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:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

This week’s mindful moment invites you to connect with the world around you in a grounded, tangible way: place your hand on a tree, fence, or wall. Wherever you are—at home, outdoors, or even in a public space—pause and rest your hand gently on a surface nearby. Feel its texture, notice its temperature, and let your breath slow as you stay in contact for a few deep inhales and exhales.

This simple act brings you out of your head and into your body. It reminds you that you’re supported, you’re grounded, and you’re here—held by the moment and the world around you.

💛 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:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

Today, we’re checking back in with my daughter (and fellow Delirious 2026 athlete), Nikki Frost - and let’s just say… it’s been a week for her.

From finally getting on top of months of gut issues (goodbye mid-run vomiting 👋) to suddenly being taken out by a painful ITB flare-up, Nikki shares the emotional and physical rollercoaster of training when your body has other ideas.

We talk honestly about the mental load of injury, the temptation to “just push through,” and how hard it is to sit still when your whole identity is built around moving forward. There’s also plenty of practical trail chat – running poles, shoes that really shouldn’t be Gore-Tex, leaking soft flasks, and Nikki’s current obsession with maple syrup as fuel (including putting it in coffee… yes, really).

It’s raw, relatable, and a very real snapshot of what the Delirious journey actually looks like – not just the highlight reel.

Get ready for:

• ITB pain vs throwing up – which is actually worse?

• The frustration of losing momentum when training was finally clicking

• Managing injury when rest feels harder than running

• Why Gore-Tex trail shoes are a trap

• Maple syrup, Coco Pops, flapjacks… and fuelling experiments in progress

• The mental battle of not entering another race just to feel “back on track”

A few takeaways from Nikki:

•Fix the gut first – nutrition stress is exhausting

•Injury messes with your head as much as your legs

•Cross-training helps, but it’s not the same

•Routine matters (a lot)

•Sometimes the smartest move feels like the hardest one

Nikki is still moving forward – just more carefully, more consciously, and with a lot of positive vibes being sent her way 💛

If you’ve ever felt derailed, stuck, or frustrated by your body mid-training block… this one will hit home.

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:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

In this third check-in with Karin Ridley, we get a very real look at what the final stretch doesn’t always look like when you’re training for Delirious WEST 2026.

After a nasty fall during a Christmas run, Karin has been dealing with a stubborn hip issue that’s limited her running and forced a big mindset shift. Instead of panicking, she’s doing what experienced ultra runners do best – managing what she can control.

We chat about physio visits (finally 😅), modified training, cross-training, strength work, and why finding medical professionals who get runners makes all the difference. Karin also shares how she’s tightened up her nutrition, gone alcohol-free, and brought more structure into her prep as the start line gets closer.

This is a great listen if you’ve ever:

• Had an injury pop up at the worst possible time

• Felt nervous but determined heading into the final weeks

• Needed to adjust expectations without losing belief

• Remembered that Delirious is as much about people and mindset as it is about distance

Honest, funny, and very relatable – this one is a reminder that getting to the line is often the real win.

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:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

Warren Page is one of those runners who makes you feel instantly calmer about your own running journey.

Growing up in country Western Australia, Warren’s love for movement started early - bikes, bush, freedom, and plenty of mischief. These days, he’s a personal trainer, runner, ocean swimmer, and deep thinker who’s gradually found his way into trail running and now, ultra-distance goals (including a 100-miler at Delirious).

In this episode, we chat about Warren’s transition from strength and powerlifting into endurance running, the hard lessons learned from doing too much, too soon, and why walking hills, running tired, and strength training properly have become non-negotiables for him.

Warren is refreshingly honest about injuries, shin splints, ego traps, and why slowing down — especially with a walk-run approach — completely changed his relationship with running. This is a grounded, practical, and very human conversation about building durability, staying curious, and learning to listen to your body.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “not built like a runner,” struggled with recurring niggles, or wondered how everyday runners actually prepare for long events — you’ll love this one.

