Published by The WARP
A podcast by WA runners, for WA runners. Join non elite runners Chris, Simon & Vici as they cover the roads, trails and track scenes in Western Australia, as well as interviewing notable personalities of the WA running community.
Listen on Apple PodcastsMonday 3rd August 2026 Welcome to Episode 03 of Trail to Transcend following 4 athletes as they train for the 2026 Transcend Trails on Saturday 22 August. In our final episode before the big dance, we check in with Annika Keall (running the 28km), Michael Edgar (running the 40km), Vic Hunn and Ben Leeson (taking on the 65km) on their training to date and confidence heading into the Avon Valley on Saturday the 22nd august 2026. From the inaugural Tarkine training camp, the Stirling Ridge FKT, course reccy runs to 5k/10km road races - the guys reflect on the last month, whether things went to plan, race day logistics and tips for runners and those crewing their loved ones. We talk 600g of Bix gels, a 3min first km at the start of the race, monsoon weather, Simon’s predictions and whether ‘Gollum’ will race the 65km. This episode is brought to you by Transcend Trails. Starting at Walyunga National Park, traversing the Paruna Wildlife Reserve and finishing at Cobblers Pool, you will have access to some of the most stunning trails on offer in WA through the beautiful and untamed Avon Valley. But don't be fooled - your body and mind will be challenged in ways you might least expect. Whether you're taking it on solo or enjoying a day on the trails with friends, race distances from 6K to 65K offer an inclusive and unforgettable race experience for people of all ages and abilities. Transcend. Rise above and go beyond. The Valley awaits…Find out more and enter now at transcendtrails.com with entries closing midnight 9th August 2026.
Monday 27th July 2026 It’s Vici & Simon (along with Chris’ impersonation of Deeks on the trail) this week as we cover the State Cross Country Short Course Championships down in Burswood and the WA Coastal Running Festival up in Burns Beach. Vici gets ready for this week’s Perth half with Garmin telling her that she’s peaking, whilst Simon finishes a full week of training after some gardening leave and rounding the week off with a sneaky WA Coastal Running Festival run that was definitely silly. Thanks to everyone who has joined us on our community trail runs in the lead up to Transcend. Our next community run is this Wednesday with a run with The Running Centre featuring a Brooks wear test and Pillar Performance. Jack Sirett, Christie Lori, Ben Leeson, Joel Gray and Bryce Turvey feature in our Weapons of WARP. Go listen to RATSALAD on Spotify. Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 20th July 2026 We’re Joined by returning guest and quietly the hardest working runner in WA, Tommy Tedge fresh off his win at his hometown marathon in Kalgoorlie. Tom talks about his comeback from injury back in late 2024, running sub 2:30 at Valencia Marathon, and running Gold Coast Half Marathon a couple of weeks ago where he dipped below 70min representing Team WA. In results we cover the Kalgoorlie Pipeline Marathon where a couple of Perth folks chased prize money, The PTS Eagle and Child Trail Run and the WAMC Shelley Loop Run. We talk running in skinny jeans, women’s weightlifting and we froth over James Hansen’s Instagram page. The last few participants in the last person standing competition and the Transcend Trail Series runners feature in our Weapons of WARP. Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 13th July 2026 The whole gang is back to recap the Bibra Lake Runningworks Festival and the Gold Coast marathon with some impressive performances across the country. In other results we had the Broome International Airport Marathon and the Mt Marshall gravel grind. In other news, Vici becomes a football pundit and shares some England facts, Chris underestimates the elevation for the WARP x Dubbel Transcend Community Run, and Simon finally comes up from the dark and does some gym work for a change. Chris recaps his Bibra Lake Half marathon Run and avid listener of the show, Rachael Laing recaps her first marathon at the gold coast marathon. Alan Stabler, Claudia Seke and Audwin Lee feature in our Weapons of WARP. BONUS CONTENT - Rachael's 17min voice memo at the end. Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 6th July 2026 Welcome to Episode 02 of Trail to Transcend, the WARP Training Series following 4 athletes as they train for the 2026 edition of Transcend Trails on Saturday 22 August. Last episode we met Victoria Hunn and Michael Edgar, where Vic spoke about qualifying for the 2027 edition of CCC and Mike shared stories of Feral Pig 2025 where he got to taste his breakfast and his gels - twice. Today we are blessed to be speaking to two of WA’s finest athletes on our trails, both of them representing Tarkine Athletics and boasting a list of results that will make your eyes water and your quads quiver. Annika Keall is returning to Transcend in the 28K this year after having run 8hr24min in the 65K back in 2023. Her running has levelled up since then and following a win at 3 inch trail marathon in December just days after having her wisdom teeth removed, she has since gone on to take 6th place in the 22K Donna Double at Warburton Trail Festival back in March, and most recently 17th at UTA22 in Katoomba NSW in May. Ben Leeson has been on an absolute tear of late. He’s made a habit of breaking course records, winning Feral Pig 100K last year in 10hr35min, 2026 MRU 80K in 6hr16min (he also holds the course record in the 42K from 2025) and just for shits and giggles ran WAMC King of the Mountain two weeks back in 1hr1min. Last year Ben placed second in the 65K at Transcend behind Mike Dimuantes and you can be sure he is back this year to take gold. This episode is brought to you by Transcend Trails. Starting at Walyunga National Park, traversing the Paruna Wildlife Reserve and finishing at Cobblers Pool, you will have access to some of the most stunning trails on offer in WA through the beautiful and untamed Avon Valley. But don't be fooled - your body and mind will be challenged in ways you might least expect. Whether you're taking it on solo or enjoying a day on the trails with friends, race distances from 6K to 65K offer an inclusive and unforgettable race experience for people of all ages and abilities. Transcend. Rise above and go beyond. The Valley awaits…Find out more and enter now at transcendtrails.com with entries closing midnight 9th August 2026.
Monday 29th June 2026 Vici & Chris are joined by women’s winner of this year’s Cape 2 Cape 100 miler Nancy Shaw. Nancy chats about her 4am training and what drew her to running the 100 miler. Nancy also shares a new chafing location for the pod. Chris recaps the WAMC King of the mountain that had a marshal call him ‘that WARP dog’ and in other results we had the state cross country champions which had Matt Ramsden & Amy Buckingham getting the win for Rams Running. We have our upcoming transcend community runs with the first one on the 12th of July at Helena Valley Primary School with the folks at Dubbel for those keen on giving some trails a go (Is it a coincidence that Simon is injured?) Veronika Kretzer, Michael Edgar and Charles Bosveld feature in our Weapons of WARP. Fat Farmers Rural Initiative Run4Resilience: https://www.fatfarmers.com/run4resilience Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 22nd June 2026 The gang is joined by Liam Kamudu to help recap Ultra Perth that featured impressive runs by Nera Jareb and Joel Gray in the 50km and some big dogs in running with a hefty prize pool across the distances. We hear about Liam’s progression from a 12km win at Bibra Lake in 2024, to a sub 2:30 marathon debut in Frankfurt in 2025, and big things to come in 2026. We had PTS Snakes and Ladders, Chris finally regrets signing up to a 65km trail race, Vici nails the podium winner’s names, and Simon might finally be injured. Sasha Johnson, Emily Murray and Jude Burleigh feature in our Weapons of WARP. Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 15th June 2026 Simon and Vici are joined by the President of the WA Marathon Club - Kim Vivian to talk about the club’s beginnings to where it is now as Australia’s largest running club organising some of the biggest events in the WA Running Calendar. Kim is also a World Athletics Level A certified course measurer, so we delve into the principles and steps behind certifying a course, how to become one, the inaccuracies of GPS, and being treated like a rockstar with security detail in Southeast Asia. We recap the Wadjemup Rottnest Festival that included some last-minute course tweaks by Kim and Ray Lampard and Michael Carroll taking out the Todd Ingraham Trophy and running the most smiley 2:37 marathon. In other local results, Nancy helps us recap the Cape to Cape Ultra Marathon, as the Kunnunurra Half Marathon. We have two tickets to giveaway for the upcoming Backroads Gravel Run, and Big Kev, Jayme from the Last Person Standing competition, Rob Goyen and Stu Caufield, and WAMC member Gary Harris feature in our Weapons of WARP. Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 8th June 2026 Welcome to Episode 001 of Trail to Transcend, the latest WARP training series following the 2026 edition of Transcend Trails coming up on Saturday 22 August 2026. In the first episode we meet two weapons on the trails in their own right - Victoria Hunn and Michael Edgar. Vic is relatively new to the trail scene but in a very short period of time has gone from strength to strength, from a ‘kindergarten core’ to winning Feral Pig Ultra to 13th place at UTA 100 - qualifying for next year's UTMB CCC in the process. Vic will take on the 65km race at this year's Transcend. Friend of the show Mike will be tackling the 40km at Transcend - moving up from the 28km where he was the first male in last year's event. Mike shares his love with the trail scene, his T8 shorts and conquering the demons of feral pig ultra last year. Hear their journey, their training and their tips for runners and lovers of trail preparing for this year's event. This episode is brought to you by Transcend Trails. Starting at Walyunga National Park, traversing the Paruna Wildlife Reserve and finishing at Cobblers Pool, you will have access to some of the most stunning trails on offer in WA through the beautiful and untamed Avon Valley. But don't be fooled - your body and mind will be challenged in ways you might least expect. Whether you're taking it on solo or enjoying a day on the trails with friends, race distances from 6K to 65K offer an inclusive and unforgettable race experience for people of all ages and abilities. Transcend. Rise above and go beyond. The Valley awaits… Find out more and enter now at transcendtrails.com with entries closing midnight 9th August 2026.
Monday 1st June 2026 The whole gang is back with some special guests as we are excited to announce the 2026 WA Women’s Track Night scheduled for Saturday 24th October 2026. In this episode we focus on female physiology, bone stress injuries and RED-S as we think it's a conversation every runner can learn from. Ella talks about the science and contributing factors, while Sav shares her journey with RED-S and bone stress injuries. In local results we had the Lenora Golden Gift, PTS Jolly Jumbuck and Tori and Willow help us cover the Elleker Running Festival. We’ll be taking part in the upcoming push up challenge, we have a community run this Wednesday, and Charles Bosveld, Jamie Back, Amy Twist & Suzi McMahon are this week’s weapons of WARP. WA Women's Track Night Updates: @wa_womens_track_ on Instagram Weapons of WARP Team for the Push-Up Challenge: https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/fundraisers/weaponsofwarp/the-push-up-challenge Charles Bosveld's TIACS (This is a Conversation Starter) Fundraiser. TIACS provides free professional mental health counselling to tradies, truckies, farmers, apprentices and their loved ones via phone and text Australia wide: https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/charlesbosveld/11-days-in-may Front Runner Physiotherapy: https://www.frontrunnerphysio.com.au/ Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 25th May 2026 With Vici catching up on some well earnt rest, we recap the biggest event on the WA Running Calendar, the HBF Run for a Reason. We had 40,000 participants, $1.7million raised to local charities and some weapon like performances across the 3km, 12km and Half Marathon. In other results we had the Sydreh Back to Frontyard Ultra (Herdys but in reverse) with Shane Aris and Phoebe Hurliman the last man and woman standing respectively. A winner of the World Master Aged Group marathon champs, a man with WARP on his biceps, a substitute HBF pacer, someone who completed the unofficial HBF grand slam, and a late-night quiz master were this week’s weapons of WARP. Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
We’re joined by Tim Leith, a sports chiropractor, endurance sport enthusiast and someone with a pretty unique perspective on movement, recovery and performance. Brace yourself, you’re going to want to hear his story. In local results we unpack the WAMC Joondalup short course but somehow long course Running Festival which featured perfect conditions but less than desirable course directions. Simon gets confused between Ambrose Foley and Cam Anderson, Vici did not run 0km this week, and Chris’ voice memos are back. Grand Uncle SK, Jamal Fozdar, Kalen Bennet, WA peeps that ran UTA over the weekend, and ‘pack pigs’ feature in this week’s weapons of WARP. Where you can find Tim Leith: @tim_the_performance_chiro and @perthhealthcare on instagram https://substack.com/@timtheperformancechiro https://www.perthhealthcare.com.au/ Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 11th May 2026 The team is back together this week as we recap the much anticipated Margaret River Ultra & Wings For Life Perth over the weekend. Ben Leeson breaks the 80km course record by 19 minutes in 6hr16min, the Ogging Squad Girls and Boys dominate the team relays and Crystal Lyons and Ethan Stirrat take out the grand slam. Jess from Ogging Squad recaps the