— open the full-size coverEpisode 250 - The Story So Far
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Episode 250 - The Story So Far · 2021-09-02
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Source: https://log.5kadventures.net/transcripts/ep250.html · The Adventurers Log · An independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by parkrun.
Welcome
Melissa Ellis: Welcome to episode 250 of the parkrun adventurers podcast. I am not Mel Erbacher.
Oliver Spake: And I am not Scott Trickett.
Melissa Ellis: And we are navigating this little unofficial Australian podcast through the stormy COVID seas in search of calmer waters. Hello, Ollie Spake. How goes life with you on this momentous parkrun podcast milestone?
Oliver Spake: Well, thank you, Melissa Ellis. Life's pretty good. All things considered, life's pretty good. And it's quite hard to feel, I think, anything but a whole overwhelming positivity having just reflected on quite a number of episodes.
Melissa Ellis: I know. I've spent a bit of time reminiscing. But firstly, Ollie, have you got a drink? Have you got snacks?
Oliver Spake: Oh, yes, because, hey, we've got to bring the party again, right?
[other]
Melissa Ellis: We do. And I've got my party blower.
Oliver Spake: Oh, you did come prepared. Look, the drink side is sorted because we are recording at night, so I have the drink. I do have some lovely ginger chocolate as well as a snack. I can't say I brought it myself. It was a gift of kindness during this lockdown that was provided to me. So very apt it's provided for this celebration.
Melissa Ellis: That's nice, but hey, it doesn't have to be evening to have a drink. I'm quite apt to breakfast cocktails these days.
Oliver Spake: You are, you are. Perhaps we should reflect just briefly on the (not)parkrun's just gone because, of course, we're in lockdown still, us both. How was your (not)parkrun day, Mel?
Melissa Ellis: Oh, Ollie, this week was a little bit hard to find inspiration. I've got a bit of lockdown fatigue, I've got to be honest. Yeah.
Oliver Spake: Yeah, I think that's fair. I think we're all feeling it mostly around the same time. We have our highs but, yeah, I think you can get away with that, Mel.
Melissa Ellis: And I spent the best part of the week agonising over what I was going to do and in the end I decided just to go with the upcoming spring season. We chose a yellow theme and, you know, a spring theme and we had a visiting troll.
Oliver Spake: Yes. I didn't know trolls were allowed in this current set of restrictions.
Melissa Ellis: Apparently so. Yeah. He appeared. He appeared on my doorstep. And quite an accomplished little troll he is too, Ollie. Do you know he's done 50 unique events across Australia?
Oliver Spake: My gosh.
Melissa Ellis: Do you know he is a member of the Peel Club? True, I kid you not. And he is only missing one compass point at the moment.
Oliver Spake: Wow. That is a very special set of achievements. Now, said troll, does said troll have a home? We are, of course, referring to?
Melissa Ellis: Wagi Bridge Troll.
Oliver Spake: Yes, Wagi Bridge Troll. And, of course, the team from Wagi Bridge did let us know that people can follow the Trolls Adventures on the Wagi Bridge parkrun Facebook page too, can't they? But certainly saw some of the Trolls Adventures, Mel.
Melissa Ellis: Oh, we've had a great few days, Ollie. He accompanied me, kept me company on my Ellis Palace parkrun. I showed him the sights. He waved at the waving corner across to Toolern Creek parkrun. And then yesterday I took him along the Toolern Creek Trail, not the parkrun Trail. It's quite a long trail, this Toolern Creek Trail. So we investigated all the bridges along the way. And then today we did a Freedom Run of Toolern Creek.
Oliver Spake: I'm not sure how you can top that experience, really.
Melissa Ellis: So that was a little bit of light. So thank you, Wagi Bridge, for allowing us to host the troll at Ellis Palace parkrun. What about you, Ollie? What did you do Saturday morning?
Oliver Spake: I got back to the Bass Point Not parkrun course. It was feeling a little unloved. So I got out there. I didn't really have anything planned, but the legs said go. So I went go. And I got a (not)parkrun PB. Oh, really? So that was fun. That was a surprise.
Melissa Ellis: How many Ks did you do?
Oliver Spake: I did five Ks.
Melissa Ellis: Oh, okay.
Oliver Spake: Did my proper course, not my adapted course. Did my proper course. And yeah, yeah, it was fun. And then, you know, caught up with a little bit of the parkrun, park faffing afterwards. And yeah, really just settled in. It was nice.
Melissa Ellis: It sounds good. And did you or did you not also catch up with a Bailey shot? I did.
Oliver Spake: Got another chance to catch up with Bec out and we actually ran past the under the bridge section. No trolls. Missed the light shot again. Got a bit closer. But nonetheless, it was good to have a bit of not parkrun company as well. Yeah, not parkrun's keeping me going and Mel Streaky September, absolutely. Listening back to some of the old episodes has also been a bit of an inspiration, bit of a motivator.
Melissa Ellis: So, Ollie, we probably should give a little bit of background. I believe the podcast is the first parkrun podcast to hit the 250 shirt milestone. So we're a little bit proud of that. And Ollie, I've got you a present.
Oliver Spake: Oh, that's awkward. I mean, that's wonderful. How kind of you.
Melissa Ellis: Okay, so if you wanted to Google parkrun clubs on the official parkrun website and say you wanted to search the adventurers, you might find a new club available.
Oliver Spake: It's not.
Melissa Ellis: It is. It is. It is. And there may, there just may be already two members of that club who coincidentally both happen to be called Melissa.
Oliver Spake: What are the odds?
Melissa Ellis: Surprise! So everybody, please feel free to add The adventurers on your parkrun profile as one of your five affiliated clubs.
Oliver Spake: Yeah, that's fantastic. And apologies to the listeners, you're going to hear a bit of tapping in the background as I jump in and update.
Melissa Ellis: I knew you would look it straight up.
Oliver Spake: I'm that predictable, yes.
Melissa Ellis: Yes. So I thought I'd surprise you with that.
Oliver Spake: No, well done, Mel. That's a magnificent surprise. And I must commend you on finding another Melissa to join the club. I hear these Melissa's and Scott's are hard to come by.
Melissa Ellis: Oh, don't go there. Triggered.
Oliver Spake: Well, there is another member. There we are.
Melissa Ellis: Very good. But, Ollie, should we give a little bit of a recap over the years? Yeah, we need some of that reminiscent piano music.
Oliver Spake: I think that would be very effective or we could just talk to it.
Melissa Ellis: Leave it with me.
Oliver Spake: Particularly for those listeners that might have joined us along the way. Not everyone's listened to the back catalogue. Hopefully after this you'll be inspired and you'll go and listen or if you've listened, you'll be listening again.
Episode 250 retrospectiveThe Story So Far
Melissa Ellis: So, Ollie, their pod started back in 2016 on the 6th of January and 50 episodes for the first year. So, it came out strong.
