but had the satisfaction of beating New Zealander Mike Parker, well known to many in the UK from his time here, who recorded a time of 26:05.63. Malcolm finished in 13th in 27:57.22, another step in his rapid progress from runner to a very good race walker. Interestingly Alfons Schwarz from Germany a 3:57 50km man, who competed in many major championships in the 70s, finished 20th in 30:30.02 showing success in the past is no guarantee of success when you age. Many struggle with today’s leg straightening rules. Reports adapted from Facebook postings by Ian Richards Women’s (Fri. 7th Aug.): No medals for the ladies in the extreme There were over 8000 athletes in Lyon for the World Masters heat but some good and inspirational performances, like that of 82 Athletic Championships including over 500 race walkers from all year old Muriel Ramsell (Abingdon AC) who only took up race th over the world, including thirty-five in the British team of 600.

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