Dasher of the Month courtesy of Simon Smith
This month’s star Dasher is our flying Dutchwoman, Emma Houterman. Emma is a regular with the fell running group on club nights and a keen helper with entries and results for club races. Enjoy
February 2025 Emma Houterman
1. Do you have a nickname?
Not that I am aware of. My parents used to call me MC Hammer, but that is just because I was born in the 80s and Emsie sounds like MC, I think. Although big trousers are back in fashion again, we could revive it…
2. What is your favourite piece of running kit/equipment?
I am afraid I have a problem. I am addicted to running shoes, waterproof jackets and funky leggings. However, I think like most women out there, any legging with a high waist, they are the best invention since sliced bread
3. What is your favourite race and why?
I love the fell races. The atmosphere is unlike any other sport.
4. Any PBs that you are most proud of? (race or distance)
I am really proud of finishing the Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace. It was the same year I did the Marathon du Mont Blanc and I thought, given that it is shorter and has less elevation in it, I would be fine. It turned out that they had misjudged the elevation and running in Scotland is so much more technical than it is in the Alps, so it actually took me longer to finish and I was beyond grateful that I had brought my running poles.
I am also very proud of having run my 5km PB of 23:22 in the Zuiderpark Park Run in The Hague. I never thought I would reach a PB at my age. Plus, with my asthma, I have to be careful not to push myself too hard. There are so many English people in The Hague who do this parkrun, as there aren’t many Z Parkruns around.
Lastly, I finished 2nd overall in the stage race of Cairo to Cape Town in 2016 – that was 12,000km over 90 cycling days.
5. What has been your worst running injury?
During Covid I tried a few new things, like parapenting. It turned out I wasn’t very good at parapenting and fortunately did not get an injury from my face landings, but I did hurt my ankle something fierce. I didn’t go to hospital given Covid, but I was unable to run for at least 3 months and needed poles for a while.
6. Improving Dasher to keep an eye on?
I am unsure about newbies, but I am a big fan of Linda Coffey. She keeps showing up and killing it. She won the trail running champs in 2023 through consistency!
7. Where is the most exotic place that you have ever been for a run?
I have travelled a lot through my work in International Development Finance. However, not all locations lend themselves to go running – my last trip I went to Dakar, Senegal in West Africa and had a lovely run along the coast. I did also cycle from Cairo to Cape Town and have climbed a few hills in Nepal, Pakistan and Tanzania.
8. Highlight of your running career so far
I was well proud to finish the Ultra Tour de Monta Rosa in 2023. It is the stage race where you run 177km and 12,000m of ascent in 4 days. The Monte Rosa Massif is gorgeous, and I prefer not to run through the night but eat pizza and have a good sleep instead. Each day was over marathon distance, and you had to finish it within the cut-offs, which meant I really had to push myself.
9. Any hobbies we don’t know about?
I like having the basic fitness to be able to do all sorts. Cycling has always been my first sport, on and off road. Yoga is my way of staying as injury free as I can. During Covid I even started giving online classes. I love climbing, mountaineering, and I used to do triathlons. However, I never really took to swimming, for me it was more like not drowning before you get to have a ride on your bike and a run. On the other side, I would also very happily sit down and read a book.
10. Interesting fact about yourself
When I was little, we lived in a wild park reserve in Rwanda, Africa. My sister was even born there.
11. Most interesting job (past or present)
I started my career in Finance. However, after my trip through Africa, I decided I wanted to do something with a more positive impact. I then moved to Development Finance, where I made investments with an impact goal, whether that was poverty reduction, inclusion or climate. Since July last year, I started to work for a clean tech company that builds platforms for floating solar energy at sea. I love that this is a solution with minimal impact on marine life, letting sun and air through to the sea and that it can be recycled at the end of its life cycle, because it is made out of aluminium.
12. Dashers you admire and why
Claire Davies – how she finds the time to run with her busy life, I don’t know, but I am grateful that she does!
Iain Asher – because he keeps showing up even when he has injuries, plus he’s nice enough to wait for me
Mick Wilding – because no matter how gnarly the conditions are, he smiles like he has just found a pot of gold.
13. Any future running ambition?
I haven’t entered any running races. This year, my focus will be on completing my International Mountain Leader qualification and to participate in the Silk Road Mountain Race, a 2000km self-supported off-road race through Kyrgyzstan. I am going to be honest with you, that one was Paul’s idea .
14. Favourite song on your playlist to run to?
I don’t listen to music when I run. I use my time outside to connect back into my body and find the peace to enjoy my surroundings.
15. Which person, past or present, would you most like to run with?
David Attenborough. I have always wanted to meet him, plus I am fairly confident I can keep up.
16. Best thing about the Darwen Dashers
The community. I am from the Netherlands and I moved to Lancashire for love. It isn’t always easy to make friends in new places, but I have been very warmly welcomed and have found great friends through the Dashers.
17. Any running (or other) superstitions?
No superstitions, just buy new shoes when they are worn – you need to look after your feet!
18. Your perfect, indulgent, post run meal
Ooohhh cake, yes definitely cake: carrot cake, brownies, flapjack, cheese cake. Or cheese, if you have had a long race with a lot of sweet stuff to fuel you on the way, then you can’t beat cheese!
19. One piece of advice for a new runner
Don’t worry about speed or distance, just go outside and enjoy yourself!
20. Sum yourself up in 5 words
Enthusiastic for outside adventures together.
