the Obi Award
Appears in 13 episodes, first in episode 442.
Recipients
Every appearance
Episode 456 - The hype team
TOC calls for the Obi and Lyndell has the envelope. Stated reason: "for the cute little cutie pie pictured on homemade pie day" - Chloe Bravos drove a homemade pie to Shipwreck parkrun when they needed a timekeeper, and the pictured "cutie pie" was her daughter Lucy Bravos.
Episode 454 - Old and New
Lyndell awards the Obi to Sonja Pohlman for her sunrise photo from The Beaches parkrun, taken from her marshal spot in front of the teardrop flag. TOC: "That was a great photo from the beaches. 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
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'.
episode 452 - The Away Game
Rendered by the ASR as "the OB". Lyndell: "this episode, the OB [Obi] goes to Nick Graney. Thanks, Nick, for doing your thing over there in Canada, cheering on the Socceroos." Awarded for his Dazza's comment about parkrunning at Spanish Banks Beach in Vancouver ahead of watching the Socceroos play Turkey in Australia's first World Cup game, and for the follow-up photo of six Australians in Socceroos jerseys. TOC: "Well done, Nick."
Episode 451 - Let those pies fly high
Sarah announces at [00:56:50] "the obi lobe has just landed in my email" and awards it to Veronica Lightfoot, for her seven-week holiday taking in 10 parkruns from Ireland to Singapore, finishing as tail walker at West Coast parkrun in Singapore — "Sounds like a fabulous holiday that you've had."
Episode 450 - Celebrations and pronunciations
Announced by Lyndell after Dazza's, from the emailed result. Awarded to Cheryl for tail walking Wauchope parkrun on Mother's Day weekend: "Cheryl, we can't go past a party at the back. So thank you for keeping the said party in check as Tail Walker." This was her 243rd volunteer occasion, done alongside her son. Johan adds "Congratulations, Cheryl."
Episode 449 - Is it your first time?
Delivered by electronic mail rather than an envelope, which Simon attributes to Sarah. Awarded for her Dazza's contribution: a picture of her trumpet from when she played the last post on Anzac Day at Wentworth Common parkrun. NOTE: the recipient's name is rendered two different ways by ASR in the same episode - "Latina Troig" at [00:35:46] and "Alana Torek" at [00:38:54]. Same person; true spelling unverified.
Episode 448 - Surrounded by clowns
Tony picks the Obi from a paper envelope with a self-supplied drumroll (joking that "the other two have gone new school with their electronic Obies"), awarding it to Roberta Winters for her Dazza's post about being "surrounded by these clowns" while completing her 250th parkrun at Waggie Bridge in Canberra on World Circus Day - the post that gives the episode its title.
Episode 447 - You raise me up
Awarded to Rebecca "Bec" Bailey for her 250th parkrun, celebrated at Whitemark Wharf parkrun on Flinders Island, Tasmania over the Easter long weekend - "Congrats again on your 250th and making it an incredible adventure to celebrate that." Delivered via the running gag of the "Obi-lope" arriving electronically.
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 at [01:02:59]: "our Obie 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 "obelope" gag at [01:02:32] ("time for an obelope. 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 at [00:49:01]: "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 at [00:41:32] and awards the Obi. Stated reason at [00:41:50]: "I reckon any ice cream that you've got to carry with two hands and probably ask a mate for help with deserves an Obie, 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.