Episode 21 - Longest Run
2016-05-25
— open the full-size artworkShow artwork, April 2016HostsMelissa Erbacher Scott Trickett
Roving reportersCraig Curtis Melissa Taylor Zara Curtis
GuestsDave 'Robbo' Robertson Mel Alderton
Show notes
The parkrun adventurers celebrate our 21st episode with all things half marathon. We run long talking longest runs and catch up with Robbo to hear about his not-so-naked half. Parramatta (opens in a new tab) parkrun Event Director Mel Alderton pops by for a visit, and we hear from roving adventurers Melissa Taylor and Zara Curtis, reporting in from the Warwick (opens in a new tab) Pentathrun and Portland (opens in a new tab) parkrun’s launch.
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Enhanced transcript
Speakers named, sound described and segments marked by the editing pass — not yet checked by a person.
Read the transcriptGuests
Dave 'Robbo' Robertson
His Sydney Morning Herald half marathon run documented on Snapchat with two iPhones and a selfie stick; pacing elites Michael Shelley and Harry Summers for two minutes; the Mossy and Robbo Rio Olympics crowdfunding project and the "Samba Sofa"; Newy parkrun's fourth birthday on the June long weekend; the Daves Running Club; and a parkrun adventure to Minnippi parkrun in Brisbane.
Mel Alderton
Taking over as ED at Parramatta parkrun, the out-and-back course from George Kendall Reserve at Ermington along the Parramatta River, her adventuring to nine other events (Shellharbour, Bega, Bowral), Batemans Bay next, and her triathlon background and back-of-the-pack message that "it doesn't matter what level you're at".
Roving reports
In this episode
Welcome starts at 0:07
Scott Trickett and Melissa Erbacher mark episode 21 as the half-marathon edition, arguing parkrun is the gateway run to half marathons (Mel, after a couple of halves, now fancies 10Ks for the social side). Mel explains the Longest Run, the unofficial winter-solstice day of up to seven freedom runs on parkrun courses, set for Sunday 19 June: Melbourne's first starts at Jells at 6:30am, Sydney and the Sunshine Coast have one, WA is yet to confirm, and last year's Sunshine Coast day had Mel timekeeping and patching up a bloodied adventurer who still finished seven. Scott reports on Coburg's anniversary, where his caveman costume fell apart and he went as a chief while his mate John came as a clock.
Strava Club update starts at 12:10
Melissa Erbacher and Scott Trickett announce the brand-new parkrun adventurers Strava Club, "there is now the parkrun adventurers Strava Club", noting membership has "grown exponentially in days" and teasing that "exciting stuff is going to happen in this club" that they will not reveal yet.
Meet the ED starts at 33:29
Studio interview with Mel Alderton, Event Director of Parramatta parkrun (NSW) since early 2016, who took over from founding ED Jonathan Arthur. Covers the George Kendall Reserve / Ermington course, being Australia's 21st event to launch, her nine-event adventuring record (Shellharbour, Bega, Bowral), Batemans Bay next on the bucket list, and her back-of-the-pack philosophy "my race, my pace, my way".
Roving reports & the Channel 5 News crew starts at 45:03
Three field reports back to back: Craig Curtis from the Portland parkrun launch (Victoria) interviewing ED Allan Hoskins, run-team member Brian Glover, Hamilton ED Brian Barrera and Mount Gambier ED Phil Ackland; Zara Curtis also from the Portland launch with touring parkrunners Sean Hill and Maxime Sylvester; and Melissa Taylor from the Warwick Pentathrun in Queensland with a long run of half-marathon finishers.
Social Adventurers starts at 1:03:12
Facebook and Instagram round-up: Scott Watkins ("Dr. Scott") shares a tool for finding your nearest 5K run anywhere in the world (prompting a running gag about how to pronounce NENDY); Run Jo Run posts from the Portland launch road trip; Finding My Balance runs with the Capalaba parkrun community; a 50th-birthday/50th-parkrun pairing; and Miss Spelt does a half freedom run on the Warwick parkrun course along the Condamine River.
Launches and anniversaries starts at 1:05:13"Where is the cake?"
No launches this week, but a full slate of anniversaries: Castlemaine (VIC) first with a C and P theme, Devonport first with a P theme, Highlands (VIC) third with tiaras, top hats, ties and tutus, Mount Penang second, Penrith Lakes second going blue, and The Ponds (NSW) first with a fluoro theme. Includes Scott categorically ruling out ever being seen in a tutu.
Sign-off starts at 1:07:59
Scott hoped the episode had got listeners to the end of their long run or filled up their commute, and joked that they should shout "parkrun adventurers!" when stepping off the bus. He trailed Tim's return to the podcast next week after a break and asked listeners to send saved-up questions to the podcast's Gmail address or by Facebook message, to hashtag anything parkrun-adventuring related so the hosts could find it on Twitter and Instagram, and to leave a five-star iTunes review with honest feedback in the comments; they closed with a promise to catch up next week and Mel's "happy adventuring".