In this Delirious WEST 2026 wrap-up episode, I’m joined once again by the wonderful Karin Ridley, fresh from completing the 200 miler and earning her second Delirious plugger – which officially makes her a double plugger! 🤸♀️
And oh my goodness, this episode is such a brilliant mix of everything that makes Delirious so special – the nerves, the community, the ridiculous moments, the tears, the food, the blisters, the crew chaos, the beach sections that go forever, and the tiny little moments that somehow keep you moving when everything hurts.
Karin takes us right back to the start line, including the pre-race catch-ups, the pub run that turned into setting up merch, the famous bogan run, and Ben’s very committed – and slightly hazardous – outfit choice. From there, we follow her right through the course as she navigates wet weather, soft sand, sore feet, sleep deprivation, a watch that refused to behave, and plenty of emotional wobbles along the way.
One of the big themes in this episode is support. Karin had Ben, Lincoln, Nat, Harmony, Simon, Amanda, Wayne, aid station volunteers, fellow runners, and so many friends helping pull her through the hard patches. There were dad jokes in drop bags, emergency hugs, surprise crew appearances, phone calls in the night, medic foot repairs, and people showing up exactly when she needed them.
We also talk about the mental side of taking on something this big. Karin shares honestly about imposter syndrome, comparing her training to others, worrying that she hadn’t done enough after coming back from injury, and learning to recognise the strength she had built in other ways – especially through strength training and cycling.
And of course, there are plenty of very Delirious moments too – pumpkin soup with Vegemite scrolls, halloumi gnocchi, maple bacon wraps, hot water meltdowns, trail karaoke with Miley Cyrus, flushing toilet joy, chafe cream teamwork, snakes on the track, snapped poles, sore feet, and the kind of conversations that only happen after 200 miles on the Bibbulmun Track.
Karin’s finish is a beautiful one. Surrounded by friends, walking into Albany with her own little entourage, and having Lincoln place the medal around her neck made the whole journey even more meaningful.
This is such a fun, honest, emotional and very real episode about what it takes to keep going when things get hard – and what it means to discover just how strong you really are.
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Why You’ll Love This Episode
In this episode, Karin shares:
- What race week felt like once everyone arrived in Northcliffe
- Why the Delirious community is such a huge part of the experience
- The joy and chaos of the bogan run
- How her watch drama caused way more stress than expected
- The power of Ben’s dad jokes in her drop bags
- How sore feet and blisters became one of her biggest challenges
- Why sleep really does fix a lot of things in a 200 miler
- The aid station foods that saved her, including soup, gnocchi, risotto and wraps
- How Nat helped shift her energy and get her moving again
- Why support from friends made such a difference
- What it felt like to become a double plugger
- Why she now knows she’s stronger than she gives herself credit for
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Tips from Karin’s 200-Mile Journey
1. Don’t compare your training to someone else’s
Karin had a moment before the race where she worried she hadn’t run enough kilometres compared to other athletes. But when she looked at the full picture – including strength training and cycling – she realised she had prepared in a different but still valuable way.
2. Sleep when you can
One of Karin’s biggest takeaways was simple: there is time to sleep. Even short naps helped reset her brain, body and emotions.
3. Your crew matters
Ben may have been bossy – in the best possible way – but having someone who knew when to push, when to feed her, when to make her sleep, and when to send her back out made a huge difference.
4. Tiny moments can change everything
A hug, a phone call, cold water, a funny song, a good aid station meal, a familiar face – sometimes that’s all it takes to keep moving.
5. Your mind will want to quit before your body does
Karin’s biggest reflection was that the body can do amazing things, but the mind often wants to stop first. Getting through those moments showed her how strong she really is.
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.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/
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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
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