Episode 712 - Delirious West 2027 Series Check In - Gabe Alves: Apparently Walking Is Training Too

Have you ever noticed how much extra tension you carry when you're running, especially when things start getting a little harder? This week's ZenRUN Moment is about something that made a real difference to my own running: learning to recognise the difference between effort and tension. They're not the same thing! You can be working hard, breathing heavily and giving your legs a proper workout without clenching your jaw, tightening your fists or hunching your shoulders. But it's surprisingly easy to add all that extra tension without even realising it. On your next run, especially when you're heading up a hill or picking up the pace, ask yourself one simple question: "Is this effort, or is this tension?" Notice what your body's doing. Are your hands relaxed? Are your shoulders creeping towards your ears? Are you holding tension in your face? See if you can soften those areas without backing off the effort. You're not trying to make the run easy. You're just trying to avoid making it harder than it needs to be. And it's a pretty useful lesson for everyday life too. We can put effort into something without adding unnecessary stress and tension along the way. Sometimes a little less fighting ourselves makes the whole experience feel better. So give it a go on your next run. Run strong, but not rigid. Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels.

Ben Ridley is back for his first regular Delirious West 2027 check-in, and before the serious trail training begins, there was one fairly important piece of unfinished business. Melbourne Marathon. Last time we spoke, Ben had temporarily become a road runner and was chasing the experience of running into the MCG. This time we find out how that little adventure actually went. There were thousands of runners, a slightly chaotic start, a goal quietly sitting in the back of his mind and, somewhere towards the pointy end of the marathon, a knee that decided it might like to join the conversation. But Ben came away from Melbourne with something else too. Apparently the bloke who once thought one marathon would be plenty may have caught the marathon bug. 😂 Now the focus starts shifting back towards Delirious. Trails, hills, strength work and longer weekends are coming back into the picture, with a familiar event also waiting for Ben soon, although this time he’ll be standing on the other side of it as Race Director. The road-running chapter might not be finished, but Delirious training is about to get much more real. Thinking about taking on Delirious West yourself? If the stories in this series are giving you that little itch to be part of it, have a look at the event details and see whether 2027 might be your year. Delirious WEST event website:https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/ Event Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387

Ben Pyman is back for his first regular Delirious West 2027 check-in, and apparently one of the six months between now and race day has already disappeared. 😂 The good news is that things are moving in the right direction. Since we last spoke, Ben has squeezed in an ultra, spent plenty of time on the other side of the course volunteering, and discovered that perhaps lugging boxes, swinging sledgehammers and forgetting to eat the day before a 53K trail race isn’t ideal preparation. There was still plenty to feel good about from the run though, and it gave Ben a useful little confidence check before the Delirious training starts getting more serious. Then this week, training has taken an unexpected pause thanks to something completely unrelated to running. A tooth. Yep. Welcome to ultra training. 😂 We also start getting into the practical stuff that I suspect will become a regular part of Ben’s journey towards the 200. Sand, poles, packs, shoes and how much gear you really need when you’re planning to do the whole thing self-crewed. One month down. Plenty still to figure out. Thinking about taking on Delirious West yourself? If the stories in this series are giving you that little itch to be part of it, have a look at the event details and see whether 2027 might be your year. Delirious WEST event website:https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/ Event Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387

Paul Watkins is back for his first Delirious West 2027 check-in, and he’s currently sitting in that very special part of a training block where the early enthusiasm has worn off and taper week still feels a very long way away. 😂 With Coast to Kosci coming up first, the training is getting done, although Paul is feeling the miles and wondering what it might be like to wake up without feeling tired and sore. We chat about how he fits training around family and life, and why he’s become much less interested in having the perfect training week. Sometimes the long run happens on Thursday. Sometimes life says, “not this week, my friend”. Apparently the world keeps turning. There’s also some discussion about gear, Paul’s reluctance to retire running shoes that still technically resemble shoes, and his slightly unconventional approach to strength training. And with Coast to Kosci getting close, we discover something else. Despite everything Paul has done, he still hasn’t figured out how to taper properly. Which should make the rest of us feel considerably better. 😂 Thinking about taking on Delirious West yourself? If the stories in this series are giving you that little itch to be part of it, have a look at the event details and see whether 2027 might be your year.

Ever noticed how your breathing changes once you reach the top of a hill? Hills have a funny way of showing us exactly how hard we're working. Our breathing gets heavier, our shoulders tighten, and sometimes we're so focused on getting to the top that we forget to notice what happens afterwards. This week's ZenRUN Moment is all about paying attention to your breathing after a hill and noticing how your body recovers while you're still moving. On your next run, once you've reached the top of a climb, check in with your breath. Is it still fast and heavy? How long does it take to settle? Try relaxing your shoulders, easing your pace slightly, or taking one comfortable, deeper breath. There's no need to force anything or judge how quickly you recover. Just notice what happens as your breathing gradually finds its rhythm again. This is a useful skill that goes well beyond running. When life gets stressful, we often hold tension without realising it. Learning to recognise those moments and give ourselves a little space to settle can help us respond more calmly instead of simply pushing harder. So next time you tackle a hill, remember that reaching the top isn't the end of the experience. Pay attention to what happens next. Recovery is part of running too, and learning to notice it can make your runs feel a little more relaxed and enjoyable. Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels.