the Obi Award
Appears in 171 episodes, first in episode 262.
Every appearance
Episode 460 - Across The Ditch
The Obi envelope crosses the ditch to Alison; the Obi goes to VKP (Victoria Knight Phillips) for transcontinental relationship building.
Episode 459 - What is your Colour?
The fortnight's Obi goes to Elissa Shea for completing her first Pirates Challenge at Christies Beach parkrun, and for the effort she went to dressing up to celebrate it. She appears on the episode artwork with Ryan.
Episode 458 - The Unicorn
Awarded to Heather Hunter, "our favourite unicorn at Foster parkrun", her photo timekeeping in an inflatable unicorn costume (the episode's title). Hosts ask her to write in and confirm whether she wore it again for the most recent timekeeping.
Episode 457 - Legs Eleven
Sarah: "it's time for the Obi", with both hosts admitting they forgot to give one out last episode. This fortnight's Obi goes to Roberta Winters, for the sheer effort of getting to her parkrun of choice: a pre-5am minibus, a 35-minute ferry from Doolin with ~400 other parkrunners, a 2km walk uphill to the start at Inis Meáin, then the ferry and a three-and-a-half-hour coach back to Dublin, having already travelled from Australia.
Episode 456 - The hype team
TOC calls for the Obi and Lyndell has the envelope. Awarded for the photo of the "cutie pie", daughter Lucy Bravos, posted on Dazza's homemade pie day, when Chloe drove out to Shipwreck parkrun in WA to fill in as Timekeeper because Dave was under the weather.
Episode 454 - Old and New
Lyndell awards the Obi to Sonja Pohlman for her Dazza's photo from The Beaches parkrun, a sunrise taken from her marshal spot, with the teardrop flag on the beach and the sun coming up over the ocean. TOC: "The Beaches always produces great photos ... another great photo of the sunrise coming up over the ocean and the parkrun flag there as well."
Episode 453 - Half Way There
"Anyway, the Obi [Obi] this week goes to David O'Brien." For his Dazza's post from Kingscliff parkrun, continuing a tail-walking road trip, the event screenshot he shared read "the tail of the tail", Hobart to Cairns and back, Tail Walker at a different parkrun each week.
Episode 452 - The Away Game
Awarded off the back of the Dazza's posts. Lyndell: "this episode, the Obi goes to Nick Graney. Thanks, Nick, for doing your thing over there in Canada, cheering on the Socceroos." Nick posted from Spanish Banks Beach parkrun in Vancouver, one of a group of six Australians in Socceroos jerseys, ahead of watching the Socceroos play Turkey in their first World Cup game.
Episode 451 - Let those pies fly high
Sarah announces the Obi: "this week, the Obi goes to Veronica Lightfoot. Congratulations, Veronica. Sounds like a fabulous holiday that you've had." Awarded for her Dazza's post about tail walking at West Coast Park parkrun in Singapore, the last of ten parkruns over a seven-week holiday that started in Ireland and finished in Singapore.
Episode 450 - Celebrations and pronunciations
The Obi goes to Cheryl (Lerves-Raymond) for her Wauchope parkrun Dazza's post - Lyndell: "Cheryl, we can't go past a party at the back. So thank you for keeping the said party in check as Tail Walker." It was her 243rd volunteer occasion, on Mother's Day weekend, walking the course with her son.
Episode 449 - Is it your first time?
Delivered by electronic mail rather than an envelope - Simon: "I have received the electronic mail, so this must be Sarah's doing." The Obi goes to Alana Torek for her photo of her trumpet, from when she played the last post on Anzac Day. She also appears earlier in Dazza's at Wentworth Common parkrun, where it is said less clearly, the same person both times.
Episode 448 - Surrounded by clowns
TOC draws the Obi the old-fashioned way, from a paper envelope with a self-supplied drumroll, noting the other hosts have gone "new school with their electronic Obis". It goes to Roberta Winters for her Dazza's post on completing her 250th parkrun at Wagi Bridge in Canberra, where the crowd she brought along also broke the event's non-special-day attendance record, and whose four clown emojis supplied the episode title.
Episode 447 - You raise me up
The Obi envelope is "delivered electronically" and Sarah announces the winner: "Congrats again on your 250th and making it an incredible adventure to celebrate that", Rebecca (Bec) Bailey, for reaching 250 parkruns at Whitemark Wharf on Flinders Island over the Easter long weekend, photographed with her 250 singlet while wearing the Tail Walker's vest.
Episode 446 - Show us your weed
Awarded to Sonja Pohlman for her Dazza's entry from the Beaches, NSW - specifically the photograph accompanying it. Tony: "our Obi this week goes to Sonja Pohlman. That was a great photo of Michael from the Beaches" (Michael Sharp, the volunteer pictured), with Melissa adding "Yeah, show us your weed" - the seaweed-covered beach shot that supplies the episode title. Opened with the running "Obilope" gag ("time for an Obilope. Do we still even do that?").
Episode 444 - Addicted to Love
Awarded fortnightly and now delivered electronically ("No envelope to rip. Very sustainable that we are."). Sarah's stated reason: "congrats on ticking off a parkrun in the US of A and switching over swiftly from an Australian summer to running in the snow. Well done and thank you for sharing those photos with us." (David Ryan drove from Las Vegas at 4am to Coal Creek Trail parkrun, Utah, his 90th event, in ankle-deep snow.)
Episode 443 - Gelato in Milano
TOC opens the envelope and awards the Obi. Stated reason: "I reckon any ice cream that you've got to carry with two hands and probably ask a mate for help with deserves an Obi, so well done", i.e. for the enormous lemon gelato photographed at Milano Nord parkrun in Italy, the comment that also gives the episode its title.
Episode 442 - A Lil Bit of Hope
"We do have an Obi that's not in an envelope. It is being delivered in a very modern way", awarded to Sonja Pohlman for returning to parkrun participation after two years out with injury and completing her home course at the Beaches as Tail Walker. The hosts also flag that Sonia sits on 299 volunteer occasions and is a former ambassador in the Newcastle area.
Episode 441 - All Aboard 2026
Awarded to Jagdeep Singh for his Dazza's post about turning up to volunteer at Elara Riparian Parklands parkrun after a bad night and low confidence, and being lifted by the morning, "I walked in as one person and walked out as another". Running gag: the physical "Obilope" envelope has been retired in favour of an on-screen pop-up, prompting a request to the editor for a new sound effect.
Episode 440 - Stop The Clock
The last Obi of the year. Awarded for her Dazza's post and photo run directing Lochiel parkrun's 500th event, 'Had the best morning RDing aboard the mothership Lochiel for our 500th event, along with 21 terrific volunteers', with a stunning photo of her and husband Jeff dressed in glittery blue. Simon: 'let me open the Obi for the last time this year... and the Obi goes to Janet Llewellyn-Reed.'
Episode 439 - Legendary Intern
Lyndell has the envelope in Queensland. The Obi goes to Faye "for that fabulous photo, the perfectly synced zoomies and beautiful tutus" at Ginninderra parkrun in the ACT.
Episode 438 - Lota Love to Give
Awarded at the close of Dazza's: "And the Obi [Obi] goes to Sam Esmore for taking his mum to parkrun. It sounds like he had a lovely morning." Sarah adds "Well done, Sam."
Episode 437 - Woe is a crowd
Awarded for being a "pioneer extraordinaire and adventurer in his Hyundai", 23 months living in his car touring Australia, with his parkrun travel planned years ahead.
Episode 435 - The Restructure
TOC realises that no Obi was named during Dazza's and proposes Mary DeLuna instead - "that's a pretty big adventure to get over to this iconic Brooklyn Bridge parkrun" - for making it to Brooklyn Bridge parkrun in New York, tail walking there, writing in about it and sending a photo with the bridge behind her.
Episode 434 - It’s Upside Down
"And there must be time for an Obi [Obi]." Sarah retrieves the envelope from her famously clean desk and awards it to Rex, for stepping up to do his first run directing at Walker parkrun, "Well done on your first run directing. We hope that it went really well." His surname is rendered two different ways in the episode: "Rex Gream" when the Dazza's post is read and "Rex Gream" when the award is given.
Episode 433 - Ready, Set, Streak...
Melissa cues it with "Now, we've got an Obi to award, Tony" and TOC opens the envelope. The Obi goes to Lyndell Murray for her Dazza's post, continuing her tourist streak at Scribbly Gums Conservation parkrun and collecting both a date bingo and a Wilson number two in the one parkrun, with the hosts noting she is always in her adventurers merch.
Episode 432 - Amazing Grace
Sarah presents the Obi to Karen McKeon of Belvedere parkrun, for the swift thinking and swift action of scooping up her running dog near the finish and still coming within two seconds of her course PB.
Episode 431 - Start Spreading the News
Mel opens the envelope: 'This week's Obi goes to... It goes to Johan.' For his photo with his dog Levi at Rooi Point Farm parkrun in South Africa, running in his fluffy ugly Christmas top in the cold and fog - 'Looking very cold and he was being festive... in his sadness', a reference to his recently lost dog Jack.
Episode 430 - Cleaner Wanted!
TOC: "Now, Mel, we have to pick an Obi out of that." The envelope hunt turns into the episode's running gag about the state of the office, sticky notes gone viral, ripped envelopes everywhere, "we need an office cleaner", which is where the episode title comes from. Mel announces "This week's Obi winner is Stephen Cox", for his Dazza's post from Panania parkrun celebrating Paul "the Viking" Whelan's 250th, complete with the photobomber sticking his tongue out.
Episode 429 - It's Question Time
Simon hands Sarah the envelope, she notes she does not normally get the honours, and the Obi goes to Katie Guthrie, Miss Bunny and Miss Molly, for celebrating Devonport parkrun's 500th event as volunteer Timekeepers, with a photo of the two red heelers in the parkrun selfie frame wearing blue shirts.
Episode 428 - Evolution
TOC opens the "Obilope" with some ceremony. Awarded for achieving statesmanship in New South Wales, completing every NSW event, the "Waratah Wanderers", which TOC notes took the NSW statesmen total from seven to nine, against 115 events in the state.
Episode 427 - Onions Have Layers
Melissa Ellis reads the envelope: the Obi goes to Tony O'Connell 'for getting himself around the Panboola Wetlands on crutches... you are an inspiration to everybody'. She notes this was not the winner listed in the show notes, and ambushes TOC with it on air.
Episode 426 - Lost Property
Melissa asks "But, Simon, have you got the Obilope?" and Simon opens the envelope: "the Obi this week goes to... Ruth Perkins." Melissa gives the reason, "Thank you for bringing us that little bit of a roving report from over there and finding a long-term listener."
Episode 425 - Tracky Dacky Doo Dah Day
Melissa Ellis opens the envelope-: "This week's Obi goes to... Kelly Timms up there in Queensland." Awarded for the time she put into her emoji puzzle for Old Thomson River Road parkrun, and because it was her first appearance on Dazza's. Tony O'Connell adds "you had nearly the most emojis in there."
Episode 424 - Reaching a Rec-Ord
Sarah asks "Simon, do you have the Obilope there with you?" and Simon awards it: "the Obi goes to Claire Corkill and Amelia" - "congrats on making it out of the house to another state and adventuring, no doubt with a lot more luggage than ever before", for her first tourist parkrun of the year at Capestone Lake carrying a six-kilo baby and pushing an empty pram.
Episode 423 - The Hope Song
The Obilope, filled in this week by the office staff, goes to Renata Koch for her Dazza's post from Parramatta parkrun's new course, where she walked and talked with Sam and Luke Schroder on their family day in Sydney.
Episode 422 - Potato, Potarto
Danny, handed the envelope, could not choose between Eric Banner's Japanese haiku and Ingrid Botha's Wordsmith Day rhyme, so Mel let him split it: "Eric Banner and Ingrid, both of you, please." Ingrid's rhyme won him over partly because it worked both themes at once.
Episode 421 - There's No Place Like Home
TOC calls for the envelope and Melissa opens it. The Obi goes to Sherry Brandtman for her superior photoshopping skills, the Anzac poppy wreath worked into the centre of her Dhunggaarr Reserve selfie frame, which TOC notes was "amazingly on point for our theme last week". Includes the running Level 2 office gag about the cleaner now filling the envelope.
Episode 420 - No Indeed. Indeed, No
Sarah asks Simon to find the "Obilope" under his Easter egg wrappers. This week's Obi goes to Leanne Evans, for her Dazza's post about returning to Kate Reed parkrun with Disco the greyhound and the two-dog chase mid-run, a real-life Sylvester and Tweety chase matching the week's theme. Sarah adds "and Disco".
Episode 418 - Yeah Nah
Mel asks "But, Tony, have you got an envelope?" and TOC announces "And our Obi this week goes to... Nick Graney." The stated reason is his Dazza's post from Huskisson on Tutu Day: "That was a great little comment that you've put in... congrats on putting all those numbers into your post as well", he worked the numerals 1 through 10 into the text.
Episode 417 - Baby Brain is Real
Sarah asks "do you have the Obilope this week?" and Simon opens it: the Obi goes to Tim Robbins, whose Dazza's post came from Chermside parkrun (park-faffing the park walk, with Tracy the troll and Spider Abdul); the hosts add that Tim was also volunteering at juniors with Rory Marriott on the Sunday.
Episode 416 - Falicitating Fun
Melissa Ellis "Mel, do we have an Obi [Obi]?... Let me get the envelope. This week's Obi [Obi] goes to... Michael Sharp at the Beaches [The Beaches]." Awarded for his photo of two tourists doing headstands post-run with Peter Pohlman visible in between them.
Episode 415 - Pow Wow to PALM
Simon hands over "Do you have an obelisk, Mel?" and Melissa announces "This week's Obi [Obi] goes to Peter Thomson." Awarded for breaking the news in his Dazza's post that Bedok Reservoir parkrun has returned from its COVID pause, bringing Singapore back to five events, "bringing us all the breaking news, which we appreciate very much".
Episode 414 - Wombling Free
The Obi envelope is opened for the favourite Dazza's comment of the week. Winner announced. Stated reason-: her photo from Panania parkrun's 9th anniversary, "a great photo of the six of them performing dance poses or ballerina poses in their tutus", "out there with Rocky at Panania".
Episode 413 - Transport & Tryouts
The Obi goes to Brendan "for sharing the love back", he replied to Andrea Booth's Dazza's post about meeting him and Em at Batemans Bay parkrun, saying they had a lovely morning sharing zoomies out on course and that Em ran a new PB.
Episode 412 - Another One Bites the Dust
Melissa Ellis calls for "an Obilope" and TOC opens the envelope. The Obi goes to Chris Gore from Western Australia for regaining statesman status at Sir James Mitchell parkrun and for the photo with the Perth skyline across the Swan River ("that helped get you over the line").
Episode 411 - GPS fails
Mel: "Simon, do you have an [Obi] post?" The award goes to Wendy Pallant, for being the first Sign Language Support volunteer at Bramhall Park parkrun in the UK, "What a very useful volunteer role that is... Quite unique."
Episode 410 - Aussie Aussie Aussie
Mel opens the envelope: the Obi goes to Rex Gream, for engaging with the show and sharing his holiday travels throughout a long visit to Victoria.
Episode 409 - Give us a hug
Melissa asks "But what about a winner? Simon and Obi, do you have an envelope?" and Simon announces the winner without saying why - "I'm going to have to keep listening to find out why." The reason is revealed later: he completed the Bushy parkrun pilgrimage, volunteered as pacer there and posted about it in Dazza's - "And that, my friends, is why he won the Obi." His surname is rendered two different ways in the episode, said one way at the announcement and another in the Frond segment.
Episode 407 - Highlights and Hopes
Simon: "Do you have the envelope for the Obi, Sarah?" Sarah announces the winner. Awarded for her Dazza's post from Wetherby parkrun in the UK, where she rode out Storm Darragh, wore a Christmas pickle costume over her ugly emu tee and chased her husband Chris round the course. Billed as the last Obi winner for 2024.
Episode 406 - White-marks the spot
TOC asks 'Do we have an Obi winner in that lot?' and the Obi goes to Chris Gore, 'great to see the two moustaches inside the selfie frame' at Port Augusta parkrun, on a road trip east from Perth to South Australia.
Episode 405 - B4s Return
TOC realises they forgot the Obi and backtracks to open the Obilope. The winner is Yvette Turner from the ACT, for another great Dazza's post, "not beaten by the poop this week", and for recruiting for the podcast.
Episode 404 - Boomerang
Simon hands over: "Now, Sarah, do you have the Obilope?" The Obi goes to Neil Clayton, for taking his two silkie chickens, Chloe and Chelsea, to their first parkrun at Sandgate, Sarah: "Well done, Neil. I love that you've got all of your pets involved. That's something different."
Episode 403 - In the Poo
The 'Obilope' is opened for the week's winner - 'Who was first past the post this week?' Abdul takes it for running Mundy Regional parkrun, described as the hardest parkrun in Australia, dressed as a giant turd, and for the photo that went with it. The win also seeds next week's poo-emoji listener challenge and the episode title.
Episode 402 - With Mispronunciations Now
Awarded jointly this week for keeping the travelling Budgie moving, passing it on at Lithgow and Forster and keeping listener interest in it going.
Episode 401 - Adventurers Shine
Simon retrieves the Obi post-it note and awards this week's Obi to Rex, Clancy and Sam for their capital H formed with the parkrun selfie frame and their raised outer arms at Horseshoe Bay Reserve parkrun. Sarah calls it one of her favourites; Simon also praises the M from Marriott Waters.
Episode 400 - Thank you for the Music
This week's Obi goes to Sunil, from the UK, for getting his visiting Victorian friends to parkrun at Leicester, one of them doing their first ever parkrun - as Mel puts it, 'good job getting the Australian tourist friends visiting into parkrun'.
Episode 399 - Das Ist Gut
Simon Mackley awards the Obi to Nick Graney for his Dazza's post from Moussette parkrun in Quebec, celebrating parkrun's 20th anniversary in French Canada with a bilingual pre-brief and the Canadian flag - 'look forward to finding out where you pop up next, Nick.'
Episode 398 - Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Ollie opens the "Obilope", which reads only "don't go west", awarded cryptically to Sarah from the West Side for travelling from Western Australia to the deep south of New Zealand's South Island, via a missed flight and a diversion to a different airport, to reach Invercargill parkrun.
Episode 397 - The Grate Return
Sarah asks whether Simon has "the Obilope or Obi-post-it"; the Obi goes to Dean, who decked himself out head to toe in green attire, hat, socks, shorts, green on the shirt, the pram cover and the toy dragon, to attend Gainsborough Greens parkrun's event number 300, matching his outfit to the parkrun's name.
Episode 396 - Oh What a Feeling!
TOC opens the envelope for the week's Obi. Awarded for Gareth Arnold's mixed-bag-of-luck post from Roundhay parkrun in Leeds and the "Toyota jump" (which Mel called a cheetah jump) photo over the Roundhay pop-up. Noted as not his first Obi.
Revisits and Backflips
The Obi goes to Andrew Blanda for the photo of a near-perfectly synchronised double zoomie at Wangaratta parkrun, taken when he took two Wangaratta friends to their first ever parkrun. TOC compares it to synchronised swimming.
Episode 394 - Dangling the carrot
Mel asks "Now, TOC, do you have the Obilope?" and TOC opens it. This week's winner is Erica Liotta, for becoming a Queensland Stateswoman at Capestone Lake parkrun with a group of friends, complete with a cape and banana crown, Mel adds "good work at getting around all those parkruns around Queensland"., the second rendering is used here.
Episode 393 - Onwards and Upwards
Sarah asks "have you got the envelope this week?" and Simon replies "I have the Obilope". The Obi goes to Gareth Arnold for his Dazza's post about dragging the UK family out to parkrun, where Granny spotted "great tits, blue tits, bearded tits", a post Sarah had to read out on air and then look up to check that a "little tit" really is a bird.
Episode 392 - Bolting towards Septmeber
Melissa Ellis asks "do you have the Obilope?" and Tony O'Connell opens the envelope: the winner is Calum Burrell, for his Lancaster post and photo marking Harriet White's last event there before finishing university. Tony adds "Huge congratulations once again to Harriet for finishing her university work at Lancaster and enjoy moving back up with Pip."
Episode 391 - The Rookie
The Obi is presented from the 'Obilope' and goes to Ian Thompson for his very brightly coloured attire, matching shorts worn with 'the dude' at Salisbury parkrun, on the week's clown/bright-clothes theme. Ali Sheppard is named a very close second for her sunflower hat and skirt at Orpington.
Episode 390 - Jumpy
Mel asks whether Ollie has the Obilope; he opens it and announces the winner. Awarded for her Dazza's post from Ecco Ripley parkrun, the boxing-kangaroo photo, in a kangaroo onesie and an Ugly Christmas Singlet: "There really had to be just one choice this week. The only colours we see this week are green and gold." Leads into a discussion of the boxing kangaroo, Matilda and Robbo's inflatable kangaroo "Jumpy", which gives the episode its title.
Episode 389 - What's a Melidex?
Drawn from the "Obilope". The Obi goes to Rex Gream, all the way from the USA, for bringing 20 American family members to parkrun for the first time at his first international parkrun, Byxbee, "You might have changed some lives."
Episode 388 - When 3 becomes 5
Held back until after the outro music. Sarah: "You all thought that we had forgotten to hand out the Obi this week", Simon opens the envelope and gives it to "Mel over the ditch", i.e. Melissa Ellis, who is in New Zealand and posted her first Aotearoa parkrun at Balclutha (blue skies, bridge, first female) in this week's Dazza's.
Episode 386 - Fly High
The Obi Post-it is awarded posthumously to Michael 'Schultzy' Schultz of Kedron parkrun, the Brisbane adventurer whose death the episode opens by announcing, 562 parkruns at 206 different locations, every parkrun in Queensland, 110 volunteer occasions.
Episode 385 - Ice Ice Baby
Drawn from the week's Dazza's posts, out of "a proper envelope" this week rather than last week's post-it note. Awarded for his V1000 and the big thumbs up on his scooter.
Episode 384 - Indeed
The Obi (this week on a post-it rather than an envelope) goes to Monty Slade, thanked for dutifully coming into Dazza's every week and giving the hosts encouragement with his trademark thumbs up, and, this week, for his post about park-walking Ross-on-Wye after a night marathon and congratulating blood donors. Melissa notes she posts the winner's photo back to the previous episode's post about a week later so as not to spoil it.
Episode 383 - Big Kahunas
Mel calls for the Obi and TOC opens the envelope. The award goes to Catherine O'Connor from Frog Hollow parkrun, for her Dazza's post marking Frog Hollow's 10th birthday, the swamp/creek answer to World Oceans Day, with a photo in the selfie frame alongside the Froggy mascot.
Episode 382 - What's in a name?
The "Obilope" is opened on camera by Simon: "And the Obi goes to Andy slash Deb Airey." Melissa clarifies it really goes to Deb Airey for finishing her periodic table, the 15th person to do so, after the original attempt at Reading was cancelled for flooding, and for the photo of her with the pop-up and a framed periodic table.
Episode 381 - Ah-sigh-ee
Sarah has the Obi envelope, express-posted to her in Perth because she is hosting from the west. This week's Obi goes to The Office Lady, Sam Schroder, for a double achievement in one morning - joining the Cow Club at Mosman and getting her last stopwatch number for bingo out of 194 parkruns. "A long time in the making."
Episode 380 - In a twist
The Obilope is opened and the week's Obi goes to Lucy Bravos, for the photo from David Bravos's Dazza's post of her on the beach at Cottesloe with Raja in her adventurers top. TOC: "that is one of the cutest little photos I've seen forever... You just deserve to be our poster girl."
Episode 379 - R2-RD
The Obi Award (opened from what the hosts call an 'Obilope') goes to Jackie Hancock of New Zealand, who ran Director duty dressed as 'R2-RD' for May the 4th and got twenty Star Wars quotes into her run briefing - the outfit that gives episode 379 its title.
Episode 378 - Run the World
The week's Obi goes to Sunil for his photo from Wollaton Hall parkrun in Nottingham - "Wayne Manor" from The Dark Knight Rises - with an Australian friend. Melissa Ellis: "that's just because I thought that was rather amazing, that photo of Wayne Manor."
Episode 377 - Purple Patches
TOC opens the envelope, back from Toowoomba, and announces the winner: Alana Turi from Japan, for her photo of the Yodogawa crew setting up - "it had a little bit of everything in it", a sunrise, the city behind and people appearing out of the long grass.
Episode 375 - Outback parkruns
This week's Obi goes to Mark Hibbard for his Dazza's photo from Point Hut Pond parkrun, in which he appears at first glance to be standing on the water in his adventurers shirt, TOC: "I scrolled past, I thought, he's standing in a puddle... then I realised he's standing on a bit of a deck, but it looks like he's out walking across the lake." It was also his first run in the adventurers top, and his return to "capitalist" status.
Episode 374 - details, details
Awarded posthumously this week to Stephen Jackson, "a man who was a big adventurer by heart and contributed a lot to the parkrun community", as a tribute, noting his association with Bathurst parkrun and the Panorama Punish. Melissa Ellis announces it as "a little break from the norm", having tuned in to his memorial service from Launceston.
Episode 373 - Geographical Inaccuracy
The "Obilope" is opened at the end of Dazza's. The Obi goes to Ian and Lydia Knox for their Coober Pedy Oval parkrun photo, the two of them in the selfie frame with a pair of firefighters who ran in full turnout gear including breathing apparatus in extreme heat, against the red dirt and gums. TOC: "It had that harsh environment around them, the red dirt, the gums, a couple of fireys in turnout gear, and it was just a brilliant photo."
Episode 372 - Don't follow Mel!
Presented from the newly-named "Obilope". The Obi goes to Kitty Hicks for her Dazza's post from Torrens parkrun bringing the news of the event's 500th volunteer.
Episode 371 - Out & Moving
The envelope goes to "a swathe of Run Down Under shirts", the group photo posted by Felicity Castellan from Koonwarra on parkrun Down Under Day.
Episode 370 - What's in the Box?
Melissa hands the Obi to Simon to award. It goes to Phil Corker, for Token Sorting on his 50th volunteering occasion at Clarence parkrun in the UK. Phil did not post to Dazza's himself, he was named in Calum Burrell's post, and the hosts award it anyway: "he didn't actually send in, but it's okay because we don't have rules about things like that. So well done, Calum. You got Phil an Obi." This matches the show notes: "we award an Obi to someone who didn't even visit Dazza's!"
Episode 369 - When Paris met Harry
The weekly envelope award. Olly reads the quote ("when I get a new book, I read the last page first...") and announces the winner: "When Paris Met Harry", Ingrid Botha's Dazza's post and photo of Paris and Harry the Hover Dog at Dolls Point, which also gives the episode its title. "Well done to two of our favourite bark runners."
Episode 368 - Gooey buttercake flavoured goodness
The envelope is opened and this week's Obi goes to Alison Fraser (King), a week late, for her 250th milestone and her Dazza's post describing the New Zealand ice cream crawl - fig leaf, raspberry ripple, toasted marshmallow, blueberry buttermilk, gooey butter cake and coconut caramel sesame chocolate peanut.
Episode 367 - YMMV
The Obi goes to "the old farts" - Dave Allmark, who stepped up to file the Whitfords Nodes post when regular poster Andrew Yeatman was otherwise engaged, and supplied the robot-waiter photo. Ollie: "Well done, our tech-savvy old farts, and congratulations."
Episode 366 - Euphony
Awarded to Jonathan Morgan for celebrating his 250th volunteer milestone as Tail Walker at The Avenues parkrun and for the volunteer milestone photo collage he shared with it, Ollie: "Congratulations, Jonathan. Thank you for all of your volunteering efforts... that's a fantastic collage." Presented from a campground with, as Ollie notes, kookaburras in the background and no envelope.
Episode 365 - Tick Tocky
Mel realises they had forgotten to choose the Obi in the first week back, and Simon awards it to Ryan Stoddart for becoming a Queensland statesman by completing parkruns across a very wide range of Queensland events.
Episode 364 - Bumping Uglies
Mel calls for the Obi and TOC announces it after a drum roll: "the Obi this week is going to go to Andrew Johnston and the bumping uglies", for his Dazza's comment asking whether unexpectedly encountering other parkrunners in Ugly Christmas Shirts counts as bumping uglies, which also gives the episode its title.
Episode 363 - Old Farts and Old Ducks
Oliver Spake opens the envelope as, by a new rule, "the male co-host of the pod". The Obi goes to Jonathan Morgan, thanking him and the team for keeping junior parkrun going for the kids at a wet and windy morning despite the elements, and looking pretty fab in doing so.
Episode 362 - West is best
The Obi goes to Heather for her photo in the Mount Gambier selfie frame, wearing the Ugly Christmas Singlet budgie edition, marking 10 years of Mount Gambier parkrun. Her surname is said two different ways and.
Episode 361 - TOC’s budgies
Melissa hands the envelope to TOC ("you will have the envelope because that's the boy's job") and he announces the winner. The winner is Cherie Cottle, for her Dazza's photo from a return visit to Blue Gum Hills parkrun, resting on a large white tractor tyre painted with the parkrun symbol and a direction arrow, which both hosts agree would make a standout course marker visible from a long way away.
Episode 360 - gggrrriverside
The week's Obi goes to Stephen Cox for his photo in the selfie frame with the vines as a backdrop at Two Rivers Wines parkrun, "a brilliant shot there... in front of that fabulous parkrun". The hosts also break the fourth wall here to explain that this episode was recorded across two nights because of Riverside recording problems.
Episode 359 - Rrrrriverside
Ollie opens the envelope; this week's Obi goes to Gemma Holly, for dressing up as a pirate and getting into the spirit at the seventh anniversary of Nepean River parkrun, "sailed the seven seas to celebrate the seventh anniversary".
Episode 358 - Log a Nottie
Melissa asks TOC to announce the Obi and he gives it to Jane Hassel, for her photo celebrating her 250th milestone, "I love the tutus. Lots of colour in front of that water tank at Loch Eel [Lochiel]. The mothership has come through again."
Episode 356 - All power to the editor
Awarded for the photo of Lucy doing a zoomy in her brand-new adventurer's shirt at Aveley parkrun, shared by Chloe Bravos, "the coolest adventurer out there". Melissa Ellis says she voted for Lucy; Ollie congratulates Lucy, Chloe and Dave.
Episode 355 - Mimosas and Jell shots
Melissa opens the envelope and announces the winner: "The Obi goes to Mark Scarborough over there at Wöhrder See parkrun", his post from Nuremberg, Germany marking his 50th different parkrun course. The hosts follow it with a joking plea for the travelling Scarboroughs to send in a roving report from overseas.
Episode 352 - Black and White Army
Olly has the envelope, now magnetised to his new whiteboard, and gives this week's Obi to Ian and Lydia Knox for their Dazza's check-in from the second week back of Braidwood Showground parkrun: "congratulations, Ian and Lydia, and welcome back, Braidwood".
Episode 351 - Missing Magpies
After hunting for the envelope, Melissa reveals this week's Obi winner for her Dazza's post from Clermont Waterfront parkrun in Florida - "I felt like a piece of sizzling bacon on the run walk. Does that count?" - with a photo of her and a friend in run down under singlets against a superb sunrise, which the hosts called a magical photo.
Episode 348 - Cat Amongst the Magpies
Ollie opens the envelope and awards the Obi to Joyce Adams, who timed at her home parkrun Roosevelt Island DC on its seventh birthday, when a visiting cross-country team helped the event smash its pre-shutdown attendance record.
Episode 347 - What Windmill?
Melissa has the envelope in hand this week (a running gag about lost envelopes and post-it notes) and awards the Obi to Geoff Glaab, a repeat winner, for his World Photography Day post from Joe Creason parkrun in the US, a photo of himself with V100 foil balloons, marking his 100th volunteer occasion as Tail Walker in a field of 39. She notes it was probably a close draw with all the 100-volunteer club members posting this week.
Episode 346 - Wonder Woman
The Obi goes to Lindsay for her 300th volunteering occasion, scanning Calum Burrell's barcode at Fountains Abbey parkrun, "the 300 volunteering occasion gets the Obi. We don't care if it's not a real thing. It's pretty impressive in our eyes." Calum's 99th different location (his "flake") is acknowledged as a near miss: "congratulations on your flake nonetheless".
Episode 345 - Level 2 with hygge
Mel sends TOC hunting through Ollie's messy desk for the envelope. The Obi goes to Jo McLean for her Dazza's contribution from Mt Penang parkrun - the adventure with friends, the cake for Natalie Wilson's 100th, the birthday celebrations and the selfie-frame photo. Mel notes she is now a double Obi winner, "she has letters after her name and everything", and wishes her a happy birthday.
Episode 344 - Guess Who?
Melissa cues the envelope ("there must be an envelope somewhere on your desk") and Simon announces the winner. It goes to Sonja Pohlman for her Dazza's post, the Frond packed into a car for park faffing after Newy parkrun, the "kidnap vehicle" that took the adventurers to the Bootleg Bakery. Melissa adds that nobody is tracking past winners and invites a listener to keep a record from the back catalogue.
Episode 343 - Favourite Things
Ollie opens a highlighted envelope and awards the Obi to Erica Leota, for getting herself all the way to Weipa in her reimagined Ugly Christmas Singlet for the event's seventh birthday, colour-coordinated with the orange and purple balloon arch, and apparently a happy accident, since Mel suspects Erica did not realise it was going to be Weipa's birthday.
Episode 329 - Winter Waffle
Ollie opens the envelope and awards the Obi to Roberta Winters for her post about running her first international parkrun at Bushy, her 100th parkrun, "with 1,155 of my dearest friends", with Nutella waffles afterwards, and for the photo behind the pop-up that started the hosts' welcome-flag discussion. Mel: "The smiliest adventurer I think that we have, Ollie ... living her best life over there in the UK."
Episode 328 - Sterkte
Awarded for the homemade artwork Joss Fussell's friends made to celebrate parkrun and the couple's new baby Molly, showing the couple running with Molly in the pram alongside a ginger cat. The hosts note Molly was in the car rather than the photo, and joke the Obi should be shared with Molly, the partner and the cat.
Episode 327 - Off Script
Ollie produces the envelope "I think it's time to go straight to the Obi" and announces "The Obi this week does not go to an ostrich. It goes to Carolyn... Carolyn in the cold snow joining us from Norway. So congratulations, Carolyn McRae." Awarded for her Dazza's photo from Løvstien parkrun in Bergen, shin-deep snow, sun breaking out mid-run and snowing again by the finish, with the selfie frame against the snow scene.
Episode 326 - Song sung blue?
"We have this week's Obi Award goes to Schultzy. No need for a drum roll. There's no envelope. It was a one-man race." Awarded to Michael Schultz for reaching his 500th parkrun at Kedron, celebrated in a blue shirt with 13 adventurers and a record Kedron attendance of 438. Ollie notes that in the absence of Dazza's there was only one decision to be made.
Episode 325 - Wake up, Jodi!
Ollie awards this week's Obi to Geoff Glaab of Joe Creason parkrun, "partly for Jeff and partly for Charlotte", his daughter, who achieved her 50th volunteer that morning as only the seventh person at the event to reach the milestone and by far the youngest. Melissa follows with milestone shout-outs for James (50th volunteer at juniors) and Abby's mum (100th volunteer).
Episode 324 - Radio prA
Ollie can't find the envelope, so Rachel takes over in a "Big Sister" bit and awards it herself: "This week's Obi goes to somebody who is very hardworking and often underappreciated by her bosses." Awarded to Sam Schroder, the Office Lady, "for all the effort that no one sees behind the scenes", with the sign-off "Rachel sees everything". The hosts joke about bowing down to the machines and Skynet.
Episode 323 - Big Things
Ollie opens the envelope and awards a joint Obi to Helen Davis and Christine Imbert, for their Dazza's post about meeting up at Weymouth parkrun in Dorset on Helen's last day before flying home to Australia - Christine travelled much further than Helen to be there, and they had a great walk, chat, hot cooked breakfast and long park faff with the event team. The hosts joke about how the Obi "always" goes to the last post read out, insisting "this isn't rigged".
Episode 322 - Rise of the Machines
Mel cues the envelope "Ollie, you must have that envelope to announce our Dazza's winner." Ollie: "So our winner at Dazza's this week of the Obi [Obi] is ... Martine Barrot. Congratulations." Awarded for posting in and bringing the news that Euroa parkrun is back after its flood pause. Mel adds that Martine is the final recipient of the Office Lady's "classy challenge card" stickers, the giveaway ending this week, with thanks to the anonymous benefactor who supplied them for five weeks.
Episode 321 - GO!
Ollie retrieves the envelope from his desk and announces the winner-. Awarded off the back of her Dazza's post, tail walking at Broken Hill Racecourse with Charlie the pup in the selfie frame, with the hosts noting that she is "getting around at the moment", having recently been at Christies Beach, Port Pirie and now the outback, and having just notched up 250 parkruns. Ollie adds that background research showed she has also completed the Namely challenge. She also receives the Office Lady's classy challenge stickers.
Episode 320 - Summer Holidays
Melissa Ellis retrieves the Dazza's envelope (shoved under her motel bedroom door) and awards the week's Obi to Michael Sharp for his "perfect in purple" photo, run directing and accidentally twinning with Mark Gray, both photographed from behind in matching 25-volunteer shirts and hats, while closing in on a 1:1 run-to-volunteer ratio at 241 to 238. The hosts add that he is Co-Event Director at The Beaches parkrun alongside Sonja Pohlman. He will receive one of the Office Lady's challenge cards in the mail once he sends his address.
Episode 319 - Alphabet Ears
Mel opens the envelope "coming hot off the heels of the Golden Globes" and awards this week's Obi to Sarah Langley, for her contribution at junior parkrun with Lynn Hewson and specifically for coming in by email rather than Facebook - "showing a different mode of transport to get to Dazza's this week... you don't have to be on Facebook to join us at Dazza's". She also receives the limited-time bonus prize, the Office Lady's classy challenge cards and stickers.
Episode 318 - parkrun, if you’re listening
For January a "mysterious benefactor" has donated several of the Office Lady's own challenge cards, so the Obi winner also receives an "Office Lady snazzy edition" challenge card. Ollie hunts out the envelope on air and announces the winner. Mel offers to pass the prize on to the winner herself since the Smiths are Victorians.
Episode 316 - InSantagram
The last Obi of the year. Calum Burrell is thanked for presenting last week's from Burnage parkrun in England, and the envelope travels to South Africa, where Johan Duvenhage finds it strapped to a rubber ducky mid-river during his Beskutfontein trail run. Awarded to Jo McLean for her Ugly Christmas Singlet and Christmas headgear while volunteering at The Ponds parkrun.
Episode 315 - Honey Stud
The hosts admit they have no idea where the envelope is this week and "in good faith" throw to the keeper of the Obi, it turns up in the snow at Burnage parkrun in the UK, found by Calum Burrell while hunting for marker cones. He opens it and announces the winner. Ollie: "congratulations to our Obi winner, Lee. Very ugly and, as always, well-deserved." This leads into the porn-name bit that gives the episode its title (Mel = Honey Stud, Ollie = Poochie Channel).
Episode 314 - Records & Legends
The Obi envelope is found on the beach at Mosman parkrun in Sydney by Dorota, who opens it on tape and announces the winner. Awarded to Andrew Turner, Melissa Ellis's stated reason on air is "congratulations, Andrew Turner, and thank you for volunteering", following his Dazza's post about guiding. Simon Mackley calls Mosman "my favourite Sydney parkrun and the most beautiful one in Sydney".
Episode 313 - #getyourfeetwet
Presented in a skit by TOC and Jack, who find the envelope under a block of Caramilk at the Inverloch stump. Jack reads it out: "this week's Obi [Obi] goes to... The beaches. From the stump to the sand, well done to the Beaches." Awarded to The Beaches parkrun (NSW), tying in to its eighth birthday and the episode's #getyourfeetwet beach theme. The hosts also back-fill the previous week's unnamed presenter: it was Tim Oberg, "Mr Obi himself, the namesake of the Obi Award."
Episode 312 - parkrun party
Melissa Ellis: "the Obi [Obi] envelope, Ollie, it's on tour... It's like pass the parcel. We just don't know where it's going to be", then "let the listeners work it out for themselves", the presenter is deliberately not named. The unnamed presenter awards it to Tony O'Connell: "He is the founder of Inverloch parkrun, the godfather of parkrun in the Gippsland area. He's been a Run Director, Event Director, territory director, ambassador, all-round legend, Tony Toc O'Connell." It lands the same week the hosts read out his announcement that he has stepped down after eight years as Territory Director, Event Ambassador and Regional Ambassador.
Episode 311 - Green Eggs & Snoods
Awarded to Oliver Spake for reaching 250 volunteer occasions, "250 official volleys, and everything else he does in the background at Shell Harbour [Shellharbour]." Announced not by the hosts but by a "mysterious Obi announcer" in a beach skit; Ollie says "I've got no idea who it is."
Episode 310 - Cheers
Handed over to a special guest this week rather than the hosts, "But, Mel, I don't have the envelope this week" / "we've got a special guest who's got the envelope". The guest announcer, Em, opens the envelope and names the winner. Awarded for her Dazza's photo of three generations of the Reeves family in the selfie frame at Traralgon parkrun, which Ollie had described earlier as "gorgeous".
Episode 309 - Bruce & Gill Fordyce
Ollie has the winner on a Post-it note rather than the usual envelope. He notes no Obi was awarded the previous week, so "the first Obi winner in two weeks is Yvette Turner" - for her Dazza's post of a group who travelled to Goulburn and did pre-start zoomies, "a whole squadron of zoomies in that photo at the top of the Goulburn parkrun zipper."
Episode 307 - Cops & Robbers
Ollie opens an on-theme caramel-coloured envelope. Awarded for the real-life Bailey family reunion at Shellharbour parkrun on her birthday, Bec seeing her parents again after three years of closed borders, with the first ever on-record real-life "Bailey shot" photo. Mel: "It was lovely to see the Baileys reunited from across the ditch... The adventure community was all warm and fuzzy seeing that occurrence."
Episode 306 - King Gizzard
Ollie opens a green envelope and awards this week's Obi to Heather Hunter, for her Dazza's check-in from Coombs parkrun in the ACT - 5km of chatting with friends while park walking, second breakfast at the National Arboretum, kangaroo sightings, her 59th different event and a floating Wilson index lifted from 8 to 15.
Episode 305 - You’ve Got Mail!
Mel produces a parkwalker-blue Obi. Awarded jointly to Sarah Jefferson and Tracey Wood for their photo in the selfie frame at Zillmere, Sarah nabbing her Z, and "our two latest Channel 5 News crew reporters" meeting up for the first time.
Episode 304 - Let Us Entertain You
Ollie opens a bright pink envelope from the Office Lady and awards the Obi to Caro Vos for completing her Cowell Club (100 different events) milestone at Durban Point parkrun in South Africa while overseas, "Congratulations, Caro, on your cow [Cowell] club achievement. And yeah, what a place to do it too."
Episode 303 - Home on the range
Mel has to hunt for the envelope herself because Ollie is away in Fiji ("it must be in my in-tray... it didn't arrive at my house"). The Obi goes to Johan for his country-song take on the Dazza's theme, his post "oh, give me a home where the parkrunners roam, where the children and parkrunners play, where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the sky is not cloudy all day", sent from Heidedal parkrun in South Africa, plus a photo of himself in a cowboy hat. The parody also supplies the episode title, "Home on the range".
Episode 302 - Lined Up
Awarded to Calum and Lindsay Burrell for a "very well-aligned milestone pair of celebrations" at Burnage parkrun, his 250th run on the same day as her 250th volunteer occasion, celebrated in matching rainbow tutu, rainbow heart T-shirt, rainbow glasses and rainbow hat.
Episode 301 - Thumbs Up
Oliver Spake opens the envelope: the Obi this week goes to the thumbs up, Monty Slade, recognised for his trademark thumbs-up Dazza's photo and his "slightly extended running effort just recently". The thumbs-up square on the Streaky September Bingoe card is a direct nod to him.
Episode 300 - Tricentennial
Awarded to Alex Turner as a new club member and "freshly invited guest to Juno's first birthday", for the frond submitted from UWA parkrun. An honorary runner-up Obi also goes to Team Fraser for Chris Fraser's 250 laps of the hallway with a homemade lap timer while isolating with COVID.
Episode 299 - Buzz Buzz
Ollie hands out the Obi "it's time to award an Obi [Obi] Mel", digging it out "under all the caramel". It goes to TOC "Toc [TOC] gets it for really just being a part of the fun as well as something that we failed to miss, which was a pretty snazzy time as well, a finish time that he didn't mention in his report", Mel adds he was paced to it by newest parkrun adventurer Will Barlow, and Ollie confirms after checking that it was an all-time PB.
Episode 298 - Not Flat
A joint Obi. Awarded for Michael Gentle's Dazza's post about touristing at Umbagong District parkrun, written entirely around left turns and U-turns for International Left-Handers Day (including leaving the flag facing "the no fines way"), and for Umbagong's own pure-gold volunteer Graham, whom Michael met and whom Mel had met on an earlier visit. The hosts note they can't award it to a parkrun itself "until we change the rules", so it goes to the two people. Ollie also pays Michael's fine on his behalf for the post.
Episode 297 - The one when Mel sings
Mel calls for the envelope; Ollie announces "The Obi this week goes to... Graham Wilkinson." Stated reason, from Mel: "And he wins an Obi for a dad joke."
Episode 296 - Hot and Gold
Awarded for her Dazza's post from Fingal Bay parkrun, a photo with Roberta Winters, finally getting to do a parkrun together after knowing each other on social media, and Roberta's first visit to Fingal Bay. The hosts agree to overlook the backwards selfie flag in the photo.
Episode 295 - Aidan Hobbs
Ollie retrieves the envelope from his in-tray and awards the Obi "for 1,000 kilometres, a stump shot and Jemima Puddle Duck" to Bec Bailey. The hosts then joke that there was no bribery involved and it has nothing to do with the caramilk on anyone's desk or the lolly slice in the lunchbox, a gag paid off in the post-outro sketch.
Episode 294 - the new U
Awarded to Chloe Bravos for her photo from Applecross parkrun in Western Australia - "it was a lovely shot with the city in the background across the Swan River, the Derbal Yerrigan." Melissa has to open the envelope herself because Oliver Spake, who normally holds it, is away this week.
Episode 293 - Hackers
Melissa Ellis "Congratulations to our Obi [Obi] winner this week, Ollie. Very well deserved"; Ollie "Yeah, it certainly is." The winner is never named - the announcement falls inside the stretch the Informant's "hack" has cut. "Ollie" here is a vocative (Melissa addressing her co-host), not the recipient; his reply "it certainly is" rather than a thank-you confirms that reading.
Episode 292 - Floods, Cows & Milkshakes
The envelope goes to Melissa Ellis this week. Awarded to Geoff Glaab "and Pepper" for two events in Canada over Canada Day weekend - touristing and getting his very first new country, with the Canadian flag in the selfie frame.
Episode 291 - Because
Awarded for the photo captioned simply "because" (which gives the episode its title) and a cheeky second photo, but above all for the connections she has helped form across the community through the Event Director and Run Director catch-ups she initiated. Ollie: "the connections that Sonia [Sonja] has helped many of us already form with the Event Director and Run Director catch-ups are... something to give a big clap to."
Episode 290 - 98, 99, 100!
Melissa calls for the envelope and a drum roll; Ollie announces "the Obi [Obi] this week goes to... Brett Bailey." Awarded for his long-delayed 100th parkrun at Pegasus parkrun in New Zealand, "Across the ditch... With some great festivities, a long-awaited milestone, and I'd say a touch of fin-mise [FINMIs]." The previous week's winner, Darwin the rainbow lorikeet, is also referenced.
Episode 289 - Lorikeets are Metal
Ollie opens the envelope and awards the Obi to Darwin the rainbow lorikeet, for encouraging everyone up one of Shellharbour's heartbreak hills while marshalling with Karen Hamilton. Ollie denies it has anything to do with Bruce's parrot joke, then insists Darwin is a lorikeet and not a parrot, and issues an on-air retraction once Mel points out lorikeets are parrots.
Episode 288 - Travel Tips
Ollie retrieves the envelope, Blu-Tacked to the wall next to his desk, and announces the winner. Awarded for the "very stellar" roving report filed from Leeton Sport and Recreation Precinct parkrun; the hosts note he wasn't read out at Dazza's, so the report itself is the stated reason. Congratulated again: "thank you, Matthew, for the roving report and congratulations once again on your Obi [Obi]."
Episode 287 - Rhubarb Lemonade
Ollie: "I believe, Mel, we need to award an Obi." Mel finds the envelope on her own desk for once and awards it to Peter Leroux for his Dazza's order from his 50th different venue at Poznań parkrun in Poland, "Not much of a coffee culture here, so make mine a rhubarb lemonade and St Martin's croissant, please, Dazza", the line that gives the episode its title. Ollie: "I'm definitely going to chase up some rhubarb lemonade after that." The episode also opens cold with a junior listener thanking the show for the previous week's Obi.
Episode 286 - 99 Apfelsine Blätter
The envelope bit "So do we have staff in the office preparing envelopes this week, Ollie?" - blue with a bit of silver. Ollie announces "the Obi [Obi] this week goes to none other than the newest juniors RD, Abby", with Melissa adding "Well done, Abby" and "You still have to pay your dollar, though." Awarded for her debut as Run Director at junior parkrun, where she ran the volunteer brief and marked off the volunteers.
Episode 285 - Better together
Melissa "And time to announce the winner of the Obi [Obi]." With the Informant off sick, the envelope has to be hunted down - "the informant's away. The office is on skeleton staff. Did we get an envelope, Ollie?" - and Ollie finds it on the comfy chair. Awarded to "Volunteer extraordinaire, Michael Charlton" for doubling up on volunteering across the weekend: volunteer number 50 as Tail Walker at Nathalia Showgrounds parkrun on Saturday and marshalling at juniors on Sunday. Melissa: "Doubling up this week with volunteering on Saturday and Sunday. So well earned."
Episode 284 - The Very Very Best Day
Melissa calls for the envelope "Time to announce our winner. Do you have the envelope?" Ollie announces- "Mel, the Obi [Obi] this week goes to... The very, very best day, Pippa." Awarded for her Dazza's post about reaching her 250th parkrun and her 250th volunteer occasion on the same day at Trentham Gardens parkrun in the UK - a post whose phrase "The very, very best day" gives the episode its title. Melissa notes- "That's her second Obi [Obi]... She's the second person to get two Obi [Obi] awards."
Episode 283 - Eman Vergara
Ollie opens the envelope on his desk. The Obi goes to Maria Tams for her Dazza's post about meeting parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt while running Bushy parkrun in the UK, and getting the photo - "a bit of tourism, a bit of celebrity and managed to get a great photo of said celebrity".
Episode 282 - Cass Castleton
Mel finds the envelope in her pigeonhole and awards this week's Obi to Geoff Glaab, for his Dazza's post from Joe Creason parkrun in the USA, their fourth birthday celebration and first since 2019, 26 finishers, his own 50th parkrun with daughter Charlotte as Run Director and wife Sarah as Tail Walker, plus the photo of the team with the parkrun flag and a red shirt. Ollie claps and is immediately fined.
Episode 281 - Hoppy Easter
Ollie opens the envelope and announces that this week's Obi goes to "the Easter Bunny and the Easter Bilby, which means Janet", Janet Reid, for her Dazza's post and photo of herself as the Easter Bunny's "egg-cellent assistant" alongside the Easter art at Lochiel Park parkrun, with the award extended to the whole team there.
Episode 280 - Breakout
Envelope opened live, with an audible shriek from the household audience. Awarded for her uber-touristing trip: an eight-hour, roughly 800-kilometre solo road trip to Cowra parkrun in the POW camp area, with a selfie-frame photo. Mel: "Congratulations, Dawn, and well done on your big tourist trip."
Episode 279 - Phil Gore
Oliver Spake opens the envelope (the hosts joke about not knowing who fills it each week) and awards this week's Obi to Juliet Colville, the UK visitor who reached her 25th different event at a windy Ballarat parkrun while touring Australia.
Episode 278 - Goldilocks
The envelope is opened by Melissa Ellis and delivers a curveball, for the first time the winner is not a Dazza's participant but an email correspondent, recognised for completing their ACT Statesperson Challenge at Coombs parkrun and sharing photos, including one in the Coombs parkrun selfie frame. Oliver Spake wonders aloud who puts the envelopes together, setting up the new-person-in-the-office teaser.
Episode 277 - Stumped
Ollie fumbles for the envelope and awards this week's Obi to Chris Fraser for his Dazza's post, a private chauffeur to the sunniest parkrun, two four-star sausage rolls, and the selfie-frame photo on the stump (the episode's title, "Stumped"). Ollie says "it was very hard to say that with a straight face" and Mel immediately queries the process, "Did he vote?" / "Who actually works this out? Who prepares the envelope?", with Ollie noting whoever prepares it wasn't around to hand it over and there is no dispute procedure. Ollie extends the award by proxy to Chris's support crew and chauffeur, Tony O'Connell, and mentions a photo of Jackie, Tony and Chris around the stump. Mel notes he is the first multiple Obi winner, having also won "the week where he kidnapped you"; Ollie: "Let me just put this on record. I have not been coerced."
Episode 276 - Mooving On
Back to a virtual Obi after the first physical, 3D-printed Obi was awarded to Dawn at the Palm quiz the previous weekend ("the budget doesn't extend to postage... you want a real Obi, you've got to turn up to Palm"). This week's Obi goes to Richard, for his Dazza's post from San Remo parkrun, Sally's first milestone at 25 events, his own P-index jump, and the photo of Moo Moo and Milkshake heading out for their first parkrun together in front of the selfie frame. Ollie awards it "by extension to Moo Moo and Milkshake and Sally as well".
Episode 275 - palm22
A special one-off physical Obi presented as the palm quiz prize: a 3D-printed gold Buddha reading "palm22", made with the help of adventurer friend Stephen Davis. Mel calls it "our very first real-life Obi". Consolation prizes for the other contestants included blue frog granola, a copy of On Every Saturday (donated by David Crook) and a toy red convertible "Ferrari".
Episode 274 - Johan Duvenhage
No award given this week - explicitly withheld. Ollie: "we're keeping the Obi on the shelf... we did make a joke last week in the pod about the Obis being handed out a bit too rapidly. So we're maybe just pulling back on that slightly. And we may need that Obi for next week, Mel." No recipient was named.
Episode 273 - Falling for You
Awarded for a retro Valentine's Day post, a photo series from her husband Peter's 100th run at their Warwick parkrun Valentine's Day event, in which the pair tripped each other in their 100 capes and ended up on the ground laughing in a tangled pile. Ollie: "I would say it's probably our longest awaited Obi, given it was from six years ago." Mel: "a nice Valentine's weekend tip of the hat to a couple falling for each other on a Valentine's Day parkrun", the source of the episode title, "Falling for You".
Episode 272 - Ercan Boduk
Melissa Ellis calls for the envelope, Oliver Spake fetches it "from our intern once again" and announces the winner. Awarded for the quick pivot from one planned adventure to another after the pram brake cable snapped on the way to North Sydney parkrun, and turning it into a good day at St Peters instead: "in mastering those circumstances, turning it into a good day, that deserves an Obi."
Episode 271 - Arise
Awarded at the close of Dazza's, complete with envelope sound effect handed over by the Intern. This week's Obi goes to Matthew Probst for completing every Sydney parkrun, started New Year's Day 2021 at Campbelltown and went to a different location every week since, finishing at Parramatta where Cathy Ray handed over his token and hat and "knighted" him a Rayfarer.
Episode 270 - The only way is up
Mel: "But we need to award an Obi winner this week, Ollie. So have you got the envelope?" Ollie announces Ingrid as the winner, "Somewhat fittingly being on the 22-22 day wearing the tutu and with a very impressive jump shot", for the photo accompanying her Dazza's entry celebrating her 100 milestone at Dolls Point.
Episode 269 - Criminal Intent
No Obi was awarded the previous week (the hosts were running the summer series). This week Ollie opens the envelope and awards it to Chris Fraser - the show's "creative director" - for abducting Ollie with a bag over his head, driving him to Wentworth Common parkrun and filming the whole kidnapping, footage shared to the adventurers page and the Aussie parkrun Tourism page. Ollie: "Clearly crime and breaking all the rules pays." This is the source of the episode title, "Criminal Intent".
Episode 267 - parkrun spirit
Dual recipients for the first time - Melissa Ellis "We've got two winners, Ollie. We've got dual recipients", Oliver Spake: "Unprecedented." Val and Steve Warwick win for their photo on the Mersey with the Spirit of Tasmania in the background, taken after marshalling at Devonport; Brett and Tanya Bailey win for their "double Bailey" video from Pegasus parkrun with Brunner the bark runner. "It was too hard to split those two this week." Preceded by the running envelope gag - both hosts claim to have misplaced it.
Episode 266 - Tinsel Time
Mel calls for the envelope (the dogs Bambi and Chico have it). Ollie: "This week the Obi goes to, let's face it, Melissa Erbacher because it has to... for our wonderful ugly singlets and festive day once again", for creating and championing International Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day, and for the Kawana tinsel photo featuring all four Erbachers.
Episode 265 - Advance to Go
Awarded "for festive cheer, some wooters, and a whole lot of board game fun on the run", Bernadette Bennett's Monopoly-themed not parkrun around Newcastle, photographed in front of the Newcastle Art Gallery (a.k.a. Trafalgar Square on the board). The win sets off an extended riff on what a parkrun edition of Monopoly would look like (tokens: a cone, a tree, a finish token, a dog; Bushy as Mayfair; "no barcode, no result" as jail). Preceded by discussion of listener Chantelle Hosking's suggestion that the award's sound effect be chihuahua footsteps on wooden floors.
Episode 264 - Home & Away
"So cue the music" - Ollie opens the envelope and announces the winner. Awarded for her long-awaited 250th parkrun milestone at her home parkrun Rosebud, with a massive PB, and especially for the sentiment the hosts single out: "absolutely love parkrun touristing, but it would be absolutely empty without my tribe". Ollie: "you're spot on the money ... It's wonderful with the tribe." Last week's recipient, Pippa White, is also mentioned during Dazza's.
Episode 263 - Obi - 100
The hosts formally settle on a name for the new weekly award: with no listener feedback received, Mel proposes and Ollie agrees on "the Obi", "call us biased, but I think the Obi has it", a nod to their own part of the world. Awarded to Pippa White for the effort behind her check-in: her first-choice parkrun was cancelled at 8:52am for a 9am start, she scampered to the next closest event and caught the Tail Walker to get a time, thereby completing her Cowell Club, 100 different parkrun locations. Mel: "That's a true adventurer going above and beyond to get her barcode scanned." The hosts also float tracking winners across a year for an end-of-year overall award.
Episode 262 - All the good things
The naming discussion for the show's yet-to-be-named weekly kudos award. Melissa Ellis reviews last week's ideas floated with Oliver Spake (the Dazzler, the Parky, the Abbey) and proposes naming it after parkrun Australia's Tim Oberg: "So it would be the Oberg Award, a.k.a. the Obi. We could have the Obis award." Tony O'Connell likes it but asks listeners for more suggestions. Patrick Sch(m)itzek is floated as this week's contender for his Strava art, but no award is actually made.