In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Ben Ridley – Perth runner, Delirious West athlete, self-declared road runner, proud husband of Karin Ridley, and possibly one of the most committed “super crew” members in the ultra-running world.
Ben’s story starts with a childhood full of sport – footy, swimming, surf lifesaving, T-ball, basketball – basically everything except running.
Because running?
Absolutely not.
Ben grew up with chronic asthma, tricky knees, and a very strong dislike of running. But life has a funny way of circling back.
After years of work, family life, health challenges, weight struggles, FIFO, mental health battles, and a major lifestyle shift, Ben and Karin found themselves at parkrun.
And that changed everything.
What started as a Saturday morning “why would anyone do this?” moment slowly became 5Ks, 10Ks, trails, half marathons, Feral Pig, Delirious West, 100 milers, 200 miler attempts, big DNFs, big lessons, big friendships, and a running life Ben never expected.
This episode is funny, honest, emotional, and very Ben.
We talk about weight loss surgery, running for mental health, the magic of parkrun, the chaos of Delirious West, crewing Karin, hallucinations, chafing, broken tyres, beers at aid stations, podcast-fuelled road running, and why community might be the greatest thing running has given him.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
Ben shares:
- How he went from not being able to run a couple of hundred metres to becoming an ultra runner
- Why parkrun was the perfect no-pressure place to begin
- How he and Karin rebuilt their health together
- The reality of weight loss surgery – and why it was definitely not the “easy way out”
- His first 50K at Feral Pig and why he was “carrying on like a pork chop” halfway through
- His unforgettable Delirious West 100 miler finish with only 30 minutes to spare
- What it was like crewing Karin through her 200 miler after his own race ended
- The grief and emotion of losing his mum during Delirious
- Why DNFs hurt, but don’t define you
- How running has become one of his biggest mental health tools
- Why he’s currently loving road running, Melbourne Marathon training, and running into the MCG
- Why running with mates, coffee after parkrun, and pub run friendships matter so much
- Why Delirious still has baggage, but also still has a pull
- How he’s heading back to Delirious with mates for the Great Southern Beer Run
Tips From Ben
Ben shared some really practical, honest advice for runners who are struggling to get out the door:
1. Find your reason why
Don’t just run because you “should.” Work out why it matters to you. Is it your mental health? Your fitness? Your friendships? A goal? A bit of space from life?
That reason helps get you moving when motivation disappears.
2. Remember how you feel once you’re out there
Ben says the hardest part is often getting out the door. Once you’re moving, things start to shift. Your head clears. Life feels a bit lighter. The run does what it came to do.
3. Use something that helps you get started
For Ben, that might be a podcast, music, a book, or just being out on the trail listening to birds and trees.
The point is simple: make the run easier to begin.
4. Run with people when you can
Community has been huge for Ben. Parkrun, pub run, trail events, Ultra Series, coffee after runs – these people have become lifelong friends.
Sometimes running is less about the running and more about who it brings into your life.
5. Walking counts
Ben’s reminder is simple and brilliant:
Half an hour is better than nothing.
If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t do the full plan, do something. It still matters.
6. Strength training helps
Ben is a big believer in strength work for runners, especially if you want to keep running longer distances, reduce injury risk, and avoid the post-run “can’t sit down on the toilet” situation.
Very practical. Very true.
A Beautiful Reminder From Ben’s Story
Ben’s story is a reminder that running doesn’t have to start perfectly.
You don’t need to grow up as “a runner.”
You don’t need to be fast.
You don’t need to have it all together.
You can start with one parkrun.
You can walk.
You can struggle.
You can DNF.
You can come back.
And somewhere along the way, running might become less about proving something – and more about finding your people, clearing your head, and becoming someone you never expected to be.
Connect With Ben
You’ll most likely find Ben at parkrun, pub run, crewing Karin, running roads, signing up for something ridiculous with mates, or preparing for his next Delirious adventure.
And if you see him at an aid station, he may remind you:
You did choose to do this.
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
💛 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
🙏 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
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