We are getting very close to the Delirious WEST 2026 start line, and in this check-in Ben Pyman is sounding calm, thoughtful and ready to get on with it. We chat about his biggest theme this year - consistency - and how a solid stretch of steady training has given him confidence heading into race day. Ben shares how his taper is unfolding, what he’s learned from last year, and how he’s keeping things simple with self-crewed drop bags, careful caffeine planning and a very practical approach to race prep. There’s also plenty of classic ultra chat - nipple band-aids, aid station strategy, maths failing mid-race, near misses on technical trails, shoe choices, socks, and the strange little details that suddenly feel very important when you’re about to run through the wild for a very long time.

What I loved about this conversation was Ben’s perspective. He’s thoughtful without overcomplicating things, grounded in experience, and genuinely excited to get back to Walpole and see his people. We also talk about how lucky we are to do these events at all - to be supported enough, healthy enough, and slightly mad enough to disappear into the trails for a few days and just keep moving forward. If you’re heading to Delirious, or even just love hearing how runners prepare for big adventures, this one is full of little gems, laughs, and those very real pre-race feelings we all know so well.

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 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

If you’re looking for a little more support with your running, I also offer personalised ZenRUN coaching - simple weekly structure, guidance, and encouragement to help you stay consistent and enjoy your running again.

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/buy

⸻

🙏 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.

⸻

🎙️ Explore all episodes:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

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

⸻

💛 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

If you’re looking for a little more support with your running, I also offer personalised ZenRUN coaching - simple weekly structure, guidance, and encouragement to help you stay consistent and enjoy your running again.

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/buy

⸻

🙏 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.

⸻

✨ Run easy. Run happy.

ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and runners who get it.

👉 https://zenrun.club

This week’s mindful moment is a gentle reset for modern life: take a mindful micro-break from your screen. If you’re spending hours at a computer or on your phone, set a simple cue to pause every hour. Look away from the screen. Stand up. Stretch your arms, roll your shoulders, and take three long, steady breaths. It only takes 30–60 seconds, but it gives your nervous system a chance to recalibrate. This isn’t slacking off—it’s smart self-regulation. Presence fuels productivity far more than pressure ever will. A tiny pause can bring you back to clarity, energy, and calm.

This small habit can become a quiet anchor in your day — a moment to pause, breathe, and return to the present without needing to stop everything you’re doing.

Little moments like this add up. And often they’re the beginning of something bigger.

💛 Want your running (and your headspace) to feel a little lighter?

If you enjoyed this Mindful 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

⸻

✨ Run easy. Run happy.

ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and runners who get it.

👉 https://zenrun.club

Karin Ridley is just 3 weeks out from the Delirious start line, and this check-in has a bit of everything - red dirt, FIFO life, physio wins, date nights, beer laps, and a whole lot of determination. Karin shares what it’s been like starting a new job in the Pilbara while still trying to train, including 2:30am wake-ups, hot evening walk-runs in 38 degrees, and finding a routine that actually works. She also gives a great update on her injury recovery, with the exciting news that her physio has basically “broken up” with her because she’s doing so well.

This chat is full of the real stuff that goes into preparing for a 200-mile race - not just the kilometres, but the food, sleep, planning, mindset, and the people around you who help make it possible. Karin talks about losing 5.7kg through better fuelling and cutting out alcohol, how that’s helped her body heal, and why her main goal now is simple: keep moving forward and get to the finish line. She and Ben have been fine-tuning their race plan, including aid station time limits, sleep stops, and how to avoid getting stuck chatting when it’s time to get moving again.

There are also some beautiful reminders in this episode about what makes ultra running so special. Karin talks about the Delirious community, the volunteers, the crew, the shared madness of it all, and why this sport really is for everybody. One of my favourite lines from this chat? Ultra running is basically a moving picnic. And honestly… she’s not wrong. If you love hearing how everyday runners pull big dreams together around work, life, injury, family and a lot of laughs, you’ll love this one.

A few standout takeaways from Karin:

•If you really want something, you find a way to make it work

•Doing the rehab properly really does pay off

•Better fuelling can change everything

•Aid stations are wonderful… but also dangerous if you love a chat

•In ultra running, finishing is always a brilliant goal

•We’re very lucky to be part of a sport with such a generous community

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 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

If you’re looking for a little more support with your running, I also offer personalised ZenRUN coaching - simple weekly structure, guidance, and encouragement to help you stay consistent and enjoy your running again.

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/buy

⸻

🙏 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.

⸻

✨ Run easy. Run happy.

ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and runners who get it.

👉 https://zenrun.club

In this Delirious 2026 athlete check-in, I catch up with Gabe Alves with just four weeks to go until the big dance - and as always, Gabe brings the perfect mix of thoughtful insight, calm perspective and delightfully nerdy stats. This time we dive into his fascinating experiment with continuous glucose and ketone monitoring, where he shares what he learned about food, focus, fatigue, exercise and even how mentally demanding work can create a response similar to a hard run. It’s a brilliant reminder that no two bodies are the same, and that understanding your own body might just be one of the most powerful tools you can take into an ultra.