girls’ win in the team relay, Hayden recaps his MC gig at Wings for Life Perth, Vici ‘retires’ from her Last Person Standing challenge and Chris gets ready to steer the 90min pace bus this coming Sunday. We have an upcoming The Running Centre (TRC) community run on Wednesday 27th May with our friends from ASICS, and Matt Neves and Brodie Clark win our final two HBF Run for a Reason tickets. Colin Dismuke’s MRU website, Vici’s MRU run on soup and yoghurt & the wider WARP community feature in this week’s weapons of WARP. Colin’s MRU & training website: https://mru.cpd.dev/ Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 4th May 2026 No Vici with us this week but Chris and Simon are joined by Coach Josh Tighe. Josh is a running and athletics coach, personal trainer, he heads up the training group Herdsman Harriers and has a pedigree as a British Mountain Runner and 2:26 marathoner. In local races we had the Soul Runners Swan River Half, the inaugural Ultra Series OMFG Trail Running Festival and the inaugural WAMC Rockingham Classic with a couple of notable runners running the double on Saturday and Sunday in what was glorious mornings over this weekend's racing. Simon is feeling a bit cooked and discovers new smells in his new house, Chris gets confused seeing a toilet block at the Rockingham Classic, and Josh thought Simon was running the kids race at Transcend last year. Lloyd Reidy and his son Walt win 1 of our 3 entries to this year's HBF Run for a Reason competition with the other two winners to be announced later this week. Astrid Roberts' 36:38 and an 11-year-old boy running a half marathon in 80mins feature in this week’s weapons of WARP. Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 27th April 2026 Simon’s in the middle of moving house so it’s just Vici & Chris as they recap the Lake Rumble Run up in Joondalup, the supposed ‘Valencia of the South’ Ballarat Marathon, along with Boston and London Marathons with some WA peeps taking part. Chris is back to triple digits in mileage, whilst Vici struggles with sickness but manages to punch out 30km on her last person standing challenge. We have 3 HBF Run for a Reason entries up for grabs for any distance, even the half which is sold out. All you need to do is send us a voice note or video on Instagram telling us why you run. Competition closes Sunday 3 May. Shane Johnstone, Ally Wilcox and Tim Harmsen, Clemence Deleage, the 6yo kid who ran a half marathon in Indonesia, and North South (and their coverage of Ballarat) are this week’s weapons of WARP Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 20th April 2026 Simon, Chris & Vici are joined by Ella Eastaugh from Frontrunner Physiotherapy to recap a glorious morning of running with the Bridges Fun Run aka the State 10km Road Championship on Sunday. From Chris’ content creation on the bike, Vici’s spectating on her long run to Ella and Simon running the event, we have all bases covered. Ella talks about her own running journey from Little Athletics to State Netball to now committing to her own running goals whilst being a physiotherapist at Frontrunner Physiotherapy. We go through the different approaches and philosophies to physiotherapy and some of the basics to keep you in tip top shape whilst training. Alwyn Barnaby, Dean Stauborg, Jules Bennett and Perth cyclists feature in this week’s Weapons of WARP. Follow Ella at @ella.rehab and @frontrunnersportsphysiotherapy on instagram or visit https://www.frontrunnerphysio.com.au/ Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 13th April 2026 Simon, Chris & Vici recap one of our favourite events on the WA running calendar, the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival. From rogue 10km lead bikes, Bryan Lip, house music on the balcony to hamstring cramps at the checkered bastard - the event had it all. Massive thanks to the Bunbury Runners Club for putting on such an amazing event and we look forward to the 45th edition next year. In other results were had Delirious W.E.S.T that featured a 200 and 100 miler with Chris Atkinson and Justin Mulhair taking out the wins in the respective distances. Zacheus Gildersleeve, Cole Sawyer, the 10km Men’s Lead Bike and Ritto and Pete were this week’s Weapons of WARP. Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Monday 6th April 2026 The gang is back together with our regular programming as we gear up for our respective pacing gigs at Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival this weekend with Chris pacing 3 hours, Vici pacing 4hr30 and Simon pacing a couple of pals in the half marathon. In local results we had the WA Coastal Running Festival Whitfords Nodes, XTERRA Dunsborough, PTS Stay Puft , the last Strive Program meet of the season and we preview the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival. Shane Johnstone, Michael Edgar, Mackenzie Burgoyne and Mark Peterson feature on this week’s Weapons of WARP. Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
