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?

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👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset

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