In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Peta Moore – wildlife lover, ultra runner, Perth Zoo vet nurse, trail adventurer, and fellow member of the 2026 Delirious West DNF crew.
Peta’s story starts in a small coal mining town in Central Queensland, where she definitely did not grow up thinking she was sporty. There was a bit of T-ball, some Highland dancing, a serious Muay Thai phase, and eventually a life built around animals, wildlife, conservation, and the odd capybara obsession.
From wildlife biology to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, bear rescue work in Vietnam, zookeeping in Alice Springs, and eventually Perth Zoo, Peta’s life has been full of animals, adventure, and a very healthy amount of chaos.
And then running arrived.
What started as a Couch to 5K attempt on the trails around Alice Springs – complete with hills, heat, sunsets, and a dog by her side – slowly turned into trail running, ultra running, 100 milers, 200 milers, injury comebacks, big adventures, and a very deep love for the WA trail running community.
We talk about Peta’s first ultras, her love-hate relationship with backyard events, finishing her first 200 miler in the Blue Mountains, crying at aid stations, eating emergency Twisties for breakfast, getting through terrifying cliff sections with the help of “Spider Lady”, and the weird way ultra runners can suddenly find themselves saying things like, “There’s only 80k to go!”
Of course, we also talk about Delirious West 2026, where Peta went in with one of her best training blocks, a year of injury-free running behind her, and plenty of confidence – only to fall off a boardwalk just 3km into the race. From there, she managed pain, problem-solved, kept moving, questioned her sanity more than once, and eventually made the hard decision to stop at Treetop when the joy had gone and the risk felt too high.
This conversation is honest, funny, emotional, and full of the real stuff that happens between start lines and finish lines – including the grief of a DNF, the fear of more injury, the pull of community, and the deep love that keeps bringing us back to the trails.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
You’ll hear about:
- Peta growing up in a tiny Central Queensland mining town
- Her path into wildlife biology, zoo medicine, and vet nursing
- Running in Alice Springs, Vietnam, Perth, Spain, the Blue Mountains and WA trails
- Her first trail events and how she got sucked into the ultra world
- Why the WA trail running community became her second family
- Her first 200 miler at Unreasonable in the Blue Mountains
- Sleep deprivation, aid station meltdowns, and emergency Twisties
- The injury rollercoaster: shoulder surgery, knee surgery, stress fractures and comebacks
- Her 2026 Delirious West 200 miler DNF
- Why stopping can sometimes be the strongest decision
- The strange grief that can come after a DNF
- Why running is still worth it, even when it breaks your heart a little
Tips from Peta’s Story
1. Community matters more than we realise.
Peta talks beautifully about finding her people through trail running. When injury kept her from racing, she stayed connected by volunteering, crewing, cheering and showing up.
2. A DNF still contains a huge amount of courage.
Peta’s Delirious West didn’t end the way she hoped, but she still pushed through a massive amount of pain, made smart decisions, and protected her future running.
3. Don’t ignore pain just because you’re tough.
Ultra runners are excellent at tolerating discomfort – sometimes too excellent. Peta’s story is a good reminder that pain is information, especially when there’s a history of injury.
4. Cross-training can be a gift.
During injury recovery, Peta discovered cycling and realised it made her stronger. Sometimes the thing we’re forced into becomes part of the bigger picture.
5. Running will wait for you.
One of the loveliest reminders from this episode is that if you need a break, running is still there. The trails are still there. The community is still there.
6. It’s okay to grieve the race you didn’t get to finish.
A DNF can feel like losing the version of the story you’d been imagining. Peta speaks honestly about needing to process that.
7. Keep coming back – but come back wisely.
Peta’s story isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about healing, rebuilding, adjusting, and still believing there are more adventures ahead.
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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