Everyday Runners

EDR #59 /This Running Life/ Marit Hiemstra and Agata Cienciala

Yo, hello! This is a story of a friendship formed through co-running. Agata is a visually impaired runner who lives in Nottingham. Marit is an anthropologist who is doing her PhD at Nottingham Trent University. 
In this episode Agata and Marit share their stories of running together and how 'blind running' is a co-created practice. We discuss friendship and trust and how guide runners learn the process of running with someone with a visual impairment. 
As the host of this podcast, every episode is important for me. But, this episode reiterated again to me the reasons why I started this podcast. I found the stories shared by Agata and Marit very moving. And, I'm honored by their trust in me in making (part) of their story available. 
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Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy Me Coffee
Blind Running (NL)

EDR #58 /Enschede Marathon Review/ Brent Pieterse - 2:24 and 7th Overall

Brent Pieterse is a self-trained athlete based in the bustling metropolis of Nieuwkoop (population 29,000). To his own admission, he hadn't yet done his marathon justice. But this time, in Enschede ('the Other Marathon of 13th April') he smashed it. He ran all of his kilometres between 3:20 and 3:29, except for one which crept over to the 3:30 mark. His race was perfectly paced, recording a 10second positive split. And, typical of Brent, he did it virtually all alone. His finishing time was 2:24:46. 
If you have done a race in the province of South Holland or perhaps in Utrecht, you are likely to have come across Brent in his famous blue Keus t-shirt. He has a thing for small, local races and although he puts little currency in winning races, he certainly does a lot of winning. He says he's happy running alone and along quiet roads and polder paths. 
In short, he's a gun and he's continually improving. Moreover, he is not a glory hunter and he's incredibly modest about his performances - recognising himself that he has made rather unexpectedly quick progress. This podcast has a strict policy against Humble Bragging and BP is no humble bragger. 
So, I want to thank Brent for being on the show and sharing his post-race thoughts. 
He'll be back racing very soon. 
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Links: 
 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast via Buy Me Coffee

EDR #57 /On the Rise/ Igor Ouwerkerk: 8:08 for the 3000m & 3:52 for the 1500m

Yo! Igor Ouwerkerk is one of the Young Guns of Leiden Atletiek. Like the title of this show indicates, he has smashed out some pretty fancy times in his very short career. Igor has only committed to running over the past two years after previously being pretty serious about his cycling, too. 
Igor trains with Han Kulker of Leiden Atletiek and as long as a few persistent injuries don't get in his way, what he can achieve is as yet unknown. He'll be heading off to the States soon on an athletics scholarship. So, look out. 
Igor is a competitive beast and always brings his game face to race day - hence the awesome photo accompanying the episode. He's also super diligent in his loopscholing (running technique) drills and he performs them with the exactitude and agility of a ballet dancer. 
So yeah, I hope you enjoy this conversation and my opening chitter chatter about my Rotterdam Marathon preparation. 
Doi doi 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 Coffee

EDR #56 /This Running Life/ Pieter-Christaan van Oranje en Daan Hoek

This episode features an interview with Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje and Daan Hoek, both of Leiden Atletiek. The two are long-time running buddies, who got to know each other when PC joined Leiden Atletiek to train under Bram Wassenaar. This is a very lightly edited episode as I wanted to let the episode be a clear representation of how the conversation unfolded. The three of us share our thoughts on how running has changed over the years, PC tells us of his running story and his experiences with various running coaches. He also mentions what might actually go wrong while changing shoes during a marathon. Daan Hoek, a high level steeple chaser back in the good old days, has been a consistent training partner with PC in his marathon builds. Daan also tells us what the Rotterdam Marathon was like way back in the 1980s. So yeah, I had a very enjoyable time talking with PC and Daan and, I think this conversation turned out well. I hope you enjoy it. 
Thank you to Bob, Gianluca and Joao for supporting this podcast via Buy Me a Coffee. Their support helps to cover some of the costs required to keep this podcast afloat. 
Thank you to Jeroen Rondeel for the music - specifically composed - for this podcast. Jeroen is the founder of the band, Cymbaline. 
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 #55 /On the Rise/ Akshaay Swaminathan

Askhaay Swaminathan is a young athlete on the rise and is based at Leiden Atletiek. He's only be running for two years and is still working out his favourite distances: but he's already got a time of 2:01 for the 800m and has performed well in many youth competitions. 
In this conversation we talk about how he started running and how he manages his time between his schoolwork and training. We also talk cooking, as it turns out, it is also one of Askhaay's hobbies. 
If you would like to support the show, please click on this link. All supporters will be acknowledged in future episodes. This kind of support helps me to keep the show free from advertisements and to cover running costs. 
Thanks again to Jeroen Rondeel for the beautiful intro music which he specifically composed for 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 #54 /Running Media/: Annemerel de Jongh: running writer and podcaster