Oliver Spake: Yes. Do we call that gold level obsessive, Mel?
Melissa Ellis: I think so. Yes.
Oliver Spake: Yep.
Melissa Ellis: And the very first episode had the big cheese, Tim Oberg. Okay. They started strong, Scott and Mel, didn't they?
Oliver Spake: They sure did. Well, I mean, fair to say that they were starting it just off their own bat too. So, yeah, these two unknown co-hosts.
Melissa Ellis: Yes. And in that first year, Ollie, from what I've gone back and researched, we heard from Ian Hay, who contributed quite a bit on the early days with the facts in a haystack. We heard from TOC. in episode four. We heard from PK in episode 13. Peter Pohlman popped up in episode 16. Our very own Alison King was interviewed in episode 26. Danny Norman in episode 37. Simon Mackley, our quiz master, featured in episode 48. And by the end of Episode 50, Ollie, I believe the news crew was still being referred to as the Channel 4 news crew.
Oliver Spake: That's right. It was quite a new concept at that point. I think it's probably also worth mentioning there were a couple of names that were also popping up fairly regularly. I have noticed the name Robbo.
Unidentified speaker: Mm-hmm.
Oliver Spake: popping up quite a lot in the early days and continuing to support from there. And year two, Mel, did they hit 50?
Melissa Ellis: No, 2017, 44 episodes. Still quite strong, where we heard in episode 58 from Lyndell for her first report from Nambour. And coincidentally, that same episode was the first mention of the Pirate Club. Yes. Which came about with a conversation from Mel and I think Maddie Trent. But I could be wrong. I don't believe Mel actually referred to him by name in that episode, but I think it was Maddie Trent.
Oliver Spake: And, I mean, that's one of the favourite clubs these days.
Melissa Ellis: It absolutely is. Yeah. So Episode 59 featured Nicola Forward, and in Episode 62, the Channel 5 news crew was renamed by Scott when Lyndell was inducted. Dave Moss featured in Episode 64, Gary Murphy in Episode 65, and we welcomed Baby Wes in Episode 71.
Oliver Spake: Yeah. It's hard to believe Wes is that old. Where have the years gone?
Melissa Ellis: In episode 78, we heard from Greta. And I believe episode 79 was the first explanation of Streaky September.
Oliver Spake: Yes. That's my recollection too. And Mel, were you participating in Streaky September in 2017?
Melissa Ellis: Oh, yeah. I was all over it. I was all over it. I probably was the reason for the level up challenge back then. Yeah.
Oliver Spake: Excellent.
Melissa Ellis: So, yes, and then episode 89, Simon Mackley, he beat me in November Madness and took the reins as the champion. And then, of course, we had the Christmas song in episode 95 with Gary, TOC, Greta, PK, Lyndell and Dave. Wow.
Oliver Spake: Yes, yes. That was quite a big one, that particular episode. So the Christmas episode in 2017, Mel, being a milestone podcast, this one here, it's worthwhile mentioning the PB.
Melissa Ellis: That was the longest ever episode?
Oliver Spake: Christmas 2017, the longest episode, one hour 59.
Melissa Ellis: Wow.
Oliver Spake: Yep. It's been challenged. Yeah.
Melissa Ellis: We came close, didn't we, Ollie?
Oliver Spake: We did.
Melissa Ellis: And then we go to 2018, Ollie. We had 47 episodes in 2018. That was the infamous missing episode 113. Yes.
Oliver Spake: And I didn't listen back to 114, but I do remember very vaguely. We haven't experienced that yet, have we, Mel? But hey, there's always a first, I'm sure. Yeah.
Melissa Ellis: but I did skip episode 105, which was the first palm at Shellharbour.
Oliver Spake: And not because it was Shellharbour. I mean, that is... What did I just do? But that's an obvious favourite, any of the Palm episodes, including the ones we haven't heard the audio from.
Melissa Ellis: And in episode 115, I was inducted into the Channel 5 news crew after an extremely hard challenge that I was set in a previous episode. In episode 137, we heard and our hearts all broke for Mel's misadventure at Geeveston when she travelled all the way down to Tasmania to try to do the most southern point of the compass, but bad weather foiled her plans. And then the following episode, 138, where she also missed parkrun for a second week in a row with the kangaroo mishap.
Oliver Spake: Yes. Highs and lows, that's for sure.
Melissa Ellis: And in episode 142, we heard from Marvellous Mark for the first time with a roving report from Braidwood Showground.
Oliver Spake: Yes. And that was just before the final episode of 2018, Mel, where, of course, Danny and Nicola from With Me Now joined for a whole lot of parkrun chat.
Melissa Ellis: Hmm. Then going on to 2019, we had 46 episodes. One of those highlights, Ollie, has to be Mark's induction into the Channel 5 news crew with his Bradbury. That was in episode 151.
Oliver Spake: It was relatively well orchestrated.
Melissa Ellis: And then we had our second palm at the Beaches, which had the episode number of 5959.
Oliver Spake: Yes, yes. And that's what's thrown me well and truly in counting back through the episodes and trying to make sure my spreadsheet's all right. Because, of course, you need a spreadsheet for memories. But 5959 kind of breaks the system. Hey, for anyone that wasn't there, it was a really good one.
Melissa Ellis: Then, Ollie, we came to episode 170, which was a very emotional episode because it was Scott's last episode where he bid farewell to the pod.
Oliver Spake: Yeah, that was big news and that was a bit of a surprise for us all.
Melissa Ellis: So we saw out the rest of the year with Mel having the Channel 5 news crew and some other guests. I know Scott Watkins, he also joined in for co-hosting with Mel over a number of episodes. So I had a couple of goes of co-hosting with Mel. In episode 184, Cam, he popped up with his first interview at Champion Lakes.
Oliver Spake: Yep. I was also gonna call out for 2019 Mel, a highlight was the three host episode with Ada Macey. Where we had three hosts for that one.
Melissa Ellis: That's a first then.
Oliver Spake: Yes, joining Lyndell and Scotty.
Melissa Ellis: And then we moved to 2020, where we had 27 episodes. So episode 189, the first episode for that year, that's a memorable one for me because that was when TOC co-hosted with Mel that one, where we learnt about the ordeal that Mel had had on Kangaroo Island with the bushfires.
Oliver Spake: Yeah, it's hard to forget for, well, for anyone obviously that went through it, anyone that was even closely impacted by it and anyone watching on from around the world, just the devastation and... I think even now when you think about it, your hearts go out and hope those people are continuing to recover. But, yeah, that was some, we'll call it a misadventure.
Melissa Ellis: Yeah. And then we were so lucky for Episode 196 to have our palm at Mount Barker just before COVID paused parkrun, as we know, for such a long time.
Oliver Spake: Yes, yes. Little did we know.
Melissa Ellis: Yeah, exactly. And Ollie, then you and I happened to have about four trial runs as co-hosting to see out the year. Episode 201, 204, 209 and 214. We were the kids with the keys to the Ferrari.
Oliver Spake: Glad to say it didn't break it. No obvious scratches anyway.
Melissa Ellis: And, of course, we saw out 2020 with episode 215, Mel and Scott Watkins, with a very sad goodbye from Mel as she handed over the keys once and for all to us.
Oliver Spake: Yeah.
Melissa Ellis: And a big farewell to the pod.
Oliver Spake: Yeah, it's obviously difficult. As a long-time listener, Mel, I mean, I don't yet classify myself as a co-host because I've been listening to you guys for so long, listening to Mel for so long. It's been quite difficult to see the transition away from those familiar voices. But... It was nice to hear Mel's farewell and to get to enjoy some of the thoughts. And we've still got that time capsule too, I think, important to note. We've got the time capsule. We're going to open it. Oh, yes, we haven't forgotten. That's right. That's your job. Yeah, one job.
Melissa Ellis: And, of course, Ollie, 2021 has been the year that we've taken the reins. We are up to episode 35 this year. So if you count our four trial runs, we've actually recorded 39 together so far.
Oliver Spake: Yeah. And, look, that's a pretty spectacular effort. Can I say we did it? Congratulations. That's the royal we. Far beyond yourself and I, Mel.
Melissa Ellis: Yes.
Oliver Spake: But I've counted at least 15 different hosts. No, 16 different hosts and co-hosts. I've probably missed someone, but that's a pretty fantastic community to be able to contribute in such a way. And knowing that the parkrun adventurers has... featured you know more than half the parkrunning nations around the world easily more than half you know close to two-thirds of the parkruns in Australia through interviews and roving reports and amazing interesting stories and backstories from people so I think it's just so diverse and what it's provided and all of the individuals have been providing over those years so yeah big thanks guys out to everyone
Melissa Ellis: Absolutely. And also to Mr. Brendan Scholarly, who's provided a new image for us for our 250th episode. Yes.
Oliver Spake: Thank you very much, Brendan. I think it's a very apt image. And for anyone that hasn't seen it on our Facebook page, jump on and you will be, I'm sure, delighted by some of the messages and some of the faces that I'm sure some of you know, but many of you may not know the faces behind the words, behind the voices. Absolutely. So hopefully you've been enjoying those all week. And if you haven't seen them, check them out. And yeah, say g'day to the Channel 5 News crew and the podcast family beyond.
Melissa Ellis: Absolutely.
Oliver Spake: Any other highlights, Mel?
Melissa Ellis: I've exhausted my highlights.
Oliver Spake: No, I think that's fair.
Roving reports & the Channel 5 News crew
Oliver Spake: Look, because it's the parkrun adventurers and because it's episode 250, I think there's nothing more appropriate to do than to listen to some roving reports. So I think it's time we catch up with a few more roving reports. Let's pick up where Mark left off over in WA and listen to him and a couple of other reports.
Roving report Mark Scarborough — Hampton Oval parkrun
Mark Scarborough: Well, I'm here with Jess, who is the RD for Hampton Oval parkrun at Dampier up here in the Pilbara of Western Australia. Jess, how are you?
Jess: I'm well, thanks.
Mark Scarborough: Thanks for having me to have a chat to you today. Unfortunately, we can't be here on parkrun Day to experience your parkrun, but I've driven past and it's a beautiful location down by the water there. So what, I suppose, inspired you to start up a parkrun here in Dampier?
Jess: Well, I myself just enjoy running in Dampier and I like to run with friends as well, especially because it's not that well lit up as well at night time. It's nice to always have other people to go with. And we initially talked about starting a running group. So that's initially how it came about. And when we started having more of a conversation about that with other people in town, someone mentioned, you know, have you heard of parkrun before? Why not? start that up and I was like actually I haven't I have never done parkrun but I quickly looked that up and thought you know that sounds fantastic I'm not going to recreate the wheel um this sounds perfect so yeah I looked into that and that's where it all kind of began
Mark Scarborough: So you hadn't experienced a parkrun yourself prior to this. Have you gone to another parkrun yet?
Jess: I still haven't actually. Can you believe that? But from hearing what parkrun is about from other people, they just have told me how fantastic it is for the community. Building, I guess, sorry, another reason, not just the whole running group, perspective that I told you about initially for starting parkrun another whole reason for me wanting to start a running group was connect with other people so and you know parkrun tick that box as well I think exercise is important but in the living in an isolated area a transient kind of community like this meeting new people and being socially active in the community is just as important, if not more. So for me, meeting people that I don't really cross paths with on a day-to-day basis has been a great component of parkrun. Meeting, yeah, so many new people, which is great.
Mark Scarborough: And how was, I suppose, the journey of getting this parkrun established? How did that come about?
Jess: That was a long process. In Dampier, I would have loved to have done a five-kilometre loop around Dampier, which would have been really nice. I'm not saying the current run isn't, but I didn't realise that there was all the rules in place about you can't run across driveways and nowhere near roads and things like that. So an initial challenge was finding an uninterrupted route. And in the early days, I never really considered going off track, because I didn't think that this was something that would appeal to a lot of people and today it still doesn't that's why our numbers are smaller at Hampton Oval but um it's yeah it's a beautiful track though as you know so so the course is I suppose is a bit of a mixed path it's um on turf and then on the oval then sand and then trail so can you describe your course to us Yeah, that's right. So the first part of the track is around the oval. So we are using that Hampton Oval. And then we go off track onto the trail section of the run, which is really beautiful at the moment because all the wildflowers are starting to come out. And when we ask people what their favourite part of the run is, it's actually that trail section. And it is mine too, actually. And then after we've done the trail part, we head onto the beach. And that's the grueling section. It does change depending on the tides a little bit. Sometimes it sounds a little bit harder, which is nice. And then after the beach section is the footpath. So that's a nice break before doing another lap of that trail and beach section again before finishing up at the start line at the pavilion.
Mark Scarborough: So you said you had some challenges and it's taken a while to get the parkrun set up. How long did it take you to get set up?
Jess: gosh probably almost a year but in saying that I did have a baby during that time so you know I wasn't the most active person in trying to get it up off the ground and the seasons as well like it gets really hot here as well so I wasn't going to start it in the middle of summer so it actually worked out really well with the timing that it was you know the start of winter so yeah and you know you talked about the community here in Dampier and it being a transient a lot of fly-in fly-out workers and things like that so what do you think that parkrun means to to the community like this Yeah, Dampier itself is an amazing community. There's a lot of very active community members, people who really get involved and come down and volunteer. So many of my volunteers aren't even runners, or they're not even something they would think of, but they just love volunteering and being part of the community, which is just, to me, that's just amazing. I would never consider doing something like that myself initially, I guess, if I wasn't interested in what I was volunteering in. But through volunteering, these volunteers have kind of gained an insight into the what parkrun is about and they kind of have got some confidence now to actually give it a go so it's been just amazing to watch some of these people actually first walk and send sometimes and run it as well so that's been um pretty rewarding as a um Event Director to see do you ask me what parkrun is about to me is that what you said or well yeah so I suppose what what does parkrun bring to you like somebody who hadn't experienced parkrun before what does it now mean to you Oh, to me it means, yeah, I feel like I'm committed to exercise and socially I have to be there. And although it might not be the first thing I feel like doing every 5am or every Saturday morning getting up early, when I'm there it does make you feel good and it does start your weekend off on a positive note, being around, you know, like-minded people who are having that adrenaline rush after they've done exercise or even volunteering. So, yeah, that's what it's all about.
Mark Scarborough: So one of the stories that caught my eye on your page was a story about Bianca and Kylie and how they get to be involved in parkrun. So what can you tell us about them?
Jess: Yeah, so Kylie and Bianca are both mums and they're really amazing how they have managed to work parkrun between the two of them. They've both got young kids and they take turns with running parkrun. So, you know, one week, either Bianca or Kylie might stick with the kids at the playground while the other one does the course and the following week they'll swap over so they've really made it work for each other because you know it is a bit of a juggle sometimes we don't always have the other the partner there to have the kids I'm in the same boat I've got young kids as well so we're fortunate at Hampton Oval parkrun that we do have two fantastic playgrounds right at our doorstep there so it is a great parkrun to get the family involved And also to role model exercising in front of your kids as well. I do have other families come down there who try and get their kids involved as well. And it's a good way to show what being active is and having a healthy lifestyle.
Mark Scarborough: Yeah, no, it's good. You're right, the playground there is certainly a drawcard for a lot of families is having toilets and having a playground nearby. So, yeah. Well, thank you for your time today and best of luck. You're only relatively young parkrun, but it sounds like you're ticking all the boxes and doing wonderful things in the community.
Jess: Oh, thanks so much for having a chat.
Mark Scarborough: All right, thank you. As Mel mentioned on the pod last week, we did try to get to Port Hedland parkrun but unfortunately it was cancelled due to a music festival being held using part of the course. But all was not lost, we headed along to that music festival, enjoyed some local Western Australian music and had a great time out. So yeah that's us done at the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The next time we'll talk to you will be from Kununurra parkrun. But I just wanted to have a special shout out to everybody that is in lockdown and say our thoughts are with you. Obviously yourself Mel and Ollie, you've been locked down for quite a while but also our parkrun community back home in Canberra, our thoughts are with you. And we certainly recognise that we've been very fortunate to continue on our travels and roam this great land. Anyway, we'll talk to you next time on the parkrun adventurers.
Roving report Tracey Wood — Des Connor Park Junior parkrun
Tracey Wood: Good morning parkrunners, it's Tracey in a Tutu here and I'm at Des Connor Park Junior parkrun. I'm here nice and early and they're still setting up but why am I here early? Well those of us in the know know that if you get here early and you're marshalling you get a Marshal spot in the sun. If you get here a little later it's in the shade and it's a bit chilly. Today I'm just marshalling so not Walmart person but I'm going to go and find a couple of people to Okay, I've found Mark. Mark, I believe you're an event ambassador or Event Director. Tell me, what's your story?
Mark: Yes, I'm a Run Director and also an event ambassador. So I'm a Run Director at Wynnum parkrun and I help out with a few events in the ambassador role as well.
Tracey Wood: Excellent. Now, last week on the pod, they were just talking about time travel and I was wondering if you were the Doc Emmett Brown person who went from Brisbane to Canada last year and did the two parkruns in a day. Now, that wasn't you apparently, but you've done similar events.
Mark: Yes, that's right. It wasn't me. I didn't go to that level of effort, unfortunately. But, yeah, I did do the two parkruns across the Dateline. So I did Wynnum parkrun, my home parkrun in the morning, and then rushed off to the airport and then went over to Vancouver and did their parkrun as soon as I stepped off the plane.
Tracey Wood: Awesome. Well done, you. Now, we're here at Des Connor Park Junior parkrun today and you're obviously doing a role or two. What's your jobs today?
Mark: Today I'm helping out with the warm-up, so that's getting in front of the crowd and getting all the kids excited and warmed up ready to go.
Tracey Wood: That's a fun job, isn't it?
Mark: Yeah, it is fun. Trying to get the parents involved as well, if you can.
Tracey Wood: If they can, if they can put down their coffees.
Mark: Yeah, that's right. And then I'll just be handing out some finish tokens at the end as well.
Tracey Wood: Finish tokens. Is that fairly easy with all the kids charging through at the finish line?
Mark: Yeah, it is. It's not too bad. We've got a Funnel Manager as well at the Junior parkrun to help keep the kids in line, in order, in their finished position.
Tracey Wood: Excellent. And you help out here a lot. Do you have kids here or you just like being part of the community?
Mark: Yeah, Junior parkrun's really great. It's such good fun to watch the kids run around. You've got the speed demons at the front and then you've got the littlies at the back. Just seeing the effort and the satisfaction of them getting to the finish is really fun.
Tracey Wood: Yeah, it is funny, isn't it? All the enthusiasm showing on their faces. Yeah, they're such a good fun. All right, thanks for talking to us, Mark. Have a good day. No problem. Thank you. All right, I've got Andy here. Andy, I'm looking at the cones. Mate, what's happened? It's my first day. For the viewers at home, can you describe what we're looking at here?
Andy: So I dropped all the markers for the junior parkrun at Des Connor Park and it's not my finest work. The spacing's off. There's a bit of a dog leg around that tree up about 200 metre up. It's not pretty, but the course is accurate and that's the important part.
Tracey Wood: I'm sure they appreciate your efforts anyway, Andy. But you're also out marshalling and you've got the coveted number 10 position, which is right at the turnaround. And you've volunteered here a couple of times?
Andy: That's it, yeah. This is my Sunday morning thing at the moment when I don't have a shift at work. So it gets me out of the house. It helps the kids enjoy the day.
Tracey Wood: Yeah.
Andy: And, yeah, it's just a bit of fun, something different.
Tracey Wood: So you've got children here doing it?
Andy: No, no, this is just my something that is not work related.
Tracey Wood: That's something that is not work related. Excellent. And you do parkrun as well on a Sunday?
Andy: I do. My home one's Chermside, but a bit of a tourist as well. Yeah? Ticking them off the list as I go.
Tracey Wood: Fantastic. What's on your radar now?
Andy: I've been told if you want to run fast, run Kedron. So that's next week.
Tracey Wood: Excellent. All right. Well, I might see you there sometime. Thanks for talking with me.
Andy: No problem.
Tracey Wood: Now I've got Kiralee here. She's the Run Director.
Kiralee ("Sass"): Kiralee, also known as Sass. Is that right? That's right. Yep, I've had Sass forever. It started as a kid and now it's just stuck.
Tracey Wood: Can you explain? It sounds like a good story.
Kiralee ("Sass"): Not a great story. Just my older brother used to call me Sassafras to annoy me and before you knew it, it was a family thing and it had spread. It's easier to remember than Kiralee, so I find Sass gets used a lot more than Kiralee these days, but I have this fun. I like it. Anyway, Juniors is finished for the day. Packing up is happening. Thanks, Pat. How did it all go today? It went fantastically. We had a larger group come out today than last week, made the most of the weather that wasn't too hot or cold. Lots of happy faces, lots of happy parents, so couldn't ask for a better morning. Fantastic. Well, thanks for talking with us. Not a problem.
Tracey Wood: You've got to get home to your buddy, so thanks for putting it on today for us. Not a problem. Thank you. Bye. Bye. And that's all from me, Tracey in a Tutu, Channel 5 Newsreader in training at Des Connor Park Junior parkrun here in Brisbane. And for the lovely Belinda who was asking how I was going on my challenge, let's see. Okay, I've chatted so far to marshal at Kedron, a VI Guide at Sandgate. I also chatted to Anandi at Kedron. I spoke to a first-timer person at Mudry Bar last week. I've briefly spoken to Tail Walker at Bunyaville. And today I've added another three. Mark was doing warm-up and finish tokens and Andy was doing pre-event set-up. So eight down, only another 19 to go. See you next week, guys. Have a good week. See you on the B-side.
Streaky September
Pippa White: Hi, it's Pippa from the UK. I'm very definitely from the UK this time, not from a field in France. Last time we heard from TOC talking about what a streak is, two kilometres walk or run, a little bit more if you cycle, a little bit less if you swim, somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes of exercise. And we heard from Alison talking about streaking in an airport where she was fog bound. At the point we get started on the streaky adventure, what's really important, particularly at the beginning, is to know where your two kilometres are or can be. From the house I'm living in at the moment, there's a green space outside. And it's about 400 metres around this green space. So five laps is two kilometres. Alternatively, I can walk to the bottom entrance of Warwick Racecourse, Weathers parkrun, and there and back. And again, that's two kilometres. And it can be really important, particularly in lockdown, to know where these relatively short distances are that keep you within rules or keep you within what's asked and expected of you. So my challenge to you this week is to find your two kilometres, shoes on one morning or one evening, keep an eye on the watch, keep an eye on the phone, walk, turn around at one kilometre and then see where you've got to. If you're lucky enough to have a loop, then that's really fantastic. And then on a bad day, when it all seems to be going wrong, just go out and do that two kilometres. Happy streaking!
Melissa Ellis: Thank you, Mark, Tracey and Pippa, giving us some fabulous tips to start us off for Streaky September, Ollie.
[other]
Emails
Andy: But... You've got mail.
Oliver Spake: We've got some mail first up. We do, Mel. We've got mail from Eman. He wrote to us and said, Hey, guys, South Toowoomba parkrun had the pleasure of having Olympian Pat Tiernan participate this morning, followed by an inspirational interview with Robbie afterwards. What an amazing athlete following that gutsy run in the 10,000 metres Tokyo Olympic finals. I would love to have been there, but I hugely underestimated day two post-welcoming the latest member of our parkrun family, a daughter, named Juno for Christine and I. We welcomed her on Thursday, the 26th of August, and despite wearing my parkrun gear the night before, I did not anticipate the sleep deprivation as a new dad. That said, I look forward to some sub-20 minute pram parkruns and parkrun adventures in due course. Eman.
Melissa Ellis: Congratulations, Eman, and I did see that on Strava as well. Very exciting news. Welcome, baby Juno.
Oliver Spake: Yes, I think she's going to be well introduced to the parkrun love, the passion that is parkrun and well supported by the South Toowoomba community, I am sure as well.
Melissa Ellis: And I saw a beautiful photo of Eman holding baby Juno in his, is it South Toowoomba club? Shirt.
Oliver Spake: Yeah, yeah. Hopefully the sleep improves for you guys. It's all worth it. You will look back one day once you've had a sleep. But in the meantime, the positivity will outweigh that deprivation, I am sure. Yes. And speaking of positivity... Wasn't that lovely to see Pat rock up and show some great support at South Toowoomba and, of course, the South Toowoomba team doing a fantastic job of sharing that experience with another great interview?
Melissa Ellis: It was. I watched Robbie's interview with Pat and I was very impressed. He does a good job, Robbie.
Oliver Spake: So what a parkrun morning that must have been.
Melissa Ellis: But, Ollie, there was some visitors again this week.
Dazza's
Melissa Ellis: We were back at Dazza's Cafe. Yes.
Oliver Spake: We were, we were, and we did hear from some other parkrun mornings, so probably let's kick off with our collection of actual parkrunners. So Claire Stutchbury collected a four for Jack's Wilson Index this morning at Ecco Ripley. Not an E like everyone else. The undulations were not forgiving. Our 95th event, 32nd Queensland and 39th in our tourist streak.
Unidentified speaker: Mm-hmm.
Oliver Spake: and we heard from Val Warwick volunteering this last parkrun of winter, and it felt like it. Coffee this morning was before the first run arrived back in the hope of unfreezing my fingers. We didn't stay with the others for our normal parkrun get-together because we're off to the footy in Lonnie, wearing our red and white this afternoon. Meanwhile, Linda Coombes at Warwick parkrun, at minus one degrees for me, Mother Nature getting in her blast of winter. Actually, with poor old Bella Dog, it was more like a 250 metre wild sprint, followed by a one kilometre of walk, 500 metre of slow dawdle, then 250 metres of the world's biggest puppy anchor before I tied her up and finished the second lap. at a slightly faster pace. And Mel, report here from Pip is pretty impressive. Hi, Dazza. I took 19 minutes and 15 seconds off my last parkrun at Warwick Racecourse. So all the cake, please, and a latte and some water. I ran with Christine Imbert in one of my UCS buffs. And we know what that is, of course.
Melissa Ellis: Ugly Christmas Singlet. Yeah.
Oliver Spake: And not to be left out of the achievements at parkrun Morning, Janet Reid. Another new record was set at Lochiel Park parkrun today, the tallest coffee cup tower.
Melissa Ellis: Oh, I like it. And moving to our Not parkrunners, Ollie, we had Caro Vos. Not parkrun along the Woy Woy parkrun path. The Spoonville is growing. And Alison King, a wet not parkrun walk at 6 a.m. for me. Then I baked marble cake and rock cakes. Just six more recipes to go in my cookbook challenge. And Bernadette Bennett. Okay, I've got to get ready for this one. Get my singing voice on.
Oliver Spake: Warm up.
Melissa Ellis: There's nothing more lonesome, morbid or drear than to not parkrun past 13 pubs with no beer.
Oliver Spake: work Bernadette and photos to reflect that too yes
Melissa Ellis: And Ingrid Botha, I completed an alpine ski race, the seven kilometre Joey Hoppet, virtually of course, and all within my five kilometre zone. Chris Fraser, too much vert on the Cirque de Mangaton course. Cirque de Mangaton, Ollie? Cirque de Mangaton is right, yes. Okay. Well done, Mel. Cirque de Mangaton course, five kilometres plus 1K COVID tax. Yes. I struggle with these. Okay. And Sonja Pohlman. Pancakes while watching others do their parkruns. A (not)parkrun for us later today.
Oliver Spake: And our Bailey shot. Tanya Bailey. Woodend Beach, not parkrun today in a not too cold drizzly morning. Lovely run through the forest. Two parkrunners and a bark runner. This photo is for you, Mel. And did we see the rubber ducky?
Melissa Ellis: Yes.
Oliver Spake: Yes. Yes. Brett Bailey, Woodend Beach, not parkrun in the plantation today. Wet shoes after Brunner decided to tow me through a puddle. Rebecca Bailey opted for an evening not parkrun today around Banksia Avenue course. Clouds came in but still got a nice shot of the lake under the bridge.
Melissa Ellis: And back to our Not parkrunners, we have Abigail's mum. Not parkrun completed at Wyndham Vale, followed by a cheeky painkiller in almost spring sunshine. Thanks again to Ellis Palace parkrun for encouraging me to lockdown day drink.
The Informant: Not guilty.
Melissa Ellis: And Tony O'Connell, a dose of sunshine for me, taken with a side dish of sand and a run on the beach. And Richard, sleeping after night duty. And over to Sam Schroder, week nine of the Love Shack Not parkrun was all about cows this week. They came running over to the fence when they saw me. I think we're friends. And Jodie Maisie spent a lovely morning with Brendan Peel catching up on some Paralympics.
Oliver Spake: And look, another highlight of the day, Mel, Rebecca Scott claiming this little guy as an excuse to stay in bed three years and 51 weeks until he gets his barcode. His dad is off to Mount Gambier parkrun to brag about him to his parkrun family. And thank you, Rebecca, for the image. We got to meet little Teddy or Edward Peter Scott, if we were to be formal, born last Saturday at 5.12 a.m. the 21st of August at 4.26 kilos, or what's that, 9 pounds 6 ounces and 54 centimetres.
Melissa Ellis: Nice work. And congratulations, Rebecca. Yes. More little pod babies, Ollie, and we didn't have to have them. Yes.
Oliver Spake: Yes, that's right. That's right. Our podcast community are really keeping the efforts strong. So congratulations. Yes.
Melissa Ellis: But Ollie, Streaky September is here.
Oliver Spake: Yes.
Melissa Ellis: And you've got a Bingoe card. Well done. I'm very proud of you. I'm very, very proud of you.
Oliver Spake: We've got a Bingoe card. And look, it was a group effort once again. So thank you to everyone who contributed. We've loved the ideas. Would have loved to include them all. So hey, maybe we just need to have a lot of level up challenges. Watch out.
Melissa Ellis: We can do that.
Oliver Spake: Watch out, gang.
Melissa Ellis: I think traditionally we have to announce one in every episode in September.
Oliver Spake: Perfect. Yes, we can certainly do that.
Melissa Ellis: But you have to add them in on the card because I can't do that.
Oliver Spake: I can do that. I'm no artist like some of our contributors, but I can manage that. Now, of course, Mel, for anyone that hasn't joined the Streaky September group, where can they be found?
Melissa Ellis: On Facebook?
Oliver Spake: Yes.
Melissa Ellis: Yes, so we've got a Facebook group and you just need to Google Streaky September. Spell correctly this year, you will be proud to know.
Oliver Spake: That's a novelty.
Melissa Ellis: We also have... We also have a Strava group, Ollie, the parkrun Adventures Streaky September, the parkrun adventurers Streaky September even.
Oliver Spake: I look forward to seeing that. And that Strava group, Mel, will be particularly useful for one of our challenges. So it's probably time for anyone that, I don't know, hasn't been on Facebook for the week and hasn't seen the Bingoe card. So that is some of us. It's time to talk about the challenges. And first to note... If for any reason you are not on Facebook and want to receive said Bingoe card, send us an email.
Melissa Ellis: And, Ollie, can I just say too, for people that aren't on Facebook, I'm going to upload a copy of the Streaky September Bingoe card to the Strava group.
Oliver Spake: Ah, good thinking, Mel.
Melissa Ellis: As an announcement. So hopefully that helps.
Oliver Spake: Yes, yes, that's excellent. All right, so our streaky September Bingoe card includes getting a selfie with a park bench.
Melissa Ellis: That's for you, Chantelle.
Oliver Spake: We had to include that. Of course, with many of us locked down, isolated, or maybe just a little isolated from some of our parkrun friends, our fellow parkrunners, we've got a streak with a friend, but... You can be creative about how you do that. So find an opportunity. You could take a troll. Yes, exactly. It can be any friend and you can streak with them in real life or virtually. Please follow local restrictions. Stay within whatever area should you be restricted to areas and let us know how you go. Now, one that might be a little easier for some, Mel, is the flightless bird photo. So in case you haven't worked it out from the Bingoe card, there are a couple of images on there with a few suggestions of said flightless birds. So you could have a photo with, I don't know, an emu, a chicken, penguin and I'm going to trust that I'm right with this flightless bird thing so please please feedback uh is welcome should I be wrong and of course for our friends across the ditch a kiwi well done Ollie I'm very impressed good little images there too Yes, yes. And look, we do respect that some of these flightless birds may not extend to your region. So if you need to get creative, let us know. And we look forward to seeing those pictures. Look, one goes without saying, record a (not)parkrun. Should have probably led with that one. Now the streaky Strava art is back and there's no set art. It's free reign, free time. So get creative. We'd love to see what you have to offer. We can always level up.
Melissa Ellis: It could be a toilet.
Oliver Spake: Yes. I would love that.
Melissa Ellis: Reference to Mel Erbacher's previous attempt at streaky Strava art that looks like a toilet.
Oliver Spake: That's right. So yeah, check out some of those past streaky September Strava art entries because it has been an absolute staple for streaky September if you need a bit of inspiration.
Melissa Ellis: And this one right up the alley of our friends Mick and Pete from the Freebirds group.
Oliver Spake: Yes. And of course, what's parkrun without brunch? So we encourage everyone. In fact, you've got to tick it off. You've got to grab a coffee at Dazza's. So yeah, we hope to see as many of you as possible at Dazza's and tick that one off.
Melissa Ellis: And in case you're listening for the very first time, Dazza's Cafe is a regular Saturday morning Facebook post that we have on the parkrun adventurers Facebook page at 8 o'clock for the parkrun adventurer community to check in and let us know how their morning went.
Oliver Spake: That's right. And hey, look, if you happen to tick off one of your other challenges, why not share it? You could quite literally knock off two birds with one stone. Well, that's not quite literal, but... Two flightless birds. Two flightless birds. Tick off two challenges. You get what I'm trying to say. Next, you have to find a stranger thing. So... We know that in the past we've seen street signs, letterboxes. Gnomes. So find something. Gnomes, exactly. Find something. Find many of these things. The more stranger things, the better. Let's flood this. Something that shouldn't be there. So you can take the inspiration from the letterbox or the street sign, or if there's something right out there, we want to see it. The stranger, the better. Yeah. Now, I really wish it had been September, but on a Bass Point not parkrun, I found a toilet on the side of the road, so I had a great picture of that. It's gone now, sadly. Bugger. And last but not least for now is to run with a podcast or I suppose it's a mini level up, the Zombies Run app. I highly recommend if you want to hear that breathing just to breathe down your neck and spur you on a little faster.
Melissa Ellis: I'm excited, Ollie, because my new headphones arrived today. So that means tomorrow I can go out and do my very first Abel Township mission.
Oliver Spake: That's right. That's right. And look, for anyone that hasn't heard previous episodes or isn't familiar with the app, you can find the Zombies Run app in, I'm assuming, a Play Store or an App Store. Look it up. Sing out if you need a hand, if you want to give it a go. And Mel, run.
Melissa Ellis: Actually, I won't do it tomorrow because tomorrow will be the 31st. I'll wait till the 1st.
Oliver Spake: Yes.
Melissa Ellis: So then I can tick it off my Bingoe card.
Oliver Spake: You can line it up. So there you are, adventurers. There's our first Bingoe card for Streaky September. We hope you enjoy and we look forward to seeing many of those challenges being ticked off and shared in the Streaky group.
Melissa Ellis: Absolutely. I can't wait to get onto it. Not a tutu or pyjama to be seen this year.
Oliver Spake: No, well, not yet anyway. But, Mel, that's probably enough looking forward for now.
the Informant
Oliver Spake: It's probably time we look back and check in with our good friend, the informant.
[music]
The Informant: This is the informant. These are unofficial stats. They are only current at the time they are collected and may differ from the stats you read elsewhere. Thank you, thank you. No need to applaud. Yes, I knew you'd be very excited to hear my dulcet tones back on the airwaves. Filming that video got me all nostalgic. Remember the old days when we had time to do topical stats? The old days before babysitting interns? This week I'm thinking all about 250s. There are 10,741 parkrunners worldwide who have completed 250 runs or more. There are 1,551 runners who have completed 250 parkruns on Australian soil. And 119 runners who have completed 250 on New Zealand soils. Rob Allen was the slowest person to reach 250 runs in 833 weeks. Rob ran his first at Bushy Park number 45, and just recently got his 250th on the 24th of July at Bushy number 835. David Bull is the fastest with 235 weeks. Now I know you're gonna try and fact check me on that one, so let me help you out. Yo, it's legit. 45 people have ran at more than 250 locations. Two have ran 250 Australian locations. 3,781 people have ran at the same event 250 times. 399 of those are Aussie events, and 72 are New Zealand events. And though I don't have the stats, there are certainly many legendary volunteers out there who have many 250 stats of their own. So before we get back to our regular programming, a big shout out to you all, the lifeblood of parkrun. In the week it was, globally the number of events was down 15, but participation numbers are swelling. There were 1,156 runs taking place in 17 countries. There were 210 in Australia, down 24, and New Zealand still on the country-wide break. All other countries are on similar numbers as last week. Check out the blog. There were six launches. One in the Netherlands, two in Poland, two in Russia, and one in the UK. Aussie New Zealand attendance was down 1,000-ish to 17,513, out of 162,776 worldwide, which is 3,500-ish higher than last week. Down under, we had 2,289 PBs, while 542 people participated for the first time. 37 juniors reached the Junior 10 milestone, 98 people reached their 50 milestone, 59 reached their 100 milestone, and 12 people reached their 250 milestone.
[17 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]
The Informant: Eleven people called bingo. Brenton Parker was the quickest with 184 events. Kylie Mui was the slowest person taking 324 events. Six new statesmen this week, all from the Northern Territory. Darcy Bagley, Graham Toddy, Vivian Henderson, Fiona Hassan, Ben Roeth and Joanne Gamer. On the top 20 most Aussie New Zealand events list, Jim Woodruff is the only movement moving up to equal 6 on 171 events, equal with Aaron Hardy. Overall biggest mover was Erica Leota, moving up 16 places to 222. Biggest mover on the Wilson Index is Nick Jenter who moves up 12 points to 15. And that brings me to the end of the report. Happy 250th. Thanks hosts past and present. Thanks interviewees and content providers. And thanks to my thousands of fans who don't bother me by sending in fan mail. No, that's okay. Wouldn't want to get a paper cut opening the mail. To see these stats in full, look for The Informant on Facebook. Or visit the blog at www.theinformant.me. That's the informant, all one word, .me. Thanks for listening. I'll be back in another five or so years for the 500th. This has been The Informant, and my spreadsheet remains bigger than yours.
Melissa Ellis: Nice to hear back from our OG informant, Ollie. Weren't on the street with all the work he's done this week. He wants a pay rise.
Oliver Spake: I think we might have to have a bit of a budget discussion. Let's take it offline.
Melissa Ellis: Another Zoom meeting. Yeah, we need a Zoom meeting.
Oliver Spake: We love it. I mean, who can get enough of Zoom meetings right now?
Melissa Ellis: Oh, good grief. But, Ollie.
Oliver Spake: No, no, hang on. You know what really bugs me about the Zoom meetings with the informant? Never turns the camera on. Never turns the camera on. It's like he's hiding something.
Melissa Ellis: He's struggling with technology. Something I can't get enough of at the moment, though, Ollie, we've got the Paralympics.
Oliver Spake: Yes, yes.
Melissa Ellis: And how exciting, Saturday morning, I know there was a few of us watching Jaryd Clifford in the 5000 metres, the Paralympic parkrun. Yep. And didn't he do well to get that silver medal? And he ran his guts out. So close. He is well known to parkrunners because he was featured back in July last year by Sally Heppleston in a parkrun Live. Yes.
Oliver Spake: Yeah. Yeah. No, I remember that. It was a fantastic discussion and so nice to see him out there. He was just... touching absolutely touching you know hearing him talk afterwards you can just tell he just put everything in uh so well done Jaryd and thank you Sally of course for sharing that previously too yes he's got two events yet to come Ollie he is running tomorrow in the 1500 metres in recording time yep yep
Melissa Ellis: It will have been run and won by the time the pod comes out. But in any case, he's got that. And he is also competing in the marathon, and that is another brilliant story because he accidentally qualified for the marathon.
