Everyday Runners

EDR #83 /Leidse trots/Amina Maatoug - "You can be one of the best performers in the world and still have a lot of fun."

Amina Maatoug is one of Leiden Atletiek's most popular, cherished and cheerful athletes. She has recently returned from the World Championships where she made her senior international debut in the 1500m. 
We discuss her relationship with her University of Washington coach, Maurica Powell, Amina's qualification for Tokyo, and what she finds most important in an athlete-coach relationship. (It's not the program.)
Other matters: I also share my plans for writing a book related to Everyday Runners; my race agenda for the next two or so months and how I'm likely to be back on Strava soon. 
Until next time. Doei doei! 
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee
Music by Jeroen Rondeel of Cymbaline 

EDR #82: /The Art of Coaching/ Joseph Mills: “Instead of having my running spikes, I just have my theories and a keyboard”

This episode features a conversation with Joseph Mills, who is an International Adjunct Professor in the Master of Sports Coaching program at the University of Denver. That is his formal title. According to his profile, “his research and teaching interests are in the application of social-cultural theories to bridge science (real-world) practice divides in coaching, sport and exercise.” 
My interest in Joe’s work stems from my coaching practice. I have started coaching at Leiden Atletiek and privately over the last 12 months and while I’m looking to learn from more established figures in the running-coaching game, I’m also looking to put my own spin on how I do things. That involves thinking critically about some of the foundational presumptions we have about athletics training and what makes a good coach. 
I got in touch with Joe after seeing his work referenced in that of Zoe Avner’s who was featured in episode 78. I also saw that they had co-authored some articles together. Joe’s work is very much informed by Michel Foucault, whose work created such a great intervention in thinking about power and knowledge structures. 
So, in this conversation we talk about Joe’s relationships with his running coaches; Foucault and discipline; the disciplined athlete; his work as a post-structuralist scholar; running as play; training for racing; the rise of sports science as a discipline. 
I want to thank Joe very much for the sincere and open manner in which he shared his thinking and experiences with me during this interview. It’s moments like this that really make me glad that I started this podcast. I’m trying to build a substantial resource of conversations which can be of use to runners and non-runners alike. Apologies to those who are looking for quick answers, tips and gear endorsements. That’s not what my podcast is about. So, if you are liking what you are listening to, please feel to support via the Buy Me a Coffee platform. You’ll be even more of a legend than you already are. 
So, dat was hem voor nu. It’s a beautiful, still, calm autumn day in the best city in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. Doei doei! 
***
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee

EDR #81 /WK Review/ “Het is veel meer een spelletje”: Met Anne Luijten, Marcella Herzog en Niels Esmeijer

Hallo en welkom bij aflevering #81 van de podcast Everyday Runners. Ik ben Andy Fuller, de host van deze show en ook mede-oprichter van Reading Sideways Press. Deze podcast duikt in de praktijk, methodes en culturen van het hardlopen door interviews met alledaagse lopers, topatleten en onderzoekers met een achtergrond in de sociale of geesteswetenschappen.
Deze aflevering is een gesprek met vaste gasten, atleten Anne Luijten, Marcella Herzog en trainer Niels Esmeijer. Anne en Marcella zijn net terug uit Japan waar ze in Tokio meededen aan de marathon op het WK. Het is overbodig om te zeggen, maar ze hebben allebei heel goed gepresteerd. We bespreken een aantal interessante onderwerpen: wat een toernooimarathon speciaal maakt; strategieën voor de voorbereiding op een marathon in de hitte; de nieuwe atleet-coach-samenwerking van Marcella en Niels; training en AI en, het leven van een atleet.
Links: 
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
 

EDR #80 /Running Studies/Neil Baxter: “We make our choices on what we think something says about us”

Hello and welcome to Episode #80 of Everyday Runners podcast: I’m Andy Fuller, the host of this show and also a co-founder of Reading Sideways Press. This podcast explores the practices, methods and cultures of running by interviewing everyday runners, high performing athletes and researchers with a social science or humanities background. 
This episode features an interview with independent researcher, Neil Baxter, whose work can be found here, Running Studies. In this episode we explore the origins of modern running, what running looked like in the distant (and near) past, how the marathon came to be and why doing long-distance running is often conflated with having a strong, moral character. 
Finally, if you feel like this podcast is valuable, please consider giving it a rating on Spotify or supporting it through the Buy Me a Coffee platform.
I hope you enjoy this episode and until next time - doi doi 
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee

EDR #79 /Athlete/ Too Fast to be Serious: The Life and Times of John Heymans, Olympic 5000m finalist

