In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderfully adventurous Jos Middleton – mental health leader, ultra runner, traveller, volunteer, reluctant road marathoner and someone who seems genetically incapable of doing anything by halves.
Jos grew up in Scarborough in the north of England, surfing in the freezing North Sea, playing sport and dreaming of one day living in Australia.
Her early adventures weren’t exactly uneventful.
At just 13, Jos broke two bones and fractured and displaced another in her neck after hitting a sandbar while surfing. She somehow paddled back to shore, sat on the beach for several hours, carried half the family’s belongings back to the car – and only then went to hospital.
Years later, a climbing fall at the You Yangs left her with three fractures in her heel, four pins and weeks unable to walk.
Two enormous accidents. Two reminders that Jos is very lucky to be both alive and moving.
And moving is something she has always loved.
Jos trained as a mental health nurse after growing up in a rather unusual home – quite literally inside the nursing home her mum purchased so she could care for Jos’s father, who had Alzheimer’s disease.
After moving to Australia in 2009, Jos spent five years working in Melbourne before heading off with her partner to find “Australia”. They lived in a tent, climbed, mountain biked, worked on sheep stations and travelled their way around the country.
While working on a remote South Australian property, a farmer told Jos that he believed she had saved his life.
Jos hadn’t been consciously working as a mental health nurse. She had simply spent time beside him, listened, helped and joined him in the daily work of the property.
That experience planted the seed for what would become Jos’s career in rural and remote mental health. Today, she leads a mental health and wellbeing program across Far North Queensland, with a strong focus on supporting First Nations communities.
So where does running fit into all of this?
Jos arrived at running later.
A few occasional parkruns and a relaxed 21-kilometre trail “picnic with friends” eventually led to plans to travel to Sierra Leone and complete a half marathon.
COVID stopped the trip – but it didn’t stop the ripple effect.
Instead, Jos and her friends created Makeways Foundation ((https://makewaysfoundation.org/), which collects second-hand sporting clothing and equipment from around Australia and sends it to Sierra Leone.
The foundation has now shipped multiple containers, opened Sierra Leone’s first second-hand sportswear store, employed local staff and a running coach, supported young athletes and created running opportunities within local communities.
Last year, Jos finally made it to Sierra Leone and completed the marathon alongside the people the foundation supports.
And because Jos doesn’t do things by halves, her first ultramarathon wasn’t exactly a gentle local event.
She chose the 50-kilometre Simpson Desert Ultra in Birdsville.
Naturally.
Since then, Jos has completed events including Three Marathons in Three Days, Run Larapinta, Surf Coast Century, Margaret River Ultra, Kuranda to Port Douglas, the Sierra Leone Marathon and the Wheelbarrow Race – an event where competitors push an empty wheelbarrow over multiple days.
She is now stepping temporarily away from the trails after “falling into” the Melbourne Marathon ballot, while also dreaming of taking on Marathon des Sables in 2028.
We talk about adventure, running later in life, surviving injuries, fitting training around constant work travel, the Cairns heat, strength training, community and why Jos wants to continue running forever.
Jos’s approach to events is wonderfully refreshing.
She isn’t chasing a particular placing or allowing a finishing time to determine whether the experience was worthwhile.
She wants to enjoy the adventure, dig deep, feel grateful for every step and bring some joy to the experience.
And when things become difficult?
Jos doesn’t want to quit while sitting comfortably in the chair.
She wants to stand up and give it another go – even if she only manages two more steps.
Jos’s Running Tips
Plan around real life
Jos travels regularly for work, so she asks for her training plan early and works out where each session can realistically fit. She packs her running gear before travelling rather than hoping an opportunity appears.
Include strength work
When knee pain appeared during a run, Jos realised she had a choice: ignore it and potentially follow a path of ongoing problems, or actively strengthen her body. She now includes personal training, physio exercises and strength sessions alongside her running.
Find the right support
Working with a coach who understood injury recovery helped Jos rebuild her running and improve her form.
Be flexible when injured
Running is important to Jos, but it isn’t her entire identity. When she can’t run, she cycles or finds another way to move rather than believing everything has been taken away.
Stop comparing hot-weather pace
Running through a Cairns summer slows Jos down, but she reminds herself that the conditions are temporary. Training in the heat can also create an endurance advantage when racing in cooler conditions.
Choose an experience-based goal
Rather than judging every event by time or placing, Jos focuses on enjoying the adventure, embracing the challenge, digging deep and finding gratitude along the way.
Stay grateful for movement
Jos’s body has been through some enormous challenges. Even when it struggles, she remains grateful that it continues to let her move, explore and run.
Pass the Baton
Jos answers Nagiska Mayes’s question:
“When you eventually look back on your running life, what’s one thing you’d love to know you gave a go – whether it’s a race, a challenge, an experience, or something deeply personal?”
Her answer takes us into backyard ultra thinking, endurance and why she never wants to quit while still sitting in the chair.
Jos then passes a thoughtful new question to the next ZenRUN Podcast guest.
What did she ask?
You’ll need to listen to the episode to find out.
This is a beautiful conversation about running, adventure, community, purpose and what can happen when we remain curious enough to keep giving things a go.
💛 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.
🙏 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.
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