Episode 526 - 2026 Delirious Series - Intro - Running Towards Herself: Meet Sym Mercer

Guest:

Sym Mercer – Adventure racer, solo runner, systems expert, and snake-dodger extraordinaire.

Get Ready For:A story as wide and wild as the Queensland paddocks Sym grew up on. In this intro episode, Sym shares her roots, her road to ultrarunning, and why she’s lining up for one of the gnarliest ultras in Australia—Delirious W.E.S.T 200.

Why You’ll Love This Episode:
•Outback beginnings: Sym’s early days included School of the Air, dodging cattle, and not doing homework on an 85,000-acre property.
•From rock bottom to 200 miles: A raw and real reflection on turning life around—from the brink of burnout to being all in on big adventures.
•Training with heart (and humour): Sym’s approach to training is equal parts flexible and fierce. You’ll love her wisdom on rest, missed runs, and what really matters.
•Snake bites, aid stations & unfinished business: Stories from Tarawera, Race Across Scotland, and the time she might’ve been tagged by a sunset-loving snake.
•Running as therapy, growth & coffee filter: “Running keeps me out of jail. And I always have coffee on my podcast.”

Tips from the Trail with Sym:
•Missed a session? Don’t make it up. Let it go.
•You don’t need to justify your “why”—running just because you can is enough.
•Never underestimate the mental reset of trails where no one expects anything but for you to show up.

Next Big Adventure:

Sym is chasing a strong, joyful finish at Delirious W.E.S.T 2026. With her signature humour and a no-BS mindset, she’s ready to take on whatever the trail throws her way.

Follow Sym’s Journey:

Tune in each month as we check in with Sym on her path to the Delirious W.E.S.T 200 start line—every step, stumble, and story along the way.

A couple of BIG favours:
1) please like and review this podcast so more people will discover it :)
2) come on the podcast and talk about your running journey and/or refer someone you’d love me to interview (whether you know them or not :) )  Lets not keep the power of running a secret any more!  Hit me up on Facebook/Instagram (ZenRUN.club) or send me an email - Hello @ zenrun.club

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