Episode 246 - Faster, Higher, Stronger, within reason

Welcome

00:00:23Oliver Spake: Welcome to episode 246 of the parkrun adventurers podcast. I'm Ollie Spake and I'm joined by the gold medalist in the event of artistic not parkrun themes, Melissa Ellis.

00:00:37Melissa Ellis: Hello, how are you?

00:00:39Oliver Spake: I'm well, thank you, Mel. I'm applauding your efforts once again.

00:00:43Melissa Ellis: Oh, you're too kind. You're too kind. It was thrown together last minute themes again this week.

00:00:49Oliver Spake: Sometimes the last minute preparation pulls it off. I mean, it's all about how you perform on the day, right?

00:00:54Melissa Ellis: Yeah, clearly last minute works for me.

00:00:57Oliver Spake: Yeah. Look, how was it? How was not parkrun day?

00:01:01Melissa Ellis: It was really good, actually. It culminated with a lot of green and gold and four tourists visiting Ellis Palace parkrun. Two were return tourists, so they were coming back for their second go, and two first-timers.

00:01:19Oliver Spake: Well, that's exciting. And how did you deal with the crowd situation? I mean, coming from where I am right now, that sounds rather foreign.

00:01:26Melissa Ellis: We're allowed to meet in groups of 10 now.

00:01:30Oliver Spake: Yeah, we should probably give the listeners a bit of lockdown context update, shouldn't we?

00:01:35Melissa Ellis: Yeah, yeah. We've had an easing of restrictions in Victoria. We were allowed to meet outdoors in groups of 10. So I had four visitors plus myself, which was five. They weren't allowed to come inside my house, so there was no indoor brunch this week at my place. We booked a local cafe and, yeah, we just walked up the road afterwards to have brunch at Jolly Miller's.

00:01:58Oliver Spake: Very nice. Yes.

00:01:59Melissa Ellis: So that all worked really well. Yeah, no, it was very enjoyable. And I did have comments to say it felt very much like a parkrun morning. And everybody came dressed in the Olympic themes. Everybody got into the spirit, which was really good. Everybody signed the selfie frame. That's what I get everybody to do that visits.

00:02:17Oliver Spake: Excellent.

00:02:17Melissa Ellis: They signed the back of my selfie frame. Yeah, it was a fun morning and enjoyed it very much and brought a cupcake home for Zoe.

00:02:25Oliver Spake: Oh, excellent. I mean... I'm still sort of balancing the lack of preparation time. You booked a cafe. That was impressive.

00:02:34Melissa Ellis: Yes, yes, I did. So I spent Friday, I had Friday off, not working at the moment due to the lockdown. I haven't resumed work on site and I can't work from home in my current job. So I've had some extra time and I'd finished editing the pod. So I had Friday off and that was my plan to spend Friday out at the shops sourcing all my props for the theme. Yeah, so I don't know whether or not people saw Dazza's photo this week for the Cafe Post, but I had some banners and some green and gold balloons and streamers, and I just wore green and yellow. I found some yellow sweatbands.

00:03:12Oliver Spake: Yeah, I've seen some of the Australian Olympic outfits and certainly over the years, it has been a bit more yellow than green. So I think you've come across as quite authentic, Mel.

00:03:20Melissa Ellis: I'm just disappointed. Dazza doesn't attract more street attention in the estate. I would have thought through all this lockdown, he might have become a bit of a point of interest for passing traffic, but he's just gone unnoticed. He doesn't attract any street interest, sadly.

00:03:39Oliver Spake: It's a shame they don't realise what a mean dirty chai he whips up.

00:03:44Melissa Ellis: Exactly. His talents are unrecognised.

00:03:47Oliver Spake: And the debutants, how did they enjoy the course?

00:03:49Melissa Ellis: I don't know. Everybody seemed quite happy.

00:03:53Oliver Spake: Brunch was so good, yeah.

00:03:55Melissa Ellis: Oh, no, so we did have one comment. So one of the visitors was Jeff. Yep. He's an event ambassador in the Geelong area. Yes. And he commented that he'd done Bushy parkrun and now that he's done Ellis Palace, he's got the worldwide double.

00:04:10Oliver Spake: High praise.

00:04:11Melissa Ellis: Yeah, well.

00:04:12Oliver Spake: Clearly held in high regard. Whilst I feel like I'm missing out in that respect, I guess the combination of circumstances means Ellis Palace really isn't going to be possible on a (not)parkrun day morning. Hopefully one day I'll get to do the Ellis Palace course.

00:04:27Melissa Ellis: You could do a Freedom Run if you're ever in the area.

00:04:30Oliver Spake: That's right.

00:04:30Melissa Ellis: But anyway, I was trying to stir up a little bit of Ellis Palace versus Bass Point parkrun competition with my cafe post this week. So I had an attendance record of five. Can you beat that?

00:04:44Oliver Spake: Possibly not. Firstly, my lockdown context. At this time of recording, Shellharbour remains part of Greater Sydney. We, in fact, are the southernmost suburb in the Greater Sydney area. So what that means for me is I can have my household join me. Can being the operative word. Did, did not.

00:05:03Melissa Ellis: Oh.

00:05:05Oliver Spake: Yeah, look, we did have, I think, a few scheduling challenges due to Olympic events, not necessarily the Tokyo ones. It was more so the other events. And I think some of the athletes were wanting to keep themselves primed for that. So, yeah, Bass Point, not parkrun's attendance did suffer as a result to the extent that I technically only did about two Ks of the course myself. I think I called myself adaptable last week. Let's go with that theme again. Yeah. Yeah, I got out for a run, but it was in the other direction.

00:05:36Melissa Ellis: Right.

00:05:37Oliver Spake: Yeah, I wasn't necessarily running from lockdown, but I got really as far as I feasibly could without crossing the river out of lockdown.

00:05:45Melissa Ellis: But you were running from something else, Ollie.

00:05:47Oliver Spake: I was. I was. Yeah, that's right. So look, with all of the talk, all of the conversation on the Zombies Run app, I had to give it a go. Because we've certainly heard from a few people that have enjoyed the app and have been completing missions for some time now. So I've signed up and, Mel, I completed my first mission.

00:06:08Melissa Ellis: Wow.

00:06:09Oliver Spake: And happy to say I survived.

00:06:11Melissa Ellis: Can you tell us a little bit more about this app? Because I did see some people on Dazza's Cafe asking for a bit of a review or a bit of an explanation of the zombie run process.

