The beginning

“Pressure means they believe you can carry weight, so wear it like a crown… not a curse.” – Asma Merzougui

Hello, my name is Tom. I’m an NHS physiotherapist, currently working as a Band 5 rotational physio within the NHS, and alongside that I’m a competitive runner who has represented my local club since the age of 13. My racing has ranged from 800 metres on the track to 12km cross country, which until now has been the furthest I’ve pushed myself in competition. That is about to change. I’ve signed up for my local half marathon, which happens to fall a week after National XC. Sensible scheduling? Probably not. Exciting? Definitely. Who knows, maybe I’ll discover I’m the next Eliud Kipchoge. I wouldn’t bet on it, but it’s good to dream.

This blog is where I’ll be putting all of my thoughts, the training updates, the reflections, the lessons learned (sometimes the hard way), and the crossover between life in the clinic and life on the start line. As a physio, I spend my days helping people understand their bodies, manage setbacks, and rebuild confidence in movement. As a runner, I’m constantly testing those same principles on myself. The overlap between the two is fascinating, and at times humbling. There’s something powerful about being both the clinician and the athlete, understanding the theory, but also living the reality of fatigue, doubt, injury and ambition.

Right now, my main focus is Liverpool XC Euro Trials 2026. The aim isn’t necessarily to make a European team, it’s to see where I match up against the best in my age group and to make the most of my final year racing as an U23. Ten weeks ago, the day after Liverpool XC 2025, I decided to properly commit to a one-year build. I began tracking everything with intent, setting my sights on steady progression rather than quick wins. My mileage has grown from a consistent 60km per week base towards 90km, and with that has come a new level of respect for recovery, load management and patience.

Of course, progress rarely unfolds in a straight line. Recently, I’ve had to navigate what feels like a grade 1 soleus strain in my right leg. It’s meant easing back, adjusting sessions, and reminding myself that fitness isn’t built in a single week, but it can certainly be lost by ignoring warning signs. As frustrating as down weeks are, they’re part of long-term development. They test whether you truly believe in the process you talk about.

Long story short, the purpose of this website and my social platforms is simple: to share what I’m learning. There’s no gatekeeping here. Whether it’s training structure, breathing strategies, rehab principles, mindset shifts, or reflections from racing against athletes better than me, I want this space to be honest and useful. I’m figuring a lot of this out in real time, and if my experiences (good or bad), help someone else train smarter or feel more confident in their own journey, then that’s enough.

So this is the starting point. A physio who runs. A runner who overthinks physiology. A final year as an U23 athlete. A half marathon looming. And a year to see how much progress consistency can really produce. If you’re reading this at the beginning, welcome. Let’s see where it goes.