The ZenRUN Podcast

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Astrid Volzke — runner, photographer, professional stickybeak, and the official photographer behind so many of the iconic images from Delirious West.

If you’ve ever run Delirious, followed the event online, or changed your Facebook profile photo to one of those stunning trail-running shots, chances are Astrid was behind the camera.

But this chat isn’t just about photography.

Astrid shares her story of growing up in Singapore, moving to Western Australia, camping adventures with her family, finding her way into photography, and ev...

Welcome to the next episode in the 2026 Melbourne Frontyard Ultra Mini-Series on the ZenRUN Podcast.

This series follows a handful of athletes through their actual Melbourne Frontyard Ultra journey - not just the polished version after the event, but the little check-ins along the way. The tired bits. The funny bits. The snack updates. The “what on earth am I doing?” moments. And eventually, the wrap-up chat when their race is done.

In this episode, we’re following the wonderful Nagiska Mayes.

And this one has heart. A lot of heart.

Nagisk...

This week’s mindful moment is a powerful reset: do one thing in slow motion. Choose a simple, everyday action - making your coffee, tying your shoes, closing the car door - and deliberately slow it right down. Slower than feels natural. As you move, notice each step involved, the movement of your hands, your breath, your posture. It’s amazing how much we rush without even realising.

By slowing just one thing, you create a small pocket of awareness where time feels like it stretches… just a little. And in that space, you reconnect with yourself. No ext...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Peta Moore - wildlife lover, ultra runner, Perth Zoo vet nurse, trail adventurer, and fellow member of the 2026 Delirious West DNF crew.

Peta’s story starts in a small coal mining town in Central Queensland, where she definitely did not grow up thinking she was sporty. There was a bit of T-ball, some Highland dancing, a serious Muay Thai phase, and eventually a life built around animals, wildlife, conservation, and the odd capybara obsession.

From wildlife biology to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, bear re...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with Chris Atkinson - teacher, lifelong runner, trail lover, proud New Zealander, Cairns local… and the 2026 Delirious West 200 miler winner.

Chris and I met at Delirious West this year, and I loved having the chance to sit down properly and hear more about his running journey, his life, and what led him to take on his very first 200-mile race.

We start right back at the beginning, with Chris growing up in a tiny town at the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island, where running, rugb...

This week’s mindful moment brings your attention right down to the foundation of your movement: wake up your ankles. Before you head out for a run, a walk, or even just start your day, take a minute to gently circle each ankle. Move slowly, without forcing anything—just explore the range. Notice what feels smooth, what feels tight, and how each direction differs. Then switch sides.

Your ankles quietly do a huge amount of work every single day, especially when you’re running, and this simple check-in is a way to reconnect and support them. When you st...

Welcome to the first episode in our brand-new 2026 Melbourne Frontyard Ultra Mini-Series on the ZenRUN Podcast.

This series is a little different from our usual runner interviews. I was over at Melbourne Frontyard Ultra as one of the race directors, and while I was there, I followed a handful of athletes through their event - quick check-ins before the race, during the yards, in the tired middle-of-the-night moments, and then again after their race was done.

And first up, we’re following the amazing Margie Hadley.

Margie came into Melbourne Frontyard Ultra with a...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I sit down with the incredibly warm, thoughtful and inspiring Juan Pablo Rodriguez - better known as JP - to chat about his journey from Mexico to Australia, his experience at Delirious WEST, and the deeper meaning he’s finding through running, movement and adventure.

What started as a race recap quickly turned into one of those beautiful conversations that goes far beyond running.

JP shares what it felt like taking on the Delirious 200 Miler, the emotional highs and lows of the event, and why the experience left su...

In this Delirious WEST 2026 athlete wrap-up episode, I’m chatting with the fabulous Bianca O’Neill about her 100-mile adventure - and honestly, this one has a bit of everything.

Bianca takes us through her race from the slightly questionable pre-race preparation of champagne, beach walks and buying far too much food, through to the night start, the Monkey Rock “zombie train”, emotional moments on the trail, aid station chaos, freezing cold naps that didn’t quite happen, and the beautiful final stretch into Albany.

This year was extra special because Bianca ran alongside her mum, Sue...

This week’s mindful moment is a gentle invitation to soften: turn your palms up and pause. Wherever you are - sitting, standing, or lying down - simply rotate your hands so your palms face upward. Then pause. Take a slow breath in… and out. Notice how this small shift changes the feeling in your body. Palms up is an open, receptive position - it’s the opposite of gripping, bracing, or holding on.

So often we move through the day with subtle tension in our hands and body without even realising it. This tiny adjustment can signal...

In this Delirious WEST 2026 wrap-up episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I catch up with the incredibly honest and resilient Eve Knudson after her 100-mile adventure through the wild coastline, sand, sleep deprivation and emotional rollercoaster that is Delirious WEST. 

This conversation is raw in the best possible way.

Eve shares what it was really like tackling the 100-miler after previously completing the 200-mile event - and surprisingly, she found the shorter distance mentally tougher. From brutal Monkey Rocks climbs in the dark, dirt naps on sandy 4WD tracks, painful feet and missing aid station beds… thr...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I catch up with the very entertaining, very thoughtful, and very honest Warren Page after his first ever Delirious WEST 100-mile finish. 

Warren came into the race with a meticulous training plan, a sports nutrition background, a huge support crew… and absolutely no idea just how much the event would challenge him mentally and emotionally. What unfolds is an incredible story of resilience, self-discovery, hallucinations, dirt naps, near-snake disasters, frozen aid stations, soul brothers on trail, and learning that sometimes the biggest battle isn’t your body… it’s your own expec...

In this very special Delirious WEST 2026 wrap-party episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, a whole bunch of us jumped onto Zoom together to unpack the adventure that was Delirious this year… and honestly, it felt a bit like therapy mixed with sleep deprivation and ultra runner chaos 😄

Joining me for this relaxed and very real conversation are:

Sadly, Kylie Bell, Bianca and Karin Ridley (may have messed up the time zone 🥹 ) , couldn’t make the call - but they were absolutely...

This week’s mindful moment is all about softening how you move: glide through one part of your day.

Choose a simple moment—walking down the hallway, heading to your car, or moving around the kitchen—and instead of rushing, ease into it. Let your steps feel smooth, your arms relaxed, your body a little softer. Not exaggerated… just less sharp, less hurried. As you do, notice what shifts. Does your breath slow? Do your shoulders drop?

This gentle change in movement sends a powerful signal to your body: there’s no rush, you’re okay. It’s a...

In this Delirious WEST 2026 wrap-up episode, I’m joined once again by the wonderful Karin Ridley, fresh from completing the 200 miler and earning her second Delirious plugger - which officially makes her a double plugger! 🤸‍♀️

And oh my goodness, this episode is such a brilliant mix of everything that makes Delirious so special - the nerves, the community, the ridiculous moments, the tears, the food, the blisters, the crew chaos, the beach sections that go forever, and the tiny little moments that somehow keep you moving when everything hurts.

Karin takes us right back to the start l...

In this Delirious W.E.S.T 2026 athlete wrap-up episode, I catch up with the wonderfully tough, funny and no-nonsense Sym Mercer after her 200-mile adventure.
Sym had a chilled drive across the Nullarbor - complete with a very questionable golf performance along the way - and arrived at Delirious ready to finally get moving after months of build-up, planning, podcast check-ins and travel.
But, as we all know, 200-mile events rarely go exactly to plan.
Early in the race, Sym’s pack wasn’t sitting quite right, then a couple of unlucky battles with sticks jarr...

In this Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026 athlete wrap-up episode, I catch up with Matthew Farrand after his huge journey from London to Western Australia to take on the 200 miler.

And what a journey it was.

Matthew arrived from the other side of the world, dealt with jet lag, pre-race nerves, cold nights, rain, tracker issues, tired legs, sore knees, sleep deprivation, and the small matter of trying to keep moving for more than 100 hours.

As Matthew says in this episode, Delirious doesn’t really feel like four days. It feels like one ve...

This week’s mindful moment is beautifully simple: do something small with total attention. Choose one everyday task—zipping your jacket, peeling a mandarin, tying your shoes—and give it 100% of your awareness. Slow it down. Feel each movement. Notice the sounds, textures, even the subtle shifts in your breath. Let the task become a ritual instead of just another thing to get through.

This is how we practise presence in real life—not in perfect silence, but in the middle of ordinary moments. Because mindfulness isn’t about adding more to your day. It’s about noticing the...

In this Delirious 2026 wrap-up episode, I catch up with Gabe Alves after his huge 200-mile finish - and what a journey this has been.

After two previous attempts at Delirious, Gabe came back for round three with one mission: get to that finish line. And in true Gabe style, he didn’t just train for it - he absolutely scienced the heck out of it.

We talk about the chaos before the race even started, including a campervan “upgrade” held together with duct tape, gaffer tape and hope. We also dive into Gabe’s race from the...

In this Delirious WEST 2026 wrap-up episode, I catch up with Ben Pyman after his 100-mile adventure - and what a run he had.

Ben takes us right back to the start line in Walpole, the nervous energy, the familiar faces, the late-night race briefing, and that feeling of finally being let loose into the dark. From there, we follow him through the beautiful, brutal, hilarious and slightly ridiculous journey that is Delirious WEST.

There’s the early buzz of running with others, meeting fellow podcast guests Warren Page and Jason, the stunning sections through Conspicuous Cl...

In this Delirious WEST 2026 wrap-up episode, I catch up with Kylie Bell after her 100-mile adventure - and as always, Kylie brings such a calm, honest and experienced perspective to the conversation.

Kylie has done plenty of big ultras before, but this year surprised her in one very specific way: she got properly tired. Not just “ultra tired” but weaving-on-the-trail, seeing-smiley-faces-in-rocks, cupboards-and-benches-in-the-bushes tired. 😄

We talk about the moment she decided to let go of the “I don’t nap in 100 milers” ego, take a 10-minute sleep at Cosy Corner, have a coffee and toastie, and get herself b...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to slow down inside a stretch. Instead of rushing through your usual routine, choose one simple stretch—after a run, when you wake up, or anytime during the day—and hold it a little longer than usual. Not to force it. Not to chase flexibility. Just to breathe. As you stay there, notice what shifts. What feels tight? What softens? What feels surprisingly good? Let your body guide the depth and the release.

This practice isn’t about performance—it’s about presence. When you hold a stretch with curiosity and kindness...

What happens when a mother and daughter take on one of Australia’s wildest ultramarathon adventures together… and get interviewed about it by one of their fellow Delirious athletes?

In this very special wrap-up episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, Ben Pyman jumps into the host chair and chats with Michelle Frost and Nikki Frost about their experience tackling the Delirious West 200-miler side by side.

This conversation is full of everything that makes these events so unforgettable - the laughs, the planning, the sleep deprivation, the hallucinations, the community, the crew chaos, the deep lows, the...

In this week’s mindful moment, we turn everyday doorways into tiny reset buttons. Pause at the threshold. Each time you walk through a doorway today - at home, at work, even into the fridge for a snack - stop for just a second. Feel your feet on the ground. Notice your breath. Become aware of the shift from one space to another.

This small act transforms a mindless transition into an intentional one. Doorways are thresholds - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. Let them remind you that you can reset your attention and st...

What happens when a kid who just wanted a motorbike ends up falling in love with endurance sport instead?

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with Rick Prince, founder of UESCA (https://uesca.com/) - the organisation where I completed my Ultra Running Coach Certification last year. Rick shares the story of how a cool red cycling helmet, a job in a local bike shop, and a love of being outside helped shape a lifelong passion for endurance sport. 

We talk about Rick’s early years growing up in Pennsylvania, racing bikes ser...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to slow down with something beautifully simple: watch a candle flicker. Light a candle and sit quietly for a few minutes, letting your attention rest on the gentle movement of the flame. Notice how it responds to the air, how it dances and steadies. You can let your breath soften to match its rhythm, or simply observe without trying to control anything. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the flame.

There’s something almost hypnotic about this practice—it draws you into the present moment without effort. No com...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Faith Raymond - ultra runner, coach, lifelong animal lover, and the trainer who played such a big role in my own UESCA ultra running coach certification journey. Faith shares her fascinating path from growing up in a tiny town in Massachusetts, to working with horses and veterinarians, to starting college later in life, earning a master’s in oceanography, and then unexpectedly finding running after a tornado devastated her hometown and inspired a community fundraising 5K. That one event changed everything. 

We talk about how Fai...

This week’s mindful moment is beautifully simple and deeply grounding: trace your hand with your breath. Place one hand palm-up and slowly trace the outline of each finger with the index finger of your other hand. Inhale as you move up a finger, exhale as you move down. Continue around your whole hand, then switch sides.

This tactile practice gently links breath and body, giving your mind something steady to focus on. It’s especially helpful when your thoughts feel busy or scattered. In just a few slow breaths, you can come back to centre—using nothin...

In this Check-In 6 episode of the Delirious WEST 2026 series, I chat with Eve Knudson just two weeks out from the big event. Eve shares how her final training block has gone - including a tough 32km end-to-end where water ran out before the cafe stop, a slow and steady heritage marathon effort, and the deep fatigue that seems to arrive right on cue when taper begins. She talks about testing her full race pack, finding a vest that finally feels like a second skin, and learning that some of the hardest training days are often the most valuable.    

We are getting very close to the Delirious WEST 2026 start line, and in this check-in Ben Pyman is sounding calm, thoughtful and ready to get on with it. We chat about his biggest theme this year - consistency - and how a solid stretch of steady training has given him confidence heading into race day. Ben shares how his taper is unfolding, what he’s learned from last year, and how he’s keeping things simple with self-crewed drop bags, careful caffeine planning and a very practical approach to race prep. There’s also plenty of classic ultra chat - nipp...

In this Delirious 2026 athlete check-in, I catch up with Matthew Farrand as the start line gets very, very close. And wow - life is definitely not slowing down for him. Between peak training, a knee niggle, putting the house on the market, solo parenting part of the week, and all the chaos that comes with normal life, Matthew has had plenty going on. But as we know… sometimes all the messy, challenging stuff is just part of the training too. 

We chat about the injury that forced him to back off at the right time, how he han...

This week’s mindful moment is a gentle reset for modern life: take a mindful micro-break from your screen. If you’re spending hours at a computer or on your phone, set a simple cue to pause every hour. Look away from the screen. Stand up. Stretch your arms, roll your shoulders, and take three long, steady breaths. It only takes 30–60 seconds, but it gives your nervous system a chance to recalibrate.
This isn’t slacking off—it’s smart self-regulation. Presence fuels productivity far more than pressure ever will. A tiny pause can bring you back to clarity, ene...

Karin Ridley is just 3 weeks out from the Delirious start line, and this check-in has a bit of everything - red dirt, FIFO life, physio wins, date nights, beer laps, and a whole lot of determination. Karin shares what it’s been like starting a new job in the Pilbara while still trying to train, including 2:30am wake-ups, hot evening walk-runs in 38 degrees, and finding a routine that actually works. She also gives a great update on her injury recovery, with the exciting news that her physio has basically “broken up” with her because she’s doing so well. 

Th...

In this Delirious 2026 athlete check-in, I catch up with Gabe Alves with just four weeks to go until the big dance - and as always, Gabe brings the perfect mix of thoughtful insight, calm perspective and delightfully nerdy stats. This time we dive into his fascinating experiment with continuous glucose and ketone monitoring, where he shares what he learned about food, focus, fatigue, exercise and even how mentally demanding work can create a response similar to a hard run. It’s a brilliant reminder that no two bodies are the same, and that understanding your own body might just be...

This week’s mindful moment is beautifully simple and surprisingly powerful: speak one sentence slowly. Choose a sentence—like “I have time to breathe”- and say it aloud with intention. Pause between each word. Feel how the sound vibrates in your body and how your breath naturally steadies as you slow down. We often rush our words when our minds are racing, but your voice can become a tool to calm your nervous system.

Whether you try it before a meeting, in the car, or while doing the dishes, this small practice can shift your whole state. S...

In this fifth Delirious 2026 check-in, Sym Mercer joins me fresh off a very eventful few days - including flood-affected roads, an unexpected overnight stop, and arriving home just in time for our chat. As always, Sym takes it all in her stride. We talk about her latest training block, racing at Hell of the West, dealing with heat, humidity, and a lingering injury that thankfully isn’t stopping her moving forward.

There’s also plenty of classic Sym humour in this one - from her poor damaged bike, to retirement from swimming, to practical race wisdom like not...

With Delirious WEST 2026 getting very close, Bianca O’Neill is back for Check-In 4 - and while she says she “hasn’t done much,” that turns out to be very untrue 😄

In this chat, Bianca shares how her Sandman 50K didn’t quite go to plan, with a sore knee turning the final 10K into a very determined fast walk… but thankfully with no lasting damage. From there, it’s been a full month of adventure, including family time in Albury-Wodonga, parkrun, beach hiking, a girls’ trip to the Stirling Ranges, and a sunrise mission up Bluff Knoll after a 3am alarm a...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to slow down during an everyday transition: dry yourself mindfully. After your next shower or bath, take an extra minute to truly notice the experience. Feel the towel against your skin, the contrast between cool air and warmth, and the gentle movements of your body as you reach different areas. Instead of rushing through, let this be a full-body check-in.

There’s something deeply grounding about caring for your body in this fresh, in-between state—clean, awake, renewed. When you bring presence to this simple ritual, it can shift from routin...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I catch up again with Delirious WEST 2026 athlete Nikki Frost as we enter the final stretch before the start line.

And as you’ll hear… the last few weeks haven’t exactly gone to plan.

Nikki has been managing a stubborn ITB injury, juggling moving house, searching for a new gym in Melbourne, and figuring out how to keep training without making things worse. The good news? The injury is improving — but it has meant missing events like Gone Nuts 75K, which brought a fair bit of FOMO along wi...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I catch up with Delirious WEST athlete Kylie Bell as the countdown to the start line gets very real.

Kylie has just returned from an incredible two-week holiday in Japan — complete with runs around Lake Fuji, cooking classes, and some very adventurous food choices (including puffer fish… which she only realised after eating it!). 

With around a month to go until the race, Kylie is shifting from holiday mode back into race mode. The training might not have been perfect over the last couple of weeks, but like many...