65.1K
Downloads
658
Episodes
All things mental and physical health! You’ll find in-depth interviews with runners as we delve into why they run and what keeps them running. And interviews with specialists on the brain and the effects of exercise on it – chemically and physically. Plus tips to keep you moving with a positive mindset.. So much goodness
Episodes
10 hours ago
10 hours ago
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 eventually the wrap-up chat when their race is done.
In this episode, we’re following the wonderful Luke Slater.
Luke came into Melbourne Frontyard Ultra with a lot of Backyard Ultra experience, a big goal, and a very special crew - including his daughter Della, who was there from start to finish, sorting feet, managing gear, saving minutes, and somehow still packing down the marquee while we were doing the final interview.
Honestly, Della deserves her own medal.
Luke was born in Norwich in England, came to Australia originally to play soccer, studied law, became a criminal lawyer, and now lives in Shepparton with his four children.
His running story is fairly recent, but very Luke.
After years of soccer and boxing, he started running properly after seeing people doing the Shepparton GV Backyard Ultra and wondering why on earth they looked like they were on the edge of death.
And instead of thinking, “That looks terrible, I’ll stay away from that,” he thought, “I’d like to have a go at that.”
As you do.
Since then, Backyard Ultras have become his main running love. Before Melbourne Frontyard Ultra, his best result was 52 yards, which had him sitting high on the Great Britain list and chasing a potential spot at the Backyard Ultra World Championships.
So Luke came into this event hoping to go further, cement that position, and see what he could do.
But, as always with this format, you can have the experience, the goal, the crew, the plan, the foot prep, the ginger, the no-milk strategy, and still eventually find yourself deep in the second night asking one of the great ultra-running questions:
Why am I doing this?
In this episode, you’ll hear Luke before the race, relaxed and getting his feet sorted while his family were gathered around the tent. You’ll hear him early on around yard 5 after a fast lap, a tumble, a wash, noodles, and some excellent work from Team Della.
You’ll hear him around yard 20, sleepy but steady, adjusting to the new norm after around 130 kilometres and looking ahead to the challenge of the second night.
And then you’ll hear him around yard 33, where the dizziness, tiredness, loneliness and second-night grind were starting to make things much harder - but he was still moving, still clear, and still surrounded by a great team.
Luke eventually made it to 37 yards - nearly 250 kilometres - before the lack of sleep, dizziness, and the slow creep of “what on earth am I doing?” brought his race to an end.
And in the wrap-up, he reflects beautifully on the whole experience: the suffering, the life lessons, the memories, the pressure of needing help from other people, the value of family, and what it meant to have Della crewing him so calmly and capably through it all.
This episode is thoughtful, funny, honest, and full of that strange Backyard Ultra mix of practicality and philosophy.
Because yes, it’s just running 6.7K loops around a park.
But also, somehow, it’s never just that.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
- You’ll hear Luke’s journey from soccer and boxing into Backyard Ultras
- Luke talks about chasing a place on the Great Britain Backyard Ultra team
- There’s a lovely father-daughter thread with Della crewing him through the event
- We talk blisters, feet, sleep, stomach issues, ginger, and avoiding milk
- You’ll hear how quickly the event changes once the second night arrives
- Luke shares honestly about dizziness, fatigue, loneliness, and questioning why we do these things
- It captures the strange beauty of suffering with purpose
- And yes - there is a lot of appreciation for Team Della
A Few Favourite Themes
The crew story matters
Luke’s daughter Della was a huge part of this episode. Calm, capable, organised, and fully committed to helping him get back out one more time.
Experience helps, but it doesn’t make it easy
Luke had plenty of Backyard Ultra experience, but the format still found a way to test him.
The second night is a different beast
Around yard 33, things started getting much harder. Less sleep, more dizziness, more mental fog, and that feeling of being deep in the event with no easy way through except forward.
Sometimes you question everything
At one point Luke talks about seeing casual runners in the park looking like they’re having a great time while he’s wondering why he’s doing this to himself. Which feels very relatable, frankly.
There is meaning in the suffering
Luke reflects on how these events can teach us something about life - managing discomfort, dealing with hard moments, and keeping going when things are no longer fun or easy.
Listen In For
- Luke being very politely corrected on the pronunciation of his own surname
- His four children helping in the tent before the event
- Della stepping into chief crew mode
- Growing up in Norwich and coming to Australia to play soccer
- Life as a criminal lawyer in Shepparton
- How watching a Backyard Ultra sparked his running obsession
- His 52-yard PB and Great Britain team goal
- Blister prevention and foot prep before the race
- Avoiding milk after previous stomach issues
- Yard 5: fast lap, dusty feet, noodles, a tumble, and feeling fresh again
- Yard 20: settling into the “new norm” after around 130K
- Yard 33: dizziness, fatigue, and the second-night grind
- Why Della brought the chair to the corral to save every possible minute
- Finishing 37 yards and nearly 250K
- The strange mental space of needing help from others
- Steak, Guinness, and not running for a week
- Whether Luke and Della might swap roles in the future
Mentioned In This Episode
- Melbourne Frontyard Ultra
- Ultra Series Australia
- Shaun Kaesler
- Shepparton GV Backyard Ultra
- MVP
- Backyard Ultra World Championships
- Great Britain Backyard Ultra team
- Dead Cow Gully
- Mount Buffalo
- Melbourne Knights
- Shepparton Marathon
- Della, Scarlett, Sunny and Zendaya
- Troy
- Tim Kęprazak / Better By Next Week
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra Event Website - https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 Melbourne Frontyard Ultra?
Entries are open now for Saturday 1 May 2027 - and if 2026 is anything to go by, it’s going to be bigger, better, and likely to sell out.
Enter here: https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2️⃣ I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you or someone you know has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
2 days ago
2 days ago
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 Delirious, drinking beers mid-ultra, and helping race direct some of the most loved Ultra Series events in WA.
As you do.
Simon grew up in Bunbury, spending weekends playing in the bush with his brother Felix, climbing through quarries, exploring trails, and somehow surviving childhood adventures that would probably cause modern parents to faint.
Running wasn’t really the plan at the start. There was soccer, hockey, speed skating, basketball, indoor soccer, obstacle racing, and eventually trail running - thanks partly to Felix inviting him to a night trail race called Moon Shadow.
And that was it.
Simon was hooked.
We talk about his early life, becoming a dad young, building a long career in supermarkets, moving to Kalgoorlie, finding community, discovering trail running, and the deep friendships that have come through the ultra running world.
Of course, we also talk about Delirious.
Simon shares how he first got involved with Ultra Series, what it’s like being part of the team behind the events, and why he loves seeing runners finish something they never thought they could do - whether that’s a short trail race, a backyard lap, or a 200 miler.
There are also some brilliant stories in this episode, including:
- his brother Felix and their very unique trail adventures
- the unofficial “16K ultra” idea at Lake Ballard
- meeting Peter through running
- getting married in Spain around a mountain race
- running 200 milers like moving picnics
- why 100 milers feel more like races
- why he does not understand the appeal of the beach
- his current ankle recovery after finally listening to the experts
- Star Wars Lego
- beer
- more beer
- and the joy of finding your people
Simon’s running story is funny, honest, very Aussie, and full of that beautiful ultra running truth - it’s not always about the race result. Sometimes it’s about the people, the ridiculous ideas, the stories, the community, and the places running takes you.
Tips from Simon
Simon shared a few simple but very useful reminders:
If you roll your ankle - rest.
Simon is currently recovering from ankle surgery after years of rolling, ignoring, strapping, and continuing on. His advice is very clear: don’t keep running on something that needs time to heal.
Find your why.
If motivation is missing, Simon says it helps to come back to why you want to do it in the first place. And if running isn’t the thing that lights you up right now, that’s okay too. Find something that does.
Get involved in the community.
Running can open the door to incredible friendships, adventures, and support. Simon talks beautifully about how much the ultra community has given him.
Volunteer at an event.
Even if you’re not running, volunteering can give you a huge buzz. Helping someone else reach their goal is pretty special.
Don’t overcomplicate it.
Just get out there, enjoy it, and be part of it in whatever way you can.
Pass the Baton
Simon has also given us the first “Pass the Baton” question for the next runner interview:
What’s the one food you wouldn’t share with someone, even if they were really struggling in an ultra?
Which feels very Simon, honestly.
Delirious WEST event website:
https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 DW?
Go join the event Facebook Group so you don’t miss when the race opens for entries in June for new runners:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2️⃣ I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you or someone you know has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
7 days ago
7 days ago
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 or slow? Smooth or uneven? Don’t worry about changing anything straight away. Just notice. Your footsteps can tell you a lot about how you’re moving and how you’re feeling. They often reveal when you’re carrying tension, rushing, settling into a rhythm, or starting to fatigue.
The beauty of this practice is that it gives your mind something simple and useful to focus on. Instead of getting caught up in pace, distance, work, life, or the hundred other thoughts competing for attention, you begin to tune into the run itself. Many runners find that when they focus on the rhythm of their footsteps, their breathing settles and their mind becomes quieter too.
On your next run, let your footsteps become your soundtrack. Listen to the rhythm, notice what it tells you, and see what happens when you spend a little less time thinking and a little more time experiencing.
Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels.
💛 Want your running (and your headspace) to feel a little lighter?
If you enjoyed this ZenRUN Moment, you might love The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and tools designed to help you clear your mind, reset your rhythm, and fall back in love with running.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
A couple of small favours
1️⃣ If you’re enjoying the podcast, a quick follow, like, or review helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Got a running story - or know someone we should chat with? I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
Wednesday Jun 17, 2026
Wednesday Jun 17, 2026
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?” moments. And eventually, the wrap-up chat when their race is done.
In this episode, we’re following the wonderful Jason Rantall.
And this one is powerful.
Jason came into Melbourne Frontyard Ultra with huge energy, a big smile, and a deep love for the backyard ultra format - not just because of the running, but because of the community, the connection, and the movement.
In fact, Jason was at the event the day before it even started, helping set things up.
Which says a lot, really.
For Jason, this format is about more than just how far you can go. It’s about showing up fully. Being present. Connecting with others. Moving the body. Shifting the mind.
And that phrase - move the body, shift the mind - really sits at the heart of this episode.
Jason shares openly about growing up with serious mental health challenges from a very young age, later being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, OCD and psychosis, living with addiction, and eventually finding running again at the age of 44.
But he’s also very clear that running hasn’t always been healthy for him.
At first, he says he was using running to put pain into his body because physical pain felt easier to manage than emotional pain.
That’s a big thing to say out loud.
And it’s also one of the reasons I loved this conversation so much.
Because now, Jason runs from a very different place.
He runs because he loves it.
He runs because movement, connection and community support the life he has built.
He runs because he’s learned to be present.
And he runs because, in his words, if he starts the lap, he finishes it.
At Melbourne Frontyard Ultra, Jason had a big support crew around him, including his son Ryder, Crazy Running Man, mates, family, and his nutritionist Jess.
And he needed them.
Because this event threw plenty at him.
He battled gut issues for hours. He struggled to keep food down. His crew tried honey, lollies, carb mix, electrolytes, medication, Krispy Kreme donuts, and probably a few prayers to the ultra-running gods.
At one point, he was feeling absolutely rubbish, but still completely clear on one thing:
If he got back in time, he was going out again.
And he did.
Jason made it to 45 yards - around 300 kilometres - before timing out on yard 46 after cramps, vomiting, energy loss and a huge battle with the body.
But what stood out in his wrap-up wasn’t disappointment.
It was calm.
It was perspective.
It was gratitude for his crew.
It was curiosity about what needs to change next time.
And it was that same clear presence he spoke about before the event even began:
When he’s in something, he’s in it.
And when it’s done, it’s done.
