The ZenRUN Podcast

Have you ever noticed that many runs start out feeling a bit… awkward? Your legs feel heavy. Your breathing feels off. Your body isn’t quite sure what’s happening. And sometimes your brain is already suggesting that maybe today isn’t the day for a run at all. This week’s ZenRUN Moment is about noticing something that happens on almost every run: the moment your body settles. That point where your...

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 neat result at the end, but the little check-ins along the way. The early excitement. The crew moments. The emotional wobbles. The rain, the snacks, the tired conversations, and the hones...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Jason Rantall - runner, dad, mental health advocate, Better Mental founder, and a very familiar face in the Melbourne Frontyard Ultra world. And honestly, this one is powerful. Jason’s story starts in Gisborne, growing up in a small country town where football was everything, everyone knew everyone, and sport was a big part of life....

Have you ever noticed how your breathing and your running seem to have a conversation with each other? This week’s ZenRUN Moment is all about bringing awareness to the relationship between your breath and your stride. It’s a simple practice that can help you feel more connected, relaxed, and present during your run. As you head out, try matching your breathing to your footsteps for a few minutes....

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 finish-line version, but the little check-ins along the way. The early excitement. The tired bits. The crew moments. The food updates. The emotional wobbles. The “why are my toes...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Paul Pratt. You might already recognise Paul from the Melbourne Frontyard Ultra mini-series, but this time we get to sit down properly and find out a little more about how Paul ticks. And honestly? There is a lot going on in the world of Paul Pratt. Paul grew up in Gippsland, in the tiny town of Buln Buln near Warragul, where everyon...

Where do you look when you run? If you’re like many runners, the answer is probably down. Down at the trail. Down at your feet. Down at your watch. And while there’s nothing wrong with that occasionally, it can sometimes make running feel smaller, tighter, and more effort-focused than it needs to be. This week’s ZenRUN Moment is a simple invitation to look further ahead. As you run, gently lift yo...

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 neat little result at the end, but the real story along the way. The pre-race nerves. The crew tent chaos. The tired check-ins. The food, the feet, the weather, the tiny naps, and eventua...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderfully dry, very funny, and deeply embedded-in-the-Delirious-world Simon Poli. Simon is one of those people who seems to quietly sit behind the scenes making things happen - which is possibly a terrible description because he also has a habit of casually doing ridiculous things like 200 milers, running from Bunbury to the start of Delirio...

Have you ever really listened to your footsteps while you run? This week’s ZenRUN Moment is all about tuning into one of the most overlooked parts of running - the sound your feet make as they meet the ground. It sounds simple, but it can completely change the way you experience a run. As you head out on your next run, spend a few minutes listening to your footsteps. Are they light or heavy? Fast...

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 neat and tidy version after the event, but the little check-ins along the way. The early excitement. The crew moments. The tired bits. The food dramas. The “how are you still going?” mome...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the lovely Rachael Johnstone - mum of three, hairdresser, backyard ultra runner, sister-in-law and best friend of Nagiska, and someone who somehow manages to fit 80-100km of running into a very full life. Rach grew up in Koo Wee Rup as one of four kids, in a busy household full of sport, family, chaos, and noise. As a kid, she loved being active -...

Have you ever noticed what your hands are doing while you run? This week’s ZenRUN Moment focuses on a tiny adjustment that can have a surprisingly big impact: softening your hands while you run. Many runners carry tension in their hands without even realising it. We clench our fists, tighten our fingers, and hold onto stress as we move through our runs. The funny thing is, that tension rarely stay...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Ben Ridley - Perth runner, Delirious West athlete, self-declared road runner, proud husband of Karin Ridley, and possibly one of the most committed “super crew” members in the ultra-running world. Ben’s story starts with a childhood full of sport - footy, swimming, surf lifesaving, T-ball, basketball - basically everything except run...

Most runners think a run starts when they press start on their watch. But what if the most important part of your run is actually the first minute? In this first ZenRUN Moment, we’re focusing on something incredibly simple: noticing the beginning of your run. Not your pace. Not your distance. Not whether today’s run is going to feel easy or hard. Just the first sixty seconds. As you head out the d...

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Suzanne Rath - Irish farm girl, physio, business owner, leadership coach, trail runner, adventure collector, and someone who seems to casually say yes to things like cycling across South America, running from Sydney to Newcastle, and possibly signing up for Delirious WEST. As you do. Suzanne grew up on a farm in Wexford, Ireland, whe...

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. B...

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 w...

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 jus...

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...

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 star...

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 qui...

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-o...

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 g...

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...