Most of us are in need of a boost during the slushy, icy weather, particularly now that two massive coffee chains have opened up warehouse-sized branches on Uxbridge road, tempting us away from training sessions. But ducking out of the cold for a steaming expresso may not be the guilty pleasure you thought.

Research suggests a shot of your favourite java helps recovery and even helps endurance athletes dig deeper into energy reserves. Provided you stay properly watered, coffee does more good than harm. Some top athletes have actually been using coffee as a natural, legal performance-enhancer for years.

http://www.runbritain.com/articles/can-coffee-boost-running-performance/

So why not combine both loves? While drinking a latte literally on the run may not be a great idea (although our black and white tops might camouflage the damage), it's worth knowing coffee is one addiction you could be forgiven for.

Most of all, it makes life that bit more bearable to know that some endurance-boosting tricks are actually enjoyable. So next time you're looking for an excuse to justify stopping for a coffee, look mysterious and say it's part of a tailored training plan for elite athletes.