The ZenRUN Podcast

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...

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...