This episode is honest, thoughtful, raw, funny in places, and full of the kind of wisdom you only really get when someone has lived through hard things and found a way to keep moving.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
- Jason speaks openly about mental health, addiction, recovery and running
- We talk about when running helps - and when running can become unhealthy
- You’ll hear what “move the body, shift the mind” really means to Jason
- Jason’s son Ryder gives a gorgeous little crew update while Jason is asleep
- There’s a very real look at stomach issues, nutrition problem-solving and ultra-running food chaos
- You’ll hear the crew trying to get Jason through one more yard with a Krispy Kreme donut
- Jason reflects honestly on reaching 45 yards and 300K
- It’s a strong reminder that sometimes the real story is not just the result, but how someone keeps showing up
A Few Favourite Themes
Move the body, shift the mind
Jason’s story is such a strong example of how movement can support mental health - not as a magic fix, but as one important part of a much bigger picture.
Running is not always automatically healthy
Jason talks honestly about how he once used running to create physical pain because it felt easier than emotional pain. That honesty matters.
Community changes everything
Backyard and frontyard ultras bring people together in such a unique way. For Jason, that connection is a huge part of why he loves this format.
Presence is a skill
Jason’s whole approach is about staying where he is - not drifting into the chair, the next lap, the finish, the past or the future.
Crew are everything
Jason’s team kept problem-solving long after things got messy. Food, fuel, encouragement, tough love, donuts - they were all in.
Listen In For
- Jason’s childhood in Gisborne
- His early love of sport and wanting to run like Carl Lewis
- His experience with mental health challenges from a young age
- How running re-entered his life at 44
- Quitting smoking, then later quitting alcohol
- Why running became a catalyst, but not the whole answer
- His love of Backyard and Frontyard Ultras
- Why he doesn’t set a hard target
- His rule: if he starts a lap, he finishes it
- Ryder’s crew update while Jason is asleep
- Jason battling stomach issues around yard 20
- Honey, lollies, carb mix and Organic Performance
- The raw moment where Jason is struggling to eat before heading back out
- The Krispy Kreme donut attempt
- Timing out on yard 46
- Finishing 45 yards and around 300 kilometres
- What Jason learned about nutrition, taste fatigue and future events
- Why he can walk away from the event without getting stuck in “should have”
Mentioned In This Episode
- Melbourne Frontyard Ultra
- Ultra Series Australia
- Shaun Kaesler
- Crazy Running Man
- Ryder
- Jess / Jason’s nutritionist
- Organic Performance
- Reds
- Backyard Ultra / Frontyard Ultra format
- Jason’s mental health charity and mentoring work
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra Event Website:
https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 Melbourne Frontyard Ultra?
Entries are open now for Saturday 1 May 2027 - and if 2026 is anything to go by, it’s going to be bigger, better, and likely to sell out.
Enter here:
https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you or someone you know has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
Tuesday Jun 16, 2026
Tuesday Jun 16, 2026
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 - netball, swimming, cross country, athletics, hockey, t-ball - basically all the things. But like so many teenage girls, sport slowly faded into the background when friends, social life, and fitting in became more important.
After leaving school at the end of Year 11, Rach became a hairdresser and spent around 20 years at the same salon - including some very long commutes, early starts, and years on her feet.
But this conversation is about much more than running.
Rach speaks openly about becoming a young mum, meeting her husband Pete, going through IVF, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies, grief, family life, giving up alcohol, and eventually finding running in a way that completely changed her life.
Her running started small - 1.5km to 3km in the morning before work, just around the well-lit streets near home. She didn’t necessarily love the running part at first, but she loved how she felt afterwards.
Then, when her daughter Jada was six weeks old, Rach found a $20 running pram on Marketplace - and that little bargain pram helped launch a whole new chapter.
From there, running grew.
A few kilometres became a half marathon with the pram on a random Wednesday. Then came bigger adventures, backyard ultras, trail races, 50Ks, Two Bays, Wild Dog Backyard Ultra, Tarawera, Melbourne Frontyard Ultra, and now a focus on GV Backyard Ultra.
What I loved most about this chat is how normal and real Rach makes it all sound.
She doesn’t pretend she has endless free time. She doesn’t wait for the perfect moment. She runs early, late, around kids, around work, around dinner, around life. Sometimes she gets 10km. Sometimes she gets 1km. But she keeps showing up.
And for Rach, running is not just fitness.
It’s thinking time.
It’s processing time.
It’s self-care.
It’s discipline.
It’s a way to be a better mum, wife, friend, and human.
We talk about:
- growing up sporty, then drifting away from sport as a teenager
- becoming a hairdresser and working long days on her feet
- becoming a young mum
- IVF, miscarriage, grief, and healing
- giving up alcohol and choosing a different life for her family
- starting running with tiny morning runs
- the legendary $20 running pram
- running her first half marathon with the pram
- why she often runs alone
- fitting running around three kids, work, and family life
- communicating with her husband Pete so they both get time to run
- why she runs every day when she can - even if it’s only 1km
- backyard ultras and why she loves the format
- learning from podcasts while running
- strength training, injury prevention, and respecting recovery
- showing her kids what is possible
- why mums need to stop seeing self-care as selfish
- her love of the ultra-running community
- why she doesn’t need to compete with anyone else - she just wants to see what she can do
Tips from Rach
Rach shared some beautifully simple advice for runners, especially busy parents:
1. Start small
You don’t need to start with big distances. Rach started with 1.5km to 3km before work. Small runs still count.
2. Make it easy to get out the door
One of the reasons running worked for Rach was because she didn’t have to drive anywhere. She could roll out of bed, put her shoes on, and go.
3. Use what you have
A $20 running pram helped Rach build consistency when Jada was tiny. You don’t need everything to be perfect - you just need something that helps you start.
4. Communicate with your partner
Rach and Pete talk the night before about what each of them needs for their run the next day. It’s simple, but it means they can support each other instead of clashing.
5. Be flexible
If you planned 10km but only have time for 5km, do the 5km. Don’t throw the whole run away just because it can’t be perfect.
6. Make running a non-negotiable
Rach’s point was simple - time doesn’t magically appear. You need to decide that your run matters and make space for it.
7. Get creative with kids
Kids can ride bikes while you run, play at the oval while you run laps, or join in where they can. It won’t always look perfect, but it can work.
8. One kilometre can be enough
Rach has a 1km block she can run when life is busy. It’s not about fitness every time - sometimes it’s about taking five minutes for yourself.
9. Strength matters
Rach admits she would always choose running over strength, but trail running and backyard ultras have shown her how important strength work is.
10. Self-care is not selfish
This was one of the biggest themes of the episode. Rach believes running has made her more “selfish” in the best possible way - because taking care of herself helps her show up better everywhere else.
Favourite idea from the episode
You don’t need more hours in the day to become a runner.
You need to decide that your wellbeing matters enough to take a small slice of the day back for yourself.
Sometimes that’s a long run.
Sometimes that’s a backyard ultra.
And sometimes it’s one kilometre around the block.
It all counts.
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra
Melbourne Frontyard Ultra Event Website:
https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 Melbourne Frontyard Ultra?
Entries are open now for Saturday 1 May 2027 - and if 2026 is anything to go by, it’s going to be bigger, better, and likely to sell out.
Enter here:
https://www.melbournefyu.com.au/
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you or someone you know has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
Thursday Jun 11, 2026
Thursday Jun 11, 2026
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 stays in our hands. It often travels up into our wrists, forearms, shoulders, neck, and even our jaw.
On your next run, try checking in every now and then. Are your hands relaxed or clenched? Imagine you’re lightly holding a potato chip you don’t want to crush. Let your fingers soften. Let your wrists relax. Notice what happens further up your body. Many runners find their shoulders drop, their breathing feels easier, and their whole run becomes a little more relaxed.
It’s a great reminder that running doesn’t always require us to try harder. Sometimes the biggest improvements come from letting go rather than tightening up.
