Welcome to Episode 3 of the Road to the Checkered Bastard where Chris chats to Ian Gibbs and Megan Gianfrancesco from the Bunbury Runners Club ahead of the 44th edition of the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival on Sunday 12 April 2026, chatting race logistics, course records and what makes Bunbury a special race on the WA running calendar.

With all distances officially sold out, we dive into why this 44-year-old event is such a massive staple in the WA running calendar. From tackling the infamous lighthouse hill to the incredible local legends toeing the line this year, this is a must-listen before you head down that weekend.

This episode is brought to you by the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival. Famous for its beautiful, flat, and fast course, the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival offers ocean views up Ocean Drive, dolphin spotting in Koombana Bay, fast racing around Big Swamp and the challenge of the infamous Bunbury lighthouse - or as we like to call it - THE CHECKERED BASTARD.

With personalised drink stations, on-course entertainment, and a finish line vibe that captures everything great about the regional WA running community, the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival delivers an experience you’ll remember long after your legs stop aching.

So lace up, set your sights south, and make Bunbury your next race destination in April 2026. Find out more and enter now at runbunbury.com.au

Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP

Monday 16 March 2026

With Chris on annual leave downing ice cream sandwiches, Vici & Simon are joined by Savannah Rayner - who wears many hats in the running community, is one of the coaches of the Ogging Track Club, and on the comeback, trail following a big injury last year and hoping for big things in 2026.

Vici & Simon recap their Herdys Frontyard Ultra experience after Vici breaks her PB and runs 25 yards, while Simon fights some demons to make it to 16 yards, past the 100km mark and 16 soft serve ice creams for Chris when he returns from holiday.

In other results we had the Canning River Runningworks Festival with Alex Vickery providing us a quick recap of the event and his race (a podium in the marathon), as well as the Darlington Half and 8km with Oliver Jamieson and Jess Byrd also giving us a recap of their 8km wins for Ogging Track Club.

Chartt Miller, Alexander Schult, everyone who competed, crewed, volunteered or part of the organising team at Herdys, and the latest Margie Hadley update feature in this week’s weapons of WARP.

Reach out and connect!

Instagram: @warunningpod

Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com

Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP

Monday 9 March 2026

The gang are joined by Front Runner Performance coaches Zander Mostert and Raf Baugh to talk through the science of running and in particular lactate threshold testing, training zones and using data to help with your training goals.

We had the State Senior Track & Field Champs that featured the 1500m, WA runners running Shizuoka Marathon over in Japan and we talk Herdys Frontyard Ultra that begins this Friday.

Chris runs 38km before turning 39, Vici wraps her legs up with cling film and Simon runs a sneaky sub 18 parkrun.

Adam Kopp, Jess Byrd and a Margie Hadley update feature on this week’s Weapons of WARP.

Reach out to the guys at Frontrunner Performance via the Front Runner Sports website (including coaching blog) https://frontrunnersports.com.au/

Reach out and connect!

Instagram: @warunningpod

Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com

Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP