The ZenRUN Podcast

All things mental and physical health! You’ll find in-depth interviews with runners as we delve into why they run and what keeps them running. And interviews with specialists on the brain and the effects of exercise on it – chemically and physically. Plus tips to keep you moving with a positive mindset.. So much goodness

The ZenRUN Podcast is a health podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 676 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 90. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The ZenRUN Podcast, a health show with 676 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #677

  Episode 669 - ZenRUN Moment 12: Notice how your feet land

  Aug 19, 20263 min

  Every running step begins with one simple thing - your foot meeting the ground. This week’s ZenRUN Moment is an invitation to become curious about that connection. As you head out on your next run, notice how your feet land. Are your footsteps light or heavy? Quick or flat? There’s no need to analyse or judge what you discover. Just pay attention to the conversation that’s happening between your body and the ground beneath you. As your awareness grows, you might naturally begin to soften your landing. Not by trying to run with “perfect” technique, but by allowing your body to move a little more smoothly and efficiently. Many runners find that when they focus on landing a little lighter, their stride becomes more relaxed, their movement feels more fluid, and the run becomes more enjoyable. The goal isn’t to become an elite runner overnight. It’s to become a more connected runner. Every run gives you thousands of opportunities to notice, adjust, and learn something new about how your body moves. Those small moments of awareness often lead to the biggest changes over time. On your next run, let your feet be your guide. Listen to the conversation they’re having with the earth beneath you and enjoy discovering what they have to teach you. Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels. Want your running (and your headspace) to feel a little lighter? If you enjoyed this ZenRUN 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

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #676

  Episode 668 - From “You’ll Never Run Again” to 200 Miles with David Martin ⭐

  Aug 17, 20261h 49m

  In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with Western Australian ultra runner David Martin. David works in IT and finance, once spent his teenage years sailing yachts to Rottnest Island, accidentally became president of AURA, owns several running phones and has a collection of boxer shorts chosen by his children for different stages of his ultra races. As you do. David grew up in Fremantle in a multicultural family, with a Polish mum and Russian/Ukrainian family heritage on his dad’s side. He describes himself as much more academic than sporty, although he always enjoyed running, even when he was near the back of the school cross-country field. His adult running journey began when a mate entered a team in the Busselton Half Ironman without actually having a team. David agreed to run the half marathon leg, downloaded a sub-two-hour training plan and finished in 1:59:40. Mission accomplished. From there came half marathons, trail races and a growing curiosity about how far he could go. But in 2020, everything changed. After taking steroids for a medical condition, David developed severe damage in his hips. A surgeon told him his left hip was unsalvageable, his right hip was at risk and he would probably need a hip replacement within 18 months. He was also told he would never run again. David fainted in the surgeon’s office. After spending several years away from running, he gradually began walking again. Walking felt too slow, so he tried running. There was no pain. He increased the distance, completed a 10km event, progressed to a half marathon and then decided to run almost every half marathon he could find in Western Australia. Naturally, this eventually led him to the Feral Pig 50km. From there, David’s running journey escalated rather quickly. He jumped from 50km to the Delirious W.E.S.T. 100 miler, then completed Cape to Cape, Feral Pig and other major ultras before stepping up to the Delirious W.E.S.T. 200 miler. David shares how he mentally approached the 200 miler by treating the first 100 miles as the journey to the start line of a race he already knew he could complete. It worked. Although there were some very dark moments, including briefly hoping a snake might bite him so he would have a legitimate reason to stop. Later in the race, when he actually encountered snakes, his attitude had changed considerably. “Don’t you dare.” We talk about the strange mental places ultra running can take you, what it feels like to spend days alone on the trail and how David deliberately clears unfinished conversations, work problems and life admin before a race. Instead of using the trail to solve problems, David tries to arrive with what he calls an “empty brain”. He focuses on the scenery, wildlife, people and experience around him. David rarely listens to anything while running because he wants to fully experience nature, although during the lowest points of Delirious he discovered that the right song could help change his mood and get him moving again. We also chat about: Why David runs with a separate phone during races His fear of spiders and the discovery of “spider baseball” The importance of respecting the trail, wildlife and other runners Why his children choose his race outfits Kermit, Bluey, SpongeBob and shark boxer shorts Accidentally leaving two left socks at an aid station Blisters, swollen feet and losing six toenails His first trip to emergency after Delirious Why his physio believes strong muscles may help protect his damaged hips His dream of finding the limits of how far he can go The Bibbulmun Track and fastest known time ideas Why race entries help give his training a clear purpose The impact ultra training has on family life The pride, fear and support that comes from David’s wife and children Why he believes runners rarely achieve these things alone The community of volunteers, medics, physios, family and fellow runners who help us reach the finish line David also shares plenty of practical lessons from his rapid rise through the ultra distances. David’s Running Tips Build gradually, even when the next challenge feels exciting David used marathons, 50km events and looped ultras to test his body, equipment and nutrition before moving into longer distances. Train on the terrain you will race on Before his first marathon, David repeatedly drove an hour each way to practise on the actual course. Use smaller events to test your systems David used a looped 50-mile event to test shoes, nutrition, Tailwind and race equipment before attempting his first 100 miler. Expect your feet to swell David loosens his shoelaces later in races and plans shoe and sock changes around how his feet respond over long distances. Strength work matters After being told he would need a hip replacement, David built strength around his hips. His physio now believes that this additional muscular support may help him avoid surgery. Deal with life before you reach the start line David tries to resolve difficult conversations, emails and unfinished problems before racing so he can stay present rather than spending hours mentally stewing over something he cannot fix from the trail. Let the event become your permission to disconnect During long races, David removes work email, uses a separate phone and allows himself to be unreachable. Respect the environment and the people around you Carry the required safety equipment, look after other runners, respect wildlife and remember that the next person along the trail may be the one who helps you in an emergency. Do not assume you have to do it alone David credits fellow runners, race volunteers, family members, medics, his physio and the broader trail community with helping him reach the start and finish lines. Carry toilet paper or wet wipes This lesson may have been learned the hard way on a beach at 3am during Delirious. David’s message is simple. Do not assume that a huge running goal is impossible. You may not know how you will reach it yet, but you can learn, build experience and find people who will help you along the way. The Ultra Stats website: https://statistik.d-u-v.org/ And make sure you stay until the end to hear David answer Kat Booth’s Pass the Baton question: “What shoes, if you had to, would you chop up to make it to the end of your race? You might have to tape them, chop them up or cut open the toe box. Which pair would you do, and what would it take for you to decide to chop them up?” You will also hear the question David has chosen for my next guest. Let’s just say the Pass the Baton questions may be developing a slightly concerning toilet theme. Want to feel like a runner again? If this conversation resonated, Feel Like a Runner Again is a simple, practical program designed to help you rediscover the joy of running. You’ll learn how to quiet the mental noise, let go of the pressure, and make running feel like your escape again, not another thing on your to-do list. https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again A couple of big favours If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast. It helps more runners discover these conversations. 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 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.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #675

  Episode 667 - ZenRUN Moment 11: Listen for the quiet moments

  Aug 12, 20263 min

  Running isn’t always quiet. There’s the sound of your footsteps, your breathing, passing traffic, birds, people, and, of course, the constant chatter inside your own mind. It’s easy to think a peaceful run means complete silence, but this week’s ZenRUN Moment invites you to discover something different. Today, listen for the quiet moments hidden within your run. They might only last a few seconds. The stillness after a car passes. The calm at the top of a hill. The moment the wind fades. The gentle rhythm of your breathing once you’ve settled into your stride. These little pockets of quiet are always there, we just don’t often notice them. When you begin paying attention in this way, something shifts. Your run becomes less about the noise around you and more about the spaces between it. Those brief moments of calm can help quiet a busy mind and remind you that peace doesn’t have to mean complete silence. Sometimes it’s simply about noticing what’s already there. On your next run, keep your ears open. Not just for the sounds around you, but for the quiet moments in between. You might discover they become some of your favourite parts of the run. Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels. Want to feel like a runner again? If this conversation resonated, Feel Like a Runner Again will help you get back to enjoying your running. It’s packed with practical tools and guided runs to help you quiet your mind, run with less pressure, and reconnect with the runner you already are. https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again A couple of small favours If you’re enjoying the podcast, a quick follow, like, or review helps more runners discover it. 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

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #674

  Episode 666 - How Running Helped Kat Booth Rebuild Her Life

  Aug 10, 20261h 26m

  In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderfully energetic, endlessly entertaining and slightly foot-obsessed Kat Booth. If you have been anywhere near the Delirious W.E.S.T. events, you may already know Kat as the nurse who appears when your feet have stopped resembling feet. She is the calm, capable and very funny person runners trust with their blisters, wounds, mysterious swelling, chafing, exhaustion, hallucinations and occasionally very questionable toes. But there is so much more to Kat than feet. Kat grew up in Western Australia and loved running and cross-country from an early age. Sprinting was never her thing, but give her about a kilometre to warm up and she was ready to keep going. Her nursing career began with a slightly rocky start when she failed her first haematology exam and was promptly removed from nursing school. Rather than giving up, Kat went away, worked in aged care, reapplied the following year and returned determined to prove she belonged there. She worked her backside off, passed the same subject with an excellent result and went on to build a fascinating career across orthopaedics, plastics, skin grafting, wound care, education and health program management. Along the way, Kat also somehow found herself running errands through Airtasker, chasing an escaped chicken down the street, delivering hundreds of plants, building furniture, creating grazing boards inspired by trails, finding a stranger’s passport hidden inside socks and helping her mum darn a collection of expensive flamingo socks for a very grateful burly bloke. As you do. Behind Kat’s humour and huge personality is also an extraordinary story of survival. After experiencing serious violence in a relationship, Kat was left with an acquired traumatic brain injury. She had to relearn how to walk, write, speak and navigate everyday life. There is a period of around two years that she still cannot remember. Her recovery involved jumbo pencils, repeating the same songs until she could find words again, artwork, ballroom dancing, handstands, walking enormous distances and slowly learning to trust her body and brain. Running became an important part of that recovery. After experiencing panic attacks and feeling afraid to return to the community, Kat began attending parkrun and later volunteered at a Light Horse event. There, she discovered Ultra Series, trail running and a community where she felt safe. Naturally, after a major brain injury and problems with balance, Kat decided that running over rocks in the dark with a head torch sounded like an excellent idea. And remarkably, it helped. Trail running improved her balance, strength and confidence. It also reduced her parkrun time from around 33 minutes to approximately 27:30. Kat eventually stepped onto the other side of the event herself at Light Horse, where she completed an incredible 62.7 kilometres without a watch, a distance goal or even a blister. Unfortunately, a serious sesamoid injury and the return of foot-drop symptoms have now brought Kat’s running to an unexpected end. She speaks honestly about the sadness of losing something that helped her so deeply, while also finding new ways to remain part of the trails she loves. Kat is now preparing to walk the 21-kilometre event at Tarawera with friends and is determined to keep moving, exploring and contributing to the running community. We also talk about Kat’s incredible travels, including Oktoberfest, living in Whistler, meeting Kevin Costner, surfing in Bali, eating twice-daily gelato in Florence and being stalked by a cougar during her very first multi-day hike on Canada’s West Coast Trail. And, of course, we hear some classic stories from her time as a Delirious medic, including sleep-deprived hallucinations, seriously battered feet and the memorable day a nearly 70-year-old runner tried caffeine for the first time during a 200-mile race. This episode is funny, honest, moving and full of reminders that life does not always go to plan, but it can still be fascinating, adventurous and full of beautiful moments. Kat's Tips for Runners Kat encourages runners to occasionally leave the watch, pace goals and headphones behind. Take your phone for safety, but allow yourself to run without worrying about distance, speed or what the session is supposed to achieve. Listen to the birds, notice the trail and allow your body to tell you what it needs that day. It does not have to be part of a training plan. Sometimes, the best run is simply the one where you head outside, explore and have fun. Kat also reminds us to appreciate the small moments. A city view from the trail, adding a rock to a cairn, leaving a tiny surprise for another runner or even successfully cooking the perfect soft-boiled egg can all become moments worth celebrating. And if you are running a very long event, look after your feet early. Do not wait until the blister, rubbing or swelling becomes a major problem before asking for help. Pass the Baton Kat answers Sally Pymer’s question: What makes you smile the most on your runs? Her answer includes birds, beautiful city views, rock piles and tiny fruit characters secretly left beside the trail to make other people smile. Kat also leaves a very fitting question for the next ZenRUN Podcast guest. You will need to listen to the episode to hear what it is. This is a conversation about running, recovery, adventure, community, brains, feet, flamingo socks and making the most of your 4,000 weeks. Enjoy! Want to feel like a runner again? If this conversation resonated, Feel Like a Runner Again is a simple, practical program designed to help you rediscover the joy of running. You'll learn how to quiet the mental noise, let go of the pressure, and make running feel like your escape again, not another thing on your to-do list. https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again A couple of big favours If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast. It helps more runners discover these conversations. 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.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #672

  Episode 665 - ZenRUN Moment 10: Notice What Your Arms Are Doing

  Aug 5, 20263 min

  When was the last time you thought about what your arms were doing while you ran? Most of us spend plenty of time thinking about our legs, our pace, or our breathing, but our arms quietly play an important role in helping us move efficiently. This week’s ZenRUN Moment is about bringing your attention to your upper body and simply noticing how your arms are moving. As you head out on your next run, check in every now and then. Are your shoulders creeping up towards your ears? Are your arms swinging naturally, or are they crossing in front of your body? Do your hands and elbows feel relaxed, or are you holding more tension than you need? There’s nothing to fix or force - just notice what your body is doing. Your arms help create rhythm and balance while you run. When they’re relaxed and moving naturally, your whole body often follows. Many runners find that softening their upper body makes their stride feel smoother, their breathing easier, and the effort feel just a little lighter. On your next run, let your arms become part of your awareness. Relax them, let them swing naturally, and notice how they help carry you forward. Sometimes the smallest adjustments make the biggest difference. Small moments of awareness like this can completely change the way running feels. Want your running (and your headspace) to feel a little lighter? If you enjoyed this ZenRUN 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

  ListenShow Notes

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