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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
Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
This week’s mindful moment is a simple invitation to shift your perspective—literally: sit in a different chair. Choose a seat you wouldn’t normally use—the other end of the couch, a chair in another room, or even the floor—and settle in. As you sit, notice how your posture changes, how your breath feels, and what sounds or sensations stand out from this new vantage point. It’s amazing how a small physical shift can gently nudge your mental state as well.
This practice is mindfulness through subtle disruption—a reminder that even tiny changes can refresh your awareness and help you reset.
💛 Want running (and life) to feel a little lighter?
If you loved this Mindful Moment, you’ll enjoy The ZenRUN Reset Collection — a simple set of guided audios and tools to help you reset your running rhythm, clear your head, and get back to enjoying movement again.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
Help us spread the word:
1️⃣ Enjoying the podcast? A quick like or review really helps other runners find it.
2️⃣ Got a story - or know a runner we should chat with? Message us on Facebook or Instagram, or email hello@zenrun.club
✨ Run happy. Run easy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎧 Explore all episodes:
Tuesday Feb 24, 2026
Tuesday Feb 24, 2026
There’s something beautiful about “boring” training.
In this fourth check-in with Matthew, nothing dramatic has happened - no injuries, no big breakthroughs, no chaos. And honestly? That’s exactly what we want.
After completing an ultra just over a month ago, Matthew has dialled things back sensibly. He’s sticking to a three-hour long-run ceiling, building strength through consistent back-to-backs, and focusing on staying healthy rather than chasing ego mileage.
We dive into:
•Why he caps long runs at three hours (and the research he’s been listening to)
•The power of repeated back-to-backs instead of one massive weekend
•Running in London vs running in proper countryside darkness
•Training in relentless mud and fully saturated trails
•Road-to-trail shoe choices for Delirious
•His detailed blister prevention strategy (including toe sleeves, taping methods and lessons from Fixing Your Feet)
•Why treadmill hill reps have entered the chat
•The culture shock of going from minus one degree to Western Australian heat
•And the wisdom of NOT skateboarding two days before a 200-mile race 😅
Matthew is realistic, grounded and quietly confident. His goal? Finish comfortably ahead of cutoff. That’s it. No drama. No ego. Just ticking boxes and staying in one piece.
And honestly… that’s exactly how you prepare for something as wild as Delirious.
⸻
📚 Book mentioned: Fixing Your Feet
(A must-read for anyone doing long-distance events.)
Delirious WEST event Website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want a steady plan - and someone in your corner?
If you’re ready for more structure, clarity, and personalised support, I offer one-on-one ZenRUN coaching.
No pressure. No ego. Just a plan that fits your real life - and keeps running feeling like the best part of your week.
👉 Learn more about ZenRUN Personalised Run Coaching
https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/
A couple of BIG favours:
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please like and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Come on the podcast and share your running journey, or refer someone you’d love me to interview (even if you don’t know them personally!). Let’s stop keeping the power of running a secret.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram at 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.
✨ Run easy. Run happy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who actually get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎙️ Explore all episodes:
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Ben is back… and the countdown is officially getting real.
In this fourth check-in, we talk training adjustments, sand miles, gear lists (in spreadsheet form 😅), hyper-focus tendencies, and what it really means to approach a 100-miler with calm confidence instead of hustle culture.
Ben is sitting around 50km weeks – not the 90km he once planned – and he’s completely at peace with that. No panic. No ego. Just consistency, strength work, beach runs incoming, and a very clear A goal: finish in daylight on Saturday.
We also go deep into:
💛 Why You’ll Love This Episode
•The difference between “11:30pm Ben” and “4:30am Ben” – and why that matters
•Why being tired from life is actually Delirious training
•Running by breathing rhythm instead of pace or heart rate
•Training on rocky Adelaide Hills trails for mechanical durability
•Why beach running is now a priority (hello sand miles)
•The freedom of running crew-less
•Hyper-focus tendencies (spreadsheet gear list included 😉)
•A 250g carb-per-section fueling strategy made mostly from supermarket snacks
•The beauty of running as a lifelong companion, not just a goal-chasing sport
⸻
🍌 Fuel of Choice?
Let’s just say…
LCMs, Pop-Tarts, Nerd Clusters, Doritos, fruit sticks and Tailwind.
No fancy gels-only strategy. No overthinking. Just food that works.
