Episode 224 - Madness & Mystery

Welcome

00:00:23Melissa Ellis: Welcome to episode 224 of the parkrun adventurers podcast. My name is Melissa Ellis and I am joined by the man inspiring the next generation of Shellharbour volunteers, Ollie Spake. Now Ollie... You ran a ridiculous amount of kilometres on the weekend. Would you like to start by telling us about that?

00:00:48Oliver Spake: Well, I think it probably pales into comparison for some of those efforts out there, but it's a big step up for me, so thank you. And by the way, hi, Mel, and hi, everyone. Easily distracted. I'm like a blowfly. Yeah, yeah. Well, look, I... I had the chance just to go and explore a new part of the countryside that's remarkably close that I haven't been to before. Came across some fellow parkrunners that I thought would be out there and probably got a bit too excited. Didn't quite stick to any kind of marathon training program that I should have been sticking to, but it was fun.

00:01:20Melissa Ellis: So hang on, let's just wind back there. Ollie Spake, are you training for a marathon?

00:01:26Oliver Spake: Training's probably a bit too generous a term, but yeah, we're going to give it a shot.

00:01:32Melissa Ellis: Are you going to tell us which one?

00:01:34Oliver Spake: Well, yeah, look, I think I can divulge that because it's not too exciting. I mean, I could talk it up, but it's actually my local and it's a local that I just haven't had before. So it was too good to turn down.

00:01:48Melissa Ellis: Have you ran a marathon before?

00:01:50Oliver Spake: I have done one. I've done just one, which was my local back then. It's kind of like, it's your parkrun, right? Maybe not, but I'll make that analogy. So my one and only marathon attempt, I think was 2016. And it was the Blackmores Marathon in Sydney because I really wanted to go over the bridge and At that stage, despite me living in New South Wales and in and near Sydney for most of my life, I'd never been to Centennial Park. So it was a good chance to explore Centennial Park back then.

00:02:19Melissa Ellis: Fabulous. So this one's also in Sydney?

00:02:22Oliver Spake: No, no. So while that one was pretty special, this one is quite low key. So we've had an event start a I think it may have only operated once before. It didn't operate last year, but it did run back in 2019. And Mel, it was the first weekend in December. So it was pretty brutal because I remember the runs starting slightly later in the morning than your average long run.

00:02:50Unidentified speaker: Hmm.

00:02:51Oliver Spake: So, yeah, brutal. Didn't have a marathon then, does now, and it quite literally is three Ks from my front door. Oh, wow. And even more special is the turnaround point is just past my parents-in-law house down by the lake, Lake Illawarra. So, yeah, hopefully I'll have the kids out cheering for me or passing me drinks or maybe some performance-enhancing supplements or something like that, lolly snakes that's what we're talking about children red frogs red frogs I jest but look I'm well underdone but yeah as the weekend proved I think um when it's all in the spirit of fun you ran 35 kilometres and from what I saw on Strava you did a pretty good job of it it was good fun good chance to catch up on the podcasts good chance to listen to some music too

00:03:42Melissa Ellis: Very good. And how was volunteering at Shellharbour on Saturday?

00:03:47Oliver Spake: It was a lot of fun. The whole run down under spirit, I'd really underestimated this year. We had a great turnout of run down under shirts. So well done to everyone doing run down under. I am so jealous. And both mum and I were looking around with envy, wishing we'd started a long time ago. So despite the fact that everyone's been Talking it up and sharing the great experiences, I really do need to start listening and joining the fun there.

00:04:14Melissa Ellis: I saw your mum was on the roster at Shellharbour and so was Hannah.

00:04:19Oliver Spake: Yes. Yeah, look, we did have to pad out the roster a bit this week. We had a late clamour for volleys and mum and Hannah both stepped up, thankfully, and a couple of other fantastic volunteers stepping into key roles as well. We had a lot of visitors because this is one of those weekends where Husky parkrun, so I timed it just well last week, Husky parkrun was off for the weekend because they have a running and triathlon festival often. So a lot of people heading down for that. And again, the local tourism was really, really kicking into gear and a lot of people came our way. So it was great to host.

00:04:57Melissa Ellis: I did see that event down in Huskisson. I actually had to double check back onto your Strava profile to see if that was where you actually ran that 35 kilometres because I saw one of the dirty cheetahs was down there.

00:05:09Oliver Spake: Yes. Yeah, it was good to see Arlene at the parkrun. It's been a long time since she's been down that way and always good to see a cheetah. But no, no, it wasn't me. Maybe with a bit of foresight and planning, which isn't necessarily my forte. Yeah, I have to give it a go sometime.

00:05:23Melissa Ellis: So the World Cup decision-making didn't factor in...

00:05:27Oliver Spake: No, no, out of cycle. Didn't even kick off.

00:05:30Melissa Ellis: There's a flaw in that, isn't there?

00:05:32Oliver Spake: I think so. I think so. We need to revisit the criteria. Something must be rigged.

00:05:37Melissa Ellis: And, Ollie, I've got to make a comment. So last week when we were talking about the costumes and I said that Hannah could be an Oompa Loompa, my 11-year-old Zoe has actually corrected me and gone, Mum, Oompa Loompas. They're from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Oh, right. Wizard of Oz has got munchkins.

00:05:57Oliver Spake: Now that you say that, that does, yes, that does make true.

00:06:01Melissa Ellis: So how embarrassing for me, my favourite movie, and I've used the wrong terminology.

00:06:05Oliver Spake: Yeah, and here I was thinking, well, I can't remember if it was just a witch or a few other things under that house, but a munchkin. All right, I'll mention munchkin to her. Not sure if that's going to change the odds of her making it, but she might appreciate being called a munchkin more than an oompa loompa, we'll see. Oh, goodness. Oh, Mel, at parkrun, the other thing I have to say, sometimes, you know, parkrunners can get quite invested, can get quite emotionally attached to that result. You know, we've all seen it with you forget your barcode, you can't scan in, you can't get your results. And, you know, we have those conversations from time to time. This week was a bit different and this week, I have to say, I came across the nicest and most understanding parkrunner who was one of our visitors, came down from Kiama and, yeah, we lost him.

00:06:56Melissa Ellis: What?

00:06:59Oliver Spake: We lost him.

00:06:59Melissa Ellis: Oh, no.

00:07:01Oliver Spake: Maybe if I describe that a bit more accurately, he was very fast. And for those that have been to Shellharbour parkrun, maybe you've had your wits about you as you've been heading around the course and you're not just thinking you're retracing your steps. We have a spot where one of our Marshals moves from the bottom of a hill to the bottom of another hill. So they get a bit of, you know, karma balance because they let everyone come down the hill. Everyone's feeling great, three and a half k's into the course they send them back up a you know a great big hill so you know there's that that karma balance there yeah he was fast so our Marshal was still moving between points after the Tail Walkers had just come through the Marshal did see him and point out the right direction but I think he was in the zone uh he then crossed back over the uh the other marshal which was just after the 1k point so he'd done a full lap of our lagoon at that point Again, apologies to anyone that doesn't know the course. Yeah, virtually headed back out onto the beach, came up some steps, appeared, somehow managed to appear before any other first finisher at that stage. But what a gracious young man. He said, look, I haven't done the course. The Marshal wasn't there, was a bit unsure. And we gave him a chance to head back out on course and do a bit more of a run. But he was just happy. He was fine. That was actually a bit of a highlight. I never thought I'd say losing someone would be a highlight, but... Is he coming back next week, Ollie? Well, I promised him free entry, so I hope so.

00:08:29Melissa Ellis: What time did he potentially... Would he have come in? Can't you go out and chaperone him?

00:08:34Oliver Spake: Oh, look, I... Me personally, that would be a stretch, but... Oh, he was super speedy then if he's faster than you. There are some pretty serious times around that course and he would have set one of them, but... Yeah, we look forward to it in future.

00:08:49Melissa Ellis: Oh, we need to put a call out. We need to come down and take this, oh, I'm sorry, chihuahua feet.

00:08:51[other]

00:09:00Oliver Spake: That's all right. We like the chihuahua feet. We like the chihuahua feet. Like I said last week, we'd been missing it before.

00:09:06Melissa Ellis: Right. It's to the ambience.

00:09:09Oliver Spake: That's right. The Serenity. How's the Serenity?

00:09:12Melissa Ellis: Oh, my favourite. That's it. Next to the Wizard of Oz, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Oh, my God.

00:09:18Oliver Spake: One and the same, right? Yeah.

00:09:20Melissa Ellis: The Castle.

00:09:21Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:09:22Melissa Ellis: Way up there on Mel's favourite movies.

00:09:25Oliver Spake: Yeah, yeah, I can say I love that one too.

00:09:28Melissa Ellis: Fun fact.

00:09:29Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:09:30Melissa Ellis: Actually have personally owned a caravan at Bonnie Doon Caravan Park for more than 10 years.

00:09:36Oliver Spake: That's pretty nice. And is it as beautiful as it looks, Mel?

00:09:40Melissa Ellis: It is, yes. My older children, best years of their life growing up in the caravan park. Oh, excellent. And they actually, oh, we're digressing a little bit from but they go oh mama we really feel sorry for Zoe she hasn't she hasn't experienced Bonnie Doon she hasn't had that benefit of growing up going to the I'm like don't you worry about Zoe she's seen the whole of Victoria through parkrun she's got friends all around the state don't you worry about all different childhood yeah

00:10:10Oliver Spake: Yeah, how true. So no trips to Bonnie Doon planned? I mean, if a new parkrun springs up nearby, would that be on the agenda?

00:10:18Melissa Ellis: I have to say, and I have told other people in the past, the best course that could start from Bonnie Doon and run across that bridge, anybody that knows Victoria and knows a bridge that spans Lake Eildon at Bonnie Doon. There's a rail trail and there's a perfect sort of start point just on the Bonnie Doon side of that bridge where you could park and you could run out two and a half k's, go across that bridge and come back easily, easily if there was obviously somebody to get behind that for the community. That would be my dream.

00:10:55Oliver Spake: So you're putting the call out, Mel?

00:10:57Melissa Ellis: any listeners out there I've done this before it hasn't worked Ollie it hasn't worked for me but yes if anybody in Bonnie Doon wants to start a parkrun I'm there I'm helping you I'll come

00:11:10Oliver Spake: Oh, look, I'd come down for that one. I know I've got a long list, but that one deserves a place.

00:11:15Melissa Ellis: Oh, wow. We've got way off track.

00:11:18Oliver Spake: It was a nice weekend. And look, I do want to ask you how your weekend was, but I do also want to say one apology. I have a formal apology to make, Mel. Oh. So last week I was holding a wooden table, but I did say the word stability.

00:11:34Melissa Ellis: Oh, okay. I know. New Zealand's got a bone to pick with you, Oliver Spake.

00:11:40Oliver Spake: The good people of New Zealand, I hereby apologise. I should have realised. And my thoughts and wishes are with you all. And it is primarily Auckland, isn't it, Mel?

00:11:52Melissa Ellis: Uh-uh-uh.

00:11:53Oliver Spake: I don't know no I don't think so Ollie I'm apologising for the whole country then no I think I think the whole of new zealand's in stage two which rules out parkrun okay okay from what I saw because allison posted so let me say that again I apologise New Zealand I was careless with my words and um obviously on a serious note I do hope that everyone stays well and you have a return to parkrun and normality soon

00:12:22Melissa Ellis: I concur.

00:12:23Oliver Spake: But I will watch my words, absolutely.

00:12:25Melissa Ellis: Good. Lesson learned. Yes. I'm putting on my mum voice.

00:12:29Oliver Spake: I need to listen, so thank you. I will listen. But how was your parkrun weekend, Mel?

00:12:34Melissa Ellis: It was really good, as usual. There's not many a Saturday, Sunday that I don't enjoy at parkrun, and I had another adventure. And I covered that last week when I said I was going to Louis Hamon Park parkrun, which I did do, met up with friends.

00:12:51Oliver Spake: Sorry, Mel, I hate to interrupt, but I do remember not knowing how to pronounce it. So it is Louie Hayman?

00:12:56Melissa Ellis: No, I don't know. In the cafe afterwards, I did say to the ED, is it Louie or Lewis? And she did actually, at first she said Louie and then she said, no, it's Lewis. And I'm just not in the habit of saying it correctly. I do believe it's Louis Hamon.

00:13:13Oliver Spake: Louis Hamon. Okay.

00:13:15Melissa Ellis: Louis Hamon. I was saying completely wrong. Louis Hamon.

00:13:18Oliver Spake: Louis Hamon. All right.

00:13:19Melissa Ellis: Park. parkrun.

00:13:21Oliver Spake: Ah, yes, because it's got the double park. Right. Okay.

00:13:24Melissa Ellis: It does have the double park. And it runs along a creek. And, you know, I'm feeling like a broken record at the moment because it seems like all these new parkruns I'm going to, they run along a creek or a river. Aussie bush, like beautiful gums, just really picturesque, really reminded me of some of victoria's what I class as premier parkrun locations as in Wimmera river and Nhill the way they run along with just those magnificent gum trees so really really majestic I enjoyed it immensely I did the solo trip I left at 4am in the morning

00:14:03Oliver Spake: Impressive.

00:14:05Melissa Ellis: Drove up there myself. Just logistically worked better for me to do the early morning drive. Yeah, drove up there, did the parkrun, had brunch with TOC, Jacqui, friends Helen and Steve, another of our regular Victorian tourists, Nathan. We enjoyed the morning and then I jumped in my car and I drove home. So it was a big day. I was a bit exhausted.

00:14:32Oliver Spake: Oh, it sounds like a fantastic day. I think I remember Nathan too. So yeah, what a good bunch. Great to have, you know, obviously a healthy contingent make it out there. It really does sound beautiful there.

00:14:42Melissa Ellis: Oh, and I've got to tell you a funny story. So I got there, I parked my car and as I parked my car, Tony and Jacqui were just, oh, sorry, TOC and Jacqui were just walking down the street. So, you know, got out and caught them and walked to the parkrun and the ED was so excited because there was a famous person at their parkrun.

00:15:02Oliver Spake: Ooh.

00:15:02Melissa Ellis: A podcast famous person.

00:15:04Oliver Spake: Yep.

00:15:05Melissa Ellis: TOC.

00:15:06Unidentified speaker: TOC.

00:15:07Oliver Spake: Well, TOC is absolutely a celebrity, so I can understand the excitement.

00:15:12Melissa Ellis: He is. Bless him. He tried to very politely say that I was also there, but they weren't having any of it. They only had fangirling for TOC.

00:15:21Oliver Spake: Quite understandable. It was. And what a way, with his entourage too, huh? Yeah.

00:15:27Melissa Ellis: And on Sunday, juniors. Yes. May I just say, Abigail came number 26. I just have to do the weekly report of what number Abigail was. I got some good feedback about Abigail's little audio last week.

00:15:41Oliver Spake: It was lovely to hear from Abigail. And look, well done, Abigail, once again. 26 is not a number she's had in her collection before, if I remember correctly.

00:15:48Melissa Ellis: No. I feel like we need to be tracking this, Ollie. We need to have a Bingoe card for Abigail so that... Ooh, okay.

00:15:58Oliver Spake: So finish token bingo for Abigail.

00:16:01Melissa Ellis: I think so. Yep.

00:16:02Oliver Spake: I particularly liked, obviously, hearing about Abigail's borrowing of attire and everything last week, so... But a good day at juniors?

00:16:13Melissa Ellis: Yes, always a good day at juniors. Love seeing those little happy smiley faces. We had a nice new group of first-timers join us as well, which is always wonderful. I was out on course as a Marshal and I just love those little kids coming running towards me and cheering them on. I was the puddle marshal.

00:16:33Oliver Spake: The puddle marshal?

00:16:34Melissa Ellis: Yes.

00:16:34Oliver Spake: Wow.

00:16:35Melissa Ellis: Yep.

00:16:36Oliver Spake: That sounds exciting. Yeah.

00:16:38Melissa Ellis: So we have to have 10 marshals out because we're an out-and-back course. We have to have a Marshal every 100 metres. So at the 400-metre mark, there's, in winter, a large boat. Of course, at the moment it's dry, but it's still a hole in the ground that's potentially a hazard.

00:16:57Oliver Spake: Okay, yeah.

00:16:58Melissa Ellis: We put a marker and a Marshal at that spot because it is – strategically exactly 400 metres into the course and then we just direct the children around the pit don't don't run through the puddle I like to say don't watch the puddle go around the puddle and they look at me like silly lady there's no water

00:17:21Oliver Spake: puddle ah so so it's not necessarily always a puddle no no no no there's no water in winter there will be water in it yes at the moment it's just a dry pit okay because that that role is going to get quite intense in winter with with a big puddle and all those junior parkrunners surely

00:17:41Melissa Ellis: Yes, and I don't think the kids would so much mind running through the puddle, but probably the parents don't want the muddy feet and wet children in the back of the car on the way home. So the puddle marshal is born.

00:17:54Oliver Spake: Yeah, that'll be a tough role.

00:17:56Melissa Ellis: It adds to the interest of our course. That's right.

00:17:58Oliver Spake: We all have our unique features.

00:18:00Melissa Ellis: Yes, we haven't got a river. Oh, we've got a creek, but it's kind of a dry creek, but we've got the 400-metre puddle.

00:18:07Oliver Spake: That's technically part of that waterside parkrun themed range of definitions. So it sounds like a good weekend, Mel. Yeah, it was. And you did mention earlier that you were joined by TOC on your parkrun. We have a roving report from TOC from the field as well as one from Mark. So should we have a listen, Mel? I think we should hear Sir TOC.

Roving reports & the Channel 5 News crew

Roving report Tony O'Connell — Louis Hamon Park

00:18:29Tony O'Connell: Howdy parkrunners, TOC reporting in for the Channel 5 News crew. Today we're venturing up the Goulburn Valley Highway from Melbourne, about five hours north of home, and we've arrived in the lovely little town of Numurkah, which hosts the Louis Hamon Park parkrun. Numurkah's a town of about 5,000 people on the banks of the Broken River, and the parkrun actually runs out and back along the Broken River, so it's a lovely little course covered in towering gums all the way along the river. So it's a little cracker of a course. Today I'm Tail Walker, so I'm out enjoying a little bit of solitude amongst the ducks and the gums out by myself on the back end of the course. But a little fun fact, I was actually born in Numurkah, so once again it's a bit of a coming home trip. We'll catch up with a few people and have a chat. Cheers, parkrunners. Howdy, parkrunners. We've just had a magnificent little morning tea. Your coffee was really good. And I'm here with Leanne. Leanne was the RD today and you're the ED of the event, Leanne. Yes, I am. So, Leanne, give us a bit of a description first up of the parkrun course.

00:19:36Leanne: The parkrun course is a nice shaded course. It's just along a creek, so basically an out and back, keeping the creek to your left. Two, three, four, four bridge crossings, because you go across it, then across it, and then across it, and then across it. So, yeah, it's a nice out and back course.

00:19:51Tony O'Connell: And the name Louis Hamon, where did that come about?

00:19:54Leanne: Well, because we can't have the town name anymore, they've changed the sort of rules and all that, I had to think of a park area and I actually didn't know the park was called that and I've lived here my whole life. But yeah, Louis Hamon Park. So it comes from the park that's there and it's a beautiful little rose garden.

00:20:12Tony O'Connell: And what's your background with parkrun? Have you done many different parkruns around or are you fairly new into parkruns?

00:20:17Leanne: Well, I was fairly new into parkrun a few years ago and I just loved the idea of it. So I've got my daughter with me and wanted to run with her in a pram and that. But I couldn't justify travelling to another town to do it. So I thought, that's it, I'm getting one in my town. I want to get up in a Saturday morning and we're going to do the parkruns together. Is that right? Yep.

00:20:36Tony O'Connell: And the Goulburn Valley's starting to get a couple of parkruns. It's really good.

00:20:39Leanne: Yeah, so we've got one. There's two within half an hour of here. Then you can go to Echuca and Nathalia's hoping to get one up. So they're all coming, which is good.

00:20:49Tony O'Connell: There's a lot of little parkruns. If you get up here the night before, you go down to where the parkrun starts and you've got the little laser projection into the waterfall.

00:20:57Leanne: Yeah. Oh, you saw that, did you, last night? Yeah. So the waterfall's got the water feature and it's all different colours, multi-colours through the night, so...

00:21:07Tony O'Connell: No worries. Well, thanks a lot. It's been a magnificent little parkrun and the coffee's been pretty good as well. That's always a highlight of parkrun. I've got to say, the number of walkers you've got out there is exceptional. You've got a really great group of walkers out there.

00:21:21Leanne: Oh, they're loving it. And I had a new group come this morning and I knew there were walkers around town. And it's the first time I've seen them and they said, yep, can't wait to come back again. So just to get all these walkers is really good.

00:21:32Tony O'Connell: It's really encouraging to see an event in their fourth week and the number of people that are now recording their second and third parkruns and those that are coming back. It's really great. You haven't got that really big number of tourists hitting it. It's locals that are absorbing and joining the family.

00:21:48Leanne: Yeah, just seeing the same people for the second week, it's like, yay! And they're like, yes, I just beat my PB. So that's really good to see. I'm loving them coming back time and time again.

00:21:58Tony O'Connell: And your young fella out the front today, he recorded a time today. I believe he might have come first last week and forgotten the barcode.

00:22:04Leanne: He actually hadn't even registered. He'd just come down and didn't know anything about it. That's just his attitude, a young keen newbie, a nice little runner there, a young new one.

00:22:13Tony O'Connell: Yeah, I think he ran a pretty good time today and he wasn't even puffing when he went past me. It looked like it was a light training run.

00:22:19Leanne: I think he smiled the whole way and cheeky, cheeky lad.

00:22:23Tony O'Connell: It'll be interesting to see when he has a crack how fast he can get around it.

00:22:26Leanne: Yeah, it will be. Just need someone up just on his tail because he doesn't like to lose either.

00:22:30Tony O'Connell: Get someone to push him along a bit.

00:22:32Leanne: Yep, just get someone on his tail. All right, well, I've really enjoyed it. Thank you very much for having us up here today. No, it's been great to see you guys here, so thank you for coming. No worries, catch you later. Okay, bye.

Roving reports & the Channel 5 News crew

Roving report Mark Scarborough — Ginninderra

00:22:43Mark Scarborough: Good morning parkrun adventurers, this is Mark recording in for the Channel 5 News crew and today we have adventured not far from home. We're at Ginninderra parkrun here in Canberra and Ginninderra is actually the first parkrun in Canberra and today was event number 424. It's quite a big crowd here today it looks like but on average they have let me see 177.4 but I think there's going to be definitely more than that this week. So we're going to have a chat now to a few of the other parkrunners and see what they thought of Ginninderra. I'm here with Rosie and good morning Rosie, how are you?

00:23:19Rosie: I'm good thank you, just getting my breath back.

00:23:21Mark Scarborough: So how did you find Ginninderra parkrun?

00:23:23Rosie: It was beautiful, definitely the most picturesque one I've done so far. I've done ones near beaches but the lake was very nice and not too hilly.

00:23:31Mark Scarborough: Yeah no we've got some very good courses here in Canberra. So where are you from originally?

00:23:35Rosie: Berry on the south coast of New South Wales, just moved here like last week.

00:23:39Mark Scarborough: So where was your normal parkrun?

00:23:41Rosie: I normally did Shellharbour or Husky, and I'd have to drive about 45 minutes for those ones. So very early mornings on Saturdays, but definitely loving it here.

00:23:49Mark Scarborough: And what's brought you to Canberra?

00:23:50Rosie: Work, because I'm a physio. I work in paediatrics, so that's what's brought me here. New job. Just graduated from uni last year.

00:23:57Mark Scarborough: Oh, congratulations.

00:23:58Rosie: Thank you. New grad.

00:24:01Mark Scarborough: And have you touristed anywhere else around the New South Wales area?

00:24:04Rosie: In terms of parkrun or just, I've done one in Parramatta, but that's probably about it. Usually it's just the Shellharbour and Husky are one. And definitely a lot smaller. This is what, like 350 or 300 people? Those ones are usually like 70, so a lot less congested.

00:24:19Mark Scarborough: Yeah, no, well Ginninderra is the first parkrun in Canberra and it's pretty big. So yeah, big numbers today. So out of those three that you've just nominated, which would be your number one?

00:24:31Rosie: I don't know whether I should be loyal to home, or I think this is definitely the prettiest one. I'll say that. This is definitely the most picturesque one.

00:24:37Mark Scarborough: Well, there you go. Rosie calls it. Ginninderra prettier than Shellharbour. Very interesting.

00:24:42Rosie: I don't know if people from home will appreciate that. So, no, definitely like the ones from home, this is the prettiest.

00:24:47Mark Scarborough: Excellent. Well, we'll hopefully see you out and about in Canberra.

00:24:51Rosie: For sure. Definitely hoping to do a few more around Canberra, but probably this will be my mainstay.

00:24:55Mark Scarborough: Excellent. All right. Thanks for your time.

00:24:56Rosie: That's all right. Thank you. Nice to meet you.

00:24:59Mark Scarborough: All right, I'm here at the finish line with Amanda, who's just crossed. Good morning, Amanda. How are you?

00:25:03Amanda: Not too bad now that I've finished.

00:25:06Mark Scarborough: How did you find Ginninderra parkrun?

00:25:09Amanda: I enjoyed it. Yeah, it wasn't... The hills weren't as bad as I was expecting them to be. So, yeah, pretty good.

00:25:16Mark Scarborough: No, I felt that they talked it up a bit in the start, to be honest. Like, I'm from a bit of a course that has some proper hills, so it was a bit soft here.

00:25:23Amanda: It was, yeah. I've done a few back home in Newcastle and the hills are so much worse than that. Yeah, they definitely talked them up.

00:25:31Mark Scarborough: So which is your home, parkrun?

00:25:32Amanda: I'm technically new here but I go to Stockton quite a lot so yeah.

00:25:37Mark Scarborough: Is that on the beach?

00:25:38Amanda: Um you kind of not really you do run along the harbour though so you kind of do still like on the water but yeah the one at home that we've got on the beach is The Beaches so I've done that once before I don't like running on sand so probably never again.

00:25:54Mark Scarborough: And what brought you to Canberra?

00:25:56Amanda: We're just down here for a bit of a holiday, so yeah. I've done a few other parkruns around here before. This was my first time here, so I thought I'd try one that I hadn't done before.

00:26:06Mark Scarborough: And you get out and tourist a bit to other parkruns?

00:26:09Amanda: Yeah, I've done a few in Sydney, Wollongong, and a couple up north as well, so yeah.

00:26:16Mark Scarborough: I'm going to put you on the spot. You can't name your home parkrun, but what's your top three parkruns?

00:26:25Amanda: Probably, I enjoyed Gungahlin when I was here in Canberra for the first time. Probably Singleton and the Terrace.

00:26:36Mark Scarborough: Excellent, thank you for that. Now you're also wearing your Rundown Under top for Rundown Under parkrun Day. How are you tracking your trip around Australia?

00:26:45Amanda: I'm almost at Byron Bay, so I think I've only got about 5km left to get there, so hopefully get that done this weekend.

00:26:53Mark Scarborough: Go and do another 5km warm down now.

00:26:55Amanda: Yeah, definitely.

00:26:56Mark Scarborough: Alright, well thank you for your time and enjoy sightseeing in Canberra.

00:27:00Amanda: Always, thank you.

00:27:02Mark Scarborough: So I've found Phillip here who's Barcode Scanner today. Good morning, how are you?

00:27:06Philip: I'm good, thanks. How are you?

00:27:08Mark Scarborough: I'm good, thank you. Been coming to Ginninderra parkrun for a long time?

00:27:12Philip: Yeah, since 2013.

00:27:13Mark Scarborough: Oh, wow. So quite a long time then.

00:27:15Philip: Yes, that's right.

00:27:17Mark Scarborough: So that's probably, so it's what, eight years? That's around when it started?

00:27:21Philip: I think, yeah, it was eight years ago, but I think they'd been going for a year or so, almost a year or so. But yeah, just had to move to Canberra and tell my neighbour I needed to find an easy running group and meet some people in Canberra, and he said parkrun. And he brought me out that Saturday, and he took off like a jet, and I still haven't caught him yet.

00:27:41Mark Scarborough: And so you're volunteering as Barcode Scanner here. Do you do many of the different volunteer roles?

00:27:47Philip: Yeah, this is my first time scanning the barcodes. Usually I just marshal with my kids and we're out on the course cheering people on. And yeah, just a different perspective being at the finish line for so long.

00:27:59Mark Scarborough: And how have you found the barcode scanning in the new app?

00:28:02Philip: Yeah, I didn't know how it worked beforehand, but this app is brilliant. Just really easy and just point and shoot.

00:28:09Mark Scarborough: Yeah, it's pretty good. I think it's one of the big positives that's come out of COVID with the development work they've done in the background there. So well done to the parkrun team. Do you get out and visit many other parkruns around Canberra?

00:28:20Philip: Yeah, so still trying to get to all of them. But we've gone to Tuggeranong, Wagai Bridge. We've gone out to Yass as well, which is really nice. And yeah, just been talking with my fellow volunteers about going down to Queanbeyan next.

00:28:35Mark Scarborough: Yeah, they say there's got a little small hill there. You'll be all right.

00:28:37Philip: Yeah, that's right. Only half of it's uphill. The other half is downhill.

00:28:41Mark Scarborough: Yeah, but I think you've got to do it twice. That's all right. It all comes out in the wash. And you get a cue if you're chasing the alphabet too.

00:28:48Philip: Well, that's it. That's it. I get my cue and then I have to find a U place somewhere.

00:28:53Mark Scarborough: Ah, yeah, Urunga up near Coffs Harbour.

00:28:56Philip: Excellent. All right. Well, I'll have to plan the holiday next for that place.

00:29:00Mark Scarborough: All right. Thanks for your time, Philip.

00:29:01Philip: Thanks, Mark. Enjoy the day.

00:29:02Mark Scarborough: All right, parkrunners, that's us done here at Ginninderra parkrun for this time. We'll catch you next time on the parkrun adventurers.

The Informant

00:29:20Unidentified speaker: This is the informant. These are unofficial stats. They may differ from stats you read elsewhere. They are only current at the time they are collected, with a 100% chance of an error from time to time. There were no event launches worldwide again this week. However, we had a post-COVID record of 457 events worldwide, with a record 417 events running in Australia and New Zealand, the remainder taking place in Japan, Russia, and remote UK territories. Down under, we had 51,008 runners out of 52,172 worldwide. The PB records continue with 7,712 in Australia and New Zealand and 7,864 worldwide. 2,402 people in Australia and New Zealand participated for the first time. 208 reached their 50 milestone, 130 reached their 100 milestone and 22 people

00:30:11[14 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

00:30:25Unidentified speaker: reached their 250 milestone. We have 11 new statespeople this week. Teresa Tu claimed ACT staggers at Waggie Bridge. Northern Territory got two more, Jai Strugnell at Nightcliff and Chandra Gurung at Darwin. Tracey Kavanagh conquered South Australia at Narra Court Lake. In Tasmania, Neil Barnett claimed the full set at Kate Reed. In Victoria, we had Melissa Ellis, Michael and Susan Arnott at Louis Hamon Park. And finally, across the ditch. David, Jenny and Edward Drummond claimed North Islander and Altair Rowan at Trentham Memorial. Over on our Most Aussie New Zealand Events list, the biggest movers of the week were Philip Caldwell, Emily Steele, Narelle McInnes and Jane Colvin, who each jumped nine spots. In the top 20, it was very quiet. Kathleen Wallington now claims 13th spot as her own after running at Brimbank, giving her 137 different events. That drops Neil Schultz and Tony Jennings down one spot to 14th. Biggest Wilson mover of the week is Andrew Walbank, who increased his index from 3 to 15. Kate Lewton, Sue Brown, Mark Hibbard all deserve a mention, moving 10 index points each. Kate and Sue both went from 8 to 18. Mark, from 3 to 13. Now I'm very excited to say I've received another challenge this week. Mildly recognisable parkrunner Brendan Peel asked, with a twinkle in his eye, which state has the most Cowell Club members? For those unaware, the Cowell Club is named after Chris and Linda Cowell, the first parkrunners to complete 100 different events. I'm pretty sure Brendan would have had his own thoughts on which state might head this list, and that is why he will be most excited to find out that Victoria is not on the bottom. That is again New Zealand with one. They're content down there. Let's not talk about T20 cricket. Okay, it's actually not New Zealand on the bottom. It's Tasmania, ACT and Northern Territory who all have none. Donuts are plenty. Above that lot we have South Australia and Western Australia both on two. New South Wales is third on the list with 20. And that leaves Victoria and Queensland. Brendan, I know you're so excited you've just wet yourself, which is why I'm sorry to say that Victoria has not won. Outright. Queensland and Victoria are level with 31 each. Oh, who doesn't love a nail-biter? This has been The Informant, and my spreadsheet is bigger than yours.

00:33:12Melissa Ellis: Another great batch of roving reports. Lovely to hear from Sir TOC and Marvellous Mark, who was coming to us from Ginninderra parkrun. And, Ollie, there were some familiar Shellharbour voices.

00:33:27Oliver Spake: Yeah, always nice to get a mention here and there. Shellharbour doesn't get mentioned all that much on the pods. But clearly Rosie presenting the balanced view. So I have to admit from the visit to Ginninderra, it is a pretty special parkrun too. And, yeah, nice to hear one of the familiar names popping up.

00:33:47Melissa Ellis: You weren't a little bit disappointed that Shellharbour did not get mentioned in that top three? No.

00:33:55Oliver Spake: No, no. Look, parkrun tourism is all about opinions and different experiences, right? So I think it's good to get those different views. If everyone thought the same thing, it would be boring.

00:34:09Melissa Ellis: I actually have run at Ginninderra. I had a very memorable Easter family holiday there a few years ago and I rate it really highly as a very picturesque event. And I told people and I do continue to tell people how lovely it is at Ginninderra.

00:34:27Oliver Spake: Oh, look, I think were I a little more regular in my travels, I'd definitely be planning a trip back to Ginninderra. I'd love to see what they've done with the course, obviously. It's been several years since I've been there, but, yeah, it was just gorgeous around the lake there. I'd have to get back there sometime.

00:34:47Melissa Ellis: And we had the informant, Ollie. He has come back with some stats for us regarding the amount of Cowell Club members per state.

00:34:57Oliver Spake: Yeah, that actually surprised me. I mean, I shouldn't be surprised. We've got some pretty intrepid travellers out there in two states in particular. But yeah, it's neck and neck, isn't it? Tie game.

00:35:09Melissa Ellis: It is Queensland and Victoria, both on 31 for Cowell Club members. Quite a difference between New South Wales and the other states.

00:35:21Oliver Spake: Yeah, well, what does that say?

00:35:24Melissa Ellis: New South Wales doesn't try hard enough.

00:35:27Oliver Spake: Maybe we just stick to our parkruns that we love a little too much.

00:35:32Melissa Ellis: Wow. I'm not going there.

00:35:37Oliver Spake: No, no, I should have thought about engaging in that particular conversation.

00:35:42Melissa Ellis: Let's just say Queensland and Victoria are superior.

00:35:45Oliver Spake: On this particular tally, hands down, they are, yes. We've got some ground to make up and one day I'll be in the stat.

00:35:53Melissa Ellis: Pull your socks up, New South Wales.

00:35:56Oliver Spake: Just get the informant to cycle back around in a year or two. Maybe I can help boost the numbers. We do have something else that's rather exciting, Mel. I think it certainly is a lot of parkrunners would have noticed watching north from where we are, some exciting news.

00:36:11Melissa Ellis: Are you talking about the UK roadmap, Ollie? Yes.

00:36:15Oliver Spake: Yes. Isn't it good? Isn't it exciting?

00:36:18Melissa Ellis: We're so happy for our UK friends. We are so happy you have got some dates.

00:36:24Oliver Spake: And I mean, those months, they sound a little far away. I mean, we'll have to list them, but I'm sure many of the parkrunners know they sound far away, but they're going to be here before we know it.

00:36:35Melissa Ellis: They will. So we've got Junior parkrun in the UK returning on the 11th of April. That is not far away. That is what, six weeks away?

00:36:44Oliver Spake: Less. Yeah. I mean, that's, no, doing my maths. Yeah, close to six weeks, five and a half. Depends when the pod comes out, but yes.

00:36:53Melissa Ellis: Very exciting. And so Eynesbury Heritage Trail Junior parkrun, we've got a sister parkrun over in the UK. Did you know that, Ollie? Oh.

00:37:02Oliver Spake: Oh, now I would be lying if I could remember which one it was. I remember you mentioning it at one stage.

00:37:08Melissa Ellis: I don't think I have, so I don't think you know.

00:37:12Oliver Spake: Gee, I'm making things up, am I? Sorry, Mel.

00:37:16Melissa Ellis: Who is it? It's Town Moor Junior parkrun. Okay. You're going to ask me how. I've got that affiliation, aren't you?

00:37:24Oliver Spake: Yes, absolutely.

00:37:26Melissa Ellis: I've got a couple of friends that live in the UK and one of them, Dan Buckley, is involved in Town Moor Junior parkrun. So, yes, we've got a little bit of communication going and we have adopted them as our UK sister parkrun.

00:37:42Oliver Spake: Oh, that's fantastic. And so for any listeners not too familiar with the location of Town Moor.

00:37:49Melissa Ellis: Don't ask me that. No.

00:37:51Oliver Spake: That's right. I've looked it up now. I'm Googling it now. I've looked it up. It's in Newcastle.

00:37:56Melissa Ellis: Thank you.

00:37:57Oliver Spake: Newcastle in the northeast.

00:37:59Melissa Ellis: So hi to Dan and Rachel because I know they listen. So we are thinking of you guys and we're so excited that you've got a date for Junior parkrun to come back and we can't wait to give you a big shout out and see your juniors come back out of lockdown.

00:38:16Oliver Spake: Great to see the kids get the opportunity. Obviously that's moving through the government's different phases of return and, again, I will admit I've listened to a few parkrun podcasts this week and it's been great to hear some of the coverage, Mel. Yeah, actually catching up for a change.

00:38:36Melissa Ellis: I'm so proud.

00:38:37Oliver Spake: Yeah, the news got me buzzing. So it was good to hear. And obviously to hear some of the reasons, some of the rationale around the approach as well.

00:38:46Melissa Ellis: Yeah, so the Junior parkrun in the UK is coming back, but only four to 10-year-olds are coming back. And the reason behind that, from what we understood listening to Tom Williams... is that there is a concern because there is a lot of the probably older juniors that are also registered with the 5K parkruns and that regularly run the 5K parkruns that may not necessarily usually run at juniors but with the 5K parkruns not being back yet may take the opportunity to go to juniors and then the juniors amount of runners will increase significantly. So potentially junior parkrun numbers may double.

00:39:35Oliver Spake: And to the detriment of the littlies, yeah.

00:39:37Melissa Ellis: Yeah, and then overrun the littlies because there's a big difference between a four-year-old and a 14-year-old, of course. And the 14-year-olds, they can run really fast. Yeah.

00:39:47Oliver Spake: Yes, yes.

00:39:48Melissa Ellis: Yeah, and power to them. Like that's fabulous that they can, but we have to protect the smaller children. So with the safeguarding aspects, the decision was made by parkrun to take that into consideration and to put their safeguarding as paramount. So, yeah.

00:40:08Unidentified speaker: Yeah.

00:40:09Melissa Ellis: And well done to parkrun for always looking out for the best, how would you say it, Ollie? Yeah.

00:40:16Oliver Spake: Well, the best interests of the parkrun community. I mean, we've seen in Australia that re-establishing and relaunching so many parkruns, and that's not fair. It's more than just Australia. It's New Zealand. It's obviously more events abroad. And there are so many different considerations. There's the... the locations, the communities we're operating in. There's the councils. We've still got parkruns in Australia, clearly, that still have to work on those relations with the local landowners or councils or otherwise, and for many justifiable reasons in many cases. But there are obviously many, many layers. So to echo that, Mel, well done to parkrun and to everyone involved maybe a bit in advance for all of that effort which you know clearly has been done in the interests of many people that have been looking forward to their parkrun coming back

00:41:10Melissa Ellis: Yes, we cross our fingers that the UK can look forward to that date of the 11th of April for juniors. Obviously, this is all dependent on everything going to plan. That's right. And they've got a date for 5K parkrun too, Ollie. That is the 5th of June. Again, everything going to plan. That is the date that they will come back. So, woohoo, we're very happy to hear that for our friends in the UK.

00:41:37Oliver Spake: Absolutely over the moon. Looking forward to that date. It's in the calendar already. And cheers clearly to Free Weekly Timed and With Me Now and everyone else across the UK parkrun community for keeping everyone spirits up, not parkrunning, looking after one another. And I bet it's going to be quite a celebration, hopefully along this framework, but no matter when, when it comes back.

00:42:02Melissa Ellis: yes and hopefully in the future international travel can reopen Ollie because I want to get over there I want some of that UK parkrun love I want to get to some of those events I want to go to bushy I want to go to Fountains Abbey I want to go to Bere Island and Severn Bridge what's on your list

00:42:23Oliver Spake: Oh, look, they're all fantastic, aren't they? Look, it's going to be massive quite literally, but I'd love to get to Southampton. You know, that's where my dad's side of the family are all from. And the chance to run around the course there would be fantastic. So that'd probably be my first stop off.

00:42:40Melissa Ellis: Okay. Lock it in, Ollie.

00:42:44Oliver Spake: Look, got to watch my words, as I said earlier. So I'll be there when I can, that's for sure.

00:42:50Melissa Ellis: Now, Ollie, we've got something exciting today.

00:42:53Oliver Spake: We do. And look, I'm just going to note my cheer squad's gone. I had the frogs and the cicadas in the background, one and or other. They've all abandoned me, Mel.

00:42:56[other]

00:43:02Melissa Ellis: What happened to them? I was enjoying them. You killed them.

00:43:06Oliver Spake: Yeah, maybe during the roving reports I did get a bit stern with them, but I'll have no support because I'm clearly going to need it for a bit of March Madness.

00:43:14[16 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

March Madness — Oliver Spake

00:43:30Oliver Spake: So as we said, this week we've all been looking forward to the new month and a special return of March Madness.

Interview Simon Mackley — The Quizmaster (guest quiz host for March Madness)

00:43:39Oliver Spake: So we're joined this week by the Quizmaster himself, Mr. Simon Mackley. Welcome, Quizmaster.

00:43:46Simon Mackley: Thanks, Ollie and Mel. It's great to be back. So... I've got nine questions for you. How are you feeling?

00:43:53Melissa Ellis: I'm feeling really good. I'm a little bit nervous. And Simon, can I ask you, can we phone a friend?

00:44:01Simon Mackley: Sure. That's a great idea. What I should point out, listeners, as well, is that when Mel lost last time, she lost to me.

00:44:12Melissa Ellis: It's all coming back to me. Oh, you mean Mel is in me.

00:44:14Oliver Spake: You.

00:44:15Unidentified speaker: Damn it.

00:44:18Oliver Spake: All coming back to me. Yes, yes. I was reminded that Mel was the original champion of madness.

00:44:25Melissa Ellis: Yeah, that's all we were going to elaborate on. We weren't going for who Mel lost to. Mel didn't even remember that bit.

00:44:34Simon Mackley: God, I remember who I lost to. It was Brendan Peel.

00:44:37Oliver Spake: Brendan did certainly carry that for a while, didn't he?

00:44:40Simon Mackley: He was the holder of many pineapples. Not something I'm sure I want to hold for that long or that many, but yes. It was a golden pineapple and you both have seen it.

00:44:52Melissa Ellis: And can we just say that at the next Palm event...

00:44:56Simon Mackley: We may have a new trophy that we will keep secret. Sounds intriguing. Are we ready to go?

00:45:04Melissa Ellis: Yes.

00:45:05Oliver Spake: Oh, look, tear the Band-Aid off, guys.

00:45:09Melissa Ellis: Do you want to hear our buzzers first?

00:45:11Simon Mackley: Oh, yes, please. Go, Mel.

00:45:13[other]

00:45:13Melissa Ellis: Here's mine.

00:45:14Oliver Spake: Nice. Ollie? Let me just warm mine up.

00:45:22[other]

00:45:22Melissa Ellis: Why do I feel like you should have had an air horn or something, Ollie?

00:45:26Oliver Spake: I'll use a bit more gusto when it's the real thing. Trust me.

00:45:29Simon Mackley: Okay. Excellent. Let's kick into it. Name a parkrun anywhere in the world that starts with palm. Mel? Palmerston? Perfect. She's on the board. The only other one in the world is Palmerston North in New Zealand. Oh, exactly. I knew I was going to get it early. New Zealand, Ollie. You should have got that.

00:45:56Oliver Spake: My heart is already broken.

00:46:00Simon Mackley: Okay. Question number two. Are there more Zoes or Hannahs who've run at parkrun? Yes, Ollie.

00:46:12Oliver Spake: I'm going to go with Hannahs.

00:46:14Simon Mackley: You are correct. And it's not as many as you think as well. So there's 2,071 Hannah's and there's 1,382 Zoe's. Okay. That's a big difference.

00:46:28Melissa Ellis: It's a big difference, but it's still, there's only 700 between them.

00:46:31Simon Mackley: Yeah.

00:46:32Melissa Ellis: Well done team Hannah.

00:46:34Simon Mackley: Like I would have expected Zoe to be lower just because it's a Z. Anyway, moving on. So you're both on one each. Okay. Okay. The next question is a who am I? So the first person to jump in will have to answer it, and if they don't get it, I'll keep on going until the other person jumps in. Who am I? I heard about parkrun first on Marathon Talk. My parkrun journey started at Barry Curtis parkrun, and I've now run in four different countries. My athlete ID is 2147564. And it's been scanned over 160 times. I've volunteered on 94 occasions and I've run at 58 different locations. I am the Event Director at Porringa parkrun. I am. Whoa. I think I heard Mel first.

00:47:33Melissa Ellis: Oh, are you sure? Is it Alison King?

00:47:39Simon Mackley: It's Alison King. Yay.

00:47:43Oliver Spake: Well done, Mel. We really should have picked that one up earlier.

00:47:47Simon Mackley: There was a lot of hard stuff in there and I thought, how quickly can you look up that athlete ID?

00:47:54Oliver Spake: Oh, that's a good idea.

00:47:55Simon Mackley: I wish I'd thought of that. Don't worry, there's no more questions like that one. Okay. How many parkruns are there in Australia? Mel?

00:48:11Melissa Ellis: Can I phone a friend? Sure. Who do you want to phone? I want to phone the informant.

00:48:19Oliver Spake: Oh, what? No. Hang on. If you phone the informant, who can I phone?

00:48:25Melissa Ellis: That's not my problem, Ollie.

00:48:28Oliver Spake: Okay. All right. I'll have to find another friend. Okay. No worries.

00:48:32[14 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

00:48:46Unidentified speaker: This is the informant.

00:48:48Melissa Ellis: Hello informant, it's Mel here. I've got a question for you. How many parkruns are there in Australia?

00:48:55Unidentified speaker: Hmm, yes. That's an easy one.

00:49:01Melissa Ellis: 387. 387.

00:49:02Unidentified speaker: Yes, plus the nine prison runs. Exclusive entry list, but a valid parkrun nonetheless.

00:49:09Melissa Ellis: So 396?

00:49:09Unidentified speaker: Yes, 396. But the six disbanded events, you should probably remove them.

00:49:17Melissa Ellis: So 390?

00:49:18Unidentified speaker: Absolutely, 390. Plus the five junior events.

00:49:23Melissa Ellis: Okay, so I'm locking in 395.

00:49:26Unidentified speaker: Yes, 395. Wait, I forgot Tasmania. Good Lord, they get angry down there when you leave them off the map. Add another 17 for Tasmania.

00:49:38Melissa Ellis: Ah, that's 412.

00:49:39Unidentified speaker: Of course it's 412.

00:49:41Melissa Ellis: Thanks, informant.

00:49:43Unidentified speaker: Anytime. This has been the informant, and my spreadsheet is bigger than yours.

00:49:54Simon Mackley: Well, I'm certainly not going to disagree with the informant. He does have the biggest spreadsheet.

00:50:00Melissa Ellis: Yay!

00:50:01Simon Mackley: Okay, so that's another one to Mel. So it's 3-1 to Mel at the moment. That's smart, doesn't it? Okay, ready for the next one?

00:50:10Oliver Spake: Ready, ready.

00:50:11Simon Mackley: In 2004, the average finish time at parkrun was 24 minutes and 6 seconds. In 2020, what was the average finish time? And this is multiple choice. Was it 3202, 3303, 3404 or 3505? Ollie? I'm going to go with it was 3303.

00:50:29[12 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

00:50:42Simon Mackley: It was 3303. What?

00:50:46Melissa Ellis: You guessed that.

00:50:48Oliver Spake: He definitely guessed that. I was originally thinking closer to 35, but there were, yep, no, had to go with the hunch.

00:50:57Simon Mackley: Well done.

00:50:58Oliver Spake: So yes, guessed it, totally.

00:51:00Simon Mackley: You did guess it. Okay. All right. So the next question is going to be really hard. So I'm going to take the closest answer. I'll let you both answer so you don't need to jump in. Okay. What is the average step count to complete a parkrun? Mel, you can go first.

00:51:22Unidentified speaker: Oh.

00:51:27Melissa Ellis: Okay. I'm going to say 7,700 steps. 7,700. Okay. And what do you reckon, Ollie?

00:51:32Simon Mackley: For the average. Yeah. So...

00:51:41Oliver Spake: We're looking at average. We're looking at average parkrunners. So the time being around the middle there, I'm going to go with 5,500. Oh, God.

00:51:54Simon Mackley: Okay. So the closest to it. I didn't think this one through. The closest is actually Ollie. It's 6,561. And what that means is we're actually tied on three all.

00:52:12Unidentified speaker: Wow.

00:52:13Simon Mackley: Okay. Next question. Which is the closest parkrun to the equator?

00:52:23Oliver Spake: Ollie. Well, if it's all right, Mr. Quizmaster, I'm going to phone a friend too. Perfect. Who are you going to phone? I had to think about this one since Mel took the informant. So you know what, Mel? I do need a bit of help. So I'm going to call the Oracle.

00:52:44Melissa Ellis: What? What? Who's the Oracle? What? You haven't run this past me.

00:52:49Oliver Spake: Who is the Oracle? The Oracle knows everything. So I'm sure be safe with the Oracle. So I'm going to entrust my answer completely to the Oracle.

00:52:58[14 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

The Oracle

00:53:12Unidentified speaker: This is the oracle. I sense much fear in you, Olly. Teach you, I will. Much to learn, there is. Knock out South America, we can. Knock out Africa, we can. Left, is Asia. Close is Malaysia, but correct it is not. Crossing just below Singapore, it does. Bishan and Bedok Reservoir, in the map, both too high. West Coast, East Coast, left they are. 50-50 this is not. East Coast, is the answer you are looking for. Learn well, you have. Knowledge is power. This has been the Oracle.

00:54:15Simon Mackley: Fantastic. The Oracle definitely got it right with East Coast parkrun in Singapore.

00:54:21Oliver Spake: So, Ollie, you're up 4-3 now.

00:54:23Simon Mackley: Oh, what?

00:54:27Oliver Spake: I knew I could count on an Oracle there.

00:54:31Simon Mackley: Okay, so next question, and we've only got two to go. The next question is the Australian parkrun with the longest name is how many letters long? It's multiple choice. So I'll give you, you're going to get one of the answers. Okay. Is it 35? Is it 42? Is it 44 or 47? Okay.

00:55:03Melissa Ellis: Mel? I'm just going to guess at 47. Incorrect.

00:55:13Oliver Spake: I'll do that just because I want to use my buzzer. I am convinced I'm wrong, but I'm going with 35.

00:55:23Simon Mackley: Incorrect. There's only two left. Do you want to have another crack?

00:55:30Oliver Spake: So it was 35. 35.

00:55:32Simon Mackley: 42, 44 or 47.

00:55:38Melissa Ellis: Do I get the next turn?

00:55:40Simon Mackley: Whoever buzzes in. Go, Mel. That's a yes.

00:55:45Oliver Spake: Okay, 42.

00:55:47Simon Mackley: Incorrect.

00:55:51Oliver Spake: It's a Stephen Bradbury moment.

00:55:54Simon Mackley: It is a Stephen Bradbury. Last man standing. So what is it, Olly? He's forgotten. I forgot what Mel said.

00:56:07Oliver Spake: Oh, dear.

00:56:08Simon Mackley: Can I go again?

00:56:11Oliver Spake: Do I still get the chance to answer or is that gone?

00:56:14Simon Mackley: No, I think you get the chance to answer if you can remember the number.

00:56:18Oliver Spake: I can't remember the number, but I'm going to go with 44.

00:56:21Simon Mackley: It was 44. Okay. Now, I'm going to throw a special one in here. Yes. First one to buzz in. Do you actually know what it's called?

00:56:32Melissa Ellis: What?

00:56:34Simon Mackley: What's the name of the parkrun that has 44 letters? Oh.

00:56:41Melissa Ellis: Oh, Glasshouse Conservation. Glasshouse Mountain.

00:56:46Oliver Spake: Yeah, buzz it.

00:56:47Melissa Ellis: Glasshouse Mountain Conservation parkrun.

00:56:52Simon Mackley: Incorrect. That's actually the second longest at 42 letters. Oh. Oh. Do you want to have a crack, Ollie?

00:57:01Oliver Spake: It's killing me. No, I'm stumped.

00:57:08Simon Mackley: Okay. Mel, you're going to kick yourself. Grand Ridge Rail Trail parkrun. Of course. Yep. All righty. This is the last question. And for a score check, Mel, you're on three and Ollie's on five.

00:57:27Melissa Ellis: Oh, I can't win.

00:57:30Simon Mackley: What if I made it a two-pointer? Oh, no, then I'd have to have another question, which I don't have.

00:57:39Oliver Spake: Winner takes all, huh?

00:57:41Simon Mackley: Actually, no, I do have another question. So let's make it two.

00:57:45Oliver Spake: All right.

00:57:45Simon Mackley: And I can throw another question there. All righty. So I recently completed my 50th different parkrun or cow at Cow Pasture Reserve in Camden. There's two other parkruns in New South Wales with cow-related names. Just name one of them for me.

00:58:03Melissa Ellis: Oh, cow-related names.

00:58:10Simon Mackley: Ollie. Is Pioneer Dairy one of those? It is definitely one of them. Well done, Ollie. And Mel, the other one, and I know because it was a New South Wales question, you were at a little disadvantage. The other one was Cowra.

00:58:26Melissa Ellis: Oh, yes. Well done, Ollie. I stuffed that up, didn't I?

00:58:32Simon Mackley: Sorry, Mel.

00:58:33Melissa Ellis: Well done.

00:58:35Simon Mackley: You walked away with it.

00:58:36Melissa Ellis: You beat me, Ollie.

00:58:37Simon Mackley: Yay, Ollie. Somehow skated in there. Definitely Stephen Bradbury'd in there.

00:58:42Oliver Spake: Yes, well and truly.

00:58:44Melissa Ellis: Fabulous.

00:58:46Oliver Spake: Thank you, Quizmaster. Thank you, Mel. I didn't think that was possible.

00:58:52Melissa Ellis: You've got the trophy now. Hey, I'm just a little bit in awe of the Oracle, a new identity in our podcast that we haven't heard from before. Fabulous.

00:59:06Oliver Spake: We didn't see that one coming, but it's, yeah, it's always nice to have a bit of extra parkrun wisdom around. So hopefully we'll hear a bit more.

00:59:14Melissa Ellis: Yeah, I hope we get to hear from the Oracle again.

00:59:17Simon Mackley: I guess we'll find out whose spreadsheet is bigger. Yeah.

00:59:22Melissa Ellis: And thank you, Simon. Thank you very much for coming on and hosting the quiz for us.

00:59:28Simon Mackley: My pleasure. Thanks for playing along and inviting me on.

00:59:32Melissa Ellis: No worries. We look forward to catching up with you again at Palm. I assume you're going to be there.

00:59:38Simon Mackley: It's up in the air at the moment. Oh, no, really? I might have a clash with my wife's 40th birthday.

00:59:46Melissa Ellis: Oh, no. We didn't check the calendar.

00:59:49Oliver Spake: That is a pretty significant clash.

00:59:51Melissa Ellis: Yes.

00:59:52Oliver Spake: Yeah. Yeah, that is pretty important.

00:59:55Simon Mackley: It is. So I've written questions and I will be passing them on to somebody to do it on my behalf. And I've got someone in mind. I'm yet to ask them, though.

01:00:06Melissa Ellis: Oh, make it the informant.

01:00:11Simon Mackley: That'll out the informant, that's for sure.

01:00:15Melissa Ellis: He can wear a disguise. He'll be fine. Nobody will know.

01:00:18Oliver Spake: Yeah, we've totally got that covered. We're taking a curtain.

01:00:21Unidentified speaker: Okay. Yes.

01:00:26Melissa Ellis: I can see it being like this circular. You know when you go camping and they have those like curtains that go around a toilet?

01:00:36Unidentified speaker: Oh, yeah.

01:00:37Melissa Ellis: And people sit down with their like curtain toilet. Nobody can see them.

01:00:42Oliver Spake: Absolutely foolproof.

01:00:47Melissa Ellis: Oh, dear. But it might not be the informant. So, Simon, you choose whoever you want. I will.

01:00:56Oliver Spake: We certainly will miss you there, Simon. But anyway, how have you been going? Have you got any other exciting adventures coming up? Now you've got the cow.

01:01:06Simon Mackley: I haven't got anything planned. I do have a long list of places that I need to go to. So I'm three away from finishing my Rayfarer in Sydney. And I'm slowly getting through my alphabet.

01:01:20Oliver Spake: But, yeah, I have a few things in mind. Excellent. So the Rayfarer, which three events are left?

01:01:26Simon Mackley: Casula, Chipping Norton and Panania.

01:01:31Melissa Ellis: Have you got your Pirate Club?

01:01:33Simon Mackley: Oh, well and truly.

01:01:34Melissa Ellis: Oh, yeah, okay. Just because you noted a couple of Cs there.

01:01:39Simon Mackley: Oh, okay. Yeah, no, you'd be testing me to remind me what my Cs were. But what have I got? Cronulla, Cowra, Curl Curl.

01:01:49Oliver Spake: Oh, gosh. Campbelltown, obviously.

01:01:54Simon Mackley: I have got Campbelltown. Chelsea Bicentennial.

01:02:00Melissa Ellis: Oh, in Victoria.

01:02:02Simon Mackley: Oh, gosh. You've put me on the spot. I can't think.

01:02:05Melissa Ellis: No, that's okay. Okay.

01:02:07Oliver Spake: There's next madness on the pod for us, Mel. We can quiz the quiz master on his own staff.

01:02:13Melissa Ellis: Hey, Simon, any chance you'll get to Main Beach for their 10th anniversary?

01:02:18Simon Mackley: No.

01:02:19Melissa Ellis: Oh, poo.

01:02:21Simon Mackley: Sorry.

01:02:22Melissa Ellis: That's okay.

01:02:23Simon Mackley: That's April, right?

01:02:24Melissa Ellis: I believe so. But nevertheless, we really appreciate you coming along and we've loved catching up with you tonight and thank you for hosting the quiz for us. Thank you. March Madness lives again.

01:02:38Oliver Spake: Yes, it's good to have it back. Thank you very much. I don't know how that was possible, but big thank you. My pleasure.

01:02:47Melissa Ellis: The reigning champion, Ollie Spake.

01:02:49Oliver Spake: There we go. Well, Quizmaster, Simon, take care. We hope to speak to you soon again. Thank you. Talk to you later.

01:03:07Melissa Ellis: That was fun, Ollie, and thank you very much, Simon. We had a ball doing March Madness again. Congratulations, Ollie. You beat me.

01:03:17Oliver Spake: Who would have thought, huh?

01:03:18Melissa Ellis: I know, right?

01:03:21Oliver Spake: Yes, it was a lot of fun. Well done, Mel. You certainly had me sweating there that I was going to stumble even though I got ahead there. So I don't think I could repeat that.

Emails

01:03:33Melissa Ellis: But, Ollie.

01:03:34Oliver Spake: You've got mail.

01:03:36Melissa Ellis: Yes, we have got mail.

01:03:39Oliver Spake: It's been fantastic to hear from a few more of the listeners. But we got this lovely email from Leanne. So thank you, Leanne. Mel, I'll read it out if that's all right.

01:03:49Melissa Ellis: Please do.

01:03:51Oliver Spake: And if that's all right with you, Leanne, hopefully. But she says, hi, athletes. Long-time listener, first-time communicator, just a quick one to say thanks for the entertainment. I fluted today and was running past or through South Bank today, listening to you guys when you covered it. I'm in Brisbane for a quick visit, back to world record holding home run Parramatta this week. Always love the coverage of the runs and end up adding them to my to-do list. I appreciate and thank you for the work you do. which is lovely. Thank you. I too have been adding them all to my to-do list as we go. So yeah, I'm clearly going a long way backwards in progressing through that, but great to hear from a listener once again.

01:04:36Melissa Ellis: Yes, thank you, Leanne. Thank you for taking the time to write to us. And we're glad that you were running through Southbank when you were able to hear Lyndell doing her roving report from the same place.

01:04:53Oliver Spake: Yes.

01:04:54Melissa Ellis: And, Ollie, anybody who does want to reach out to us, did you already say this?

01:04:59Oliver Spake: I did not. Anybody that does want to reach out to us can email us. I mean, you can message us on Facebook too if you like, but our email address, as always, parkrunadventurers at gmail.com.

Sign-off

01:05:14Melissa Ellis: Thank you. We've had a very full episode this week.

01:05:19Oliver Spake: Yeah, look, I'm spent. It's late. I'm absolutely spent.

01:05:24Melissa Ellis: Do you have something you have to remind me, Ollie? No.

01:05:28Oliver Spake: Oh, hang on. Let me check my, yes. Don't forget to bring the budgies in. Thank you. This system could work. You remind me to remind you. I think I can manage with that.

01:05:41Melissa Ellis: One job.

01:05:42Oliver Spake: One job.

01:05:43Melissa Ellis: Well, why don't we leave it there for this week and we can catch up and find out what we've done for a brand new week of adventures next week.

01:05:56Oliver Spake: Yes.

01:05:57Melissa Ellis: Thanks, Mel.

01:05:58Oliver Spake: Thanks, everyone.

01:05:59Melissa Ellis: See you next week. Bye.

01:06:55Unidentified speaker: Oh