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Winter Reality & The Endorphin Tax: A Chester 10k Update

It's February 4th and if i'm honest, the 'new year energy' has officially met the 'winter reality,' 

Getting out of bed before a shift to run in the dark is a mental wrestling match I don't always win on the first round, but it's still a thousand times better than trying to lace up after a long day at the station. 


The training team

Lately, I've been letting my Garmin's take the lead. It looks at my sleep (or lack of), my heart rate, and my stress, and tells me what i need. Sometimes it's a 48 minute low heart rate run, sometimes its a 'go back to bed' suggestion.



When i'm not flying solo, I've got the best - if slightly mismatched - support crew: Walt and Laya. Walt is a seasoned pro who's getting on a bit, so we cap our time to about 50 minutes. Laya has all the youth and  only has little legs so I cap her distance to 30 minutes! 



January low-down

  • Miles logged: 88 
  • Favourite tunes: Hamilton playlist, 'Satisfied' on loop! 
  • Status of my running shoes: I've not managed to break in my Altra's just yet, so I've been sticking with my Hoka and Nike.
  • Room for improvement: Strength and weight training. Not only do I need this for maintaining my fitness at work but it is crucial I incorporate this into my training to compliment my running and overall fitness. I've really fallen off the wagon with this so it will be my focus through February to get this back to at least 2 sessions a week.


The Mental Miles & The Endorphin Tax

This time in 32 days, all being well, I will have completed the Chester 10k. I have a holiday booked just before the race, but the running gear is already on the packing list, I'm staying committed.

I'm happy with the progress;, slowly increasing my mileage and creeping over an hour for my long runs makes me feel like I'm training for something, not just 'playing at it'.

However, it's not all rosy. Last week life happened: a new car, an old car, and kitchen electrics all being sorted on the same day. I missed two days of training, and my mood plummeted. I found myself spiralling into a negative mindset, which led to a third missed day. 

Then I remembered: this happened before. I used to get the 'post marathon blues' and struggle during the taper. They say 1 in 3 people have an addiction of some sort. I can believe that. Some people are addicted to sugar, cigarettes, gaming or gambling. For me? I am addicted to the endorphins. 

The Science of the 'Runners High' While often healthier than other habits, "exercise dependence" is a real phenomenon. Studies suggest it affects about 4% of regular exercisers, but that number jumps to nearly 25% among endurance athletes.

I've always preferred long distance over a 5k because I love the mental challenge of finding 'the zone' and hitting that default mode. Learning to embrace the 'good, the bad, and the ugly' of the training journey is part of the process.

The Firefighter Charity

I shared on my socials what my intentions are with these races and who I am running for. I have so far raised £90 which is amazing. As a mum to four, I understand how tight things are in January. I wont be pushing relentlessly for sponsorship, but I will share my link in hopes that my journey resonates with someone.

Why this charity? 

In my job, we see people on their worst days. The Firefighters Charity is there for us on our worst days, whether it's physical recovery or mental health support. Knowing that your donation helps my colleagues across the UK is what keeps my legs moving when I want to quit.


DONATE


Every pound is a massive help to a wonderful charity and a huge boost to my morale. 


Thank you for following along on this wild ride, subscribe below not to miss the next blog update.

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