00:06:22Oliver Spake: Yeah, well, look, let me preface this with the fact that I think some of the pros could give a pretty mean review, a pretty good review. But my experience so far, so for anyone that hasn't yet tried it, I'm getting on the bandwagon and I've loved it. It is an app. It is a running game and an audio adventure, I think it's called. And essentially, you run from zombies, which I suppose is fairly self-explanatory. Yeah. Yep, got that bit. It's plopped me straight into the first mission where I have arrived in the landscape. It's set around a place called Abel Township, which is a small outpost, and they're trying to survive the zombie apocalypse. And yeah, so as soon as it started up, I landed and they started calling me Runner 5 and talking me through a few missions. I picked up on the general gist, which was just run. Yeah. But between you and me, I think they were going a bit soft on me because I did ease up at one point and I still managed to escape. Technically, I've only evaded one zombie. So, yeah, I'm definitely the newbie. But because where I was running is south of Shellharbour parkrun, I headed out to a beautiful beach area called Mystics in the same state park. And after running on the beach, I turn around.

00:07:39Melissa Ellis: Oh, I know that.

00:07:40Oliver Spake: What's that, Mel? Sorry? I know that. You do. When I stayed there. That's right. You would have camped right near there. So there's a plug for the campsite. The track that heads down onto the Mystics sort of beach area has a nice bit of bushland behind it with some tracks. So I was ducking and weaving. They've become a little more overgrown through this lockdown period. I think some haven't been used too much, but naturally I was running from zombies. So ducking and weaving and came around a corner and bang, there were walkers. Oh. Coming in the opposite direction. So I think in my defence, they were probably just as surprised to see me as I was to see them. And I refrained from telling them that they were undead. But at least despite the distraction, I got away from them and the zombies.

00:08:22Melissa Ellis: It sounds cool. I might have to try that. Yeah.

00:08:25Oliver Spake: Yeah, highly recommend it. And I'm told, I've already seen a few of the comments, I'm told there are some pretty good stories of people coming across other runners or walkers out on their runs. And yeah, the timing's fantastic. So maybe just keep an eye out. It might get a bit spooky out there. Not as spooky as running from a Velociraptor, mind you. A little bit of a reference for anyone that's listened to last week's pod. But yeah, pretty spooky in its own right.

00:08:52Melissa Ellis: That sounds fun. And the games, the Olympic Games, the family games, how's that going?

00:08:58Oliver Spake: Oh, Mel, I have spent the best part of a week. I mean, I can't even pretend to be your level of effort with Ellis Palace, but I've cut out a lot of Olympic medals. Oh.

00:09:10Melissa Ellis: Probably above what I do.

00:09:12Oliver Spake: So as things stand, we've completed four days of Olympics, 15 different events. I'll just say I've won one gold medal so far in the Nerf shooting. I was really thinking my chances were a bit better in the staggered sprint and the arranged athletics longer run, but I only just managed to number bronze for Kenya in the longer run. And I missed out in a jump off in the longish jump.

00:09:40Melissa Ellis: How are you losing everything against how old are your children? Do you have, oh, what do you call it when you give people a head start?

00:09:51Oliver Spake: Yes, the handicaps.

00:09:52Melissa Ellis: Yes, that.

00:09:53Oliver Spake: Yeah, no, it's all about practicality. You know, it's our home Olympics. In fact, we had an event yesterday called the Practical Pentathlon. So the Practical Pentathlon included shooting because the kids loved shooting the guns so much. I'm a little concerned, but, you know, that's kids. Wow. The croquet shootout. What else did we have? Throwing paper aeroplanes.

00:10:14Melissa Ellis: This is way over and above Ellis Palace parkrun. My goodness.

00:10:19Oliver Spake: We had tower building and we had clean your room as the fifth event in the practical pentathlon.

00:10:25Melissa Ellis: Oh, I like that one.

00:10:27Oliver Spake: That's a good one. And, oh, that was a tough one.

00:10:31Melissa Ellis: Couldn't you have vacuum races? I think I should instill vacuum races.

00:10:35Oliver Spake: Well, look, I'd like to say so, but I've put a lot of effort into the last six events. We've got six to go. We're due to wrap up in line with the closing ceremony and I've promised them I won't be lighting any more flames. But yeah, look, we've even come up with a motto, Mel. It's faster, higher, stronger, within reason.

00:10:57Melissa Ellis: I love it. Yeah. It's awesome. I wonder if other people do home Olympics. Is this something you've grown up with, Ollie? Is this the first year you've done home Olympics or is this a tradition?

00:11:07Oliver Spake: It's the first time I've had my family join in. All that time growing up on the farm in Southern Tassie.

00:11:18Melissa Ellis: Ah, I get it. Yeah.

00:11:20Oliver Spake: Yes. So, yeah, thank you for asking.

00:11:26Melissa Ellis: No, that sounds fun.

00:11:27Oliver Spake: Look, it has been a lot of fun.

00:11:29Melissa Ellis: I haven't really been watching a lot of the Olympics. I am a little bit excited. I did see that your very own, is it Jess Hull?

00:11:37Oliver Spake: Jess Hull, yeah.

00:11:38Melissa Ellis: Qualified today for the 1500 metre... semis isn't it that's right yes yes and Victoria's own Linden Hall also qualified for the 1500 metre semis yeah it's been fantastic to watch just some of the amazing performances you know I'm

00:11:57Oliver Spake: Watched all the swimming, of course. Watched many, many of the sports. Massive soccer fan, massive football fan, of course. But some of the athletics has just been incredible. Yeah, we're watching with great excitement. And yes, we are claiming Jess. I don't think she's been on the Shellharbour course for at least four years, maybe five. But we'll cheer nonetheless.

00:12:18Melissa Ellis: I've got another stat for you that was sent to me today by listener Adrian Hillyer. Adrian actually was one of my visitors this week at Ellis Palace, and he said that there is a former Olympian men's hockey player whose name is Kieran Govers, and he's ran four parkruns and all four at Shellharbour. Oh, wow, sacrilege for me not to pick that up sorry Kieran and thank you Adrian 2020 I believe January and December 2020 Kieran ran his parkruns at Shellharbour so quite recent and yes former men's hockey player olympian and um I believe Adrian has a interest in the hockey so that's how come he knows about that

00:13:06Oliver Spake: Yeah, look, a lot of excitement on the Olympics front, Mel. My only regret is not being able to have all the information for the rest of the week by the time the pod comes out because there's so much still to come.

00:13:17Melissa Ellis: Well, we're a bit excited down here because Lisa Weightman, she is running the marathon, the women's marathon. She becomes just the eighth Australian in athletics to go to a record fourth Games.

00:13:30Alison Fraser (King): Wow.

00:13:30Melissa Ellis: And she joins marathoners Steve Moneghetti, Lisa Ondieki, Rob de Castella and Benita Willis as four-time Olympians.

00:13:39Oliver Spake: That's some pretty esteemed company there.

00:13:41Melissa Ellis: Yes, and I think, I think that the women's marathon will be run next Saturday, so.

00:13:47Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:13:48Melissa Ellis: And she's a regular parkrunner down here in Victoria and usually runs at Maribyrnong parkrun and did formally hold the parkrun female world record. So, yes, we're very excited for Lisa.

