So I haven't blogged for a while and in truth I think I have realised why. I have already had to rewrite this three times having not saved the two previous versions and somehow every five minutes being interrupted on the way. Anyone who says blogging is easy is a liar! If it kills me and it well might I am determined to complete this one blog this evening. In truth I am making it my mission this year to become a better blogger so I hope you will follow me on my journey.

I have decide that this will metaphorically be my Olympic year, a year to push myself and my business just that little bit further.  Life has a funny way at times of challenging you, and certainly for me last year there were a few of these such challenges, but without meaning to sound pompous and trite I have realised that it is how you choose to deal with these challenges in whatever form they may take that will ultimately help to shape you and in turn your future. 

I would like over the next few weeks to introduce you to some great Athletes that I have had the pleasure to meet and photograph over the last few months, people that have truly inspired me.

I would firstly like you to meet Tom Bosworth http://tombosworth.com . Tom is a GB Race Walker, current British Champion and holder of three British records. He is from Sevenoaks in Kent but currently now trains at the British Race Walking Centre in Leeds.

I first met Tom last June on a soggy June day at the Finish line of the gruelling North Downs Run in Kent. I was photographing the event and Tom was handing out medals to the participants. We started chatting whilst sharing the same umbrella and I was interested to hear about the challenges that face full time Athletes in this country particularly in less well known sporting events. Tom's mission is to put Race Walking well and truly on the map and be in no doubt he will do it.

Race Walking is a technically difficult discipline but trust me Tom can walk fast VERY FAST. Only two weeks ago in Bratislava he smashed the Btitish 5km record yet again! I was lucky enough last November together with my great friend and fellow photographer Laura Caiels to spend a day photographing Tom, recording quite literally a "Day in the Life of a Race Walker" up at the British Race Walking Centre in Leeds. The training is gruelling and quite frankly it took us two or three days to recover only photographing it but it was an amazing day and a real eye opener in terms of  the hard work that our Elite athletes put in to stay at the top.

I am convinced that he will go on to greater things this year with Rio obviously being his main focus in the Summer. He has an air of quiet confidence about him that is somehow difficult to argue with but as well as that he is genuinely likeable person, easy to get along with and who was more than happy to chat to us at his favourite coffee bar with a latte and a cheese toastie ( the cheese toastie was to die for although serious training would be needed to shift those calories!)

Tom is an Ambassador for Athlete ally http://athleteally.org, promoting sexual equality in sport and also a champion of the charity to raise awareness of Prostrate Cancer. I am sure Tom would agree he also has a great team supporting him including amongst many others,his coach Andi Drake and Manager, Ian Byers from 17 Sports Management http://www.17management.com

I am so looking forward to August this year and the Rio Olympics and Paralympics. I remember the buzz of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and how it seemed to get people from all backgrounds engaged in sport. I wish Tom all the best is his forthcoming ventures and am excited to see what this year brings for him, I have a hunch it will be a good one in fact I know it will be. Please support him on his way via twitter https://twitter.com/TomBosworth?lang=en-gb or via his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TomBosworthAthlete/?fref=photo . He still needs funding each pair of trainers cost £150 and I suspect he gets through a few pairs!

Please take a look at my animo to video of my day with Tom http://animoto.com/play/aiIGU34WqiMiqDHdz3J9xA I hope you enjoy it. For now here's a tired photographer on pancake day signing over and out until next time. I have my own exciting projects to come this year which have yet to unfold so watch this space x

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