In this third check-in with Delirious WEST 2026 athlete Craig Jeffrey, we dive deep into what long-term ultra preparation really looks like – not just the kilometres, but the thinking behind them.

Craig shares stories from icy Christmas runs along the Hudson River (including borrowed shoes and a reminder to always carry your runners on flights), back-to-back 50km days on the Yarra, and why those tired-leg weekends actually build confidence rather than break it. We talk about block-style training, mixing intervals and tempo with long efforts, and why repeating huge long runs every weekend doesn’t work for everyone.

We also unpack poles strategy, pack setup for uncrewed runners, HRV trends after big races, and the strange mental states that can show up deep into a 200-miler – including Craig’s unforgettable four-hour memory gap from last year’s Delirious.

As always, it’s an honest, thoughtful conversation about training smarter, adapting with age, and embracing the adventure of Delirious WEST – uncertainty and all.

In this episode we cover: • Running through winter in New York and training through travel • Achilles niggles, shoe choices, and why carrying your runners matters • Back-to-back long runs and confidence on tired legs • Block training vs weekly long runs • Tempo, intervals, and staying efficient over long distances • Poles strategy and arm fatigue • HRV, recovery, and what Delirious does to the body • Sleep deprivation, hallucinations, and altered brain states • Why Delirious is as much mental as it is physical

📌 Delirious WEST logistics & support:

Craig is flying into Perth on Monday 6 April and is looking for a lift from Perth to Northcliffe.

He’s also open to having a pacer for the second half of Delirious WEST.

If you’re heading down that day or interested in pacing, please reach out and let us know.

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

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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:

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In this Delirious WEST 2026 Check-In 3, I catch up with Gabe Alves as the countdown suddenly drops into the “oh wow… this is actually close” zone – 13 weeks to go 😬.

Gabe shares what the last couple of months have really looked like – and spoiler alert – it hasn’t been flashy or exciting. It’s been boring. In the very best way.

We talk about: • Training when the mojo is nowhere to be found • The power of “just go out for 2km” (and why it almost never stays 2km) • Building mental resilience by doing the work even when you don’t feel like it • Why climbing strength and vert are the focus right now • Repeating short, brutal hills to prepare both body and mind • How poles, standing desks, and everyday choices all add up • The psychology of choice – and why finishing Delirious matters so much to Gabe • Gear tinkering, gaiters, insoles, lights… and trying not to overthink the 1 percenters

This is a brilliant reminder that ultra prep isn’t about epic Instagram moments – it’s about consistency, quiet discipline, and showing up day after day.

Boring builds the base. And the base gets you to the finish line.

🎧 Another honest, grounded, very real Delirious check-in – and one every runner can learn from.

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/

This week’s mindful moment invites you to tune into something often overlooked: listen for the silence between the sounds. Whether you’re inside or out, begin by noticing the sounds around you—traffic, birds, voices, footsteps. Then shift your attention to the pauses between them. The stillness between notes. The breath between words.

Silence isn’t empty—it has a presence of its own, and learning to hear it can gently quiet your mind and ground your body.

It’s a simple way to reconnect with the deeper rhythm of your environment—the one beneath the noise.

Spend just five minutes with this practice, and see how it can bring calm and clarity to your day.

For more mindfulness ideas, head over to our ebook with 24 Simple Mindfulness strategies: https://fitmindfitbody.co/books/

Help us spread the mindfulness:

1️⃣ If you're enjoying our podcast, please leave a like and review. Your support helps others discover the joy of mindful running.

2️⃣ Have a story or know a runner who'd be perfect for our podcast? Reach out to us on Facebook/Instagram or email (hello@zenrun.club ). 💛 Want running to feel lighter again?

Join the ZenRUN Club — a chill space where progress happens without pressure. Get simple plans (coming soon), guided runs, and a crew who actually gets it.

👉 zenrun.club — come run happy.

https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/