The Amateur Athlete Diaries

Amateur Athlete Diaries
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This is a podcast dedicated to exploring the real-life journeys of athletes who balance their passion for sport with the demands of work, family, and everyday responsibilities. Through honest conversations and shared experiences, we create conversations for like-minded individuals to listen in, connect, reflect, and feel heard. We don’t prescribe, preach, or promote; we simply tell the stories of those grinding in the grey area between ambition and real life.

  1. European Champion at 38: Training Like a Pro as an Amateur Athlete | S2 Ep10 | Damaine Benjamin

    2H AGO

    European Champion at 38: Training Like a Pro as an Amateur Athlete | S2 Ep10 | Damaine Benjamin

    This is The Amateur Athlete Diaries. Listen in to learn, connect, and hear stories from those performing in their sport whilst balancing work and life. In this episode, I sit down with Damaine Benjamin. A European Masters Champion in the 400m hurdles, sports massage therapist, coach, father of two, and full-time working athlete. He trains five to six days a week. He funds his own competitions. He even coaches himself. And at 38 years old, he became European Champion. But this conversation shows the far from plain sailing path to a gold medal. We discuss: - Growing up competing in Jamaica’s ultra-competitive athletics system - Sleeping on campus and training at night when access was restricted - Quitting athletics entirely and playing Sunday league football - Returning overweight and out of shape in 2015 - Injuries, setbacks, being told he was “getting old” - Learning to reduce volume and train smarter, not harder - Winning European gold while thinking about how it would grow his business - Why Masters athletics is more competitive than ever - And what it truly means to be an Amateur Athlete Damaine opens up about discipline, identity, community, self-coaching, social media, and why he believes speed is everything, even in life outside the track. He also shares insights from his experience as a coach: - Why most 400m runners train endurance when they should train speed - How periodisation changed his career in his late 30s - The realities of self-funding international competition Listen in and hear about what it took to reach European Gold at 38.

    1 hr
  2. When Life Falls Apart, Discipline Shows Up | Keaton Loader | Boxer | S2 Ep9

    FEB 9

    When Life Falls Apart, Discipline Shows Up | Keaton Loader | Boxer | S2 Ep9

    What happens when everything in your life starts to fall apart but you still have a date circled in the calendar? The latest episode of The Amateur Athlete Diaries is from my conversation with Keaton Loader back in November. We discuss how discipline is forged in difficult moments, the power of having a goal, and why boxing goes beyond sport to influence other areas of life. We talk about: Training through sadness, depression, and uncertainty Why discipline only reveals itself when life gets hard The balance between pushing yourself and listening to your body Boxing as both a lonely & deeply communal sport Learning to celebrate wins and not just chase the next goal How purpose, routine, and environment can pull you forward This is a conversation about sport, yes but an underlying message throughout centres on identity, resilience, and finding structure when things life gets out of control. Boxer or not, Keaton's story has elements many of us will be able to relate to. Listen in now and let us know your thoughts! MyFitPod supported this episode.MyFitPod is your own private gym. No waiting. No crowds. No gym-timidation. Just you — training on your terms.Check it out here: https://myfitpod.co.uk

    1h 8m
  3. You Are Not Your Sport: Injuries, Identity & Chasing Big Goals | Tom Chandler | S2 Ep8

    FEB 2

    You Are Not Your Sport: Injuries, Identity & Chasing Big Goals | Tom Chandler | S2 Ep8

    What happens when the thing you love most is taken away from you? In this episode, I sit down with Scottish decathlete, Tom Chandler, who is fresh off winning the South of England Combined Events. We talk about injuries, identity, pressure, and what it means to persist when sport stops becomes less one dimensional. After three knee operations, Tom opens up about how injury forced him to confront who he was beyond being an athlete; and why that process ultimately made him stronger, more grounded, and more patient in chasing big goals. We talk about: - Losing your identity when sport is taken away - Why injuries can be the most powerful (and brutal) teachers of lessons - Competing across two days in the decathlon and managing emotions under pressure - Being process-driven as an amateur athlete with real-world responsibilities - Why “you are not your sport” doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter This is conversation dives into perspectives, resilience, and what it takes to stay in the game, even when that path isn’t linear.

    1h 35m
  4. BONUS EPISODE | Kyle Matthews Q&A Post-Perimeter Run of Britain

    JAN 27 · BONUS

    BONUS EPISODE | Kyle Matthews Q&A Post-Perimeter Run of Britain

    Something a little different here... We quizzed Kyle on some questions you may be wondering after hearing about his 3,000+ mile run around the perimeter of Britain. Question 1: How Much Did You Spend? Question 2: How Much Did A Search For Meaning & Purpose Influence Your Decision To Take On This Challenge? Question 3: What Has Your Recovery Been Like Since Finishing? Question 4: What Was The Reaction From Friends & Family To Doing This Challenge? Let us know what you think and if you'd like to see more of this sort of content!

    12 min
  5. Running 4 Miles Every 4 Hours for 48 Hours | Katie Williams’ 4x4x48 | S2 Ep7

    JAN 19

    Running 4 Miles Every 4 Hours for 48 Hours | Katie Williams’ 4x4x48 | S2 Ep7

    Running 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours sounds simple on paper but sleep deprivation, fueling mistakes, and mental fatigue make it considerably harder in practise. In this episode of The Amateur Athlete Diaries, I’m joined by Katie Williams to unpack her experience taking on the 4x4x48 challenge, a brutal endurance test that became less about running fitness and more about mindset, recovery, and self-belief. Katie shares: - Why she decided to take on the 4x4x48 just weeks after a 50km ultra - What the challenge felt like between midnight treadmill runs and minimal sleep - The mistakes she made with fueling and recovery, and what she’d do differently - How sleep deprivation affected her body and nervous system- Why endurance challenges are as much about identity as they are performance We also zoom out to explore how the challenge fits into her wider training life; balancing ultrarunning with powerlifting, learning when to pull back, and discovering how far you can go when the goal becomes simply showing up again. This episode is a unfiltered look at endurance culture, pushing limits, and what Amateur Athletes can learn from doing something deliberately uncomfortable, without necessarily chasing perfection. MyFitPod supported this episode. MyFitPod is your own private gym. No waiting. No crowds. No gym-timidation. Just you — training on your terms. Check it out here: https://myfitpod.co.uk/pages/my-fit-pod-basingstoke

    1h 4m
  6. NEW AUDIO: The Story of Solo Running Perimeter Of Britain | Kyle Matthews aka The Milky Runner

    JAN 10

    NEW AUDIO: The Story of Solo Running Perimeter Of Britain | Kyle Matthews aka The Milky Runner

    Running thousands of miles sounds extreme, and it is, but for Kyle it was necessary and fuelled by nothing other than a delusional level of self belief.In this conversation, I speak with why The Milky Runner, just a normal guy working as a chef came to take on, and complete, such an impressive feat. Kyle talks honestly about what it took to keep going when the novelty wears off, injuries hit and motivation was low. Being homeless for a period of time, Kyle has faced his fair share of battles in life and took on this challenge on a personal mission but also in support of Family Action who help parents, children and families of all types. Mr Matthews speaks with great humility and assurance of what he has achieved, but also with confidence and optimism of what is now to come.Something tells me this is just the begining for him. So whilst this may sound like a 'nutty' challenge, I assure you there is plenty to Kyle's story that many of us can relate; specifically the times he has dedicated to meal deal choices.Enjoy my conversation with The Milky Runner, The Unofficial Youngest Person To Solo Run The Perimeter of Britain.This episode was very kindly support by Fit Box in Brighton. Fit Box is a functional training platform that consists of outstanding classes run by there master trainers.They bring a unique fitness environment to the local community, combining state-of-the-art connected gym equipment with an unrivalled class offering, and a team of motivating personal trainers. They even an official Hyrox gym!Check them out here: https://thefitboxgroup.co.uk/

    1h 20m
  7. "I Said I’d Do It, So I Had No Choice" The Milky Runner On His Over 3,000 Mile Solo Perimeter Run of Britain

    JAN 5

    "I Said I’d Do It, So I Had No Choice" The Milky Runner On His Over 3,000 Mile Solo Perimeter Run of Britain

    Running thousands of miles sounds extreme, and it is, but for Kyle it was necessary and fuelled by nothing other than a delusional level of self belief. In this conversation, I speak with why The Milky Runner, just a normal guy working as a chef came to take on, and complete, such an impressive feat. Kyle talks honestly about what it took to keep going when the novelty wears off, injuries hit and motivation was low. Being homeless for a period of time, Kyle has faced his fair share of battles in life and took on this challenge on a personal mission but also in support of Family Action who help parents, children and families of all types. Mr Matthews speaks with great humility and assurance of what he has achieved, but also with confidence and optimism of what is now to come. Something tells me this is just the begining for him. So whilst this may sound like a 'nutty' challenge, I assure you there is plenty to Kyle's story that many of us can relate; specifically the times he has dedicated to meal deal choices. Enjoy my conversation with The Milky Runner, The Unofficial Youngest Person To Solo Run The Perimeter of Britain. This episode was very kindly support by Fit Box in Brighton. Fit Box is a functional training platform that consists of outstanding classes run by there master trainers. They bring a unique fitness environment to the local community, combining state-of-the-art connected gym equipment with an unrivalled class offering, and a team of motivating personal trainers. They even an official Hyrox gym!

    1h 20m
  8. What Ironman Taught Rose About Discipline, Identity and Letting Go | S2 Ep5

    12/29/2025

    What Ironman Taught Rose About Discipline, Identity and Letting Go | S2 Ep5

    What happens when you achieve something huge…and it doesn’t feel how you expected?In this episode, Rose Landreth reflects on completing her first Ironman and why crossing the finish line didn’t bring the emotional high so many athletes talk about.Beyond this we discuss the reality of endurance sport, diving into the the mental discipline required, the sacrifice to work and relationships, the cost of commitment, and how identity can become so closely tied to training.If you're thinking about taking on a big goal, navigating your relationship with training and racing or even just interested in what triathlon really entails, this is for you!MyFitPod supported this episode. MyFitPod is your own private gym. No waiting. No crowds. No gym-timidation. Just you — training on your terms. Check it out here: https://myfitpod.co.uk/pages/my-fit-pod-basingstoke

    1h 10m
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About

This is a podcast dedicated to exploring the real-life journeys of athletes who balance their passion for sport with the demands of work, family, and everyday responsibilities. Through honest conversations and shared experiences, we create conversations for like-minded individuals to listen in, connect, reflect, and feel heard. We don’t prescribe, preach, or promote; we simply tell the stories of those grinding in the grey area between ambition and real life.

Information

  • Creator
    Amateur Athlete Diaries
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Amateur Athlete Diaries
  • Show Website
    The Amateur Athlete Diaries