00:13:59Oliver Spake: That's right. Yeah, look, I understand that there are a few Olympians that have been on that Maribyrnong course there. It's a fast course at Maribyrnong. Yeah. Beautiful course. I had hoped to do much, much more research into our parkrunners, but I'm afraid I got distracted with the Olympics, Mel. So I'm going to have to just research it over time, I think.

00:14:19Melissa Ellis: Oh, we'll forgive you.

Emails

00:14:22Oliver Spake: Thank you. Mel, just, I suppose, changing the topic. You've got mail. We got some mail this week. We heard from Eman, Ollie. We did. And thank you, Eman, for getting back to us. Shall I read it out? Please. Eman says, hi, guys. Ticked off another volunteering event today by running at one of Australia's newest parkruns, Ecco Ripley, followed by barcode scanning. A few parkrun tourist groups were in attendance at event number two, chasing the parkrun Alphabet Park, and Windex Challenges. It was a cold and crisp morning, perfect running conditions. Just to clarify from the last episode, the Green Streets are another parkrun couple, Ian and Kathy, that I tour with. I was with them again this morning, along with Barbara Luther, Darlene and Dale Murray, our local event ambassador. I completed the Alphabet Challenge back in 2019 and simply enjoy parkrun tourism. Take care, Eman.

00:15:15Melissa Ellis: Thank you, Eman, for clarifying that. We mistakenly thought the Green Streets was a running group, but it's not. There are people.

00:15:23Oliver Spake: It sounds like a pretty cool running group. So, guys, if you want to start one, let me know. I'm yet to join a group, so I have to follow. And I will also say, very jealous of the event number two. Still find an event number two.

00:15:40Melissa Ellis: Oh, Ollie. But hey, going back to you're yet to join a running group. Yes. I was thinking, now I know I didn't run this past you, so surprise. I was thinking about the parkrun clubs.

00:15:55Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:15:56Melissa Ellis: You can create an affiliation, like you can be part of the Dirty Cheaters or you can be part of the, I don't know.

00:16:02Oliver Spake: There's the Westerfoldians. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. The Wooters, yep.

00:16:06Melissa Ellis: Yeah, exactly. So we should have one.

00:16:10Oliver Spake: We should have one.

00:16:11Melissa Ellis: We should have one. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, the adventurers. The adventurers. What do you think it could be called? I think we can't use parkrun in the name. That's the only problem.

00:16:20Oliver Spake: Yeah, we could certainly come up with a pretty good alternative. Adventurers certainly is quite apt.

00:16:26Melissa Ellis: Yeah, so I wonder if people could give us some feedback, if they'd be keen for us to create a parkrun affiliation for them to join in with.

00:16:36Oliver Spake: It might finally give me a sense of belonging, Mel. So, yeah, I support that. Not that there aren't a wonderful range of groups to join. All right. Please let us know, everyone.

Streaky September

00:16:47Oliver Spake: We'd love to hear. Speaking of feedback, Mel, we've got feedback too.

00:16:51Melissa Ellis: Have we?

00:16:52Oliver Spake: Well, we've got feedback around our Bingoe card suggestions.

00:16:56Melissa Ellis: Oh, we did. Are we going to discuss them?

00:16:59Oliver Spake: See, I'm torn. I'm wondering if we share the ideas and stimulate the ideas or if we give it a bit longer, invite more. What do you think?

00:17:07Melissa Ellis: Well, we can say that we did hear from Tracey.

00:17:09Oliver Spake: Yep.

00:17:09Melissa Ellis: Tracey in a Tutu. And we also heard from Pippa, who gave us some great suggestions of what we could put on the Bingoe card. Yes. Sadly, we didn't get any offers of support with creating said Bingoe card. No. But it's early days and, you know, not everybody may have listened to the episode yet. So we've got to give people time to catch up. Yep.

00:17:32Oliver Spake: So let us know, please. And we look forward to streaky September. It's just around the corner.

00:17:38Melissa Ellis: So maybe, Ollie, we won't divulge the ideas we've had yet. We might wait till we get a few more in and then we can pick the best, however many. How many on a Bingoe card? I don't even know. Is it nine? Oh, we'll have to go back and look at last year's. Mm-hmm.

00:17:54Oliver Spake: Yeah, let's see. But I agree with you, Mel. Let's wait and we look forward to hearing some more great ideas. And if anyone else wants to give us a hand.

00:18:02Melissa Ellis: But now, Ollie, we have a couple of roving reports to throw to. So is it time to listen to those?

00:18:11Oliver Spake: Yes. Let's have a listen.

Roving reports & the Channel 5 News crew

Roving report Mark Scarborough — Marina parkrun

00:18:21Mark Scarborough: Hello parkrun adventurers, this is Mark reporting in for the Channel 5 News crew and today we are at Australia's westernmost parkrun in Geraldton at Marina parkrun and we're here for event number 67. It's a beautiful course here like richly right by the ocean with an average finish time of 33 minutes 45 seconds. So yeah we're gonna do a parkrun and have a chat to a few other parkrunners. I'm here with Jeanette and how did you find Marina parkrun, Jeanette?

00:18:50Jeanette: Oh, beautiful. The wind was challenging but it's just so lovely to run beside the ocean and yeah, feel the wind in the hair.

00:18:59Mark Scarborough: Yeah, it's always refreshing to run by the ocean and the wind was quite handy on the way out on a double back course but on the way back in it was certainly a challenge. So where's your home, parkrun?

00:19:12Jeanette: Yokine in Perth.

00:19:15Mark Scarborough: And what brought you to Geraldton today?

00:19:17Jeanette: Well we're actually supposed to be going to South Australia for a holiday and with all the changes in the border shutdowns we ended up here for our break instead of that and we wanted somewhere we could drive to and that had a parkrun of course and somewhere to explore and it looks like a fabulous place. We only arrived yesterday but we've got lots of things on our list that we want to do while we're here.

00:19:40Mark Scarborough: Excellent. It's a beautiful part of Australia. Did you have a parkrun lined up in South Australia?

00:19:45Jeanette: I was hoping Kangaroo Island. Oh, excellent. Yeah, that was the one that we would have got to.

00:19:52Mark Scarborough: Yeah, that would have been spectacular. Now, you said that you've done a few overseas parkruns. Where have they been?

00:19:59Jeanette: Walsall, just out of Birmingham. We have friends in Birmingham that we often go and stay with and I usually drag them out of bed on a Saturday and get them to take me over to Walsall which is around the Arboretum and it's really beautiful. Quite a lot more runners there than most other parkrunners I've been to. Another one I went to was in Treviso in Italy. That's just a half an hour from Venice. There was only a dozen or so runners there but the young lass that was running it had been living in England and come home to Treviso and missed running, so she was just starting it up and the locals hadn't quite worked out what it's all about yet but you know she was just there were heaps of people travelling through that would stop and do it and that was through a forest so that was really amazing yeah well thanks for your chat today and enjoy your time in Geraldton thank you

00:20:58Mark Scarborough: I'm here with Tracy, who's the Event Director for Marina parkrun. Good morning, Tracy. How are you today? I'm great. How are you? Good, thank you. So Marina parkrun's only relatively new. 67, I think, was today. What prompted you to start Marina parkrun?

