Episode 581 - 2026 Delirious Series - Check-In 3: Matthew Farrand – Learning to Train Smarter, Not Just Harder

In this third check-in with Matthew Farrand, we dive into the real middle phase of Delirious WEST 2026 prep – where learning, adapting, and listening to your body matters more than ticking perfect boxes. Matthew shares a big post-Christmas training milestone: completing a tough 43-mile ultra in the UK winter, with frozen mud, canal paths, head-torch running, and a very honest “this was harder than I expected” reflection. It was proper endurance training – finishing empty, but healthy – and that’s a win. We talk through: • What that ultra revealed about fatigue, recovery, and strength gaps • Why quad strength and upper-back conditioning suddenly matter a lot • The surprisingly brilliant idea of switching from trail shoes to road shoes mid-race • Carrying shoes in your vest – pros, cons, and shoulder soreness lessons • Gaiters, poles, packs, and why now is the time to test gear (not race week!) • Fuel experiments – from jelly babies and Kendal mint cake to quesadillas and squash-proof pastries • Why Delirious is basically a moving picnic, not a gel-fest • Letting go of data obsession and trusting feel, experience, and common sense • The shift from “more running” to more walking as specific Delirious prep • Juggling family life, work changes, and fewer weekly runs – without losing momentum • Matthew’s grounded philosophy: healthy beats perfectly fit, every time This episode is a great reminder that endurance success isn’t about heroic training weeks – it’s about consistency, adaptability, and arriving at the start line ready to go. If you’re training for something big (or just trying to keep running part of your life), you’ll get a lot from this one.   Delirious WEST event Website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/ Event Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387   💛 Want your running to feel lighter again? If this conversation resonated, you’ll love The ZenRUN Reset Collection — a set of guided audios and simple tools to help you reset your running rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run. 👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset   A couple of BIG favours: 1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please like and review the podcast — it helps more runners discover it. 2️⃣ Come on the podcast and share your running journey, or refer someone you’d love me to interview (even if you don’t know them personally!). Let’s stop keeping the power of running a secret. Find me on Facebook or Instagram at ZenRUN.club, or email [email protected]   🎧 Don’t miss an episode Subscribe to the ZenRUN Podcast in your favourite podcast app so new conversations land straight in your ears.   ✨ Run easy. Run happy. ZenRUN Club is a relaxed space for runners who want consistency without pressure — guided runs, simple tools, and people who actually get it. 👉 zenrun.club   🎙️ Explore all episodes: https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/