In this Delirious WEST 2026 athlete wrap-up episode, I’m chatting with the fabulous Bianca O’Neill about her 100-mile adventure – and honestly, this one has a bit of everything.
Bianca takes us through her race from the slightly questionable pre-race preparation of champagne, beach walks and buying far too much food, through to the night start, the Monkey Rock “zombie train”, emotional moments on the trail, aid station chaos, freezing cold naps that didn’t quite happen, and the beautiful final stretch into Albany.
This year was extra special because Bianca ran alongside her mum, Sue, which brought a whole extra layer of fun, support, worry, laughter, and probably a few “slow down” wheezes along the way. There’s something pretty amazing about sharing 100 miles with your mum – even when neither of you has had enough sleep and your feet are well and truly over it.
Bianca also shares the deeper “why” behind her race, running in support of her friend Danielle, who is going through brain cancer. That emotional thread runs through the episode beautifully – the reminder that sometimes when things get hard, remembering why you’re there can be the thing that keeps you moving.
We also talk about all the important ultra-running things… like stale hot cross buns, toasties that hit the spot, maple syrup as race nutrition, chafing tips, emu export at Shaz’s, windmills that feel like there are 900 of them, and that final road section that felt much longer than it had any right to.
Bianca finished in 50 hours and 1 second – yes, one second – and somehow that feels perfectly Bianca.
A little note on this episode: we had a few audio gremlins along the way. We’ve cleaned it up as much as we can, and rather than making Bianca re-live the whole 100 miles again, we’re sharing it as it is – real, honest, slightly imperfect, and full of brilliant stories.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
You’ll love this chat if you enjoy stories about:
- Running huge distances with family
- The emotional side of ultra-running
- Why sleep matters so much in 100-mile races
- Aid station food, drop bag chaos and nutrition lessons
- The Delirious WEST community and all the people who make the race special
- Keeping going when your feet are burning, your brain is tired, and the finish line feels like it has moved further away
- Laughing at the ridiculous things that happen when you’ve been awake for far too long
Tips from Bianca
A few little gems from Bianca’s race:
- Don’t overpack your drop bags. Bianca bought heaps of food, but ended up sticking mostly to a few reliable favourites.
- Find nutrition you can actually keep using when tired. Precision hydration and chews worked well for her because she could keep getting them down.
- Sleep is worth practising. Bianca’s biggest challenge wasn’t fitness – it was not being able to switch off and nap properly during the race.
- Have simple go-to foods. Soup, toasties, burritos and bread became easier than trying to force random snacks.
- Use distraction when things hurt. Bianca looked for whales near the windmills to take her mind off her feet.
- Remember your why. When things got tough, Bianca came back to the reason she was out there – her friend Danielle.
Chafe tip! Bianca swears by putting Bepanthen on before showering if you’re badly chafed, to help stop that horrible shower sting.
Delirious WEST event Website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 DW?
Go join the event Facebook Group so you don’t miss when the race opens for entries in June for new runners – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
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💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset – a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
If you’re looking for a little more support with your running, I also offer personalised ZenRUN coaching – simple weekly structure, guidance, and encouragement to help you stay consistent and enjoy your running again.
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🙏 A couple of big favours
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast – it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2️⃣ 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