00:21:15Tracy: I used to run in Joondalup before I moved here and realised there wasn't one here, so we started one.

00:21:23Mark Scarborough: OK, so you only just recently moved to Geraldton?

00:21:26Tracy: Yeah, four years ago.

00:21:28Mark Scarborough: And how did you find the process about setting up a parkrun, I suppose, so far away from other parkruns and maybe people not necessarily knowing about it?

00:21:37Tracy: Oh, no, we've had great support from Harriers and from the Tri Club and other places, so it's been really good.

00:21:45Mark Scarborough: And do you get a lot of tourists come through here, this being the westernmost parkrun?

00:21:49Tracy: Yeah, absolutely. We get a lot of tourists. And some people make a point of being here on a Saturday morning just to run.

00:21:58Mark Scarborough: Well, that's us. And what, I suppose, got you started into parkrun initially?

00:22:05Tracy: Ran with friends initially and it used to be just our weekly catch up so I thought I really missed it when I moved here so we started one here so we could do the same thing.

00:22:16Mark Scarborough: Excellent and how did you find today's parkrun?

00:22:19Tracy: A little wet but really great you know we had good numbers so that's important.

00:22:27Mark Scarborough: The coffee afterwards makes up for it, doesn't it?

00:22:28Tracy: Absolutely. And AJ looks after us really well. So AJ's cafe looks after us really well after a run.

00:22:36Mark Scarborough: It's always convenient when the breakfast afterwards is, you know, within a cooee of the start-finish line. And the breakfast burrito and the coffee has certainly gone down well after today. Well, thank you for having us at Marina parkrun today, Tracy, and we wish you all the best.

00:22:49Tracy: Thank you very much.

00:22:51Mark Scarborough: So Marina parkrun is a double out and back route along the Beresford foreshore footpath. And it's also, as I mentioned in the intro, Australia's westernmost parkrun. So we've now completed the westernmost, northernmost and southernmost parkruns. Just the easternmost to go. And today I'll let you know that James from the Channel 2 News crew got his parkrun PB. It was a bit of hard work out there with a decent headwind on the in-lap each time. So we tried to make up for the tailwind as much as we could on the outlaps. But it was a bit of a hard slog out there, but he got it done. So you won't hear from us for a few weeks now as we continue to head north up the west coast and the next parkrun for us will be at Port Hedland, which is a while off for us. So you won't hear from us for a little while, but we will talk to you next time on the parkrun adventurers.

Roving report Alison Fraser — Dunedin parkrun

00:23:41Alison Fraser (King): Hello adventurers, it's Alison here reporting in for the Channel 5 News crew. Today I'm coming all the way from Dunedin parkrun on the South Island of New Zealand. So Dunedin is one of our most southerly parkruns here in New Zealand. And because it's so far south in wintertime, it is a 9am start. So if you do come over... when that, you know, when that Trans-Tasman bubble reopens again and it's winter time, just check the start times of your event because Dunedin, Balclutha, Invercargill, Queenstown and Wanaka are all 9am. So yeah, I'm here in the Botanic Gardens. I'll just give a little bit of info about Dunedin before we get started, while I did get here a bit early. Dunedin started in January 2014, so it's one of our earlier events here in New Zealand. I've heard it's got a reputation as being the hardest, so I will test that out myself. And it's usually quite cold, but it's actually not that bad this morning. So I'll see if I can get the short sleeves out rather than having to wear a thermal. Anyway, I'm going to head over to the information centre, see if there's anyone here already, and then see if we can find some willing participants for the podcast. So I'm at the finish line with John, who I gather is probably a Dunedin regular. Is that right, John?

00:25:05John: Yes, I have done about nearly 60 in Dunedin.

00:25:08Alison Fraser (King): Wow. Does it get any easier?

00:25:11John: That hill gets longer and longer every time. And, of course, we get older and older. But, no, it's a challenging, demanding course, probably I've run some in different countries this is the toughest course that I've encountered yeah I I can agree to that one what's it like when you have visitors here and you and you know the course and they don't well I think it's a bit of a surprise you know even though we tell them it's a tough course uh until you get on those stairs at the going up the hill uh you don't realise just how tough it is have you done any other tough ones around the place around the world uh I've done quite a few there is a one in bristol in England which is 2.5 k's all the way up really no respite but gradual and then turn around but 2.5 k's is a long way steadily going uphill yeah so I gather you've done a bit of adventuring yourself how many different parkruns have you run uh probably off the top of my head probably about 20 different ones here in England, in Canada as well, yeah.

00:26:20Alison Fraser (King): So what would be your top three then? Not including Dunedin.

00:26:25John: Well, the Bristol one, although tough, I enjoyed. It's a nice one. Wanaka, of course, it's a favourite. It's a nice course and just the whole surrounding area. And possibly one I did in Canada, Victoria on Vancouver Island along just above the beach for most of the course, would probably be the three that I would pick out.

00:26:48Alison Fraser (King): Thanks very much.

00:26:49John: Good, you're welcome.

00:26:50Alison Fraser (King): So I'm with Jo at the finish line of Dunedin. How was that today, Jo?

00:26:54Jo: It was good. I've been suffering with a bit of a cold during the week, so it was a bit of a struggle, but it's always good. Always good to finish. How long have you been running here? Quite a few years. I've not long done my 100th. Congratulations. Thank you. It's a big moment. So yeah, about probably four years.

00:27:13Alison Fraser (King): And you keep coming back even though there's that huge hill that you do at least twice.

00:27:17Jo: Yes, yes. I'm not sure why that is.

00:27:20Alison Fraser (King): How did you get into parkrun?

00:27:21Jo: A couple of friends dragged me along and well I didn't really have to drag but they brought me along and I think I pretty much come every week from that I just really like the vibe and it's social everyone's so friendly and supportive and it's just it's just fun and you meet so many people I've made so many friends here it's just awesome because the same people turning up every week and um there's that little bit of competitiveness to it so it's just good it's achievable for most people well I would say this is the hardest in New Zealand apparently so um why should people come and try that challenge well because it is the hardest and you want to take that off don't you yeah absolutely and um you know we all do it so yeah if we can do it every week you can do it once exactly yeah it's a very good point yeah and

00:28:09Alison Fraser (King): I usually ask people what their top three parkruns are outside of New Zealand. I know you haven't done quite so many. Yep. So out of the ones you've done.

00:28:17Jo: Other than Dunedin, my top next one would be Wanaka because I'm up there a bit and it's a lovely course around Lake Wanaka. It's beautiful. Probably my next one, Invercargill. Yeah, another nice flat one. Most of them are flat except Dunedin.

00:28:33Alison Fraser (King): And another one after them?

00:28:35Jo: Belklyther. Belklyther. Yeah. Yeah, that's a good one too. So I'm quite keen to do others. Yeah, if I can, I might have to look up your book.

00:28:42Alison Fraser (King): Yeah, and follow the parkrun adventurers podcast. Absolutely. Yeah, cool. Thanks so much. No worries. So I'm at the finish with Jeanette. How was that today?

00:28:50Jeanette: Yeah, really good. I had a rabbit to drag me along the course. So how many times have you run this one? It'd be 153. Wow. Yeah. Does it get any easier? It does get easier. You're always picking up a new person in front of you to chase.

00:29:07Alison Fraser (King): What would be your top tip for tackling the stairs of despair?

00:29:12Jeanette: Go easy and just enjoy it really. Taking the view at the top? Yep, yep. Taking the looks at the roadies on the side.

00:29:20Alison Fraser (King): I understand that you dragged along Jo who we've just heard from. Yes. How did that go down? Were you running together normally?

00:29:29Jeanette: We've known each other for years in different organisations and she was getting out running so it was good to bring her out with more people to run with.

00:29:39Alison Fraser (King): Have you managed to bring anyone else along? Join the cult?

00:29:43Jeanette: No, no. I originally came out with another friend who was her rabbit to get fitter to do the outward bound. So she got me off the couch.

00:29:55Alison Fraser (King): So what's your favourite part of the course? Because it is in two distinct parts, isn't it?

00:29:59Jeanette: Yeah, after the stairs going up, then you taper down through the bush to see the scenery as well.

00:30:07Alison Fraser (King): Nice bit of recovery, don't you think? too. Yes, it is. Cool. Well, thanks so much. Well, I'm back from doing Dunedin parkrun and I'm going to be honest, it is hands down the hardest parkrun that I have run to date. That was my, I think it was my 64th or 65th different event that I have run. And I thought I'd run some hard ones in the UK, but honestly, I think Dunedin wins hands down. So it's two little laps of the flat section of the botanical gardens and apparently it's beautiful when all the flowers are in bloom and I can believe that so I look forward to coming back again. And then you do two laps of the upper part of the gardens and that upper part you have to go up the stairs of despair. And not only do you have to go up the stairs of despair once but you have to go up them twice. And it's not just the stairs of despair. You go up those stairs, you come back down again, and then you have to go up this dog leg out and back. And again, that's uphill. But absolutely amazing. Really, really loved it. Such a challenge. And I'm in awe of those parkrunners who call Dunedin parkrun their local. So definitely worth coming over to try that one out. I'm now going to go back to my motel, which isn't too far away, go have a shower. And then I'm going to go and do some exploring around the Otago Peninsula because Dunedin is known for Larnach Castle and some albatross. So I'm hopefully going to go and see some albatross chicks. While I do all these little adventures, I do like to do a little bit of sightseeing where I can. So that's what I'm going to be up to later. And hopefully my legs will recover. So I'll see you next time.

00:32:05Oliver Spake: And thank you to Mark and Alison for the roving reports this week. Congratulations in particular to James on a PB. Yes.

00:32:15Melissa Ellis: Happy birthday, James, too.

00:32:18Oliver Spake: Big week for the Scarboroughs.

00:32:19Melissa Ellis: It was. And they attended their westernmost parkrun. So they're ticking off all their challenges over there.

00:32:27Oliver Spake: They really are rounding the compass almost, just one last to go. And, yeah, and signing off for a couple of weeks there, Mel, until they come back into parkrun range once again, parkrun radar range.

00:32:39Melissa Ellis: Where will that be? Did you pick up?

00:32:41Oliver Spake: Oh, up Port Hedland is my understanding there. Yeah, I don't know, know where that is up in the northwest there I know mum was quite excited because she's meant to go obviously lockdown permitting yeah she's meant to go up that way oh late October and um was quite excited thinking that she'd get to do a parkrun up towards broom but yeah unfortunately it's a it's a long hike to any parkrun right so it's still in Western Australia, Port Hedland yeah that's my understanding which is what I was getting at yeah yeah yeah

00:33:10Melissa Ellis: And Alison Ollie, she has become a South Islander. Yes, congratulations, Alison. Running at Dunedin.

00:33:18Oliver Spake: Sounds like a pretty mean course to do it too.

00:33:21Melissa Ellis: The Stairs of Despair.

00:33:23Oliver Spake: I'm jealous. That sounds like a lot of fun.

00:33:27Melissa Ellis: From what Alison said, it's the hardest parkrun she's ever done. That is probably the area I'll be heading to if I get to go to New Zealand because that's where my son's girlfriend's from, Dunedin.

00:33:39Oliver Spake: The far south there. Hopefully we have a bubble once again before too long.

00:33:43Melissa Ellis: Yes, I have this desire to break into song with that before too long, but I will refrain. Okay.

Dazza's

00:33:51Melissa Ellis: But, Ollie, should we touch on the visitors we had this week from Dazza's?

00:33:57Oliver Spake: I think that'd be lovely too. And we were embracing all things Olympic this weekend, obviously, as we've talked about for at least 50% of the pod, I'm sure. Yeah. And we did ask the question, who will do it better? And those that have listened this far will know that Ellis Palace parkrun, Ellis Palace Not parkrun, I should say, did outdo Bass Point Not parkrun on all things Olympic. But, Mel, we did hear from a number of listeners and we started across the ditch with... Tanya Bailey, midwinter Christmas this week at Pegasus. I did first-timers briefing for five brand-new parkrunners, and I also made a Christmas cake, which was devoured at the finish. 105 people in attendance this morning and not too cold. And look, that grass still did look a little frosty to me. I don't know if it was just a mindset thing. But, yeah, great to see you guys in the festive gear.

00:34:54Melissa Ellis: Yes, and a nice big cake there as well. And Brett Bailey also ran Pegasus midwinter Christmas run with Brunner. Got 43 for my bingo. Brunner loved the gingerbread. 200 parkruns all at Pegasus for Trudy, and Jeff clocked up 200 of his parkruns at Pegasus as well.

00:35:15Oliver Spake: Well done. That's a pretty good collection. And we heard from Val Warwick. Timekeeping at Devonport in the rain and wind. Incredibly, that is two wet parkruns this month, which is really odd for the usually sunny Devonport. Best wishes to all of you in lockdown. Please take care. And thank you, Val.

00:35:35Melissa Ellis: Tracey Wood. Morning team, I was at New Farm this morning to work on my P index, got the obligatory photo with Mrs Sheep pre-event and then yummy potato rosti at the markets afterward. And Tracey just got her parkrun in in time because Queensland has now gone into a snap lockdown.

00:35:56Oliver Spake: Yeah, welcome back to the club, guys. Hopefully it'll pass soon. We heard from Ingrid, Ingrid Botha. Ran, I hope my secret parkrun nemesis is taking this time off. Not parkrun yesterday. A flat four kilometre course weaving in and out of the streets of my local suburb. Delighted to report 100% of the people I said hi to said hi back. Most with kind enthusiasm. So grateful to have discovered running.

00:36:24Melissa Ellis: and Melanie McGregor. Our Olympic parkrun at Greytown Woodside Trail parkrun was last weekend, so this weekend I did some parkrun tourism to Trentham Memorial Park parkrun. It was my first time visiting this parkrun. I walked track C with friends and family. It's a beautiful two-lap course with asphalt, river stopbank and native bush. We went for a coffee at the Fig Tree Cafe afterwards. Great to see some more of my home parkrunners at this parkrun too. We are planning to visit again soon and definitely during summer. It would be amazing going through the native bush on a warm summer's morning.

00:37:02Oliver Spake: And I did love the shot there of the landscape with the beautiful light. Once again, looked somewhat cold, but looked very inviting. Thank you, Melanie. Sonja Pohlman, rainbow unicorn cake time at the Beaches for two of our wonderful RDs. Oh, yeah, and it was a pretty sweet low tide too.

00:37:22Melissa Ellis: How was that cake?

00:37:23Oliver Spake: Yeah, unicorns and rainbows everywhere. I was going to even try and count the unicorns because there were different layers of different unicorns and rainbows. It was just amazing.

00:37:32Melissa Ellis: And we heard from Chris Fraser. Fitted a new set of tyres for this morning's run, but does it count if for some reason your Garmin thinks it's December and not July? Now I know why it took so long to find satellites. It was picking them from an alternative universe.

00:37:48Oliver Spake: Whichever month it was, well done.

00:37:50Melissa Ellis: I hope he got it sorted. Actually, did he log it for a (not)parkrun, Ollie, for Shellharbour? Because I did notice Shellharbour came third in Not parkrun in Australia this week.

00:38:02Oliver Spake: There's been some great participation and there was certainly a Chris Fraser Not parkrun logged amongst, I think, a sizeable number. Well done to everyone. You had some visitors, Ollie. We did. Not quite sure how they snuck across, but...

00:38:20Melissa Ellis: Yeah, you can do magical things in lockdown.

00:38:22Oliver Spake: Yes, certainly keeping the motivation going.

00:38:26Melissa Ellis: I'll expect you all at Toolern Creek next week. You're on notice.

00:38:30Oliver Spake: Yeah, well, I am looking for a Toolern Creek-shaped course, but no luck. All the streets bend the wrong way. I have to do the Mirror Universe Toolern Creek, the Toolern Creek course. We also heard from Mandy Oliver. Snuck a parkrun in at Paradise Point just before snap lockdown announced.

00:38:48Melissa Ellis: Wow.

00:38:49Oliver Spake: But thank you for another fantastic morning light photo. We hope your lockdown is over soon, Mandy.

00:38:55Melissa Ellis: They were lucky, those Queenslanders, for getting in that parkrun just before that happened. And we heard from Alison. I became a South Island regionnaire. I ran at Dunedin parkrun, the Edinburgh of the South, and survived the Stairs of Despair, probably the hardest parkrun out of my 64 events. After parkrun, I visited the Otago Peninsula and specifically the Albatross Centre, where I enjoyed this South Island delicacy, the humble yet delicious cheese roll.

00:39:27Oliver Spake: She's got a point. I don't think the cheese roll gets much of a rap, really, does it?

00:39:35Melissa Ellis: It's, well, overlooked. Hmm.

00:39:38Oliver Spake: I think I've heard of Vegemite and cheese rolls generally even being rated. This might be an Australian thing, I don't know, but they're potentially getting more of a rap than just a cheese roll or cheese and bacon roll. At least I can pronounce it. And we also heard from our other roving reporter, Mark Scarborough, Australia's westernmost parkrun done at Marina parkrun. Did James from the Channel 2 News crew get his parkrun PB today? Listen to the podcast next week to find out. And, well, that was certainly aimed at everyone at Dazza's at the weekend because we've just given the spoilers. Well done again, James.

00:40:12Melissa Ellis: Yay, James, you did well.

00:40:15Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:40:16Melissa Ellis: And Janet Reid. Did my 100th volunteer aboard the mothership Lochiel parkrun on the last day of dry July? Even lockdown didn't sway me. I've been raising funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. I brought the post-parkrun wine for my friends but stuck to my skinny flat white, sending positive vibes to all who are in lockdown and missing out on their weekly fix. Congratulations, Janet, on your 100th volunteer. Massive, massive effort. And sticking to dry July, even more massive.

00:40:49Oliver Spake: Yeah, it's been a rough time. So, look, well done. And thank you very much for sending the love our way as well. Yes. We also heard from Erica Leota, parkrun number 232 for me with a lovely walk at Kedron and a delicious breakfast afterwards at Fuel & Co.

00:41:07Melissa Ellis: And Sam Schroder. Week five of the Love Shack, Not parkrun and Luke's Cafe served up this amazing pumpkin choc-chip loaf. Five weeks and five new recipes. Almost makes me not even mind the extended lockdown. And I noticed that Sam got requests for the recipe. Yep, and happy to share it too. Thank you, Sue. Yes, I think I need it as well.

00:41:31Oliver Spake: Well, there we are. There's next week's brunch sorted. We also heard from Claire Stutchbury. Very happy to get our 93rd event in at Golden Beach before lockdown starts this Arvo. Second fastest time this year. Well done.

00:41:45Melissa Ellis: Good work, Claire, but uh-oh, the dynamic duo are also in lockdown. Not good. And Jack Corkill, feeling grateful to be able to complete Golden Beach parkrun before the lockdown this morning. Also got some delicious brekkie after a speedy run. Getting close to Cowell Club. We know, Jack, we are tracking you.

00:42:06Oliver Spake: Yes, yes, and well done. Well done once again. Now, we also heard from Irene Bommakanti. Irene let us know that achieved an event 47 for our Windex today and also worked on our P Index, if only Ellis Palace counted. Today's theme was the Olympics. Green and gold held centre stage with an Aussie flag and swimming goggles thrown in the mix. Parth and I enjoyed our second visit to the number one not parkrun worldwide, hosted by the kind Melissa. We were joined by the equally famous Adrian and Jeff. So much star power in one place. Brunch was had at the local Jolly Millers with crushed avo and coffee going down a treat. It felt like a real parkrun despite some restrictions. Happy place.

00:42:53Melissa Ellis: Oh, thanks, Irene. It was lovely that you came to visit. Appreciated that. And we heard also from Helen Davis. Ringwood East not parkrun with Steve and the dogs and breakfast and coffee at home. And a freshly baked keto spiced pumpkin cake for morning tea too. Yummo. And keto right up my alley, as Helen well knows.