🏃‍♂️ Tips from Warren you’ll hear in this episode: • Walk the hills — even small inclines — it’s not weakness, it’s survival (and snack time) • Use walk-run early and often to reduce impact and build consistency • Don’t copy the elites — they’re mutants 😉 • Strength training matters, and eventually you need load (not just bodyweight) • Sled work is gold for runners — strength without smashing your legs • Run tired sometimes, but keep it easy • Find places and ways of running that you genuinely enjoy (Netflix counts!) • Slow running helps you feel what’s working — and notice issues before they become injuries

Warren’s website and socials -

https://www.instagram.com/bronxtraining/

https://www.youtube.com/@bronxtraining

https://www.bronxtraining.com.au/

💛 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:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

This week’s mindful moment is a gentle reminder of the power in repetition: do one simple movement repeatedly. Choose a movement—like raising your arms, stretching side to side, or rolling your shoulders—and repeat it slowly and intentionally for a few minutes. Let your breath guide the rhythm: inhale as you move, exhale as you return.

The repetition becomes a moving meditation, easing your body and calming your mind without needing to overthink. It’s the perfect practice for shifting stuck energy, settling your nervous system, and coming back to yourself—one gentle movement at a time.

💛 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:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

In this third check-in with Matthew Farrand, we dive into the real middle phase of Delirious WEST 2026 prep – where learning, adapting, and listening to your body matters more than ticking perfect boxes.

Matthew shares a big post-Christmas training milestone: completing a tough 43-mile ultra in the UK winter, with frozen mud, canal paths, head-torch running, and a very honest “this was harder than I expected” reflection. It was proper endurance training – finishing empty, but healthy – and that’s a win.

We talk through: • What that ultra revealed about fatigue, recovery, and strength gaps • Why quad strength and upper-back conditioning suddenly matter a lot • The surprisingly brilliant idea of switching from trail shoes to road shoes mid-race • Carrying shoes in your vest – pros, cons, and shoulder soreness lessons • Gaiters, poles, packs, and why now is the time to test gear (not race week!) • Fuel experiments – from jelly babies and Kendal mint cake to quesadillas and squash-proof pastries • Why Delirious is basically a moving picnic, not a gel-fest • Letting go of data obsession and trusting feel, experience, and common sense • The shift from “more running” to more walking as specific Delirious prep • Juggling family life, work changes, and fewer weekly runs – without losing momentum • Matthew’s grounded philosophy: healthy beats perfectly fit, every time

This episode is a great reminder that endurance success isn’t about heroic training weeks – it’s about consistency, adaptability, and arriving at the start line ready to go.

If you’re training for something big (or just trying to keep running part of your life), you’ll get a lot from this one.

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:

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

In this third Delirious WEST 2026 check-in, I catch up with Bianca O’Neill after a huge few weeks of running, learning, and life shifts – and honestly, it’s one of my favourite updates so far.

We chat about a jam-packed summer of long runs, including the Six Inch Ultra Christmas Party, a New Year’s Eve ultra adventure, and Bianca’s annual birthday run tradition. The big theme? Confidence is back. After a quieter patch late last year, Bianca’s been stacking solid kilometres, testing nutrition properly, and remembering why she loves this stuff.

She also shares what didn’t quite go to plan on her birthday run (hello sore hip and toilet logistics 😅), why that’s still totally okay, and how all of this is feeding perfectly into her next races – the True Blue 100K and the Sandman 50K (yes… sand, water crossings, and a 2am start).

But the biggest news? Bianca has officially completed her UESCA Ultra Running Coach certification – smashing the final exam and stepping confidently into her next chapter as a coach. We talk about: • Studying something you actually care about (and becoming mildly obsessed with it) • Applying what you learn directly to your own running • Balancing lived experience with “textbook” theory • That mix of excitement + nerves that means you’re doing something that matters

We also touch on work changes, motivation, building routines that support training, and why 2026 is shaping up to be a big, bold year.

If you love honest training chats, real-world ultra prep, and hearing runners grow into coaches, you’ll love this one.

🎧 Tune in and catch Bianca right in the middle of it all.

Connect with Bianca’s on Insta - https://www.instagram.com/queenbee_ultrarunner/

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: https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/