Ben summed it up beautifully:
“There’s lots of ways to get to the finish line.”
And that might be the theme of this whole episode.
⸻
🧠 Big Takeaway
You don’t need hustle culture to run 100 miles.
You need consistency.
Self-awareness.
And the ability to make the hard decision when it’s uncomfortable.
Running isn’t just about race day. It’s about who you become in the process.
And Ben? He’s becoming very steady.
Next check-in: March.
Then… we’re basically there.
Delirious WEST event Website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want a steady plan - and someone in your corner?
If you’re ready for more structure, clarity, and personalised support, I offer one-on-one ZenRUN coaching.
No pressure. No ego. Just a plan that fits your real life - and keeps running feeling like the best part of your week.
👉 Learn more about ZenRUN Personalised Run Coaching
https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/
A couple of BIG favours:
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please like and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Come on the podcast and share your running journey, or refer someone you’d love me to interview (even if you don’t know them personally!). Let’s stop keeping the power of running a secret.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram at 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.
✨ Run easy. Run happy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who actually get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎙️ Explore all episodes:
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
This week’s mindful moment offers a gentle way to weave awareness into your daily routine: set a mindful marker for your day. Choose one regular activity—like brushing your teeth, making a cup of tea, or starting your car—and let it become a cue to pause. Each time that moment arrives, take a deep breath, check in with your body, and ask yourself: What do I need right now?
This simple habit acts as an anchor—a grounding point in your day that brings you back to presence without needing to stop everything. Small, consistent mindfulness adds up—and this is a beautiful place to begin.
💛 Want running (and life) to feel a little lighter?
If you loved this Mindful Moment, you’ll enjoy The ZenRUN Reset Collection — a simple set of guided audios and tools to help you reset your running rhythm, clear your head, and get back to enjoying movement again.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
Help us spread the word:
1️⃣ Enjoying the podcast? A quick like or review really helps other runners find it.
2️⃣ Got a story - or know a runner we should chat with? Message us on Facebook or Instagram, or email hello@zenrun.club
✨ Run happy. Run easy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎧 Explore all episodes:
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
Under 8 weeks to go.
Garmin reminders pinging daily.
And Gabe Alves? Calm. Calculated. Slightly obsessed with vert… and now ketones 😅
In this Check-In #4, Gabe shares what January looked like:
•8,000+ metres of vert
•Around 250km on the legs
•10kg weiht vest hill repeats (22 reps up a 130m climb 😳)
•Lots of power hiking
•Double run days
•And some serious shoe hacking
But the real deep dive this month?
🧪 A full nutrition experiment.
Gabe has been dealing with inflammation and swelling in previous long events. So instead of guessing… he’s testing.
He’s running predominantly keto, monitoring glucose AND ketones with continuous monitors on both arms, and gathering real-time data to understand how his body responds over long efforts.
This isn’t “everyone should do this.”
This is “what works for me?”
And I love that mindset.
We also talk about:
•The mental game of boring training
•How to distract yourself during endless hill reps
•The art of double run days
•The fear of doing something silly 8 weeks out
•Why new shoes are never really “new” until you’ve hacked them to pieces
There’s a beautiful thread through this conversation about experimentation, ownership, and curiosity.
Not ego.
Not dogma.
Just curiosity.
And honestly? That’s a powerful place to be heading into 200 miles.
⸻
💛 Why You’ll Love This Episode
•Honest talk about training consistency (even when you don’t feel like it)
•A practical look at vert vs distance focus in the final block
•How to use micro-milestones to survive “boring” sessions
•Smart injury-avoidance mindset 8 weeks out
•A fascinating self-experiment into inflammation, carbs, keto & performance
⸻
🧠 Gabe’s Big Takeaway
Figure out what works for YOU.
Not what works for the loudest voice online.
Not what worked for your mate.
Not what worked for me.
You.
That’s the real long-game mindset.
Delirious WEST event Website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want a steady plan - and someone in your corner?
If you’re ready for more structure, clarity, and personalised support, I offer one-on-one ZenRUN coaching.
No pressure. No ego. Just a plan that fits your real life - and keeps running feeling like the best part of your week.
👉 Learn more about ZenRUN Personalised Run Coaching
https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/
A couple of BIG favours:
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please like and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Come on the podcast and share your running journey, or refer someone you’d love me to interview (even if you don’t know them personally!). Let’s stop keeping the power of running a secret.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram at 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.