We also talk about Gabe’s big back-to-back training weekend, how the numbers helped him tell the difference between a real physical problem and his brain just having a little wobble, and why building your own personal “toolkit” matters so much in an event like Delirious. There’s plenty here for runners who love the detail, but also for anyone who knows that ultras are never just physical - they’re mental, emotional and wildly personal too. Gabe shares how he’s using data to guide recovery, stay healthy, and keep showing up consistently without tipping over the edge.

Of course, we also get into the ever-changing Delirious course, crew planning, pacing possibilities, campervan logistics, sleep strategy, taper plans, and the strange but comforting truth that almost everything in life somehow becomes “Delirious training” at this stage. It’s a fun, honest chat about preparation, problem-solving and doing your best to arrive at the start line healthy, steady and ready for whatever unfolds. Gabe is in a strong place, but he’s also realistic - which is probably exactly where you want to be this close to a 200-mile race.

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 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

If you’re looking for a little more support with your running, I also offer personalised ZenRUN coaching - simple weekly structure, guidance, and encouragement to help you stay consistent and enjoy your running again.

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/buy

⸻

🙏 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.

⸻

✨ Run easy. Run happy.

ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and runners who get it.

👉 https://zenrun.club

⸻

🎙️ Explore all episodes:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

This week’s mindful moment is beautifully simple and surprisingly powerful: speak one sentence slowly. Choose a sentence—like “I have time to breathe”- and say it aloud with intention. Pause between each word. Feel how the sound vibrates in your body and how your breath naturally steadies as you slow down. We often rush our words when our minds are racing, but your voice can become a tool to calm your nervous system.

Whether you try it before a meeting, in the car, or while doing the dishes, this small practice can shift your whole state. Slowing your speech gently reminds your body that there is space… and there is time.

This small habit can become a quiet anchor in your day — a moment to pause, breathe, and return to the present without needing to stop everything you’re doing.

Little moments like this add up. And often they’re the beginning of something bigger.

💛 Want your running (and your headspace) to feel a little lighter?

If you enjoyed this Mindful 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

⸻

✨ Run easy. Run happy.

ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and runners who get it.

👉 https://zenrun.club

⸻

🎧 Explore all episodes

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

In this fifth Delirious 2026 check-in, Sym Mercer joins me fresh off a very eventful few days - including flood-affected roads, an unexpected overnight stop, and arriving home just in time for our chat. As always, Sym takes it all in her stride. We talk about her latest training block, racing at Hell of the West, dealing with heat, humidity, and a lingering injury that thankfully isn’t stopping her moving forward.

There’s also plenty of classic Sym humour in this one - from her poor damaged bike, to retirement from swimming, to practical race wisdom like not overthinking the packing and remembering that if you forget something… Western Australia does, in fact, have shops. 😄

What really stands out in this episode is where Sym’s head is at now. She’s done the work, she’s packed most of the bag, and she’s ready to disconnect from the noise of everyday life and get to that start line. It’s a great chat about adaptation, resilience, and the strange relief that comes when all you need to do is put one foot in front of the other for a few days.

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 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

If you’re looking for a little more support with your running, I also offer personalised ZenRUN coaching - simple weekly structure, guidance, and encouragement to help you stay consistent and enjoy your running again.

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/buy

⸻

🙏 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.

⸻

✨ Run easy. Run happy.

ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and runners who get it.

👉 https://zenrun.club

⸻

🎙️ Explore all episodes:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

With Delirious WEST 2026 getting very close, Bianca O’Neill is back for Check-In 4 - and while she says she “hasn’t done much,” that turns out to be very untrue 😄

In this chat, Bianca shares how her Sandman 50K didn’t quite go to plan, with a sore knee turning the final 10K into a very determined fast walk… but thankfully with no lasting damage. From there, it’s been a full month of adventure, including family time in Albury-Wodonga, parkrun, beach hiking, a girls’ trip to the Stirling Ranges, and a sunrise mission up Bluff Knoll after a 3am alarm and a slightly traumatic swag escape.

We also talk about Bianca’s role as race director for Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra, the fun she brings to the event, and how she’s already dreaming up more big adventures beyond Delirious - including more epic road running in preparation for her bigger goal in America.

But this episode also carries a deeper layer. Bianca shares that she’s running Delirious for her friend Danielle, who has incurable brain cancer. What started as a fundraising effort has already been met with incredible support, and Bianca’s reason for running now goes far beyond the race itself. It’s a moving reminder that these big events are never just about mileage - they’re about people, purpose, and making the most of the life we’ve got.

On top of all that, Bianca’s coaching business is growing beautifully, with four athletes already on board and more waiting until after Delirious. She shares how coaching is helping her become a smarter athlete too - practising what she preaches, thinking longer term, and learning when not to race all the races.

This one is fun, honest, full of laughs, and grounded in what matters most.

Check out the fundraiser Bianca spoke about - https://fundraise.curebraincancer.org.au/fundraisers/biancaharding/bee-strong-for-danielle

Interested in Coaching with Bianca - https://www.facebook.com/bianca.j.harding 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 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

If you’re looking for a little more support with your running, I also offer personalised ZenRUN coaching - simple weekly structure, guidance, and encouragement to help you stay consistent and enjoy your running again.

👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/buy

⸻

🙏 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.

⸻

✨ Run easy. Run happy.

ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and runners who get it.

👉 https://zenrun.club

⸻

🎙️ Explore all episodes:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/