In the Zone

In the Zone

By Kobe BlondeelSportsRunning
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In the Zone episodes

  • Nick & Kobe: our upcoming goals & how our perspective on running and performance is changing
    After a break, the podcast is back. And how!
    I'm excited to kick-off our next line of guests with non other than my partner in crime Nick Cusseneers.
    It's been a while since we shared about our own journey. But many exciting projects are cooking and we no longer wanted to withhold them from you.
    We both changed since our last conversations, so in this one we also expanded on how our perspective on running and performance are changing.
    Social links:
    Instagram
    1 hr 5 min
  • Terrance Diggs: from culture to couture, challenges of the black running community and how to turn them around

    Did you know "Running while black" is an issue affecting Black runners when they go out to log their miles?

     
    I can't even imagine what it would be like having to worry about that every time I happen to go for a run in the dark.
     
    But it's just one of the many examples Terrance shared.
     
    To be honest, I felt anxious about this episode.
     
    Not only do I feel ashamed I know so little about the specific challenges of the black running community, I also feel like a total noob talking about fashion (let alone couture).
     
    But these are somehow topics I feel a strong pull towards.
     
    So I'm grateful Terrance wanted to take the time to answer my questions.
     
    Terrance is deeply connected to several communities of color and with his company D17 he aspires to do collaborations with the Nike's of the world to bring more awareness to this space.
     
    Having his own clothing company, Terrance was also the perfect person for me to ask "Why oh why" those Salomon shoes are everywhere these days. From professional runners all the way to Paris Fashion Week.
     
    The answer wasn't what I expected. But I just loved it.
     
    I wish you an insightful episode.

    Social links:

    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Website
      • 1 hr 57 min
    • George Bauer: from riding Deliveroo to creating stunning running retreats
      George, a Melbourne raised runner, living in the Scottish Highlands who loves running, eating, and travel.
      In our conversation, we talk about his journey from:
      Working at a travel agency to
      riding Deliveroo, and ending up
      creating running retreats for Aire Libre
      We also ended up covering:
      The struggle of outgrowing friendships
      And how he went from non-stop racing to
      only picking goals that mean something to him
      and training for them in a way that feels fun
      George is a mountain lover with a big heart and an example of how the dots connect when you decide to trust life and go for it.
      I don't believe it's a coincidence he ends up co-creating these unique experiences that bring together his passion for running, travel, and food.
      I wish you an insightful and inspiring episode.
      Let me know what sticks.
      Instagram George
      Instagram Sundays
      Website George
      1 hr 56 min
    • Thomas Vyncke: how your life shifts when you unfold your inner world
      2 years ago, Thomas' mind didn't have an off switch and his emotions felt like Pandora's box.
      But when he continued to run into the same triggers in his relationship he somehow was drawn into the discomfort instead of scared away from it.
      Today, it feels like he's living out Thomas 2.0.
      I keep being amazed to hear stories about how quickly your life can turn around when you're ready to consciously turn into, instead of unconsciously away from, discomfort.
      Thomas was excited to share so openly for the first time about his journey over the past 2 years. And we went deep.
      We talked about:
      - How a Shaman introduced him to his inner world
      - His experiences with Ayahuasca
      - What he learned on his Vision Quest
      - How to go from surviving to being alive
      And the power of:
      - Using pain as a guide
      - Not having to understand everything
      - Curiosity and following your inner child
      - Being bored
      This is for anyone interested to feel just a little bit more alive.
      I wish you an inspiring and insightful episode!
      Links in the show notes.
      Website: unfolding.be
      linkedin: thomasvyncke
      Instagram: vynckethomas
      2 hr 8 min
    • Greg Carrette: how to unlock your true nature with psychedelics
      "Psychedelics helped me see how deeply I was tying my self-worth to how much I could charge per day."
      Going from McKinsey & Company to founding his own business offering psychedelic experiences, Greg shares an inspiring story in our latest podcast.
      He learned firsthand how painful it can be to live disconnected from your body, how your body always keeps the score, and how psychedelics have helped him become aware of this.
      Greg is amazing at giving dense answers you actually understand, so we covered a lot of ground, like answering:
      - What can psychedelics do for you?
      - How do you know you're ready for it?
      - Do they work as a quick fix?
      - What is a psychedelic experience like?
      - How is it different from breathwork and meditation?
      This one's also for people wondering how to live out their true nature.
      Because, to quote Greg one more time, "Life is about doing the ríght things in the ríght fashion. Not just doing thíngs in the right fashion."
      I wish you an insightful episode!
      True nature website
      True nature linkedin
      Greg's linkedin
      1 hr 29 min
    • Justine Seynhaeve: how we grow through tension and conflict in our relationship

      6 years ago, I had no clue a relationship could be so powerful.


      So, if there's anything extraordinary about my own life, it's my relationship with @justineseynhaeve.


      Not because we don't push each others buttons, but because of the way we navigate that tension.


      Instead of pointing at flaws in arguments, we learned to own our insecurities.


      Instead of keeping ourselves small to avoid conflict, we've learned to be who we are while holding space for what it might trigger.


      We no longer dance around old wounds, but we grow through it together.


      It's a powerful reflection about how we:

      - managed a 2 year long distance relationship,

      - grew as individuals without growing apart, 

      - navigated our attraction to other people,

      - navigate tension and conflict,

      _and how it catalyzes

      _spiritual growth.


      Maybe it might help you to hear how we handle things.

      Here you can find her Instagram account: @justineseynhaeve

      Enjoy your listen.

      2 hr 15 min
    • Charles van Haverbeke: What does it take to run a relay along the entire European coast?
      What does it take to run a relay along the entire European coast?
      3.5 years ago, it started out as an idea to run non-stop, but logistics and finances required a different approach.
      Now, each year, runners are covering 20 stages of 100km to continue to chunk at the 100 000km of European coast.
      Each runner has to be able to finish a 100km stage before handing over the figurative torch to the next one. Making this not only a huge macro challenge (to finish the 100 000km) but a micro challenge for each runner as well.
      But this is so much more than a physical challenge.
      That's why I wanted to get together with Charles Van Haverbeke (co-founder of the project) to get a better understanding of what happens behind the scenes of Follow the coast (what started out as Run the mare nostrum) and where the idea even came from.
      We talked about where the journey is at, the bond it creates between the runners, how the seed for the project was planted at the marathon des sables, his love for running, what it takes to publish a book… But also about his partner in crime Max Monteyne and how they navigate the logistical and financial challenges of the project together.
      The journey's continuing this year from Punta Torrella (close to Santiago de Compostela) and takes another break in Aldea Noa (just south of Lisbon). They're still looking for runners to run some stages, so if you get excited after listening to our conversation, don't hesitate to sign-up! It's going to be beautiful.
      You can sign-up for one of the stages on their website or reach out to them on Instagram.
      You can find the links here
      1 hr 40 min
    • Sung Woo: How to break and heal your relationship with running

      "When I run, I understand why I exist." - Sung Woo I knew we would vibe, but I didn't realize it would be at this level. We hardly covered any of the topics I had planned for. I just couldn't help but flow with this conversation. And we went deep. We talked about how Sung had tied his identity to sports and how it hurt him. How running was a saving grace in his struggle with depression, only to abandon him again later. We explored how he ended up healing his relationship to running and how it evolved profoundly because of it. He talks about his time in Kenya and how he went from graduating Stanford to founding @mindfulrunningschool. This one is dense. And deeply relevant to anyone resonating with the core of ITZ. How we grow as human beings through running and how we can understand the meaning of life through running. I'd love to hear what sticks from this one, because we touched on so many topics at the heart of what we do. I'm here to explore these more in depth, so let me know what you want to hear more of too. Sung Woo is a beautiful individual. Just experiencing his calmness is worth the listen. It's healing. And I wish you to experience his calmness too. 

      Social links Sung Woo: Twitter, Instagram.

      1 hr 59 min
    • Jurian Elstgeest: how to start a new running shoe company in 2023

      I first thought Jurian was crazy.⁠

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      Why would you consider starting a new company in such competitive and seemingly saturated market?⁠

      ⁠

      But when we started talking, it all made sense.⁠

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      His passion for running and knowledge of the running shoe business go deep.⁠

      ⁠

      Having worked at Nike, Asics, Newton, and 361 for a total of 16 years, it's no surprise he knows the running business inside out.⁠

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      But it's Jurian's personal connection to running where 4T2, his new running brand, comes alive.⁠

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      "Gone running" was born from his love to just "get lost" and "be outher there running". Nothing more nothing less.⁠

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      Leaving the safe corporate environment behind after a 25-year career for the high-risk start-up space makes this an inspiring conversation for anyone aspiring to live on his/her own terms.⁠

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      We talk about how the 4T2 brand came into being, what it takes to start a brand in such saturated market, and how they're manifesting the 4T2 vision.⁠

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      The best way to connect to Jurian and 4T2 is on IG @jurianelstgeest and @4t2.run.⁠

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      Enjoy!⁠

      2 hr 24 min
    • Dimitri Antonissen: finding time to run, far-out goals, the boombox, and why running is a teamsport
      Dimitri, poet, journalist, runner, captain in the Antwerp Running Crew (ARC), and overall radiant human being.
      He got into running 14 years ago and has run 2 marathons a year for the past 12. He went from finishing his first in over 5 hours to now shooting to run a sub 3.
      But even though this is an inspirational transformation, it's hardly what running is about for Dimitri.
      We talk about what running means to him, the power of setting unreasonable goals, how he finds time to run, the infamous ARC boombox, and why running is a team sport.
      The best way to connect to Dimitri and what he does @dimitri_antonissen on Instagram.
      Enjoy the episode and let us know what sticks in the comments below :)!
      2 hr 4 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.