September has a way of shifting our perspective, it can feel like an opportunity to ask not just "what needs to get done?", but "what do I want to make space for?".
For Siobhan McFadden, this season brought an unexpected challenge: her first 10K. A colour consultant, content creator, business owner and mother of three, Siobhan had never considered herself a runner – until a friend asked her to join a race. Her response: Why not?
Five weeks later, after fitting runs around school holidays, running her own business and family life – alongside recovering from plantar fasciitis – Siobhan crossed the finish line to the cheers of her husband and three daughters. The feeling was, in her words, “absolute joy”.
But the race was about more than 10 kilometres. Since turning 40, Siobhan has been making more space for her own health, movement and wellbeing – and rediscovering the things that make her feel like herself.
We caught up with Siobhan after the race to talk about saying yes to new challenges, finding strength in midlife and making wellbeing work around real life.
When you crossed the finish line, what was the first thing you felt when you realised you’d completed your 10k race?
Absolute Joy! The 10k was a real endurance test for me to keep going at times, so I was overcome with joy when I made it to the finish line. My husband, Rory, and three daughters were there cheering for me and that just made it all the more special!
What inspired you to sign up for the race in the first place? Was this a longtime personal goal?
Rory has completed various races including a marathon and a half-marathon & he does the Edinburgh Men’s 10K every year. In saying that I had no desire to join him & I was quite happy to be a supporter waiting for him at the finish line. But a good friend asked me to join her in this race and I just thought "why not"! I felt like a 10K would be achievable if I put my mind to it!
Training for a race sounds very structured on paper. What did it actually look like alongside running a business, being a mum and navigating September chaos?
My training for the race has become a bit of a running joke as I didn’t train much until five weeks beforehand. The summer months were super busy with juggling running my own colour consultancy business around school holidays and no childcare. I also developed plantar fasciitis so I did more weight training & foot rehab exercises over the summer. When the girls went back to school in early August I was able to focus more on my training.
Did training change any of your everyday routines – perhaps the way you started your mornings, approached your evenings, planned your week or made time for yourself?
Before training for the 10k I was always pretty consistent with my strength training, I would schedule it into my week ahead. This sometimes meant a 5.15am alarm. Training for the race in the mix didn’t change things too much but I would try to get my run over with in the am as I felt better at the beginning of the day.
What became your non-negotiables during training? Was there one small thing you found yourself doing consistently that helped you feel your best?
My non-negotiables were prioritising sleep & eating x3 healthy meals a day. I also tried to keep my step count to a minimum of 12000 steps a day & I really do think the amount of walking I do day to day made it possible for me to achieve a 10k with such a short training window.
Running can be as much about the mind as the body. Did you discover anything about your energy, mindset or relationship with rest that surprised you during the process?
I definitely get the endorphins from running. I always feel in a far better headspace if I’ve been for a run. I trained alongside my friend on some days too & I really recommend this for extra support. It’s a lot easier when you are in it together!!
With so much competing for your attention, how did you make your own wellbeing feel like part of your routine rather than another thing you had to find time for?
Self care has become such an important part of my day to day life since turning 40. I started a PT programme & learnt so much about exercise and nutrition. Strength training is so important for women. Some weeks are busier than others and I struggle to find the time to exercise but I try hard to schedule in three workouts a week to keep me consistent.
How did your Morning & Night routine fit into your day during this period? Did having something simple and consistent help you stay anchored when everything else was changing?
Psychologically reaching for my Lumity morning supplement after my 5.15am alarm clock makes me feel awake and ready to face the day. Same with my nighttime capsules, taking them just before bedtime helps me to unwind and fall asleep quickly. My sleep pattern has changed dramatically since i stated taking Lumity over 2 years ago.
Now that the race is behind you, is there anything from your training routine that you want to keep as part of everyday life?
Yes, I want to continue to incorporate running into my week. As much as I love the gym I don’t think anything comes close to the feeling you get from running. It clears my head & helps my mindset a great deal.
What would you say to another busy woman looking to prioritise her wellbeing without adding more pressure to her day?
I just think it's so important for women to prioritise themselves. I spent all of my 30’s growing, feeding & looking after our three babies & when I reached 40 I felt like I had lost myself. This was a huge changing point for me. I started prioritising my health & fitness & my self care. I tried to find time for old hobbies like photography & reading. Completing my first 10k on the same day as my husband felt like an incredible achievement & I feel like it was a great thing for our daughters to see on the day. Hopefully we will become good role models for them and they will want to take part in their own race one day too.
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