374. The Runner Behind ‘Runher’: Ashley Mateo Talks Creating a Women’s Running Magazine, Lessons From Injury & The Perks Of Getting Uncomfortable

Hurdle with Emily Abbate

iHeartPodcasts

Health & Fitness

5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 24 September 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

For years, veteran journalist and run coach Ashley Mateo was sitting on an idea to start a meaningful print publication covering all things women’s running—including meaningful stories and features. This week, that publication comes to life. In today’s episode of Hurdle, Mateo is talking about stepping outside of her comfort zone to start the publication from scratch, and what it took to bring the idea to life. Plus: What she’s learned from her own experience on the run, how injury has been one of her biggest teachers, and how she defines success now that Runher is in the wild.

IN THIS EPISODE

(5:08) The true inspiration behind starting Runher

(8:06) How creating a print magazine is different today than at the beginning of her career

(11:47) The hat that was most enjoyable for Ashley to wear in the creation of this magazine

(16:16) Ashley talks about the mental benefits that the sport of running has brought her

(21:00) What running 17 marathons has taught Ashley about life

(22:30) The tools that empower Ashley to keep the blinders on and focus on her own athlete journey, rather than falling into the comparison trap

(30:20) What a difficult injury taught Ashley about the importance of listening to her body

(35:25) How Ashley felt about pulling out of a race she had on the calendar this fall

(39:15) What Ashley thinks the impact of Runher can be in the media landscape

(45:00) How running clubs can be a helpful tool on your running journey

(52:40) How does Ashley celebrate her big wins, and what she anticipates it to look and feel like this time around

SOCIAL@ashleymateo

@emilyabbate

@hurdlepodcast

@runhermag

AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠ to get a free welcome kit (valued at $75) with 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of D3K2 with your purchase of AG1 next gen.

JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email [email protected] to ask me a question!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I kept kind of waiting for it.
0:02.3	And then I was like, well, if nobody else is going to do it, I'm going to do it.
0:20.6	Hey, everybody, Emily Abadi here. You are listening to Episode 374 of Hurtle, a wellness-focused podcast where I talk to inspirational people about everything from their highest ties and toughest moments to essential tips on how to live, a healthier, happier, more motivated life. We all go through our fair share
0:39.3	of hurdles. My goal through these discussions is to empower you to better navigate yours and move
0:44.8	with intention so that you can stride toward your own big potential. And of course, have some fun
0:50.6	along the way. She is back in Brooklyn, baby. I'm back with a special Wednesday
0:56.4	release of the show featuring a conversation with my good friend, editor-in-chief of the
1:02.3	new runner magazine, Ashley Mateo. Ashley and I have been running in the same circles for years now,
1:09.5	both coming up in media together here
1:11.8	in New York. Now, based in Colorado, Ashley is the founder behind the magazine dedicated to all
1:18.3	things women's running, and that is called Runner, R-U-N-H-E-R. Today, we're talking about where the
1:26.3	idea came from and how she decided it was finally
1:29.4	time to step outside of her comfort zone and create a new magazine from scratch.
1:35.9	We discussed her media background, the issues, if you will, that are going on within the
1:40.9	space today, and wrap about her personal running journey. She's run 17 marathons.
1:46.2	She's dealt with her fair share of injuries and we talk about how persevering through those
1:52.3	hurdles has made her more resilient today. Of note, the inaugural issue of Runner is currently on its way to mailboxes around the globe.
2:04.2	However, if you want to get in on the action, it is not too late.
2:08.6	The link to get your first copy and sign up for a subscription is in the show notes.
2:14.9	Make sure you're following along with Hurtle over on social. It's at Hurtle podcast.
2:18.8	I'm over at Emily Abadi. And with that, let's get to it. Let's get to Hurtling.
2:28.3	Today, I am sitting down with Ashley Mateo. She is the editor-in-chief of Runner Magazine.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from iHeartPodcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of iHeartPodcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.