Annemerel de Jongh's life story is inextricably linked to her life as a runner. She is the author of three books on running, runs a popular running blog and of course is active on Instagram as an influencer. Annemerel is also the host of a (Dutch language) podcast, Have a Good Run, in which she shares her stories of her preparation for the upcoming Rotterdam Marathon with EDR regular, Anne Luijten. 
I also provide a brief update regarding my Rotterdam-marathon build, which has had a nasty interruption thanks to a poorly timed virus. 
The beautiful music at the beginning of this is episode is by Jeroen Rondeel (of Cymbaline). The music was specifically composed for this podcast: so, a massive thanks to Jeroen. 
If you are interested in supporting this podcast, as a sign of appreciation, you can do so via the Buy Me a Coffee platform. 
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Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast: Buy Me a Coffee

EDR #53 /Race Review/ Anne Luijten on her CPC and Rotterdam Build

Anne Luijten reflects on her CPC, which didn't really go to plan. Even pros have bad days. But no problem. The marathon waits for no-one and Anne is taking stock and preparing for Rotterdam, which is happening in a little under a month. Anne also asks Andy about his training and what his approach was for the CPC. They also discuss Anne's podcast with Annemerel de Jongh, Have a Good Run. 
Thank you to the recent supporters of the podcast: Joao, Bob and Gianluca. If you would like to show your support for this podcast, please click on the Buy Me a Coffee link below. 
I hope your running and training is going well. 
Doi doi :) 
 
Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast: Buy Me a Coffee

EDR #52 /Running Plus/ The Waye of the Plogger: interview with Paul Waye of Haarlem, elite-level plogger

How much rubbish do you see when you go for a run? Red Bull cans, cigarette packets, CapriSun packages, beer bottles, cigarette butts, coffee cups and lids litter our footpaths and urban spaces. Most of the time we leave them on the ground and wait for someone else to tidy things up. 
Paul Waye, he of the Banana Suit and the aluminium-can mini-skirt, is a runner and someone who picks up rubbish on his runs. Of course there is a Swedish word for this practice: to plog. Paul, an Englishman in Haarlem, has gone-pro with his plogging over recent months, and in this interview he shares his process of transitioning from everyday runner to absolute legendary plogger with an indefatiguable appetite for cleaning up the Dutch landscape. 
Soon, he'll be undertaking the Twelf Steden Plog - where he will run to the twelve regional capitals of the Netherlands - throughout the month of May. He's most likely to be passing close to where you live, so, if you see him, give him a shout out, but more importantly, help him out through picking up a piece of rubbish. 
Thank you to Joao Seixas, Bob van Hesse and Gianluca Bonaccorso for supporting this podcast via the Buy Me a Coffee platform. You can do it too. These contributions help cover the costs of running the podcast. All contributors will be acknowledged in a future episode (or episodes). 
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Links: 
Andy Fuller/Reading Sideways Press
Strava: Andy Fuller
Instagram: Everyday Runners Leiden
Email: everydayrunnerspodcast@gmail.com
Support the Podcast: Buy Me a Coffee
 
 

EDR #51 /Athlete Profile/ Max Polak: "I had no clue. I just did it. It was just sport."

Hey! Max Polak, from Papendrecht, went to the US when he was 20 to pursue his running career: running at both Boise State University and Miami University. After a few ups and downs he is now back in the Netherlands and getting stronger in the half-marathon while also putting in some solid performances on the track. Max trains under Bram Wassenaar at Leiden Atletiek. 
We recorded this interview while Max was at a training camp in Portugal, in the lead up to the CPC Half-Marathon in Den Haag. Max was very candid about what running means to him and how he has used running as a means to further his education and explore new opportunities. He tells of his racing tactics and what motivates him. He's recently also been having some very nice battles with Everyday Runner regular, Dominic Bersee. 
This episode opens with a 'listener question' regarding what to do in case of having a long-term injury. I briefly share my thoughts. 
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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 #50 /Athlete Profile/ Lysanne Wilkens, 2:38 on debut and on doing running her own way

Hey, hello! In this episode, Lysanne Wilkens, a freelance journalist and photographer based in Utrecht, joins EDR for a conversation about her running and running life. Lysanne, unexpectedly (for herself) ran 2:38 in the Taipei marathon last year while travelling throughout Asia. Lysanne crossed the finish line looking as if she could have kept going for another lap of the course. So, in this conversation we talk about her running background and her approach to running in general: part of which is to make sure that it fits well into her own schedule and that she has a great degree of agency over her training. 
In the first segment of this episode, I respond to a question from Emma, a fellow Leiden-based runner, about 'hilly marathon majors'. In short, I express my ambivalence over 'world marathon majors', while loving the idea of hilly marathons - from a spectators point of view. I'm yet to do one, and while not really deliberately avoiding them, I'm also not really going out of my way to do one. :) 
If you would like to ask a question or for us (yes, there will be a co-host, soon!) please send your thoughts via email or a DM on IG. 
As always: i hope you're enjoying your running. 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:  Patreon