Give it a try on your next run and see what you notice.
Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels.
💛 Want your running (and your headspace) to feel a little lighter?
If you enjoyed this ZenRUN Moment, you might love The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and tools designed to help you clear your mind, reset your rhythm, and fall back in love with running.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
A couple of small favours
1️⃣ If you’re enjoying the podcast, a quick follow, like, or review helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Got a running story - or know someone we should chat with? I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
Tuesday Jun 09, 2026
Tuesday Jun 09, 2026
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 running.
Because running?
Absolutely not.
Ben grew up with chronic asthma, tricky knees, and a very strong dislike of running. But life has a funny way of circling back.
After years of work, family life, health challenges, weight struggles, FIFO, mental health battles, and a major lifestyle shift, Ben and Karin found themselves at parkrun.
And that changed everything.
What started as a Saturday morning “why would anyone do this?” moment slowly became 5Ks, 10Ks, trails, half marathons, Feral Pig, Delirious West, 100 milers, 200 miler attempts, big DNFs, big lessons, big friendships, and a running life Ben never expected.
This episode is funny, honest, emotional, and very Ben.
We talk about weight loss surgery, running for mental health, the magic of parkrun, the chaos of Delirious West, crewing Karin, hallucinations, chafing, broken tyres, beers at aid stations, podcast-fuelled road running, and why community might be the greatest thing running has given him.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
Ben shares:
- How he went from not being able to run a couple of hundred metres to becoming an ultra runner
- Why parkrun was the perfect no-pressure place to begin
- How he and Karin rebuilt their health together
- The reality of weight loss surgery - and why it was definitely not the “easy way out”
- His first 50K at Feral Pig and why he was “carrying on like a pork chop” halfway through
- His unforgettable Delirious West 100 miler finish with only 30 minutes to spare
- What it was like crewing Karin through her 200 miler after his own race ended
- The grief and emotion of losing his mum during Delirious
- Why DNFs hurt, but don’t define you
- How running has become one of his biggest mental health tools
- Why he’s currently loving road running, Melbourne Marathon training, and running into the MCG
- Why running with mates, coffee after parkrun, and pub run friendships matter so much
- Why Delirious still has baggage, but also still has a pull
- How he’s heading back to Delirious with mates for the Great Southern Beer Run
Tips From Ben
Ben shared some really practical, honest advice for runners who are struggling to get out the door:
1. Find your reason why
Don’t just run because you “should.” Work out why it matters to you. Is it your mental health? Your fitness? Your friendships? A goal? A bit of space from life?
That reason helps get you moving when motivation disappears.
2. Remember how you feel once you’re out there
Ben says the hardest part is often getting out the door. Once you’re moving, things start to shift. Your head clears. Life feels a bit lighter. The run does what it came to do.
3. Use something that helps you get started
For Ben, that might be a podcast, music, a book, or just being out on the trail listening to birds and trees.
The point is simple: make the run easier to begin.
4. Run with people when you can
Community has been huge for Ben. Parkrun, pub run, trail events, Ultra Series, coffee after runs - these people have become lifelong friends.
Sometimes running is less about the running and more about who it brings into your life.
5. Walking counts
Ben’s reminder is simple and brilliant:
Half an hour is better than nothing.
If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t do the full plan, do something. It still matters.
6. Strength training helps
Ben is a big believer in strength work for runners, especially if you want to keep running longer distances, reduce injury risk, and avoid the post-run “can’t sit down on the toilet” situation.
Very practical. Very true.
A Beautiful Reminder From Ben’s Story
Ben’s story is a reminder that running doesn’t have to start perfectly.
You don’t need to grow up as “a runner.”
You don’t need to be fast.
You don’t need to have it all together.
You can start with one parkrun.
You can walk.
You can struggle.
You can DNF.
You can come back.
And somewhere along the way, running might become less about proving something - and more about finding your people, clearing your head, and becoming someone you never expected to be.
