The ZenRUN Podcast

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...

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...

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...

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 thro...

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 pl...

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...

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 trai...

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...

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...

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 ju...

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 fro...

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 everythin...

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 endu...

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-loadin...

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,...

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...

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...

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 runnin...

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...

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 p...

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...

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 bi...

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 an...

Guest: Jiri Halek – Czech orthodontist turned ultra-runner who once pretended to be sick to skip running… and now wakes up at 4am to run twice a day (on purpose!). Get Ready For: A hilarious, inspiring, and refreshingly honest conversation with a man who went from 130kg and dodging stairs to finishing some of the world’s gnarliest ultras—all while keeping his sense of humour, humility, and love fo...

This week’s mindful moment invites you to pause and observe something you interact with every day: follow the path of water. Whether you’re washing your hands, making tea, rinsing fruit, or running a bath—slow down and watch the water. Notice how it flows from the tap, slips through your fingers, or swirls into a cup. Feel its temperature, hear its rhythm, and take in the graceful way it moves. Wa...