In the Zone

In the Zone

By Kobe BlondeelSportsRunning
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In the Zone episodes

  • Mike Kratzer: how to balance running, family & business

    How do you balance your running aspirations with family & business life?

     

    Mike Kratzer, father of 3 and working at a creative agency is still out to hit his best marathon times.

     

    But wanting to perform while being busy comes with specific challenges. And these specific challenges require specific tools.

     

    That's why we talked about how to:

    • live out your priorities
    • know if you should train or rest
    • handle unexpected projects at work
    • navigate "running tension" in your relationship

      •  

      Self-awareness, discernment, meditation, honesty, and running with intention are just a couple of the tools we covered.

       

      Enjoy your listen.

       

      et me know the #1 that sticks in the comments on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠linkedin


      • Social links:
        • Instagram: 
        • https://www.instagram.com/mikey_kratzer_/
        • https://www.instagram.com/pma_r_/
          • 1 hr 40 min
        • Chris Z: punk, spirituality, and how to stand for values through running

          What do punk and running have in common?

           

          And how about running Western States and spirituality?

           

          It all comes together in Chris Z's latest collection Route of Samsara for his clothing brand Willpower.

           

          A running clothing brand that he founded because Nike & Adidas were just not his cup of tea.

           

          Much more than about being fast or being a fashion brand, Willpower is about values.

           

          So Chris is not afraid to take political stances. Their collection against racism is probably the best example.

           

          This is for everyone who's curious to learn about how running can be a powerful way to stand for something meaningful.

           

          I wish you a fun and insightful episode.

           

          let me know the #1 that sticks in the comments on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠linkedin


            Social links:

              • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisxwillpower/   
              • Willpower: https://www.willpower-running.com 
              • Blog: https://dasz.substack.com/
              • Book: https://runhundred.run/ 
              • Like the Wind #28: https://www.likethewindmagazine.com/shop/issue-twenty-eight-of-like-the-wind-running-magazine/

                  • 2 hr
                • Nick & Kobe: race recaps, we're starting to run podiums now

                  Today Nick & myself share our recent race experiences. How it went, what we take away from it, and what's coming next.
                  From embracing the running lifestyle even more to accepting we just have a lot of fun doing this.
                  And I'll keep saying this.
                  We're just getting started.

                  let me know the #1 that sticks in the comments on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠linkedin

                  1 hr 13 min
                • Nol from Fatpigeon.cc: ultra cycling vs ultra running

                  I always wondered how ultra cycling and running compared.


                  And when I started talking to Nol from Fatpigeon, I knew I had found the right guy for the conversation.

                   

                  He loves exploring the most unique places riding his bike, however long it takes him.

                   

                  Through sheer passion and the fact he loved filming his own adventures, he even made his job out of riding his bike.

                   

                  We discuss the differences and similarities between both ultra cycling and running, from community to fueling an event and from training to hallucinating.

                   

                  All while weaving in Nol's personal story.

                   

                  I wish you a fun and insightful episode.

                   

                  Let me know the #1 that sticks in the comments below.

                   

                  You can find all links to Fatpigeon in the show notes.

                   

                  P.S. We'll have to do this one again in the future, so Loek (Nol's co-founder) can be there too!



                  Social links:

                  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatpigeon.cc/
                  • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolvanloon/
                  • Website: https://www.fatpigeon.cc/
                  • Cyclism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NbnxYIgGms&ab_channel=Fatpigeon
                    • 2 hr 11 min
                  • Stephen Redfern: the Self-Transcendence 3100 miles and the meaning of commitment
                    • This man committed to running 3100 miles (nearly 5000km) in 52 days around a block in Queens, NYC.
                      For 4 days he got pulled off the course by the organizers because his feet were literally falling apart. But he still got up at 5 am each morning to get to the starting line.
                      When it was clear that he was not going to be able to complete the full 3100 miles he still continued regardless.
                      And when he completed his 52 days with over 4000km, there was no sense of regret. Not a trace of disappointment.
                      Because if you show up wholeheartedly, true to yourself, each and every day, what is there to be disappointed about?
                      If you want to understand what it means to be committed and how that changes your experience of life, listen to this one.
                      Just having this conversation inspired me to get more clear on what I want in life and stand in that commitment each and every day. There is just no reason to skip a day.
                      This is a powerful one.
                      Let it touch you

                      • Let me know the #1 that sticks in the comments on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠linkedin


                      Social link's of Stephen:

                      • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaggy072/
                      • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephenredfern
                      • Website: https://3100.srichinmoyraces.org/
                        • 2 hr 11 min
                      • Ben Clement: running crews, the state of running culture

                        Today, running is much more than a way to compete. It's a place for community, a way to take care of your body & mind, and a form of self-expression.

                         

                        Running crews were key in making running more accessible to anyone who didn't grow up running track & field.

                         

                        Ben, photographer, director, and athlete is one of the founders of Melbourne-based AM:PM.

                         

                        Founded 9 years ago, AM:PM is a second-wave running crew and they're still going strong.

                         

                        That's why I thought Ben was the perfect guest to learn more about:

                        • The state of running culture
                        • How it grow into what it is today
                        • The role big brands play in this
                        • Where the running crews fit in
                        • Why running is still on the rise

                          •  

                          Ben is a creative human being with a warm heart. It shines through in the care he has for the crew and the unique angles he explores in his creative work.

                           

                          It made for a warm and insightful conversation.

                           

                          Enjoy this one.

                           

                          And let me know the #1 that sticks in the comments on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠linkedin


                          Links Ben


                          • Instagram
                          • Website
                            • 1 hr 54 min
                          • Ryan Willms: feeling good enough, performance & the wisdom of the nervous system

                          • Ryan Willms, creative director, endurance athlete, host of the Mindful Endurance Program & podcast, and overall inspiration for what I do at In the Zone.

                            •  

                            I love his Zen vibe and I'm honored to have him on the show.

                             

                            Ryan is currently recovering from adrenal fatigue. It's a journey that is taking him deep into the wisdom of the nervous system.

                             

                            Combined with his earlier spiritual work, we had an amazing conversation about how spirituality and endurance naturally come together.

                             

                            We talked about:

                            • The power of acceptance
                            • How to feel safe in your own body
                            • Surrendering the control of the mind
                            • How you harm yourself through judging others
                            • How emotional suppression inhibits performance
                            • How looking for external validation can lead to exhaustion

                              •  

                              And not just because these are key to experiencing true performance. But because it's what allows joy to flow throughout the entire training process.

                               

                              The conversation is coated in a loving layer of Taoist wisdom.

                               

                              I cherish this conversation, I hope there's many more like these to come.

                               

                              Enjoy this one.

                               

                              Let me know the #1 that sticks in the comments on Instagram or linkedin


                              Ryan's Social links

                              • Instagram MEP
                                • Instagram Ryan
                                  • Website MEP
                                    • 2 hr 6 min
                                  • Stefaan Bonte: 18 months, a 53min PR, and the power of letting go of old stories
                                    Yes, Stefaan went from a 3h53 to a 2h59 marathon in 18 months.
                                     
                                    But what inspires me the most is the peace and confidence he radiated before he toed the starting line in Rotterdam last month.
                                     
                                    18 months ago, Stefaan would've been worrying about each split and anxiously forcing his race when things didn't go according to plan.
                                     
                                    Last month, he was hardly concerned about the outcome, knowing he was just there to give it his all. Perhaps it was enough to hit the goal. And perhaps it wasn't.
                                     
                                    He simply fearlessly committed to something he cared about.
                                     
                                    I wanted to get Stefaan on the podcast because it requires courage to trust the power of letting go. And I wanted to hear his perspective on how he navigated this transformation.
                                     