Connect With Ben
You’ll most likely find Ben at parkrun, pub run, crewing Karin, running roads, signing up for something ridiculous with mates, or preparing for his next Delirious adventure.
And if you see him at an aid station, he may remind you:
You did choose to do this.
Delirious WEST event Website - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 DW?
Go join the event Facebook Group so you don’t miss when the race opens for entries in June for new runners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you, or someone you know, has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
Thursday Jun 04, 2026
Thursday Jun 04, 2026
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 door, bring your attention to what’s actually happening right now.
Notice your breathing. Listen to the sound of your feet touching the ground. Feel the temperature of the air on your skin.
Check in with your body. Do your legs feel fresh, heavy, stiff, or full of energy today?
There are no right or wrong answers - just information.
Most of us start running while our mind is still somewhere else. We’re thinking about work, family, errands, emails, or the rest of the day ahead.
This simple practice helps you arrive properly. It helps you settle into the run you’re actually having, instead of the one you’re thinking about.
On your next run, don’t rush through the beginning. Treat the first minute as a doorway. Step through it deliberately and see what changes.
Running often feels different when we stop trying to get somewhere and start noticing where we already are.
Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the experience of a run.
💛 Want your running and your headspace to feel a little lighter?
If you enjoyed this ZenRUN Moment, you might love The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and tools designed to help you clear your mind, reset your rhythm, and fall back in love with running.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
A couple of small favours
1️⃣ If you’re enjoying the podcast, a quick follow, like, or review helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Got a running story - or know someone we should chat with? I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
Or email hello@zenrun.club
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
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, where resilience, self-reliance, and a “how hard can it be?” attitude were basically part of daily life. From there, her story takes us through physio study, hospital work, Uganda, Sydney, a serious cycling accident, concussion recovery, Katherine in the Northern Territory, and eventually Cairns - where she now runs a multidisciplinary allied health clinic.
But this conversation is much more than a running story.
It’s about what happens when life knocks you sideways.
It’s about rebuilding after injury.
It’s about adventure, identity, leadership, values, community, and learning that running doesn’t have to be about pace, PBs, or proving anything.
Sometimes running becomes the place where we get space to think.
Sometimes it becomes the thing that reminds us what we’re capable of.
And sometimes it becomes the reason we find ourselves surrounded by people who think running 270km from Sydney to Newcastle sounds like a perfectly reasonable personal challenge.
Which, obviously, it is not.
But also… I get it.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
In this conversation, Suzanne shares:
- What it was like growing up on a farm in Ireland
- How running first became part of her life through community and connection
- Her time working as a physio in Uganda
- The serious bike accident that led to a broken jaw, post-concussion symptoms, pain, anxiety, and a long recovery
- Why trail running helped her fall back in love with running
- How she built a whole-person allied health clinic in Cairns
- Why running and leadership have more in common than most people think
- Her Sydney to Newcastle trail adventure - including flash flooding, leeches, getting lost, wet feet, and a very patient support crew
- Why she believes organised 200-mile races might actually be easier than self-supported chaos
- How she fits running, business, travel, speaking, leadership coaching, and big adventures into real life
- Why motivation is not the thing to rely on
- Why running is a privilege - especially when it’s hard
Suzanne’s Running Tips
Suzanne shared so many great reminders in this episode, including:
Minimise the friction.
Have your gear ready. Know what you’re doing. Remove as many tiny obstacles as possible so getting out the door doesn’t become a negotiation.
Put your running in the calendar first.
Suzanne plans her week around the things that matter - including training, adventure, family, and recovery - rather than waiting to “find time” later.
Don’t rely on motivation.
As Suzanne says, if she waited until she felt motivated, she might never run again. Make it easier to start instead.
Have something to aim for.
It doesn’t have to be a huge event. It can be a small goal, a race, a trail, an adventure, or simply something that gives your running a little spark.
Stay connected when you’re injured.
If you can’t run, don’t disappear. Go to breakfast. Cheer people on. Stay part of the running community.
Remember what a privilege it is.
