The ZenRUN Podcast

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...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with Jason Phillips – a runner whose journey into endurance running has been shaped by resilience, adventure, and some deeply personal challenges.

Jason grew up in a sailing family near Newcastle in New South Wales. Boats, windsurfing, and life around the water were a huge part of his childhood. Running, on the other hand… not so much. In fact, as a kid he was a sprinter and absolutely hated cross-country running.

Fast forward a few decades and Jason has found himself drawn to longer distances and big adve...

This week’s mindful moment is beautifully simple: fold something slowly. Whether it’s a towel, a t-shirt, or even a napkin, take your time. Notice how your hands move across the fabric, the texture beneath your fingers, and the neat lines forming as you fold. Let the task become your anchor. As you slow the movement, notice how your breath softens and your thoughts settle. You’re not just tidying up—you’re creating a moving meditation.

When we choose to slow down on purpose, we give our nervous system space to breathe. And that, in itself, is...

This week on the ZenRUN Podcast, I’m checking back in with Delirious 2026 athlete Karin Ridley — and wow… this one is full of grit, humour, and real-life curveballs.

Since our last chat, Karin discovered that her “niggly hip” wasn’t just tendinopathy — it was a 4.8–9cm tear in her TFL 😳 

Yes. A tear. In a tiny little muscle.

And instead of spiralling (okay… maybe just briefly), she did something radical…

She listened to her physio.

For the first time ever, she followed medical advice to the letter — and it’s working. She’s now back to...

This week on the ZenRUN Podcast, I catch up with Delirious 2026 athlete Eve Knudson — and wow… real life has been LIFE-ing. 

New high schooler.
12th birthday celebrations.
A $40–50 million work submission.
Midnight finishes.
And almost no running for a week.

Sound familiar? 😅

In this honest and refreshing check-in, Eve shares what it feels like when everything stacks up at once — and how sometimes the very thing that would help (a run!) is the thing you’re too tired to do.

But here’s the good news…

She’s back on t...

This week’s mindful moment is a simple invitation to shift your perspective—literally: sit in a different chair. Choose a seat you wouldn’t normally use—the other end of the couch, a chair in another room, or even the floor—and settle in. As you sit, notice how your posture changes, how your breath feels, and what sounds or sensations stand out from this new vantage point. It’s amazing how a small physical shift can gently nudge your mental state as well.

This practice is mindfulness through subtle disruption—a reminder that even tiny changes can re...

There’s something beautiful about “boring” training.

In this fourth check-in with Matthew, nothing dramatic has happened - no injuries, no big breakthroughs, no chaos. And honestly? That’s exactly what we want.

After completing an ultra just over a month ago, Matthew has dialled things back sensibly. He’s sticking to a three-hour long-run ceiling, building strength through consistent back-to-backs, and focusing on staying healthy rather than chasing ego mileage.

We dive into:

•Why he caps long runs at three hours (and the research he’s been listening to)

•The power...

Ben is back… and the countdown is officially getting real.

In this fourth check-in, we talk training adjustments, sand miles, gear lists (in spreadsheet form 😅), hyper-focus tendencies, and what it really means to approach a 100-miler with calm confidence instead of hustle culture.

Ben is sitting around 50km weeks – not the 90km he once planned – and he’s completely at peace with that. No panic. No ego. Just consistency, strength work, beach runs incoming, and a very clear A goal: finish in daylight on Saturday.

We also go deep into:

💛 Why You’ll Love Th...

This week’s mindful moment offers a gentle way to weave awareness into your daily routine: set a mindful marker for your day. Choose one regular activity—like brushing your teeth, making a cup of tea, or starting your car—and let it become a cue to pause. Each time that moment arrives, take a deep breath, check in with your body, and ask yourself: What do I need right now?

This simple habit acts as an anchor—a grounding point in your day that brings you back to presence without needing to stop everything. Small, consistent mindfuln...

Under 8 weeks to go.

Garmin reminders pinging daily.

And Gabe Alves? Calm. Calculated. Slightly obsessed with vert… and now ketones 😅

In this Check-In #4, Gabe shares what January looked like:

•8,000+ metres of vert

•Around 250km on the legs

•10kg weiht vest hill repeats (22 reps up a 130m climb 😳)

•Lots of power hiking

•Double run days

•And some serious shoe hacking

But the real deep dive this month?

🧪 A full nutrition experiment.

Gabe has been dealing with inflammation and swelli...

#4

Sym Mercer checks in this month… live from a 47-degree audit site, in high-vis, somewhere in outback Queensland 😅

And honestly? She sounds calm. Strong. Ready.

In this episode we talk injury management, heat acclimatisation, race planning squeezed between remote jobs, and that very familiar feeling of:

“Can we just start already?”

Sym has been modifying her training but still knocked out 34km with 1000m elevation and pulled up well – which is a huge confidence boost at this stage. She’s managing the injury rather than obsessing over...

This week’s mindful moment focuses on the everyday actions we usually rush through: open or close something with full awareness. Whether it’s a door, a drawer, your laptop, or a cupboard—pause and bring your full attention to the motion. Notice how your hand moves, the sound it makes, the effort your body uses, and the breath that moves with it.

Let this tiny moment become a check-in, a grounding cue that reminds you: you’re present, you’re alive, you’re here. Even the smallest movement can become a doorway to mindfulness.

In this Delirious WEST 2026 – Check-In 3 episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, we’re catching up with Eve Knudson to see how things are really tracking as training starts to gently ramp up.

Eve shares how she’s mixing running, strength training, swimming and trail time – without locking herself into a rigid weekly plan. Instead, she’s leaning into flexibility, planning ahead just enough, and fitting training around work deadlines, family life, and the occasional much-needed sleep-in ☕️

We chat about:

• Starting strength training again (and those early “is-this-an-injury?” niggles 😅)

• Why flexible planning beats strict schedules for busy...

In this Delirious WEST 2026 – Check-In 3 episode, I catch up with Kylie Bell to see how training is tracking as the race starts to feel very real.

Kylie shares how she’s juggling busy shift work, limited time, and long-term ultra prep – including running to work, doing a full shift, then running home again (yes, really). We chat about training on tired legs, getting night running dialled in, and why consistency beats perfection right now.

We also talk through:

• Strength work coming back into focus

• Testing packs, poles, shoes, and backup gear (including...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I finally sit down with the wonderful Melissa (Mel) Clark — local legend, registered nurse, mum of twins, blueberry farmer, triathlete, ultra runner, and one of the most refreshingly honest humans you’ll ever hear on a run chat.

Mel and I wander through her life (as we do), from growing up with a twin, to juggling nursing shifts, farming, family life, triathlon training, and running — often late at night with a head torch once everyone else was in bed. This is a real, unpolished conversation about what it actuall...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to connect with the world around you in a grounded, tangible way: place your hand on a tree, fence, or wall. Wherever you are—at home, outdoors, or even in a public space—pause and rest your hand gently on a surface nearby. Feel its texture, notice its temperature, and let your breath slow as you stay in contact for a few deep inhales and exhales.

This simple act brings you out of your head and into your body. It reminds you that you’re supported, you’re grounded, and you’re her...

Today, we’re checking back in with my daughter (and fellow Delirious 2026 athlete), Nikki Frost - and let’s just say… it’s been a week for her.

From finally getting on top of months of gut issues (goodbye mid-run vomiting 👋) to suddenly being taken out by a painful ITB flare-up, Nikki shares the emotional and physical rollercoaster of training when your body has other ideas.

We talk honestly about the mental load of injury, the temptation to “just push through,” and how hard it is to sit still when your whole identity is...

In this third check-in with Karin Ridley, we get a very real look at what the final stretch doesn’t always look like when you’re training for Delirious WEST 2026.

After a nasty fall during a Christmas run, Karin has been dealing with a stubborn hip issue that’s limited her running and forced a big mindset shift. Instead of panicking, she’s doing what experienced ultra runners do best – managing what she can control.

We chat about physio visits (finally 😅), modified training, cross-training, strength work, and why finding medical professionals who get runners makes all the diffe...

Warren Page is one of those runners who makes you feel instantly calmer about your own running journey.

Growing up in country Western Australia, Warren’s love for movement started early - bikes, bush, freedom, and plenty of mischief. These days, he’s a personal trainer, runner, ocean swimmer, and deep thinker who’s gradually found his way into trail running and now, ultra-distance goals (including a 100-miler at Delirious).

In this episode, we chat about Warren’s transition from strength and powerlifting into endurance running, the hard lessons learned from doing too much, too soon, an...

This week’s mindful moment is a gentle reminder of the power in repetition: do one simple movement repeatedly. Choose a movement—like raising your arms, stretching side to side, or rolling your shoulders—and repeat it slowly and intentionally for a few minutes. Let your breath guide the rhythm: inhale as you move, exhale as you return.

The repetition becomes a moving meditation, easing your body and calming your mind without needing to overthink. It’s the perfect practice for shifting stuck energy, settling your nervous system, and coming back to yourself—one gentle movement at a time.

In this third check-in with Matthew Farrand, we dive into the real middle phase of Delirious WEST 2026 prep – where learning, adapting, and listening to your body matters more than ticking perfect boxes.

Matthew shares a big post-Christmas training milestone: completing a tough 43-mile ultra in the UK winter, with frozen mud, canal paths, head-torch running, and a very honest “this was harder than I expected” reflection. It was proper endurance training – finishing empty, but healthy – and that’s a win.

We talk through:
• What that ultra revealed about fatigue, recovery, and strength gaps
• Why quad strengt...

In this third Delirious WEST 2026 check-in, I catch up with Bianca O’Neill after a huge few weeks of running, learning, and life shifts – and honestly, it’s one of my favourite updates so far.

We chat about a jam-packed summer of long runs, including the Six Inch Ultra Christmas Party, a New Year’s Eve ultra adventure, and Bianca’s annual birthday run tradition. The big theme? Confidence is back. After a quieter patch late last year, Bianca’s been stacking solid kilometres, testing nutrition properly, and remembering why she loves this stuff.

She also shares...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to reconnect with the ground beneath you—walk barefoot across different textures. If it’s safe and comfortable, take off your shoes and explore the surfaces around you: kitchen tiles, carpet, floorboards, grass, concrete. Notice the temperature, the texture, the way your feet adjust with each step.

Your gait will shift, your awareness will heighten, and your body will subtly respond. It’s a simple practice that awakens the senses and nourishes your nervous system. Barefoot time is grounding, calming, and a beautiful way to return to the present—o...

In this third check-in, I catch up with Ben Pyman as the Delirious WEST 2026 countdown slips into double digits – and the Adelaide heat turns things up a notch.

Ben shares how December really went (spoiler: life was busy, but consistency still won), why he’s happy with his mileage despite a few missed runs, and how he’s thinking about training smarter this year – not just harder. We talk openly about heat management, why long flat road runs can be more fatiguing than trails, and the importance of not trying to “catch up” missed sessions (a lesson learned the...

In this Check-In 3 episode of the Delirious WEST 2026 series, I catch up with the wonderfully tough and straight-talking Sym Mercer – who is deep in the messy middle of training… with a not-so-cooperative hip.

Since we last spoke, Sym’s training took an unexpected turn after a big block led to a hospital visit, scans, bursitis, and a cyst that might be masking a stress fracture. Not ideal – especially with 13 weeks to the start line  (less now!). But if there’s one thing Sym brings in spades, it’s attitude.

We talk about adjusting training on the fly – swa...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to slow down a simple transition: put on something slowly and deliberately. Whether it’s your socks, a jacket, or your favourite jumper—take your time. Notice the texture of the fabric, the way your body moves into it, and the moment your skin meets cloth.

We move through these everyday moments on autopilot, but they’re full of opportunities to reconnect. Let this become a full-body check-in—a pause where breath and movement come together. Even the act of getting dressed can become a quiet ritual of awareness.<...

In this third check-in with Delirious WEST 2026 athlete Craig Jeffrey, we dive deep into what long-term ultra preparation really looks like – not just the kilometres, but the thinking behind them.

Craig shares stories from icy Christmas runs along the Hudson River (including borrowed shoes and a reminder to always carry your runners on flights), back-to-back 50km days on the Yarra, and why those tired-leg weekends actually build confidence rather than break it. We talk about block-style training, mixing intervals and tempo with long efforts, and why repeating huge long runs every weekend doesn’t work for everyone.

In this Delirious WEST 2026 Check-In 3, I catch up with Gabe Alves as the countdown suddenly drops into the “oh wow… this is actually close” zone – 13 weeks to go 😬.

Gabe shares what the last couple of months have really looked like – and spoiler alert – it hasn’t been flashy or exciting. It’s been boring. In the very best way.

We talk about:
• Training when the mojo is nowhere to be found
• The power of “just go out for 2km” (and why it almost never stays 2km)
• Building mental resilience by doing the work even when you don’t feel...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to tune into something often overlooked: listen for the silence between the sounds. Whether you’re inside or out, begin by noticing the sounds around you—traffic, birds, voices, footsteps. Then shift your attention to the pauses between them. The stillness between notes. The breath between words.

Silence isn’t empty—it has a presence of its own, and learning to hear it can gently quiet your mind and ground your body.

It’s a simple way to reconnect with the deeper rhythm of your environme...

In this third Delirious WEST 2026 check-in, I catch up with the ever-thoughtful Eve Knudson, and honestly… this is one of those conversations that reminds you why we run.

Fresh off the Three Inch race, Eve shares how a day that “wasn’t meant to be a big deal” turned into one of those magic runs where everything just clicks — the legs feel good, the pacing makes sense, the fueling works, and suddenly you realise… maybe the training is actually working.

We talk about the power of simple consistency, why Eve has stopped getting caught up in Strava co...

In this third Delirious 2026 check-in, I’m sitting down in person with Nikki Frost while she’s home in Tasmania for Christmas — which means plenty of giggles, real talk, and a very honest training update.

Since we last spoke, Nikki tackled the Mount Buller Skyrun 46km and, while her fitness and strength are clearly trending in the right direction, nutrition is still the big question mark. She shares what happened when the throwing up kicked in again, how close she came to a DNF, and why having her brother Ben crewing made all the difference in getting her to...

This week’s mindful moment is an invitation to meet yourself with gentle presence: mirror yourself with kindness. Stand in front of a mirror - not to critique, but to see. Notice your posture, your expression, and the quiet strength behind your eyes. Then soften. Smile. And offer yourself a kind thought - something as simple as, “I’m here. I’m trying.

And that’s enough.” This is not about appearance - it’s about acknowledging the person looking back at you. Your story. Your resilience. Your softness. Let the mirror become a moment of connection - not judgemen...

In this second Delirious WEST 2026 check-in, I sit down with Kylie Bell just weeks after she finished the Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko 100-miler — and wow… this one was an adventure.

Kylie shares what it was really like out on the course as conditions went from sunny to savage: extreme winds strong enough to blow runners off walkways, sideways hail, snow crossings in running shoes, relentless rain, and a final climb where safety became the only priority. At one point, runners were literally holding onto each other just to stay upright.

We talk about moving through fear and pani...

In this second check-in with Delirious WEST 2026 athlete Matthew Farrand, we catch up just a week out from Christmas — and honestly, things are ticking along beautifully.

Matthew describes his last month as “average”… which quickly turns out to mean consistent, strong, and quietly confidence-building. He’s stacking weeks in the high-70km range, ticking off strength, hills, speed work and long runs, and feeling his endurance come together without feeling trashed.

We chat early-morning running routines, managing training around family life, and why getting runs done before the day begins just works. Matthew also shares his thinki...

This week’s mindful moment brings you back to centre - shift your weight side to side. Stand barefoot if you can, feet hip-width apart, and gently sway from left to right. Feel the subtle adjustments in your body as you transfer your weight - how your feet respond, how your core engages, and what muscles quietly support you.

There’s no need for rhythm or pace—just let your body explore the feeling of balance in motion. This simple movement grounds you, calms scattered energy, and reconnects you with the physical sensation of being here.

It’...

In this second check-in with Delirious WEST 2026 athlete Craig Jeffrey, we dive straight into one of Australia’s toughest mountain races — the Kosciuszko 100 miler — and unpack what it really takes to keep moving forward when conditions (and your body) aren’t playing nice 

Craig shares a raw, honest race debrief covering brutal alpine winds, unexpected snow crossings, stomach battles, sore knees, smashed toenails… and still finding moments of flow late in the race.

This is a conversation about experience, self-trust, and learning to race yourself — not the clock, not the field.

In this episode we catch up with Ben Pyman to see how training, mindset, and life are shaping up as he builds towards the 100-mile start line.

Ben shares how Movember became a powerful reset month — shaving off a decade-long beard, running 200+ kilometres, and using the challenge to open honest conversations around mental health and wellbeing. What started as fundraising quickly turned into something much deeper.

We also dig into the nuts and bolts of Ben’s training:

•What consistency really looks like for him

•How structure (without perfection) has changed his runn...