In this Delirious 2026 athlete check-in, I catch up with Matthew Farrand as the start line gets very, very close. And wow - life is definitely not slowing down for him. Between peak training, a knee niggle, putting the house on the market, solo parenting part of the week, and all the chaos that comes with normal life, Matthew has had plenty going on. But as we know… sometimes all the messy, challenging stuff is just part of the training too.

We chat about the injury that forced him to back off at the right time, how he handled it sensibly with strength work and cross-training, and how he’s now feeling much more confident again. We also dive into the practical side of getting to Delirious from London - flights, packing, race prep, food plans, crew logistics, and the very important matter of British treats in a race vest. Think Cadbury Creme Eggs, Eccles cakes, Kendal mint cake… Matthew may end up being the most popular runner on course.

What I really loved in this chat was hearing what Matthew is most looking forward to - the landscape, the beauty of the course, the forests, the beach sections, and hopefully some memorable conversations out on the trail. He also shares a great tip about using the UltraPacer planning tool to map out crew access, sleep strategy, and pacing possibilities, especially when you’re trying to coordinate a big point-to-point race from the other side of the world. This one is a lovely mix of real-life juggling, practical prep, and that growing excitement that comes when something huge is suddenly just around the corner.

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

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