Even when it’s hard, even when you’re tired, even when your feet are wet and your brain is questioning your life choices - it’s still a privilege to be able to move, explore, and do these things.
A Favourite Moment
One of my favourite parts of this conversation was Suzanne talking about how the joy came back into running when it became aligned with her values.
Not when she got faster.
Not when she ticked off another race.
Not when she proved anything.
But when running became connected to adventure, community, potential, and living in a way that felt true to her.
And honestly, that feels very ZenRUN.
Listen To This Episode If…
You’ll love this episode if you’ve ever:
- Come back from injury
- Lost your running mojo
- Wanted more adventure in your life
- Felt like your business, work, or responsibilities were swallowing all your time
- Used running as thinking space
- Wondered whether trail runners are all slightly unhinged
- Signed up for something before fully understanding the logistics
- Needed a reminder that running can be about joy, freedom, and possibility
This is such a rich, funny, thoughtful conversation with a woman who has lived a lot of life, taken a lot of brave turns, and somehow still has more adventures planned.
I loved this chat.
And I think you will too.
Suzanne’s practice in Cairns - Wellness Embodied:
https://www.wellnessembodiedcairns.com/
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset - a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2️⃣ I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you (or someone you know) has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.
Tuesday Jun 02, 2026
Tuesday Jun 02, 2026
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.
But this chat isn’t just about photography.
Astrid shares her story of growing up in Singapore, moving to Western Australia, camping adventures with her family, finding her way into photography, and eventually becoming part of the trail running world. Her journey includes early morning boats with fishermen, newspaper photojournalism, community storytelling, trail running, Birdy’s Backyard, and of course, many long days and nights capturing the raw emotion of Delirious West.
We talk about how photographing a 200-mile event is an endurance event in itself — the planning, the mental focus, the sleep deprivation, the gear, the editing, the sandy night drives, and the constant decision-making that happens behind the scenes. Astrid says she’s either shooting or editing for most of the week, often chasing sunrise, sunset, emotional moments, funny poses, and the gritty reality of what runners go through.
Astrid also shares what running means to her personally. She started trail running through a team at Margaret River Ultra, found herself hooked by the people and adventure, and has since become part of the wider ultra-running community in a very unique way — sometimes as a runner, often as the photographer, and always as someone deeply immersed in the story.
One of my favourite parts of this conversation is Astrid’s reflection on motivation. Her advice is simple and very ZenRUN:
You don’t have to feel motivated first.
You just have to start.
Whether it’s running, photography, or any creative project, Astrid says momentum often comes after you begin — not before. Tie the shoelaces. Step outside. Pick up the camera. Start with the first step, and the rest often follows.
This is a relaxed, funny, behind-the-scenes chat with someone who has seen Delirious West from a perspective most of us never will — behind the lens, in the dark, on the beach, in the dust, at the finish line, and sometimes crying behind the camera.
In this episode, we chat about:
- Growing up in Singapore and moving to Perth as a child
- How Astrid found photography after realising agribusiness wasn’t quite her thing
- Life as a photojournalist and freelance photographer
- Why photography is really about storytelling
- How trail running entered her life
- The origins of Birdy’s Backyard
- Why photographing Delirious West is its own kind of endurance event
- The mental load of capturing a multi-day ultra
- The hilarious runner poses Astrid has captured over the years
- Why runners don’t have to run when they see the photographer
- The emotion, grit, joy and humanity of 200-mile events
- Why Astrid would love to run a point-to-point adventure event one day
- Her simple motivation tip: just start
Astrid’s Tip for Runners
Don’t wait until you feel motivated.
Just start.
Go outside. Take the first step. Begin slowly. Often the motivation comes once you’re already moving.
And if you’re out on course and see Astrid with her camera?
You don’t have to run.
But apparently, most of us do anyway 😆
Connect with Astrid
Delirious WEST
Delirious WEST event website:
https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 DW?
Go join the event Facebook Group so you don’t miss when the race opens for entries in June for new runners:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset — a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you or someone you know has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
🎧 Don’t miss an episode
Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.