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

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 successWhy 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.👉 New episodes every Tuesday – Follow & Subscribe!00:00 - Intro: From fell running to fine furniture02:23 - Childhood in a fell running family06:40 - Early nerves and racing for Helm Hill09:50 - Junior coaching and Billy Proctor’s role13:40 - First England vest at 15 years old17:00 - Watching Rob Jebb and chasing national teams20:30 - 2014: Winning the English Championship26:45 - Balancing training with a manual job30:20 - The obsessive mindset and burnout34:50 - Panic attacks and personal upheaval39:40 - Boxing for structure and recovery43:15 - How woodworking became his new focus48:10 - Craftsmanship and striving for quality52:20 - Instagram, identity and validation56:45 - Fatherhood and redefining ambition01:01:20 - Closing thoughts and what’s nextRUNcensored Podcast 🎙The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod📩 Get in touch: [email protected] by Chris Davies, Eastwood Mediawww.eastwood-media.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.