Episode 453 - Half Way There

2026-07-03

HostsSarah Jefferson Simon Mackley

Roving reportersAli Sheppard Eman Vergara Ruth Perkins Tony O'Connell

Show notes

Sarah and Simon have filled this episode with news, chills and a palm27 announcement… already? You read it right! Also, you’ll hear Reginald discuss all things about the Netherlands, we celebrate a former pod host, and hear why Simon decides winter isn’t the time of year to get cheeky. There are roving reports from Toyen parkrun, parkrun Zamek w Malborku as well as Oosterhout parkrun. Ever wondered if the Adventurers like pineapple on their pizzas? Even if you haven’t, you will hear all about it on this pod. Warning: It may make you hungry.

Roving reports

In this episode

• parkrun news bulletin

  News block running from Simon's public-service announcement at [00:18:48] (check that your 'in case of emergency' contact in your parkrun profile is up to date) through the rare-weather item at [00:19:33] (36 of 53 Japan events cancelled by two typhoons, 17 went ahead) and into the fortnight's attendance and milestone stats from [00:20:52] — New Zealand (Hagley biggest both weeks; East Otago High School and Hanmer Forest smallest) and Australia (largest: Macquarie University 629, Albert Melbourne 791; smallest: Jake's Point WA with one participant), including why Curl Curl was huge (Channel 7 Sunrise there for 10 years of Medibank sponsorship).

• Roving Adventurers (roving reporter crossovers)

  Sarah throws to the roving block at [00:24:25] "we might throw to some roving reports". Three European reports back to back: Ali Sheppard with Trude Sundian, ED of Toyen parkrun in Oslo (record 362 finishers, Ascension Day, Norwegian Constitution Day, 'three times up the stupid hill'); TOC from Poland at parkrun Zamek w Malborku with UK tourist Sue Page of Sowerby Bridge Snails, over for a Z; and Ruth Perkins with a cameo from TOC at Oosterhout parkrun in the Netherlands on Whit Monday, talking to both event directors about switching the briefing to Dutch and the volunteer-run petting-farm cafe. Simon recaps all three at [00:41:41] and notes a backlog of European reports still to come.

• Dazza's

  Simon at [00:42:19] "let's head over to Dazza's" — five comments from each of the last two weeks' Dazza posts. 20 June was vanilla milkshake day (126 comments): Chris Gore at Sunrise Beach Onslow WA, Yvette Turner at Katherine Hot Springs NT, Jackie Hancock at Halswell Quarry NZ, Ian Brown at Queen's Park Glasgow, Maria Wicks at St Albans. 27 June was international pineapple day (147 comments): Alison Fraser, Lee Cabarita at Moree, David O'Brien at Kingscliff, Nick Graney at Brooklyn Bridge USA, Karen Strong at Nightcliff NT. The hosts tallied the pineapple-on-pizza vote: 28 for, 12 against (70% pro-pineapple).

• the Obi Award — David O'Brien

  Awarded at [00:53:00] "the Obie this week goes to David O'Brien. Well done, David. Sounds like a great adventure that you are on." No further reason is stated on air beyond his Dazza's comment: he is continuing a road trip with the Tail Walker (Hobart to Cairns and back, a different parkrun each week), that week at Kingscliff parkrun, 'spreading some parkwalk cheer'.

• Club Corner

  Presented by Reginald Yardley Pomphrey III (00:53:34-00:56:18), continuing his run of parkrun country profiles — this week the Netherlands. Covers the Holland vs Netherlands distinction (quoting a blog by Victoria Sevigno), the February 2020 launch of six events growing to 27, Whit Monday as the Dutch special day and how its date is derived, the three Z events (two of them Zuiderpark, Den Haag and Hoogeveen, over two hours apart), Almere being reclaimed land younger than the hosts, the province of Zeeland as the 'anti-Antipodean' joke, and Kagerzoom as the picture-postcard windmill-and-canals parkrun. Signs off noting parkrun now hosts renamed non-milestone clubs in the app. Simon comments on it at [00:56:37]. Note: here Reginald PRESENTS Club Corner rather than following it as a separate bit.

• Consolidated Club Report

  Read by Sarah from [00:56:56] for Saturday 27 June: of 938 members, 658 took part in 14 countries across 353 locations — 62 events each in Queensland and Victoria, 56 NSW, 20 SA, 19 WA, 8 ACT, 6 Tasmania, 1 NT, 1 South Island and 8 North Island NZ; internationally 80 UK, 10 South Africa, 4 each Canada/Ireland/USA and one each in Sweden, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway and Poland. Also carries the pilgrimage note at [00:58:26]: one adventurer at Bushy on 20 June (Colleen Clinesmith) and none the following week.

• the Frond

  Largest gatherings of adventurers, read by Simon from [00:57:49]. International: a frond of 11 at Erddig parkrun (UK) two weeks ago, and a frond of five at Victoria Park Newbury last weekend. Australian: a frond of 10 at The Ponds two weeks ago, and a frond of eight at Reddell Reserve last weekend, with all names read out.

• Launches and anniversaries ("Where is the cake?")

  From [00:59:59]. 20 June: three launches in three countries — Kroonstad Country Club parkrun (South Africa, 279 finishers), Mill Creek Nature parkrun (Moncton, Canada, 50 finishers) and Dainai parkrun in Lithuania (translates as 'parkrun Songs', a perfect circle run four times, the country's fifth event). 27 June: four launches across three countries — Broughty Ferry Esplanade (Scotland, 322), Nimmerdor parkrun (Amersfoort, Netherlands, 136), Oakey Park parkrun (Stanley, UK, 306) and Rabenauer Grund parkrun (Germany, 70). Also covers the coming special day, Canada Day on 1 July, and notes Perringa parkrun's 10th birthday via a Dazza's comment.