The ZenRUN Podcast

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...

This week’s mindful moment invites a playful shift in awareness: watch how your shadow moves. As you walk, run, or go about your day, take a moment to notice your shadow - how it swings, stretches, and shifts with your body. It’s a subtle mirror of your posture, alignment, and rhythm, offering gentle feedback on how you’re showing up in each moment. You can even play with it - exaggerate your steps or sway your arms and see how your shadow responds.

Beyond movement, it’s a reminder that you’re here, walking in...

Karin is back… and wow, she’s packed a LOT into this check-in.

Since we last spoke, Karin has been adventuring her way through Spain, France and the UK — hiking 20–30km a day, tackling a seriously brutal mountain race in Spain, and discovering just how different real mountains are compared to “hills” back home in WA 😅

In this episode, Karin shares what it was like to miss a race cutoff by less than three minutes, why that DNF hit hard, and how it’s lit a fire to come back stronger. We also chat about travel fitness, t...

In this latest Delirious WEST 2026 athlete check-in, I’m catching up with Bianca O’Neill — and wow… a LOT has happened since we last spoke.

In this honest and very relatable catch-up, Bianca shares what it was really like racing Feral (yes… that heat, those flies, those cut-offs 😅)

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This week’s mindful moment marks a beautiful milestone—tip 200—and brings us back to the centre of it all: place your hand on your heart. Right now, just pause. Gently rest your hand on your chest and feel the warmth, the rhythm of your breath, and maybe even your heartbeat beneath your palm.

It’s a quiet moment of connection—simple, still, and grounding. You don’t need to say anything, but if a word like calm, gratitude, or presence comes to mind, let it land gently in your awareness. This practice is perfect for starting or ending th...

This month’s chat with Eve honestly felt like a big exhale. December energy is real, and Eve is right in the middle of it—balancing kids, work deadlines, Christmas chaos, end-of-year functions, tired mornings, and still somehow squeezing in her runs… or gentle walks… or naps… or the occasional lunchtime wine 😉

Here’s what we dive into:

⭐ Life is a workout too

Eve shares how mental fatigue has been hitting hard, and how she’s learning (slowly!) to treat her brain and body as one energy system—not two separate boxes. Her honesty about feeling...

In this episode, I catch up with my daughter and fellow Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026 runner, Nikki Frost, who’s had a very… colourful four to six weeks of training. And by colourful, I mean she left half her stomach contents scattered across the Dandenongs. 🤢😂

But as always, she’s honest, funny, and refreshingly optimistic about the whole adventure.

Get ready for:

•The disastrous Roller Coaster Ultra where Nikki started vomiting at 10km… and didn’t stop until the finish line

•Why sticking with “the gels that once worked” backfired in spectacular fashion<...

This week, I’m so excited to introduce you to my friend and fellow UESCA-qualified ultra coach… Valerie Wong!

Val’s story is a brilliant mix of determination, adventure, and laugh-out-loud honesty — from growing up in Hong Kong, boarding school in the UK, studying atmospheric science (yes, weather patterns! ☁️), running her first Boston loops, to discovering ultras during the pandemic.

She’s now an ultra-runner, triathlete, mountain lover, channel swimmer (!!), mum of two, and one of the funniest people I’ve met in our coaching cohort.

This episode is full of real talk, wisdom, and some...

Spend just five minutes with this practice, and see how it can bring calm and clarity to your day.

For more mindfulness ideas, head over to our ebook with 24 Simple Mindfulness strategies: https://fitmindfitbody.co/books/

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2️⃣ Have a story or know a runner who'd be perfect for our podcast? Reach out to us on Facebook/Instagram  or email (hello@zenrun.club ).

💛 Want running to feel lighter agai...

In this Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026 check-in, I sit down with the wonderful Gabe Alves, who has had—hands down—one of the most honest and powerful training months of the entire series.

Gabe walks us through his experience at Feral, a race that started brilliantly for him… until it didn’t. Physically, he was flying. The climbing strength, the pacing, the hills, the timing — everything was lining up for his best Feral yet. But then the mental load of a tough year caught up with him, and the second half of the race became a battle wit...

In this month’s Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026 athlete check-in, we head all the way to London to catch up with our one and only non-Aussie runner, Matthew Farrand — who’s juggling dark winter mornings, school drop-offs, and some seriously solid training momentum.

Matthew shares how his fitness is quietly (and satisfyingly!) building — those long runs now feel easier and the patella niggle that haunted him in August has settled right down. He talks about the mental side of ultra prep too…the boredom voice, the planning, the “where should I run this weekend?” puzzle, and why...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to bring presence into one of the tiniest, most ordinary actions: take a breath before you pick something up. Whether it’s your phone, a bag, or a kid’s toy, pause for just a moment before lifting. Place your hand on the object, feel its shape, and take one slow breath. Notice your intention—are you rushing, reacting, or moving on autopilot?

Then pick it up slowly, feeling your body engage and your breath stay steady. This simple pause turns an everyday movement into a grounding check-in, reminding...

In this check-in, Sym Mercer is back — fluoro shirt, big smile, and casually juggling triathlon training while preparing for a 200-mile ultra. Yep… just your average Delirious athlete. 😉

Since our last chat, Sym has thrown herself into Harvey Bay 50 — a swim-ride-run triathlon she signed up for after a classic dose of peer pressure and a well-timed “early bird ends tonight!” email. We talk through her ocean swim comeback (first 1km since 2008!), road-bike PTSD from the 350km Raid 100 adventure, and why the 9km run leg will feel like a holiday compared to everything else.

Sym also...

In this first Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026 check-in, I catch up with the always-positive Kylie Bell — and wow, she’s had a month! From tackling a tough gravel marathon in the Stirling Ranges (complete with nearly 900m of vert and a sneaky brush with dehydration) to bouncing back from pneumonia, Kylie has had her share of plot twists. 

We chat about the mental side of training when things don’t go to plan, her stair-repeat session at Shazza’s (462 steps… she’s counted!), why time-on-feet matters more than chasing monster weekly kilometres, and the pure grit that keeps ul...

This week’s mindful moment brings a little fun and nostalgia into your day: do a movement you loved as a child. Think back to how you used to move—skipping, spinning, rolling down a hill, or running just because it felt good. Choose one of those simple, playful movements and bring it back for a few minutes today.

It’s not about exercise or performance—it’s about joy, freedom, and reconnecting with the pure, instinctive way your body loves to move. Let yourself laugh if it feels silly—that’s part of the magic. This kind of mindfu...

In this first Delirious 2026 check-in, I catch up with the ever-entertaining Bianca O’Neill — ultra runner, full-time legend, and queen of keeping it real. After juggling her aged care prac, study dramas, and 3am runs (yes, really), Bianca admits it’s been a tough month — but she’s still smiling, learning, and laughing her way through it all.

We chat about the juggle of life, the guilt of not training enough, and the reality that sometimes, “tapering” just means shifting where your energy goes. Bianca also shares her secrets for blister-free feet (involving Squirrel Nut Butter and Creepers), her...

In this first Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026 check-in, I catch up with the ever-authentic Eve Knudson, who’s been navigating a wild few weeks of recovery, work chaos, house renovations, and life as a mum — all while keeping her running spirit alive.

Eve opens up about bouncing back from illness, rediscovering how good running feels after a break, and the tricky balance between being kind to yourself and knowing when to push through. We chat about early alarms, laying out your running clothes to remove resistance, and the power of “permission runs” — heading out for 200 metres and turnin...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to shift your perspective—literally: look up when you walk. Whether you’re heading down the street, walking through your home, or out for a stroll in nature, try lifting your gaze. We spend so much time looking down—at our phones, our feet, or lost in thought—but above us, the world is alive with movement and light.

Notice the tops of trees, drifting clouds, birds in flight, or the way sunlight filters through rooftops. This small change in direction can open your posture, lift your mood, and help yo...

In this episode, we catch up with the ever-cheerful Karin Ridley — freshly minted grandmother (aka “Gigi” 😍) and one of our Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026 athletes.

Karin’s been balancing a demanding work roster, new grandbaby cuddles, and a whole lot of hill training — all while preparing to jet off to Spain for the Marató dels Dements, a brutal SkyMasters event boasting over 2,200 m of elevation in just 22 km!

We chat about:
•How she’s juggling training with life (and a newborn in the family!)
•The reality of chasing cut-offs and learning to rest without guilt

In this first check-in for Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026, I catch up with Craig Jeffrey — who’s clocking a casual 160 km a week as he gears up for the Kosciuszko 100 Miler 😅. We chat about what it really takes to bounce back from a 200-miler, why “average” is just a setting on your watch, and how being mindful mid-race might actually save your stomach (and your sanity).

Craig opens up about lessons from Delirious, how long recovery really takes, and his plan to finally not throw up at the same spot in Kosciuszko this time 🤞. We also dive into race...

This week’s mindful moment is a quiet invitation to rest: lean against something. It might be a wall, a tree, a fence—whatever’s nearby. Gently press your back or shoulder into it and allow yourself to feel fully supported. Close your eyes if that feels good, and take a few slow, grounding breaths.

This practice is about more than physical rest—it’s a reminder that you don’t have to hold everything yourself. Leaning, even for a moment, creates a pause where the body and nervous system can soften. It’s a simple act of surrender...

In this first check-in with Delirious WEST 2026 athlete Gabe Alves, we dive into a wild few weeks that included a bee sting in the middle of the WA outback, lessons in resilience, and a surprising breakthrough in running technique.

From dodging anaphylaxis on a remote motorbike adventure to rediscovering efficient foot strike after 7,500 metres of vert in October, Gabe’s story reminds us that endurance is as much about awareness as it is about toughness.

We chat about:
•🐝 What it’s like to get stung by a bee when you’re allergic (100 km from help!)
...

In this first Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026 check-in, we catch up with South Australian ultra-runner Ben Pyman — fresh off the Yurrebilla Ultramarathon and right in the rhythm of training for the big 100-miler.

Ben shares what it was like revisiting Yurrebilla eight years after his last go, how smarter pacing and hill training turned pain into power, and what he learned from his first proper carb-loading experiment (spoiler: 1,200 grams of carbs in two days feels just as heavy as it sounds 😅).

We chat about how strength work pays dividends when the course gets tough, the u...

In this warm, honest, and slightly chaotic first check-in, we sit down with Delirious WEST 2026 athlete Nikki Frost (yes, Michelle’s daughter!) to hear how her prep is tracking for her first 200-miler.

Nikki might live in the city, train mostly on concrete (and treadmills), and have a full-time travel-heavy job—but that’s not stopping her from diving headfirst into ultra training.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
•🏃‍♀️ How Nikki’s non-planning approach helps her avoid overthinking big events
•🧗‍♀️ Her spontaneous sign-up for the 46km Rollercoaster Ultra… with only 5 weeks prep (and 1 week sick!)
•🌇 Balancing early...

This week’s mindful moment is small but mighty: check in with your jaw. We carry so much tension in this one small part of the body—often without even realising it. So today, pause and notice: is your jaw clenched? Is your tongue pressed to the roof of your mouth? Take a deep breath and let it all soften. Release your jaw, drop your tongue, maybe even yawn dramatically.

This gentle reset not only relaxes your face but signals your entire nervous system to let go. One small action can ripple through your whole body—bringing ease...

In this first monthly check-in for the Delirious WEST 2026 podcast series, we catch up with Sym Mercer—a calm, honest, and practical runner who’s embracing the unpredictability of training while working remotely in Western Queensland.

From running in 42°C heat to dodging kangaroos and spotting deer on the trail (yep, really!), Sym shares how he’s building towards the 200-miler one grounded step at a time. His approach is all about listening to his body, staying injury-free, and doing what he can, when he can—even if that means split runs, strength training in hotel rooms, or making...

Meet Matthew Farrand: From reluctant school fun-runs to chasing 200 miles through WA bushland

In this episode, we welcome UK-based runner (with deep Aussie roots!) Matthew Farrand to the Delirious WEST 2026 athlete series. Born in Margate, raised in Rockingham, and now based in South London, Matthew’s running story is anything but predictable.

Once a kid who did everything possible to avoid running at school, Matthew has gradually transformed into someone who relishes multi-hour long runs through parks, tunnels, and trails across London. What started with a half marathon for charity has grown into a love fo...

From muddy mountain bike rides to midnight treadmill runs after night shift — Kylie Bell brings grit, humour, and heart to every mile she runs.

In this Delirious West 2026 intro episode, we meet Kylie: an Albany-based police officer, remedial massage therapist, and adventure-seeking endurance runner who’s taking on the 100-mile event in 2026.

From her early years in Armadale to paddling adventures with her dad, Kylie’s been wired for movement and challenge since day one. Her racing resume includes epic stage races across Morocco, Hawaii, and the Grand Canyon, plus a DIY “Everest” effort up Bluff Knol...

This week’s mindful moment invites you into gentle, expressive movement with let your hands speak. Instead of using your hands for a task, take a quiet moment to move them freely—like they’re telling a story. Stretch your fingers wide, make soft fists, draw shapes in the air, or roll your wrists in slow spirals. Let your breath guide you.

There’s no right way to move—just a chance to feel what’s present and express it without words. It’s a simple yet powerful way to reconnect with your body, release tension, and invite a bit o...

This episode introduces the unstoppable Karin Ridley—a mining logistics pro by day, trail adventurer by weekend, and proud member of the Delirious W.E.S.T. 2026 crew. Karin shares how her journey began with gastric sleeve surgery and a nudge from her mum to try Parkrun, which eventually catapulted her into the world of trail ultras.

Her story is raw, hilarious, and deeply inspiring. From strength training with Susan Grover to finishing the 200-mile Delirious West solo in brutal WA heat (with no crew!), Karin walks us through the ups, downs, dirt naps, and shower stops th...

From dodging school carnivals to smashing 400-mile races and getting married in cowboy boots – meet the unstoppable Bianca O’Neill.

In this fun and heartfelt intro episode, we kick off our monthly check-ins with Bianca as she prepares for the 2026 Delirious WEST 100-miler. But don’t be fooled – this isn’t her first rodeo (or ultra). She’s completed the 200-miler three times, earned both the 100 and 200-mile Triple Crowns, and even took on Laz Lake’s Heart of the South 400-mile journey run in the U.S. – a fully self-supported, make-it-up-as-you-go mission through six states.

Why does she...

In this deeply relatable and refreshingly funny episode, we meet Eve Knudson, a Perth-based mum of two, construction estimator, and two-time Delirious W.E.S.T. 200-mile finisher who still doesn’t quite think of herself as a “real runner.”

From making fake sick notes to skip athletics at school… to tackling 200 miles of rugged WA coastline—Eve’s story is full of unexpected turns, quiet grit, and big heart. She opens up about her mental health journey, how one awkward moment in a dress shop led her to triathlon (and eventually ultra trail), and why long runs are now...