00:43:17Oliver Spake: Pippa White also popped in. With a PA buff on, I ran around Watermeadows parkrun near Towcester, doing parkrun for all my friends who did it for me. Took a friend, parkrun number four, brought Brekkie to go and he ate mine. So lovely to have parkrun chats. Here's to all of us being out together in different places soon. Thank you, Pippa.

00:43:41Melissa Ellis: Yes, thanks, Pippa. That sounds like a great morning.

00:43:44Oliver Spake: And look, I will just put up my hand and say that's slightly informed guesswork on the pronunciation of toaster, but egg on face if I got that very wrong. So... Keen for your feedback, Pippa.

00:43:56Melissa Ellis: Anyway, moving swiftly on. Yes. We heard from Fat Girl to Iron Man. Should we say that's Tamsin?

00:44:04Oliver Spake: That's Tamsin, yes.

00:44:06Melissa Ellis: So excited to be back parkrunning again in the UK. I managed to get a Q for my alphabet at Queen Elizabeth. Fabulous, Tamsin. Well done on that.

00:44:16Oliver Spake: Good to see you back there. And Penny Simpson finished tokens at a very cold and wet Mount Clarence parkrun, then a small flat white with a double shot at three anchors before going home to deal with the bag full of wet parkrun gear. No sign of the parkrun weather fairies this morning.

00:44:34Melissa Ellis: Bit wet over there in the west. Yeah. I thought they had better weather over there.

00:44:39Oliver Spake: Fairies sometimes have a week off.

00:44:41Melissa Ellis: Okay. Chris Fraser. Didn't we already read Chris Fraser?

00:44:45Oliver Spake: It doesn't discriminate. Come in as many times as you like.

00:44:49Melissa Ellis: Wait. Okay. All right. I ran yesterday but only just got around to the sausage roll. It was a good four star but overshadowed by the gold medal pepper pie, which was the best ever amazing 4.9. Losing 0.1 because it was fragile and I made a complete mess. Sam's crusty bread caramel. Caramel. Well, hang on. Why does the poor Peppa Pie lose 0.1 because of Chris made a mess? That's not really very fair. You can't blame the Peppa Pie for that.

00:45:19Oliver Spake: I suppose he's making the score.

00:45:24Melissa Ellis: I'm on the Peppa Pie side.

00:45:27Oliver Spake: Well, he is implying that it was fragile, so maybe it's partially to blame. But, okay, there's a recommendation there. I mean, that is quite potentially a DR, a Dazza's record.

00:45:40Melissa Ellis: Is that a thing?

00:45:41Oliver Spake: It is now.

00:45:44Melissa Ellis: You better remember that then because I'll forget.

00:45:46Oliver Spake: Yeah, 4.9 stars. Well, coming from Chris, I'm pretty sure we've had a five star from elsewhere. Thank you, everyone. Thank you for joining us at Dazza's.

00:45:55Melissa Ellis: We did love to hear from all your adventures around Australia and abroad. But now, Ollie, it's time to listen to our cheeky informant.

00:46:07[music]

the Informant

00:46:07Melissa Ellis: Music

00:46:16The Informant: This is The Informant, coming to you live, again from my house. This lockdown would be great, except for Dad working from home. This week's view, the Olympics. So many boring sports. At least they have started putting in some young people's sport. Skaters are awesome. Speed climbing, that's cool. But golf, come on. And what's with the artistic swimming? Nobody can take that seriously. And what's with the cycling? They remind me of a bunch of seagulls just milling about, looking around to see who's about until someone drops a chip and then it's all in a mad chaotic rush. It's ridiculous. So I'm taking a break from the TV to bring you the stats. They're only current at the time they're collected and may differ from the stats you read elsewhere. But you wouldn't do that because you can get it all right here at the parkrun adventurers On the juniors front, we were down to just one event at Thorndon Juniors. 28 junior parkies took part. There were no first timers and no milestones. But a big congratulations to Daniel and Joel Wilmot, who both ran PBs. Just like the juniors, in Australia, regular 5K parkruns were hard hit by COVID restrictions. But with lots of activity overseas, even more than last week, all the post-COVID international records were broken. There were 1,099 runs taking place in 14 countries. There were 271 in Australia, 33 in New Zealand. Canada had 4, Denmark and France had 8, Germany 17, Italy came back with 4, Japan had 20, Netherlands came back for real this time with 4, Norway came back with 1, Poland had 77, Russia 66, United Kingdom 551, and the USA had 35. There were three launches. Manzola launched in Italy, while Garbag Forest and Stories Field launched in the UK. Aussie New Zealand attendance was up by 3,000. We had 25,407 runners out of a hectic 151,764 worldwide. That's up more than 21,000 on last week. Down under we had 3,186 PBs, while 841 people participated for the first time. 47 juniors reached the Junior 10 milestone, 124 people reached their 50 milestone, 86 people reached their 100 milestone, and 15 people reached their 250 milestone. 14 people called bingo. Tim Shannon was the quickest with 133 events. Joe O'Sullivan was the slowest person taking 282 events, which is still pretty quick, and very close to what Bayes Trousers thinks is the theoretical magic number that should be the average. It has been a bit quiet recently, but this week we have 16 new states peoples. In the ACT we have Julian Singh, Nicole Siddon, Sarah Fane, Susan Marshall, Steve Richardson and Roy Freilich. In the Northern Territory, we have Kerry Webb, Maxine Parker, Rihanna Meyer, Jamie O'Neill, Yvonne O'Neill, Robin Richworth and Alan Webb. In Tasmania, we had Franken and Ed Kazimady. While over in the New Zealand, Alison King completed all of the South Island at Dunedin. On the top 20 most Aussie New Zealand events list, Robin Wishworth continues his climb to be now equal 10th with Alan Burrell with 154 events after running at Palmerston. Now for the Windex. I can admit it to you guys because old Rumblebum only listens to AM radio, but I might have mucked up the Windex numbers. I think we had 120 movers, and I think Cassie Hughes is the biggest mover jumping 19 points from 52 to 71. Never mind. Free Windex stats for everyone next week. Okay Parkies, that's your lot from me this week. As always, to see the stats in full, you should definitely follow The Informant on Facebook, or visit the blog at www.theinformant.me. That's The Informant, all one word, dot M-E. This has been The Informant, and my stats report is like a huge bag of marshmallows being toasted in the fire pit. Hi.

00:50:59Oliver Spake: And thank you to the informant. There's something about that jingle, Mel. Something kind of just sets me up. It's such a nice, nice jingle. It's very upbeat. Such a happy jingle. It is. Yeah.

00:51:11Melissa Ellis: Yes. And everybody working from home at the moment, Ollie, in parkrun adventurer HQ.

00:51:17Oliver Spake: That's right. Yeah, just as well we've got that flexibility. I guess the rent on the HQ might need a bit of looking at, given we're not really using it. But anyway...

00:51:25Melissa Ellis: Through that.

00:51:26Oliver Spake: It'll be good to get back there one day. Once we're out of lockdown for our return.

00:51:31Melissa Ellis: As is a few countries this week, Ollie. Good segue.

00:51:36Oliver Spake: Seamless.

00:51:37Melissa Ellis: We welcomed back Italy and Norway last weekend and the Netherlands.

00:51:43Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:51:44Melissa Ellis: Which we maybe prematurely announced the previous week.

00:51:49Oliver Spake: False start. That's right. That happens all the time. Trust me, I saw it all the time on TV last night. And Sweden's coming back too this weekend.

00:51:58Melissa Ellis: They are. Yes. Exciting. All the countries are coming back.

00:52:02Oliver Spake: So I look forward to celebrating some more Euro-Scandinavian parkrun returns there.

00:52:08Melissa Ellis: 100%. We're looking forward to it. And also as much as we are looking forward to streaky sept-mebar.

00:52:16Oliver Spake: Yes, that's right.

00:52:17Melissa Ellis: Something that kind of just sets me up.

00:52:19Oliver Spake: Streaky September is a fun thing. It's something that just gives a little bit of extra motivation and a whole lot more fun.

00:52:26Melissa Ellis: And we'll have a lot more to say about that in the weeks ahead.

00:52:30Oliver Spake: We will. Yeah, looking forward to, I think, getting everyone primed and ready to go. Look, Mel, speaking of primed and ready to go, I'd say whilst at the time of recording, they're all pretty much ready to go. Some have already run, but we had a chat earlier on in this podcast. We mentioned it briefly in the last podcast, but we've probably underdone it for our Australian athletes. And apologies to our overseas listeners, because we know that you've also got representatives at the Olympics. But yeah, we're pretty chuffed to see a lot of parkrunners out there, Mel.

00:53:00Melissa Ellis: We are, Ollie. And I was excited to note that a couple of athletes I got to meet when I did the Nitro parkrun back in 2017, that was a special one-off event associated with Albert Melbourne parkrun. I got to meet Annaliese Rubie-Renshaw and Linden Hall, and they are both competing in this coming week, for the 4x400 metre relay for Annaliese and the 1500 metre for Linden Hall. And she qualified today, I believe, in the semis.

00:53:35Oliver Spake: Into the semis, that's right. Also in the 1500 metres there with Jess, with Jess Hull.

00:53:41Melissa Ellis: Yes, Jess of what parkrun fame, Ollie?

00:53:45Oliver Spake: Hey, she rocked up at Shellharbour for 10 or 12 parkruns once.

00:53:49Unidentified speaker: Yeah.

00:53:49Melissa Ellis: 10 or 12, that's substantial. Yeah, that's right. That's right. We'll claim her. She's a parkrunner.

00:53:56Oliver Spake: We will, yeah. Look, Mel, I won't say that I know all the events of some of our parkrunners here, but special mention to another Shellharbour parkrunner first and foremost, Jye Edwards, running the 1500 metres because we're recording this Monday night. Jye's first heat is Tuesday morning, so very excited about that.

00:54:16Melissa Ellis: Good luck, Jye.

00:54:17Oliver Spake: Yep. Someone that has run already in the 10,000 metres, Patrick Tiernan. And what a run.

00:54:24Melissa Ellis: Yes.

00:54:25Oliver Spake: Yeah.

00:54:25Melissa Ellis: Extraordinary run from Patrick. And I think the whole world was watching that. He put everything into it, didn't he, Ollie?

00:54:33Oliver Spake: I think it's one of those ones you quite aptly describe as gutsy.

00:54:37Melissa Ellis: Uh-huh.

00:54:38Oliver Spake: And look, Mel, I believe there's a few more. I mean, Isobel Batt-Doyle, Jenny Blundell, Rose Davies, Genevieve Gregson, Stewart McSweyn, and one that's also popped up. And did I say Liam Adams? No. Surely I said Liam Adams. Liam Adams. Yes. Yeah. Familiar name as well as many. But look, what about Peter Bol?

00:55:00Melissa Ellis: Oh, I know. That's very exciting. The first Australian in 53 years to make the Olympic 800 metres final. So that's really exciting too. And what does he hold, Ollie? The Claisebrook Cove course record holder.

00:55:16Oliver Spake: That's right. The male course record holder. Just stunning. It's been so exciting. So yeah, all the best. Good luck as a time of recording and well done to all of you. Probably by the time that everyone gets to listen to this.

00:55:29Melissa Ellis: And safe travels home.

Sign-off

00:55:31Oliver Spake: Yes. Well, Mel, I'm not sure. Do we look forward to next week? Next week's parkrun or not parkrun day?

00:55:40Melissa Ellis: Oh, because we don't know if we're going to have one, Ollie. Well, have you got Bass Point not parkrun plans?

00:55:50Oliver Spake: Yep, I'm looking forward to a Bass Point, not parkrun, next week.

00:55:53Melissa Ellis: Excellent. Well, I might, I don't know, plan an adventure if I can. I will see. I'm not holding hope that Victoria will be back, but you never know because, to be honest, things are looking good here.

00:56:06Oliver Spake: Looking very positive.

00:56:07Melissa Ellis: Yeah, things are looking positive.

00:56:09Oliver Spake: Touch wood, touch wood, yep.

00:56:11Melissa Ellis: Yeah, we're an outside chance, let's put it that way. But in any case, let's just say I'm looking at what my options are to travel to states where the borders are open.

00:56:25Oliver Spake: Fingers crossed. And if you do get to, I will be following yourself and every other parkrunner to enjoy your parkrun experience vicariously. Thank you.

00:56:35Melissa Ellis: Thank you, because we've still got Tassie running. South Australia is back after last week's brief lockdown. West Australia is still going. Northern Territory is still going.

00:56:46Oliver Spake: And parts of Queensland and New South Wales still. Yes. And the ACT.

00:56:51Melissa Ellis: Yes, although I think from Victoria those places are less available.

00:56:57Oliver Spake: That's right.

00:56:58Melissa Ellis: Yeah, but yes, you're right. You are 100% correct. They are still running. So we're very happy for them. But nonetheless, it has been another wonderful week catching up. Ollie, thank you for joining me again to discuss all things parkrun. Thank you, Mel. And as always, you can contact us on Facebook or on our email, which is parkrunadventurers at gmail.com. But Ollie... That's it for another week. We will see you all next week for more adventures.

00:58:38Unidentified speaker: Hi Mel and Ollie, we did not do a (not)parkrun this week. Instead, my sister and I had backyard Olympics. My sister set up a track using our toys and we had to run around and time each other. I was always one second behind Hannah. Bye Mel and Ollie!