This episode features an interview with John Heymans - a finalist in the 5000m at last year’s Olympics. But of course, that wasn’t really what attracted me to him and to become curious about interviewing him. After all, there’s always going to be fast athletes. My YouTube feed started popping up videos of John a couple of months ago and to be honest when I first saw them I didn’t know what to make of him. But after a few videos I think I started to get what he is on about. John takes his high performance ‘lightly’ and with a sense of humour. This contrasts greatly with so many of us everyday runners who get burdened by our levels of performance. And yes, I’m guilty as charged of taking my own running too seriously. I love the image of seeing John at the Olympic final, flexing his biceps which have the words, ‘Hey Mom, made it’ written across them. John is also open and transparent about the risks and costs of being a high-performing athlete. It is an idealised position, but athletes, even of his level, live precarious lives through which he must come up with specific and flexible strategies to survive. 
John is in Tokyo preparing for the 5000m in the world championships. So, smash it John. Thank you for being such an open and sincere guest on this podcast. 
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee

EDR #78 /Coaching Theory/ “Dangers and Opportunities” Navigating Coaching Practices with Zoë Avner and Kristi Skebo

Hello and welcome to Episode #78 of Everyday Runners, I’m Andy Fuller, the host of this podcast and also a co-founder of Reading Sideways Press. 
Firstly, I always say thank you to the supporters of this podcast: Jochem, Bob, Dominic, Nesrine, Levi, Joao, Gianluca and the original Bob. If you find value in this podcast, and are a regular listener, and feel like supporting what I’m doing, feel free to head on over to the Buy Me a Coffee platform. Running this podcast has a lot of ongoing costs - inclusive of my subscription to podbean and purchasing of equipment. 
Running, or, athletics in particular, is largely inseparable from coaching. So, although I’ve had a few of my coaches as guests, this is the first opportunity for me to explicitly explore some theoretical questions about coaching. Two experts who have critically explored coaching, are Dr Zoë Avner from Deakin University in Australia and Kristi Skebo from the University of Alberta in Canada. I was drawn to their work for their use of Foucauldian thinking and the theories of Deleuze and Guattari in their article “Coach development as assemblage: mobilising assemblage thinking to examine coach learning within an endurance-running coach development intravention” published in Sports Coaching Review in 2024. Their work helps us to think about how we coach, how different kinds of agencies affect the practice of coaching and how ‘dangers and opportunities’ can be navigated in the athletic coaching space. 
I hope you enjoy this episode and until next time - doi doi 
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee
Music by Jeroen Rondeel of Cymbaline 

EDR #77: /Running Studies/ Manolo Pierson: A Choreography of Vulnerability

Hello and welcome to another episode of EDR: I’m Andy Fuller the host of this podcast and a co-founder of Reading Sideways Press. 
I’m currently on holiday in Melbourne and thus I’ve been a bit slow in getting around to this episode. But what a cracker it is. 
Firstly though let’s do the formalities: thanks to this podcast’s supporters: Jochem, Bob, Dominic, Nesrine, Levi, Joao, Gianluca and the original Bob. Thank you for showing the love for the podcast via the Buy Me a Coffee platform. 
Little bit about what’s going on here: I’m currently not putting my runs on Strava, because basically, I’m trying to cut down on my digital distraction. But I have been running. I’m getting re-acquainted with hilly and undulating terrain, which I love. Last week or so, I did a 20km run and got 400m of elevation, without even seeking it out. I noticed this because 400m of elevation is what I usually get in a month of running in Leiden. 
Although it is winter here, conditions are just about perfect: 12 to 15 degrees, sunny days and no wind. Got to love it. 
Anyway: this podcast features a conversation with Manolo Pierson, a French athlete and designer, who has recently finished his degree in Eindhoven. Manolo is a sub-14minute 5km athlete and trains under the guidance of Honore Hoedt. In this conversation, we discuss Manolo’s approach to running, what he means by ‘threshold’ as an in-between space, why he regards running as a ‘choreography of vulnerability’ and how running can become its own ‘perceptive field’. We also talk about humdrum, everyday running matters too, of course. 
I’m also pleased to announce that Reading Sideways Press will be publishing his innovative and insightful book, Run_A_Way next month. 
So, that’s all from me for now. I need to get this episode out there and then get myself out into the beautiful Melbourne winter weather and do my 8 times 4 minutes on, 2minutes off fartlek workout. 
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee
Music by Jeroen Rondeel of Cymbaline
 
Until next time! Doi doi 

EDR #76 /This Running Life/The (Running) Notebooks of Bob Nederpel (and other matters)

