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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
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
In their final check-in before Delirious West, ultra couple Andy and Del Thompson are keeping it real, calm, and kind of hilarious. With their house in full packing chaos, kids to prep for while they’re away, and lists galore, Andy shares their thoughtful, practical, and sometimes cheeky approach to pre-race prep.
This episode covers everything from 5K-a-day fundraising for brain cancer, to managing early signs of plantar fasciitis with tape, to building a camper-van aid station that’s part spreadsheet, part snack shop. They also unpack the new course direction, discuss pacing tips for the notoriously tough Mount Clare section, and share why “four kilometres per hour” is the magic number in race planning.
There’s plenty of banter about hallucinations, dirt naps, and the importance of waking up to coffee, plus a new go-to snack idea: frozen Nutella crepes.
Key Highlights:
•Running 315km in February as part of a daily 5K challenge
•Injury management: early plantar signs & taping hacks
•Camper prep: sticky notes, frozen snacks, and lots of noodles
•Course reversal reflections and pacing strategy insights
•How they plan for crew sleep, night aid stations, and trail hallucinations
•“It is what it is”—why mindset is everything when things get tough
Connect with Us:
Subscribe for final athlete check-ins and all the post-race madness! Got a go-to race snack or a dirt nap story? Tell us below—bonus points for hilarious hallucinations.
Check out the Delirious WEST event - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
In this fourth check-in, Big Kev (Kevin Matthews) brings his trademark honesty, humour, and ultra wisdom to the mic as he faces down his sixth Delirious West—aka what he’s dubbed “The Hilly Year.”
Despite battling a cold and a calf injury, Kev is all systems go. From talking about his almost-gold-buckle chase, hilarious misadventures with March flies, and why this reversed course is both brutal and brilliant, this episode is packed with perspective, laughter, and valuable ultra-running advice.
Kev shares how he’s managing final prep with lower weekly mileage, more Pilates, stronger nutrition strategies, and a veteran mindset focused on rhythm, smart pacing, and realistic expectations. Oh, and there’s sparkling water in the mix—because why not?
Key Highlights:
•Calf niggle & head cold recovery just weeks out
•Reflecting on past races, including a sub-70-hour sprint finish chasing a gold buckle
•Thoughts on the course change and why doing Mount Clare twice is no joke
•Advice on fuel, hydration, and caffeinated strip hacks for the night grind
•Laugh-out-loud stories about sparkling water in a soft flask, March fly bites, and climbing terrifying trees
•Kev’s race mantra: “Eat when you should. Snack when you can. Be flexible with the plan.”
Connect with Us:
Subscribe for final race build-up and post-race stories from Kev and the rest of the Delirious West legends! Got a race-day caffeine ritual or ridiculous trail snack? Let us know in the comments!
Check out the Delirious WEST event - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
Friday Apr 04, 2025
Friday Apr 04, 2025
In this final check-in, Stuart Rainbow is all-in for Delirious West—even if it means being stalked by a fox mid-run, gluing his shoes to keep the sand out, and completely reworking his race strategy after a last-minute course change.
He shares the highs of a smooth 75K night training run (with donut aid stations, naturally) and the lows of a brief knee scare that had him resting just weeks before the race. Stuart talks logistics, from jetboils and battery backups to his meticulously reinforced shoes, stitched and Velcroed to fight back against the WA sand.
With a brilliant sense of humour and total commitment, Stuart also reflects on the mental reset the new course demands, why it might be tougher—but better—to tackle the infamous Mount Clare section up front, and how the Delirious community is everything.
Key Highlights:
•12-hour night run feat. fox encounters and servo donuts
•Managing a knee injury close to race day with help from a runner-friendly physio
•Gear upgrades: Velcro-sealed shoes and enough socks to start a store
•Navigating the course reversal and reassessing sleep and pacing strategy
•A heartfelt nod to the volunteers, medics, and other crews who make this race special
•Reflecting on what Delirious means after years of build-up—“Why not make it tougher?”
Connect with Us:
Subscribe for race week energy and finish line stories! Have a quirky pre-race ritual or last-minute gear upgrade? Let us know in the comments!
Check out the Delirious WEST event - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
This week’s mindful moment is perfect for anyone who spends long hours at a desk: a mindful stretch session. Start by rolling your shoulders forward and backward, noticing the tension releasing with each movement. Then, interlace your fingers and stretch your arms overhead, feeling the length in your spine. Finally, gently twist to each side, focusing on your breath and how your body feels.
These simple stretches not only help with stiffness but also bring awareness to the present moment, offering a refreshing reset for your mind and body.
Spend just five minutes with this practice, and see how it can bring calm and clarity to your day.
For more mindfulness ideas, head over to our ebook with 24 Simple Mindfulness strategies: https://fitmindfitbody.co/books/
Help us spread the mindfulness:
1️⃣ If you're enjoying our podcast, please leave a like and review. Your support helps others discover the joy of mindful running.
2️⃣ Have a story or know a runner who'd be perfect for our podcast? Reach out to us on Facebook/Instagram or email (Michelle @ FitMINDFitBODY .co ).
Don’t miss a single episode. Sign up for our email alerts.
Wednesday Apr 02, 2025
Wednesday Apr 02, 2025
In his final pre-race check-in, James Sawyer brings his signature low-fuss, high-heart approach to the mic as he prepares to line up for the Delirious West 200-miler. From night runs with his brother to a back-to-back weekend of endurance capped off by a 25K mental health fundraiser walk, James shares how he’s gotten his mental game right—even if he still feels like he’s “not done enough.”
With a minimalist gear strategy, a no-nonsense approach to planning, and his whole family rallying behind him, James is ready to embrace whatever the trail throws at him. From packing chip sandwiches and Baba’s spaghetti to explaining his simple mantra—“just get it done”—this episode is full of charm, honesty, and ultra mindset magic.
Key Highlights:
•Weekend warrior: night run + fundraiser walk + early trail session
•His brother joins as a night pacer (with bonus responsibility: “don’t get us lost”)
•Crew strategy with Corey, sleep planning, and a very casual approach to watches & data
•Food prep: chips, white rolls, LCM bars & the legendary Baba’s spaghetti
•Keeping it simple: identical race outfits, minimalist gear, and loads of heart
•A reminder that you don’t have to be elite to do extraordinary things
Connect with Us:
Subscribe for the final pre-race episodes and post-race recaps from the full Delirious crew! Got a race-day ritual or snack combo as unique as chip sandwiches? Drop it in the comments—we want to hear it!
Check out the Delirious WEST event - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
In his seventh and final check-in before Delirious West, Gabe Alves shares how he’s navigating a pre-race curveball—a fractured little toe just four weeks out from race day. Instead of pushing through, Gabe’s leaned into rest, mindfulness, and perspective, choosing recovery over panic.
With help from an ultra-running doctor (who casually offered to “fix it after the race if it snaps again”), Gabe’s embraced the ultra mindset: “get to the start line, adapt, and do the thing.” He talks about the recent course change due to fire damage, and how the reversed course layout means new terrain, different challenges, and perhaps most importantly—a clean slate.
Gabe also reflects on gear choices (four pairs of shoes, now plus extra socks), why he’s ditching the overplanning, and how keeping it simple might be his best race strategy yet.
Key Highlights:
•Managing a fractured toe just weeks out, and shifting from training to healing
•Course update: Delirious West now starts from the Giant Tingle Tree and runs in reverse
•Why flexibility is the ultimate ultra tool—and how Gabe’s embracing the unknown
•Insight into crew planning, drop bag tweaks, and gear strategy
•The gift of disconnection: looking forward to five days of no work, no internet—just trail
•A fresh mindset: “Think of how future Gabe wants to feel when he looks back.”
Connect with Us:
Don’t miss Gabe’s final update before race day! Subscribe for post-race recaps and finish-line stories from the whole Delirious crew. Got a story of racing with an injury or your own ultra mindset mantra? Drop it in the comments!
Check out the Delirious WEST event - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
Monday Mar 31, 2025
Monday Mar 31, 2025
In her final check-in before the big event, Darlene Dale shares her honest, grounded perspective on what it takes to show up for a 200-miler when things aren’t going perfectly. With plantar fasciitis still lingering, Darlene has shifted from chasing a PB to simply focusing on finishing strong and smart.
She talks through her adjusted taper strategy, the role her husband and crew chief Shannon plays in their now well-oiled setup, and her top priority at aid stations: ICE! From cold water in her insulated bladder to avoiding long stops, Darlene’s race plan is about managing discomfort and staying positive.
This episode is packed with practical insight—from sleep strategy tips and tech hacks, to the underrated power of hot cross buns with peanut butter and hugs at aid stations. Darlene’s outlook is refreshingly real: “Just keep moving, stay positive, and enjoy the moment.”
Key Highlights:
•Letting go of PB pressure and focusing on finishing through discomfort
•Tapering smart: easy runs, walking, and strength over the final two weeks
•Aid station tips: stay mindful of cutoffs, bank time early, and prioritise ice
•Sleep approach: listen to your body, don’t force it, and use noise insulation when you can
•Crew setup, gear prep, and embracing mental flexibility for the unexpected
•A love for ice in the bladder, fresh water, and peanut butter on hot cross buns 🧊🥖
Connect with Us:
Subscribe to hear the final pre-race updates and post-race wrap-ups from the Delirious athletes! What’s your #1 comfort item or aid station ritual? Share it with us!
Check out the Delirious WEST event - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
This week’s guest is the energetic, big-hearted Matt Dingjan—a husband, dad of four, small business owner, and now… 24-hour runner! 🏃♂️ But Matt’s story goes way beyond the track.
After hitting rock bottom battling stress, burnout, and alcohol, Matt turned to running as a lifeline. What started with a single run has evolved into marathons, life transformations, and now a massive goal: running for 24 hours straight on a 400m track to raise $100,000 for the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life, in memory of his beautiful mum.
In this powerful and motivating episode, Matt shares:
💥 How running helped him rediscover purpose and rebuild his life
🎯 His preparation for running 24 hours—over 2,000km and 250+ hours of training!
💬 The truth about not always loving running—but loving how it makes you feel afterward
👨👩👧👦 How his running has inspired family and friends to lace up and join him
🚛 How he balances 4am training runs with running his business, Lightning Bin Hire
💛 Why this fundraiser means everything to him
Matt’s Running Wisdom:
✅ Start where you are—progress comes one run at a time
✅ Running can heal more than just your body
✅ Have a purpose bigger than yourself—like fundraising for cancer support
🟨 Support Matt’s 24-hour Cancer Council run: https://www.relayforlife.org.au/fundraisers/mattdingjan/launceston-2025
🟩 Need a skip bin in Northern Tasmania? Check out: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573228869946
🎧 Don’t miss this powerful story of grit, growth, and giving back. Listen now!
A couple of BIG favours:
1) please like and review this podcast so more people will discover it :)
2) come on the podcast and talk about your running journey and/or refer someone you’d love me to interview (whether you know them or not :) ) Lets not keep the power of running a secret any more! Hit me up on Facebook/Instagram (FitMIND FitBODY) or send me an email - Michelle @ FitMINDFitBODY .co
Don't miss an episode of the FitMind FitBODY Podcast. Sign up to our email list and get notified when new episodes are released.
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
This week’s mindful moment is all about mindful shadow play, a fun and creative way to bring awareness into the present moment. Find a light source, like the sun or a lamp, and observe your shadow. Move your hands, arms, or legs, and notice how your shadow shifts and changes. Play with shapes or simply watch the interaction of light and movement.
This practice sparks curiosity and a sense of wonder, reminding us that mindfulness can be both simple and joyful.
Spend just five minutes with this practice, and see how it can bring calm and clarity to your day.
For more mindfulness ideas, head over to our ebook with 24 Simple Mindfulness strategies: https://fitmindfitbody.co/books/
Help us spread the mindfulness:
1️⃣ If you're enjoying our podcast, please leave a like and review. Your support helps others discover the joy of mindful running.
2️⃣ Have a story or know a runner who'd be perfect for our podcast? Reach out to us on Facebook/Instagram or email (Michelle @ FitMINDFitBODY .co ).
Don’t miss a single episode. Sign up for our email alerts.
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
In his final check-in before Delirious West, Glen Smetherham brings a powerful mix of honesty, humour, and hard-earned strategy to the mic. Despite an ongoing heel injury, Glen has been balancing short trail runs, high-volume cycling on Zwift, and mental prep to ensure he can still toe the start line with confidence.
This episode dives deep into the practical and psychological side of ultrarunning. Glen shares how he’s planning around pain, sleep strategy rituals (complete with melatonin and weighted blankets), and his multi-layered approach to gear, nutrition, and crew support. He even breaks down his sock strategy (spoiler: 10–12 pairs!) and drops an epic opening monologue defending Shannon’s alleged mobile pastry shop.
As Glen puts it, “Adventure doesn’t start until something goes wrong.” Whether you’re racing, crewing, or dreaming about future 200s, this one’s packed with gold.
Key Highlights:
•Opening roast-apology about Shannon’s “car-based bakery” 🥐
•Managing heel pain with logic only an ultra-runner could love
•Gear choices: shoes, socks, and the perfect low-stack “slipper-feel” pair
•The science of sleep extension and how Glen’s prepping to nap like a pro
•Practical aid station hacks, nutrition plans, and watch strategy
•Why this could be his most satisfying Delirious West yet, injury and all
Useful links (& notes from Glen) to some sleep studies:-
Sleep Extension before Sleep Loss: Effects on Performance and Neuromuscular Function - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27015382/
NOTES - “Here are a couple of studies that show that it would be beneficial to get at least 6 nights of sleep extension leading up to Delirious. Aiming for an extra hour sleep each night.”
Ultramarathon runners and support crew: The influence of pre-race sleep and training profiles on performance in a 217-km mountain race - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38909481/
NOTES - “Here is the one including support crew”
Manipulating sleep duration perception changes cognitive performance - An exploratory analysis - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32172039/
NOTES - “This study showed that manipulating the perception of sleep duration can impact reaction time (which can translate to improvements in a race like Delirious with the runner being more alert and perception of effort being lower).
Results showed quicker reaction times when participants believed they had 8 hours of sleep after a 5-hour opportunity, and slower times when they thought they had 5 hours of sleep after an 8-hour opportunity.
While this is very different than the much shorter sleep durations than we experience in Delirious, it may still be worth asking your crew to lie to you and tell you that you had a solid peaceful 30mins sleep rather than a broken 10mins, and you woke up looking like a monk who had just meditated on a mountaintop rather than the fact they look like the've just spent the last 10mins in a dumpster wrestling a raccoon.”
Connect with Us:
Subscribe for more unfiltered athlete insights and race-week excitement! Got a weird but wonderful race ritual? Drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear it!
Check out the Delirious WEST event - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Event Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387