In Episode 5, Chris chats to the official marathon pace team ahead of the Bunbury 3 Waters Festival on Sunday 12th April 2026. As part of our discussions with Bunbury Runners Club last year during the planning phase for 2026, we agreed to aid the club in sourcing pacers for the marathon which would be a first for the event. We have: - Joel Gray and Chris Shaw steering the coveted 3hr bus, - the reliable Ashlee 'Ritto' Ritson and Uncle Audwin Lee for 3hr30 - Jake Beacock and Noah Simpson with their casio watches calibrated for the 4hr bus, and - Vici Richardson and Bryan Bourke singing and yapping for 4hr30 straight. From Joel's 150g/hr carbs consumption, Ritto's family discount, Audwin's $60 unofficial marathon, Jake's Imodium obsession, Vici's feet post Herdys and Bryan's love of Yokine Reserve, we get to learn more about our marathon pacers and what draws them to the marathon and what makes them weapons in their own right. This episode is brought to you by the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival. Famous for its beautiful, flat, and fast course, the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival offers ocean views up Ocean Drive, dolphin spotting in Koombana Bay, fast racing around Big Swamp and the challenge of the infamous Bunbury lighthouse - or as we like to call it - THE CHECKERED BASTARD. With personalised drink stations, on-course entertainment, and a finish line vibe that captures everything great about the regional WA running community, the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival delivers an experience you’ll remember long after your legs stop aching. So lace up, set your sights south, and make Bunbury your next race destination in April 2026. Find out more at runbunbury.com.au Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Welcome to Episode 4 of The Road to the Checkered Bastard, the WARP training series following the 2026 Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival. Last episode in our chat with Ian and Megan, you will have heard us reference the second seminar hosted by the Bunbury Runners Club in the lead up to 3 Waters, featuring inspirational runners from within the region talking through their stories and the challenges they have overcome in order to achieve great things in their running endeavours and beyond. First up we have Dennis Deveraux who shares his story of loss loved ones, a near catastrophic injury, and the determination to take on just about any endurance event that you can imagine in the years that followed. Alice Luscombe returns and shares her recent struggles with a tibial stress fracture, but dives deeper into her background with regional sport, a career ending injury and how she now takes her experience at the highest level and helps the next generation of regional water polo athletes. Young Aiden Behan talks about his recent success at the School Sport National Triathlong Championships, but also delves into the challenges that young endurance athletes face, along with the commitment needed from their families and the community around them. Finally Amy Twist, event MC for Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival tells us how being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as age 3 has not put a limit on her ability to undertake some of the toughest endurance events imaginable, such as the Bali Hope Ultra, all while raising money for charity to support those in greater need. We are proud to bring you these stories that may make you shed a tear, share some joy and ultimately be inspired by the stories you hear today. This episode is brought to you by the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival. Famous for its beautiful, flat, and fast course, the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival offers ocean views up Ocean Drive, dolphin spotting in Koombana Bay, fast racing around Big Swamp and the challenge of the infamous Bunbury lighthouse - or as we like to call it - THE CHECKERED BASTARD. With personalised drink stations, on-course entertainment, and a finish line vibe that captures everything great about the regional WA running community, the Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival delivers an experience you’ll remember long after your legs stop aching. So lace up, set your sights south, and make Bunbury your next race destination in April 2026. Find out more and enter now at runbunbury.com.au Reach out and connect! Instagram: @warunningpod Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP