WA Running Podcast

(AUDIO FIXED)
Monday 24th August 2026
Welcome to the series finale of Trail to Transcend following 4 athletes as they take on the Avon Valley at 2026 Transcend Trails on Saturday 22 August.
In our final episode, we check in with Annika Keall & Ben Leeson who both had to pull out in the 28km and the 65km respectively, Michael Edgar running a 3:51 in the 40km, Vic Hunn running 7:57 in the 65km and Chris Shaw running 7:45 in the 65km.
We talk taper, the Carb Load, the cramping, the highs, lows and everything in between in what was a grueling but rewarding races for all involved.
 
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 
 

Monday 17th August 2026
We’re joined by friend of the show, Ella Eastaugh from Frontrunner Physiotherapy as we preview the big dance - Transcend Trails this Saturday.
Ella chats about her rehab and return to running following a couple of setbacks, Simon shares his reflections following some niggles, Vici ticks another week in the lead up to this week's Transcend team relay and City to Surf later this month, and Chris shares his final preparations before the 65km.
In local results we had the Christmas Island Marathon with friends of the show Bryan Lip and Ash Ritto Ritson, and very close to home we had the WAMC Lake Gwelup Run that had the 5km and 10km distances.
The latest on the WA Women’s Track Night, a Potential 5K race organised by Josh Tighe and Vlad Ixel, and callout for Perth Running Festival pacers by the WAMC round off this week's Vici’s Verbalisations.
Jamie Back, Carl Harrison and a Jesse Chambers update feature in this week’s Weapons of WARP.
 
Jesse Chambers Fundraising Page for Cure Brain Cancer Foundation: https://fundraise.curebraincancer.org.au/fundraisers/jessechambers/31-in-31 
Reach out and connect!
Instagram: @warunningpod
Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com 
Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP

Monday 10th August 2026
With our new WARP intro, the full gang is back as we catch up on the last two weeks of local running which included the WAMC Perth Half Marathon, Perth Trail Series Truth and Consequences, Ultra Series WA Birdy’s Backyard Ultra, and Backroads Gravel Run up in Chapman Valley.
Chris is at the pointy end of his Transcend training, Vici (or Vishi) runs back to back races that included a Backroads Gravel Run win, and Simon is just in the corner of his daughter’s room trying his best not to be injured.
WA Women’s Track night entries open this Thursday with presenting partner Reclab, and community partners Pentanet, Ogging Coaching & Tyack & Co. Also our final Transcend Community Run is this Sunday at Victoria dam.
We talk about crabs and sticking a ball in it, and Douglas Clarke, Daniel MacPherson, Jesse Chambers, Kristy Wright, Asha Massong, and Trevor O’Callahan feature in our Weapons of WARP.
 
Reach out and connect!
Instagram: @warunningpod
Email: warunningpodcast@gmail.com 
Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WARP
Intro Music: RATSALAD. - Bike Beach Pub

Monday 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