The ZenRUN Podcast

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...

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....

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 you...

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 ab...

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 – especi...

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. L...

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 t...

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...

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 learnin...

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 sudden...

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 shar...

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 appearan...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 someth...

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 step...

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 th...

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 😅) Don't miss an episode of the ZenRUN Podcast. Subscribe to the podcast on your podcast player :) 💛 Want running to f...

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 w...

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 be...

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...

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 a...

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/ Help us spread the mindfulness: 1️⃣ If you're enjoying our podcast, please leave a like and review. Your support helps others discover the joy of mindful running. 2️⃣ Have a stor...