Tarkine Athlete Post-Race Q+A: Bianca Harding — Delirious WEST 100 Miler
Tarkine athlete Bianca Harding recently completed the Delirious WEST 100 Miler — a gruelling 100-mile ultra through Western Australian terrain. We caught up with Bianca for a post-race Q&A on training, execution, challenges, and what's next.
1. How did your training block leading into the race go?
The training block was pretty solid overall. I came into it with a strong base from a couple of races a few months prior, so the focus was more on maintaining volume, getting quality sessions in with a heavy pack, and dialling in my nutrition.
Key sessions for me were the long time-on-feet runs, especially those where I carried a heavier pack. These weren’t about pace — they were about building durability and getting comfortable being uncomfortable for long periods. I also focused on back-to-back long efforts, which is such a big part of these races. Dialling in my nutrition during these sessions was a priority too, making sure everything worked when I was tired.
I didn’t get as much trail time as I would have liked after picking up a bit of a knee niggle at Sandman, so a lot of my running was on the path. But it didn’t phase me too much having done the course multiple times — I felt confident knowing what to expect.
Overall, it wasn’t perfect, but it was consistent, purposeful, and I felt prepared heading into race day.
2. How do you feel about your performance on race day?
To be honest, I was really happy with how I executed my race plan. Nutrition in this race is quite easy with the aid stations offering pretty much a full buffet, so I made the most of that — getting proper meals in, grabbing coffees, and staying on top of my intake the whole way through.
This race was never about me. It was about raising awareness for brain cancer and running for my good friend who is currently going through it. It was also the last time I would be on this start line with my mum, so the whole experience meant a lot more than just the run itself.
I respected the distance, stuck to my pacing, and just kept moving forward. There were definitely tough moments, but I handled them well and didn’t let them spiral.
It wasn’t about having a perfect race — it was about executing what I could control, and I feel like I did that really well. Overall, I’m proud of the effort I put in and how I managed myself out there.
3. What were the biggest challenges you faced out there?
The biggest challenges were definitely the lack of sleep and how much my feet copped over the course of the race. After so many hours out there, everything just starts to build — the fatigue, the soreness, and mentally having to keep pushing when your body just wants a break.
My feet had a couple of blisters due to the amount of sand we go through, but nothing a bit of fixomull can’t fix. That constant discomfort made every step a bit of a grind at times. There were moments where it all felt like a lot, and I had to really lean into my mindset and remind myself why I was out there.
But that’s the nature of these races — you’re going to hit those low points. I think the biggest thing was just not letting those moments take over, staying calm, and continuing to move forward no matter what.
4. What did the course teach you?
This course always teaches me respect — no matter how many times I do it, it never gets easier. You can’t fight it, you have to work with it. The terrain, the sand, the long stretches — it all demands patience.
It really reinforced the importance of pacing and not getting ahead of yourself. If you go out too hard, this course will find you later. So it was about staying controlled, walking with purpose, and trusting that consistent forward movement is what gets you to the finish.
More than anything, it reminded me how much mindset matters. There are so many moments where things get tough, but if you stay present, keep things simple, and just focus on the next step, you can get through it.
And honestly, it just deepens that connection to the trails — being out there for so long, sharing parts of it with others, and experiencing all the highs and lows. It’s something pretty special.
5. What’s next for you?
Right now, it’s all about recovery — giving my body the time it needs to properly absorb this race and come back stronger. No rushing it, just moving gently, resetting, and respecting what I’ve just put it through.
But the bigger focus ahead is the Vol State 314 Miler in July. That’s the next big goal, and everything I do from here will start to build toward that. It’s a completely different challenge, and one I’m really excited to take on.
This race has given me a lot of confidence, but also some really clear areas to keep working on — and I’ll be taking all of that into the next block. Bigger miles, more resilience, and continuing to show up ready to do the work.