✨ Run easy. Run happy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who actually get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎙️ Explore all episodes:
Monday Feb 16, 2026
Monday Feb 16, 2026
#4
Sym Mercer checks in this month… live from a 47-degree audit site, in high-vis, somewhere in outback Queensland 😅
And honestly? She sounds calm. Strong. Ready.
In this episode we talk injury management, heat acclimatisation, race planning squeezed between remote jobs, and that very familiar feeling of:
“Can we just start already?”
Sym has been modifying her training but still knocked out 34km with 1000m elevation and pulled up well – which is a huge confidence boost at this stage. She’s managing the injury rather than obsessing over it – and that mindset shift alone is powerful.
We also dive into:
• How she handles 44-degree afternoon runs (yes… 44 😳)
• Travel logistics when you won’t be home until just before you leave for WA
• Banking work time now so she can “spend it” on adventure later
• The simplicity of ultra thinking – just get to the next checkpoint
• And… the real star of the episode… Ranga 🧡
For those new here, Ranga is Sym’s 39-year companion – a soft toy from the 80s who travels to every event and waits at checkpoints with the crew. He has his own T-shirts. He has front seat privileges. He does not go in the backpack (because we don’t get him wet).
It’s quirky. It’s human. And it’s actually beautiful.
Because this is what these long-distance adventures are really about – rituals, meaning, loyalty, community… and getting yourself to the start line in whatever way works for you.
There are many paths to Delirious.
Sym’s just happens to include high-vis, 47 degrees, and a 40-year-old Elf.
And I love it.
⸻
💛 Why You’ll Love This Episode
•Real talk about managing niggles without spiralling
•Practical heat adaptation mindset
•Planning under pressure (when work is full-on)
•A beautiful reminder to focus on what you can control
•The story of Ranga – Delirious’ unofficial emotional support crew member
⸻
🏃♀️ Sym’s Quiet Wisdom
When things aren’t perfect:
• Don’t overthink it
• Focus on what you can do
• Manage, don’t obsess
• Get to the next checkpoint
Simple. Powerful. Ultra mindset at its finest.
Delirious WEST event Website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want a steady plan - and someone in your corner?
If you’re ready for more structure, clarity, and personalised support, I offer one-on-one ZenRUN coaching.
No pressure. No ego. Just a plan that fits your real life - and keeps running feeling like the best part of your week.
👉 Learn more about ZenRUN Personalised Run Coaching
https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/
A couple of BIG favours:
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please like and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Come on the podcast and share your running journey, or refer someone you’d love me to interview (even if you don’t know them personally!). Let’s stop keeping the power of running a secret.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram at 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.
✨ Run easy. Run happy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who actually get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎙️ Explore all episodes:
Wednesday Feb 11, 2026
Wednesday Feb 11, 2026
This week’s mindful moment focuses on the everyday actions we usually rush through: open or close something with full awareness. Whether it’s a door, a drawer, your laptop, or a cupboard—pause and bring your full attention to the motion. Notice how your hand moves, the sound it makes, the effort your body uses, and the breath that moves with it.
Let this tiny moment become a check-in, a grounding cue that reminds you: you’re present, you’re alive, you’re here. Even the smallest movement can become a doorway to mindfulness.
💛 Want running (and life) to feel a little lighter?
If you loved this Mindful Moment, you’ll enjoy The ZenRUN Reset Collection — a simple set of guided audios and tools to help you reset your running rhythm, clear your head, and get back to enjoying movement again.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
Help us spread the word:
1️⃣ Enjoying the podcast? A quick like or review really helps other runners find it.
2️⃣ Got a story - or know a runner we should chat with? Message us on Facebook or Instagram, or email hello@zenrun.club
✨ Run happy. Run easy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎧 Explore all episodes:
Tuesday Feb 10, 2026
Tuesday Feb 10, 2026
In this Delirious WEST 2026 – Check-In 3 episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, we’re catching up with Eve Knudson to see how things are really tracking as training starts to gently ramp up.
Eve shares how she’s mixing running, strength training, swimming and trail time – without locking herself into a rigid weekly plan. Instead, she’s leaning into flexibility, planning ahead just enough, and fitting training around work deadlines, family life, and the occasional much-needed sleep-in ☕️
We chat about:
• Starting strength training again (and those early “is-this-an-injury?” niggles 😅)
• Why flexible planning beats strict schedules for busy runners
• Trail runs as time-on-feet, not pace pressure
• Navigating body scans, numbers, and staying mentally steady
• Cutting alcohol, sleeping better, and feeling stronger already
• Mandatory gear lists, pack stress, and trialling gear early
• Shoe rotation wisdom (and buying them on sale only 😉)
It’s an honest, grounded conversation about consistency over perfection – and doing what works for your life while keeping Delirious firmly in sight.
Big takeaway: You don’t need a perfect plan – you need a plan that bends without breaking.
Delirious WEST event Website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you’ll love The ZenRUN Reset Collection — a set of guided audios and simple tools to help you reset your running 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 like and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Come on the podcast and share your running journey, or refer someone you’d love me to interview (even if you don’t know them personally!). Let’s stop keeping the power of running a secret.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram at 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.
✨ Run easy. Run happy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who actually get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎙️ Explore all episodes:
Monday Feb 09, 2026
Monday Feb 09, 2026
In this Delirious WEST 2026 – Check-In 3 episode, I catch up with Kylie Bell to see how training is tracking as the race starts to feel very real.
Kylie shares how she’s juggling busy shift work, limited time, and long-term ultra prep – including running to work, doing a full shift, then running home again (yes, really). We chat about training on tired legs, getting night running dialled in, and why consistency beats perfection right now.
We also talk through:
• Strength work coming back into focus
• Testing packs, poles, shoes, and backup gear (including zip ties and hair ties!)
• Nutrition learnings from Kosciuszko and keeping things simple
• Travelling to Japan mid-build and why hiking + moving still counts
• Heat worries, weather roulette, and hoping April behaves itself
• Crew planning, laminated cheat sheets, and why support crews deserve medals
• The fine line between experience and complacency
Kylie brings her trademark calm confidence – not stressed, not panicking, just quietly getting the work done. A great listen if you’re balancing life, work, and big endurance goals… or if you’ve ever thought, “Am I doing enough?”
Delirious WEST event Website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you’ll love The ZenRUN Reset Collection — a set of guided audios and simple tools to help you reset your running 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 like and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Come on the podcast and share your running journey, or refer someone you’d love me to interview (even if you don’t know them personally!). Let’s stop keeping the power of running a secret.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram at 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.
✨ Run easy. Run happy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who actually get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎙️ Explore all episodes:
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I finally sit down with the wonderful Melissa (Mel) Clark — local legend, registered nurse, mum of twins, blueberry farmer, triathlete, ultra runner, and one of the most refreshingly honest humans you’ll ever hear on a run chat.
Mel and I wander through her life (as we do), from growing up with a twin, to juggling nursing shifts, farming, family life, triathlon training, and running — often late at night with a head torch once everyone else was in bed. This is a real, unpolished conversation about what it actually looks like to keep moving through busy seasons, hormonal chaos, mum guilt, fatigue, and self-doubt.
We talk triathlons, backyard ultras, farm strength, gym hesitations (and finally joining one!), why women are tougher than we give ourselves credit for, and how learning to be kind to yourself might just be the most important training tool of all.
If you’ve ever felt like you should be doing more… or wondered how “everyone else” fits it all in — this episode will feel like a deep exhale.
🏃♀️ Why You’ll Love This Episode
• Mel’s very real journey into running and triathlon — no pedestal, no ego
• How farming, strength work, triathlon training, and running all support each other
• Why late-night runs became her sanity-saving ritual
• Honest chat about hormones, cycles, and why women shouldn’t fear them
• Backyard ultra lessons (including “pretend calories” and survival brain!)
• Letting go of guilt and putting your health first — especially as a mum
Links mentioned in this episode:-
Coop Secure - https://www.coopsecure.com.au/
Wild Acres Berry Farm - https://www.facebook.com/WildAcresTas
Patto’s podcast - https://backyardultrapodcast.podbean.com/
Holly Ranson’s podcast episode - https://fitmindfitbody.co/episode-156-running-increases-your-self-efficacy-holly-ranson/
💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you’ll love The ZenRUN Reset Collection — a set of guided audios and simple tools to help you reset your running 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 like and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover it.
2️⃣ Come on the podcast and share your running journey, or refer someone you’d love me to interview (even if you don’t know them personally!). Let’s stop keeping the power of running a secret.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram at 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.
✨ Run easy. Run happy.
ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who actually get it.
👉 zenrun.club
🎙️ Explore all episodes: