Top Threes

Appears in 4 episodes, first in episode 137.

Every appearance

• Episode 308 - Top 3

  Two rounds. First, top three bucket-list running events: Erbacher picks Marathon du Médoc in France, the (now defunct) Sandgate Sunset Run relay, and burro racing in the USA inspired by Christopher McDougall's "Running with Sherman", mentioning the ET Full Moon Marathon near Area 51 as an also-ran; Scott wants an entirely-downhill mountain race and a race that finishes in the ocean. Second, and billed as a long-withheld reveal now that they no longer work for parkrun, top three parkrun events: Scott names The Beaches, Tring (now closed) and Phillip Island, then adds a people-based top three of Westerfolds, Studley and Jells. Erbacher gets to Margaret River and Coffs Harbour (where she completed the Pirate Club) before taking number three on notice.

• Episode 176 - International Podcast Day 2019

  The show's recurring "top three" question, given a whole bonus episode of its own for International Podcast Day. Erbacher frames it: "we are filling the pod with something we love a lot here, our top threes. But these aren't the regular top threes that we have asked people about over the years", i.e. an established interview feature, here repurposed so the crew give parkrun tips rather than answering the usual question. Erbacher closes with her own self-indulgent top three tips for creating a podcast: say yes when "some crazy guy you barely know asks you to start a podcast", open your ears to contributions from creative people, and have fun.

• Episode 140 - An Early Xmas

  Listener top-three lists read out and discussed. Bruce Purdy's parkrun to-do list (watch great Run Directors at work - naming Gareth Saunders, Matt Fullerton and Scott and Joanne Watkins; share coffee with tourists; visit as diverse a range of parkruns as possible, plus a cheeky fourth the hosts keep to themselves). Then top three Chrome extension stats from Melissa Ellis (Wilson Index, Stopwatch Bingo, p-index) and from Caroline Southwell (number of different parkruns - 29; tourist quotient - 71.79%; total distinct volunteer roles - 16). Scott then shares his top three goals for 2019: fit back into his parkrun shirts, be funnier on the podcast, and run the best-ever parkrun adventurers Listener Meetup at The Beaches in April.

• Episode 137 - Dane Bird-Smith

  A brand-new outro segment launched in this episode after the hosts discuss what to replace the retired end-of-show bits with. Each host gives a top three of things to try at parkrun, and listeners are invited to send in their own. Scott: try an Athlete's Foot wear-test at parkrun, lead the warm-up at junior parkrun, and do a one-on-one parkrun with a kid. Mel: do a parkrun in fancy dress, run negative splits, and volunteer for the role that scares you most. A bonus challenge is issued for listeners to film themselves attempting race walking after the Dane Bird-Smith interview.