·S2025 E31

EP31 - Obsessed with Winning: Tom Addison on Burnout, Panic & Reinvention

July 15

1h 14m

Episode Description

He won the English Fell Running Champs. Then he walked away from the sport completely.

This week, Gary and Ben are joined by Tom Addison — a runner many will remember for dominating the UK fell scene, taking the 2014 national title and chasing England vests throughout his teens and twenties. But this episode isn’t about medals. It’s about what comes after them.

Tom talks openly about the obsession that fuelled his running career, the burnout that followed, and the panic attacks that forced him to step away from the sport he loved. From racing at Wooden Tops as a kid to rebuilding his life through boxing, therapy, and fine furniture making, this is a story of reinvention with no filter.

We talk fell running culture, junior club racing, mental health, identity, and why sometimes walking away is the bravest decision of all.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

👟 Growing up in a fell running family and club culture

🇬🇧 Earning his first England vest at 15

🏆 Winning the English Champs in 2014 – and what it really cost

😰 The mental and emotional crash that followed

🥊 Boxing, woodworking, and rebuilding structure

🪵 Finding purpose through craft and creativity

👨‍👩‍👧 Family, fatherhood, and a new definition of success

Why You Should Listen:

If you’ve ever tied your identity to your sport, battled burnout, or wondered what’s next after the peak — Tom’s story will hit home. A champion’s journey, with all the pressure and none of the gloss.

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00:00 - Intro: From fell running to fine furniture

02:23 - Childhood in a fell running family

06:40 - Early nerves and racing for Helm Hill

09:50 - Junior coaching and Billy Proctor’s role

13:40 - First England vest at 15 years old

17:00 - Watching Rob Jebb and chasing national teams

20:30 - 2014: Winning the English Championship

26:45 - Balancing training with a manual job

30:20 - The obsessive mindset and burnout

34:50 - Panic attacks and personal upheaval

39:40 - Boxing for structure and recovery