                                    We ended up talking about:
                                    The fear of not being accepted
                                    The key practices that helped him shift
                                    Why he was willing to look at the stories he was telling himself
                                    And how inner peace and performance are actually the same thing
                                     
                                    Stefaan is one of our OG members at In the Zone and his journey has been inspiring to witness.
                                     
                                    I hope it can inspire you as well.
                                     
                                    Enjoy this episode.
                                     
                                    Let me know the #1 thing that sticks in the comments on linkedin or Instagram
                                    Socials Stefaan:
                                    Instagram
                                    Linkedin
                                    1 hr 51 min
                                  • Anthony Horyna: how to turn your life around at 45, one step at a time
                                    "Feeling stuck in a life of "have to's", Anthony got confronted with the impact of his high-paced lifestyle.
                                    Not only did he turn into a "high functional whining person"* without realizing it. He also went through nervous exhaustion syndrome.
                                    But it took him several relapses before he realized something had to change.
                                    At age 45 and with a family of his own, he faced a daunting new reality after parting ways with his previous employer.
                                    Yet, instead of succumbing to despair, he recognized that this was a rare, perhaps even once-in-a-lifetime, opportunity to make significant changes in his life. Life offered him a blank canvas.
                                    And so he embarked on a mission to run nonstop across Germany. One marathon at a time, covering a distance of 1900km. To raise awareness about mental health issues.
                                    The journey also turned out the be the catalyst for his own healing. To quote him, running saved him. And today he finds himself to be a running therapist.
                                    In our conversation, there was no trace of that whining person. Instead, I found myself talking to someone with profound insights into how to live a meaningful life.
                                    So, we talked about:
                                    How to get unstuck one step at a time
                                    The power of openness and vulnerability
                                    How running can be our teacher in that process
                                    How the door into a new life is always wide open
                                    Just to name a few things.
                                    This is gold for anyone feeling stuck, wondering what else life has to offer and for those excited to learn about life through running.
                                    This is a deep one.
                                    I wish you an insightful episode!
                                    *His own words."
                                    Social links:
                                    Instagram - anthony.horyna
                                    strava - anthony horyna 
                                    The Projekt 19/19 Website: www.projekt1919.de
                                    For the BOOK @Amazon: https://www.amazon.de/Projekt-19-durch-Deutschland-warum/dp/3755740370/
                                    2 hr 44 min
                                  • Thomas Van Woensel: inside the Barkley marathons with a (Barkley) virgin

                                    Thomas inspired me to go on my run across Belgium.

                                     

                                    So, when I heard he was going to be part of Barkley, I just couldn't wait to hear everything about his experience.

                                     

                                    I thought I knew a thing or 2 about the race. I've probably watched every Barkley documentary out there.

                                     

                                    So, I was shocked to hear it's so much more intense than I thought it was:

                                    • Sliding down hills & falling trees
                                    • Memorizing the course while keeping up with the veterans
                                    • Trying to get your calories in while scrambling up and down constantly
                                    • Going from freezing cold to sweating your ass off
                                    • 2 water stops on a 12h-loop

                                      •  

                                      And I could make the list much longer.

                                       

                                      Needless to say, this was a fascinating conversation, where we talked about:

                                      • How Thomas prepared Barkley in the Swiss Alps
                                      • How he experienced the race
                                      • Why the race is so hard to finish
                                      • What he'd do differently
                                      • What's next on his horizon

                                        •  

                                        He didn't inspire me (yet) to make an attempt at Barkley myself. But he did inspire me (again) to just go after the goals I care about, however silly other people think it might sound.

                                         

                                        Thanks for the inspiration, once again, Thomas!

                                         

                                        And to you, reader, I wish you a joyful and insightful episode!

                                         

                                        P.S. Thomas is currently running his way across the Canarian Islands with @runthemarenostrum. So, I hope he gets to see this!


                                        Instagram of thomas

                                        1 hr 46 min

                                      About In the Zone

                                      From the publisher's feed

                                      This is where we explore the world of running. From the art of performance to the state of running culture. And from how to live a life of running to how it shapes us as human beings.