Hello and welcome to Episode #76 of Everyday Runners - I’m Andy Fuller, the host of this podcast and also a co-founder of Reading Sideways Press. 
Things probably sound a bit different: I’m away from my microphone, so, I’m recording this straight into my computer. But, the main thing is to get it done.
As usual: I thank the supporters of this podcast: Jochem, Bob, Dominic, Nesrine, Levi, Joao, Gianluca and the original Bob. Without you guys this podcast wouldn’t really be possible. You guys keep me motivated to produce one episode after another. One other thing that also helps this podcast to grow is through sharing it on social media. Although I have rather mixed feelings about social media, I also can’t deny that it is necessary for me to promote the episodes on Instagram. So, I try to use it in a targeted manner rather than spending too much time scrolling on it. I feel every minute I spend on Instagram chips away at my self-esteem; so, the less time the better. 
Anyway, this episode features a conversation with a friend of mine, Bob Nederpel. I met Bob when I first started training at Leiden Atletiek some 12 years ago. And, like he mentions, he is known for his cheerful disposition and positive attitude towards training and running in general. Bob talks about how he has come back to running after a difficult period of two or so years, where he lost his joy for running. He talks about how valuing the little things in his running group reignited his running spark. During the conversation, we also discuss Bob’s running scrapbooks in which he writes about his races. These are carefully crafted personal archives which create his own personal story about his running. Unlike Strava records, they are not public nor subject to questionable AI summaries. 
So, that’s all for now. If you’re new to this podcast please consider giving it a rating on Spotify or supporting the podcast through the Buy Me a Coffee platform, link in the description. 
I hope you’re running is going well and until next time, doei doei 
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee
Music by Jeroen Rondeel of Cymbaline

EDR #75 /This Running Life/ Emma Houchell: "If I couldn't find a running club, I probably wouldn't move because I would then spend all my time running and not make any friends"

Hello and welcome to Episode #75 of Everyday Runners. I’m Andy Fuller, the host of this podcast and a co-founder of Reading Sideways Press. 
Thank you to the supporters of this podcast: Bob, Dominic, Nesrine, Levi, Joao, Gianluca and the original Bob. And, a big thank you to the latest supporter of Everyday Runners: Jochem Loos who has made a contribution via the Buy Me A Coffee platform. Jochem is an athlete whose strongest distances are probably the 5 and 10km. He recently smashed a 15:30 or so for the 5km during the Lisse Estafette. There was a time when Jochem was struggling with injuries, but through patience and his other trainings of cycling and swimming, he is seemingly on top of his body, so to speak. So yeah, thanks for listening Jochem to the podcast and good luck with your upcoming races. 
This episode features a conversation with Emma Houchell who lives and works in the Hague and trains at Leiden Atletiek. Emma mentions how a conversation with Noah Schutte was instrumental in her decision to move to the Low Lands. Emma talks of her relationship with her coach Bev Hartigan who has been coaching her for more or less ten years. Emma also gives her theory on the different kinds of runners and where she might sit on the running-continuum. 
The recording was made the day before the BIG5 so the conversation begins with Emma asking me a few questions about my preparation and feelings for the race. 
So, that’s all for now. I’d love it if you could give the podcast a rating on Spotify and, if you are inclined, to support the show through the Buy Me a Coffee platform. 
Until next time, doei doei 
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee
Music by Jeroen Rondeel of Cymbaline 

EDR #74: /Athlete Profile/ Bilal Nour: Laughing, Training Hard and Using AI for Race Prep

Hello and welcome to Episode #74 of Everyday Runners. I’m Andy Fuller, the host of this podcast and a co-founder of Reading Sideways Press. 
Thank you to the supporters of this podcast: Dominic, Nesrine, Levi, Gianluca, Joao and Bob. And, a special thanks to the latest supporter: Bob Nederpel. Bob has been a regular listener since the start of the podcast. He’s an 800m and 1500m athlete based at Leiden Atletiek and recently came 3rd in the Dutch Championships in the 40+ category. All supporters give me added enthusiasm in making one episode per week. 
Admittedly, I took the week off from podcasting last week as I had published five episodes in seven days the week before leading up to the BIG5. I personally finished in a time of 16:39, which was a little disappointing because I was aiming for at least a sub-16:30. Friends of the show: Nesrine Leene, Merel van der Marel, Lysanne Wilkins, Pim Bijl and Emiel Berghout all had strong performances. So, congratulations to you guys. 
This episode features Bilal Nour an athlete and student based in Leiden. I barely knew Bilal before interviewing. But, as he also trains at Leiden Atletiek, I was quite familiar with his running ability. During running drills exercises we’ve also had a bit of banter and I thought, the way he makes jokes and ironic remarks about his own or my own running, he’d be good to have on the show. He always brings a positive vibe to training and that can’t be undervalued. For indeed, I think some of us have a tendency to take training a bit too seriously, but Bilal always seems to be the athlete who is most likely to break out into laughter.
For context, Bilal has a time of 3:48 for the 1500 and 1:52 for the 800. So, we talk about all the important running matters: training at Leiden Atletiek, racing strategy and the inspiration he gains from racing with his training mates. We also start the conversation with a few thoughts about how he uses AI tools in regards to racing. 
So, that’s all for now. I’d love it if you could give the podcast a rating on Spotify and, if you are inclined, to support the show through the Buy Me a Coffee platform. 
Until next time, doei doei 
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy me a Coffee
Music by Jeroen Rondeel of Cymbaline