The ZenRUN Podcast

Brad Halls reckons he’s more of a shuffler than a runner. Which feels slightly questionable when you’ve already finished the Delirious W.E.S.T. 100 miler and 200 miler. 😂

Brad only started running a few years ago, after swapping motorbikes for a pair of running shoes. Somewhere along the way, a rather fortunate 5K podium convinced him it might be time to retire from short-distance racing and start doing ridiculous long things instead.

Now he’s heading back to Delirious in 2027 for another crack at the 200, alongside his partner Kylie, with a pretty simple goal: have fun and enjoy the adventure.

We chat about why Delirious feels more like a very long party to Brad, the changes he’d like to make after this year’s race, and one rather questionable nutrition strategy involving pockets full of uneaten food.

There’s also the small matter of a possible gout problem, a blood test Brad really doesn’t want to have, and the fact that apparently running 200 miles is less frightening than a needle.

This should be a very entertaining journey to follow.

Thinking about taking on Delirious West yourself?

If the stories in this series are giving you that little itch to be part of it, have a look at the event details and see whether 2027 might be your year.

Delirious WEST event website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387

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💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.

If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do - Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.

This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.

Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

🙏 A couple of big favours

1. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2. 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.

Levi Quinton has already experienced Delirious West from the other side.

In 2026, he was part of the race team, chasing runners around the course, watching their stories unfold and getting a very close look at just how much can happen over 200 miles.

Apparently that wasn’t enough. Now he wants to run it himself. 😂

In this first catch-up for the Delirious West 2027 series, we get to know Levi and the slightly unexpected path that brought him into ultra running.

There’s a back injury, a mum who helped spark the running idea, an unplanned marathon around the suburbs and a growing appreciation for trails that eventually led him into the Ultra Series world.

We also chat about what Levi learned from watching Delirious up close, why he’s not interested in simply piling on huge training mileage, and his plan to arrive at the start line feeling ready rather than completely cooked.

And before we even get to Delirious, Levi has another fairly ridiculous challenge on the calendar involving a Stairmaster and the height of Everest. Click here to find out more!

Plenty to follow with this one.

Thinking about taking on Delirious West yourself?

If the stories in this series are giving you that little itch to be part of it, have a look at the event details and see whether 2027 might be your year.

Delirious WEST event website:
https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/

Event Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387

---

💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.

If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do, Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.

This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.

Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

🙏 A couple of big favours

1. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast. It helps more runners discover these conversations.
2. 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.

When was the last time you ran for five whole minutes without checking your watch?

This week’s ZenRUN Moment is a simple challenge that can feel surprisingly difficult. On your next run, leave your watch alone for the first five minutes. No checking your pace. No looking at your distance. No wondering whether you're running "well enough". Just run.

Instead of relying on the numbers, tune into your body. Notice your breathing. Feel your posture. Listen to your footsteps. Take in what's happening around you. Pay attention to your rhythm and how the effort feels. Your watch can tell you plenty of useful things, but it can't tell you how connected you feel to the run.

Technology is an amazing tool, but sometimes we hand over too much of our awareness to the screen on our wrist. Your body has been giving you feedback all along. The more you practise listening to it, the more confident and connected you'll become as a runner. You may even discover that running feels a little freer when you're not constantly waiting for the next piece of data.

On your next run, give yourself five minutes without looking at your watch. Trust your body, enjoy the experience, and see what you notice.

Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels.

---

💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.

If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do, Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.

This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.

Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

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

Craig Maluish has a bit of an all-or-nothing streak.

He wasn’t a runner growing up. Skateboarding was his thing, and running only really entered the picture during a pretty significant turning point in his life. His solution? Start with a few kilometres, attempt some enormous days on the Bibbulmun Track and sign up for an 80km ultra before he’d even run his first race. 😂

That probably tells you quite a lot about Craig.

In this first Delirious West 2027 catch-up, we chat about the rather unexpected path that brought him into ultra running, why the longer distances seem to suit him, and the challenge that involved running 50km a day for 11 days while still going to work.

Now he’s finally heading to a race that’s been on his list for years: the Delirious W.E.S.T. 200 miler.

And Craig isn’t simply planning to make his way from one end to the other. His competitive side already has some ideas about how he’d like to approach it.

This is going to be a very interesting journey to follow.

Thinking about taking on Delirious West yourself?

If the stories in this series are giving you that little itch to be part of it, have a look at the event details and see whether 2027 might be your year.

Delirious WEST event website:
https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/

Event Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387

---

💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.

If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do, Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.

This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.

Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

🙏 A couple of big favours

1. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast. It helps more runners discover these conversations.
2. 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.

Ben Ridley once said he was never doing Delirious again.

So naturally, he’s signed up for the 200 miler in 2027. 😂

In this first catch-up of the Delirious West 2027 series, we go back to where Ben’s running started, which is quite a long way from 200-mile ultras. Running definitely wasn’t his thing growing up, and his first parkrun involved considerably more stopping and gasping than running.

Somehow, things escalated.

We chat about how he found the ultra community, his complicated history with Delirious and why, despite having some very good reasons not to return, he’s decided there might be another chapter left in this particular story.

And then there’s the Great Southern Beer Run.

Ben and a group of very experienced mates have come up with a slightly unusual way of tackling the 200 miler together. There is beer involved. Quite a lot of beer, actually. But as Ben explains, the idea behind it is less about the beer and much more about how they want to experience those five days together.

First though, Ben has a completely different challenge ahead of him: Melbourne Marathon.

This could be a very entertaining journey to follow.

Thinking about taking on Delirious West yourself?

If the stories in this series are giving you that little itch to be part of it, have a look at the event details and see whether 2027 might be your year.

Delirious WEST event website:
https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/

Event Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387

---

💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.

If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do, Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.

This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.

Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

🙏 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.

Kelli O’Neill hated running at school.

These days, she’s a trail runner and ultra runner who has taken on everything from UTA 50 to Delirious 100 milers, with plenty of adventures, wrong turns and good stories along the way.

In this episode, we chat about how a women’s triathlon helped lead Kelli towards trail running, why being out in the bush and sharing adventures with friends became such a big part of her life, and how running has given her confidence that carries into life away from the trails.

Kelli also has a fascinating career in river health and ecology in Western Australia, and I loved hearing how often her work and trail running worlds overlap.

We also talk about staying motivated when you’d rather stay in bed, choosing events that suit the runner you are, and keeping some fun and adventure in your training.

A few of Kelli’s simple tips:

• Get your gear ready the night before and decide where you’re going to run.
• Make plans with someone else when you can.
• Give yourself something new or interesting to explore.
• Sometimes forget pace and distance and simply head out for an adventure run.

And of course, Kelli answers Alyssa Wilkinson’s Pass the Baton question before leaving one for my next guest.

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💛 Want to feel like a runner again?

If this conversation resonated, Feel Like a Runner Again is a simple, practical program designed to help you rediscover the joy of running. You’ll learn how to quiet the mental noise, let go of the pressure, and make running feel like your escape again, not another thing on your to-do list.

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

🙏 A couple of big favours

1. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2. 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.

Paul Watkins describes himself as having “close to zero sporting ability”, which makes the rest of his story rather entertaining.

Running started as the sport he could actually get into at school. Somehow, that eventually led to mountaineering expeditions, Arctic ultra marathons, dragging sleds through ridiculous conditions and, most recently, completing the Delirious W.E.S.T. 200 miler.

Paul came into Delirious this year wanting to experience the event rather than chase a result. He loved it so much that he’s coming back in 2027 with a slightly different question: now that he knows the course and knows he can finish it, what might he be able to do differently?

We chat about his fascination with doing hard things, why running became an escape from a life dominated by work, what those huge adventures have taught him about himself, and why sometimes the most useful lesson in an ultra is simply remembering that nothing lasts forever.

There’s also a rather excellent discussion about sleep strategy and Paul’s plans to become an “aggressive dirt napper” next time around. 😂

There’s a lot still to unfold between here and the start line.

Paul’s links:

• Website - https://www.paulwatkins.com.au/
• His Substack - https://paulwatkins.substack.com/
• Paul’s books - https://www.paulwatkins.com.au/books
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-watkins-92125499/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.rogue.scholar/

Thinking about taking on Delirious West yourself?

If the stories in this series are giving you that little itch to be part of it, have a look at the event details and see whether 2027 might be your year.

• Delirious WEST event website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
• Event Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387

---

💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.

If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do - Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.

This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.

Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

🙏 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.

Gabe Alves is back for another Delirious West adventure.

After three starts at the 200 miler, including finally making it all the way to the finish in 2026, you might think he’d be happy to tick that one off and move on.

Apparently not. 😂

In this first catch-up for the 2027 series, Gabe talks about why he’s heading back and the slightly dangerous question sitting in the back of his mind: was last year’s finish a fluke?

There’s also a new twist this time around. His usual race setup may not be available, which could mean tackling Delirious very differently in 2027.

And when your nutrition approach is a little different from the average ultra runner, that creates some interesting problems to solve.

We also get into why these huge multi-day races keep pulling him back, even when they don’t go to plan, and why the uncertainty is actually part of the appeal.

Gabe always brings plenty to think about, along with a healthy dose of ultra-running logic that probably makes perfect sense only to other ultra runners.

This should be a fun journey to follow.

Gabe’s 2026 Delirious video
https://youtu.be/-nQBIw3xFaM?si=vZ5Yen9FDjqcSL0Y

Gabe’s podcast episodes
https://fitmindfitbody.co/?s=gabe

Thinking about taking on Delirious West yourself?

If the stories in this series are giving you that little itch to be part of it, have a look at the event details and see whether 2027 might be your year.

Delirious WEST event website
https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/

Event Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387

---

💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.

If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do - Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.

This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.

Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

🙏 A couple of big favours

1. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2. 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.

Have you ever noticed the exact moment during a run when you start actually enjoying yourself?

This week’s ZenRUN Moment is about something that sounds obvious, but most of us probably miss it: notice when you start enjoying yourself. There’s often a point where the run shifts. Your body loosens up. Your breathing settles. You stop thinking quite so much. Maybe you even catch yourself smiling for absolutely no reason at all.

That moment matters because it reminds us that running isn’t only about fitness, pace, distance, or ticking off a session. Sometimes running gives us freedom. Space. Relief. Joy. And when we deliberately notice those moments, we give our brain a chance to remember that running can feel good, rather than always associating it with effort, pressure, or something we “should” be doing.

On your next run, don’t try to force the enjoyment. Just stay curious. Notice if there’s a moment when something shifts and you realise, “Actually… I’m really enjoying this.” Let yourself stay there for a little while.

Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels.

---

💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.

If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do, Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.

This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.

Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

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

What happens when running has always been part of who you are… and suddenly your body changes what running can look like?

This week on the ZenRUN Podcast, I’m chatting with runner, triathlete and physiotherapist Alissa Wilkinson.

Alissa grew up in the little surf town of Crescent Head before moving to Virginia in the US as a teenager, where swimming was replaced by cross country and track, and she really started to see herself as a runner.

Since then, running has taken her through triathlon, age-group success, injury, motherhood and a return to sport that looked very different from anything she’d expected.

After the birth of her first child, Alyssa suffered a serious pelvic floor injury that left her unable to run and dramatically changed both her everyday life and her career. She shares very openly what that period was like, the long road back, and how she eventually returned not only to running, but to competing in triathlon again.

We also chat about the frustration of having physical limits when you still have a very competitive brain, why strength has become such an important part of Alyssa’s running, and her belief that sometimes we need to stop asking whether our body is “made for running” and start looking at whether the way we’re training needs to change.

Alyssa also shares some really practical tips for runners:

• Have a plan. She finds training much harder to get done when she doesn’t know exactly what she’s working towards or what the session is.
• Strength doesn’t have to take hours. Alissa says you can get a lot done with two half-hour strength sessions a week.
• Adjust strength around your running. If you’re racing, strength may play more of a supporting role. When you’re not racing, there may be room to make it more of a priority.
• Feeling stiff doesn’t always mean the run will feel terrible. Alyssa suggests spending two or three minutes doing simple running drills or stepping exercises before you head out, or even stopping briefly during the early part of a run to do them.
• If running feels like a struggle, add some walking. Starting with a little walk/run can help you get moving without turning the session into a battle.

And of course we finish with Pass the Baton, where Frank Collins asks Alissa to describe one of her worst foot injury stories in as much graphic detail as possible. 😳

Let’s just say Alissa’s running feet have been remarkably well behaved… but her surfing feet have a story or two. 😂

Alissa's Running Programs:
Run Resilience - www.runresilience.com
Bounce Back Mamas - www.bouncebackmamas.com

Alissa's Physio app website:
www.pursuitlab.io

---

💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.

If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do—Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.

This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.

Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again

---

🙏 A couple of big favours

1. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast - it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2. 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.