Oliver Spake: It's just incredible.
Melissa Ellis: Absolutely incredible. Yeah. So he was pacing another athlete for a part of the marathon qualifier and he must have only been supposed to pace the other athlete for the first part of the marathon, but then- When it came time for him to pull away, the other athlete was struggling a little bit with some cramping and he thought, well, I've come – like I can't have run this far and leave him at this point where he's hurting. So he kept with him. And then when he finally did decide that he was not able to continue with his – pacing efforts and he did pull away. His coach came up to him and he said, you know what, Jaryd, you could just jog this and still break the Paralympic record for your class. And so he did, he kept going and then qualified for the Paralympic marathon.
Unidentified speaker: Just incredible.
Melissa Ellis: Yeah. I'm sorry if I made a mess of recounting that story. But, I mean, what a story.
Oliver Spake: And, again, I think he just seems so, obviously, so impassioned. He's just... Yeah, he's someone you can really get behind, that's for sure. As you said, he gave it his all in the race I've seen so far, and I really do look forward to watching him for the rest of the week. Go, Jaryd. And, Mel, I did also note Madison de Rozario, sorry, Madison, for butchering your name, who was featured in Episode 151 of the parkrun adventurers. She won gold in the 800 metres T53. So...
Melissa Ellis: Well done, Madison.
Oliver Spake: Far out. So, look, and many, many, many more achievements. It's been fantastic to see some familiar names popping up in the support crews, I suppose even behind the scenes, some familiar names as well.
Melissa Ellis: Yes, definitely. And we wish all the Paralympians all the best for the rest of the Games. And, Ollie, Lyndell's been over there. We didn't even mention that. Yeah.
Oliver Spake: Yeah, I reckon. I reckon. Our own Channel 5 News crew member out there, part of the esteemed company that's out there, what, officiating? Do we call it officiating?
Melissa Ellis: Yes, she's an official over there in Japan. So we hope you've had a fantastic experience, Lyndell. I do believe you might be on your way home now. So we hope that we can catch up with you as well.
Oliver Spake: Can't wait to hear about it.
Melissa Ellis: But, Ollie, on a more local level, there's another competition that's been running pretty hot.
Oliver Spake: Speaking of can't wait to hear about it, yeah.
Melissa Ellis: The end of last week's pod, there might have been reference made to a certain not parkrun tally.
Oliver Spake: You're referring to the challenge.
Melissa Ellis: Our dear little Abby. She's pretty proud of Wyndham Vale.
Oliver Spake: I can understand why.
Melissa Ellis: Again, this last parkrun Day Gone, they topped the country at Wyndham Vale with 64 participants at their (not)parkrun.
Oliver Spake: Yeah. Yeah. What a bunch.
Melissa Ellis: How many did you get?
Oliver Spake: Me? I was one participant.
Melissa Ellis: What about that parkrun that you run at?
Unidentified speaker: Yeah.
Oliver Spake: Yes. So look, it has been a badge of pride that I have been noticing a bronze for Shellharbour in our participation for the (not)parkruns week in, week out for a number of weeks. And Wyndham Vale, I have noted you have been up there. So too Campbelltown. Kudos to the Campbelltown crew with your silvers. But what a fantastic performance and great participation from the Wyndham Vale crew. And Mel, I don't know what's happened. It's like all you Victorians just woke up. Like things changed this week.
Melissa Ellis: I reckon Wyndham Vale did the Bradbury because I checked in, I'm sure it was only Saturday afternoon I checked in on the tally and I'm sure that Inverloch was one or two, maybe less than five ahead of Wyndham Vale and leading. And, yeah, Wyndham Vale rallied.
Oliver Spake: So well done, Abby. I mean, Wyndham Vale. We go again. It's another week.
Melissa Ellis: Wow.
Oliver Spake: A lot of fun. And Mel... It's hard to say it, but I guess is this the point of the pod where we say, well, as always, everyone can contact us via Facebook or our email, which is parkrunadventurers at gmail.com, and we say that's it for another week or no, wait. Heck, this is the 250th milestone episode. I'm sure that we can prolong this celebration just a little bit further. Why don't we just try and call in some friends?
[other]
Melissa Ellis: I like that idea.
Interview Melissa Erbacher — Former co-host of the parkrun adventurers podcast (2016-2020)
Melissa Erbacher: Hello, Melissa speaking. Hi, it's Melissa. Yes, this is Melissa.
Melissa Ellis: No, I mean Melissa from the parkrun adventurers podcast.
Melissa Erbacher: Oh, hi. Yeah, that's, well, that was me. It's not actually me anymore. Funnily enough, there's another Melissa who co-hosts the pod now. She's awesome too.
Melissa Ellis: Oh, thanks. And yes, I know it's Melissa Ellis.
Melissa Erbacher: Yeah, that's her. If you're a fan of the pod, I'm sure she'd love to speak to you. I've got a number somewhere. Sorry, just for privacy. I should probably check with her first that she doesn't mind me giving it to you. What was your name?
Melissa Ellis: Melissa Ellis. It's me.
Melissa Erbacher: Sorry, I think you're still confused. This is Mel Erbacher. You've called Mel Erbacher, not Mel Ellis. I know it's really easy to get mixed up. Two Mels on the same pod, even co-hosting together quite a few times. Both of us love costumes and adventuring. Totally understandable.
Melissa Ellis: Maybe you should have nicknames so people could tell the difference.
Melissa Erbacher: Oh, that would have been helpful, actually. Have you got any suggestions?
Melissa Ellis: Well, how about a bananas in pyjamas take? Bananas in pyjamas? Yeah, you know, like, are you thinking what I'm thinking, Mel 1? I think I am, Mel 2. It's pod time.
Melissa Erbacher: I'll have to suggest that one to Melissa Ellis. I reckon it'll give her a proper tackle. You're funny.
Melissa Ellis: I'm pretty sure she'll be on board.
Melissa Erbacher: Awesome. Well, it's been lovely chatting with you. Oh, sorry, I just realised I still didn't catch your name. I'm your number one fan. You'll have to fight Mel Ellis for that title. She's my number one fan.
Melissa Ellis: I reckon I could take her down.
Melissa Erbacher: Good luck with that. She's got some sass and she's multi-talented. I think we'd agree she's got some mad potting skills too. She and Ollie are doing such a great job with the podcast.
Melissa Ellis: I hear they're up to episode 250 this week. That's kind of a big deal.
Melissa Erbacher: They are. How amazing is that? What a ride.
Melissa Ellis: It's been an amazing ride and we're very honoured to continue it.
Melissa Erbacher: Oh, that's a nice thing for a listener to say. I'm sure Mel Ellis and Ollie will be super excited to hear from you when... Well, I've got to get your name. Actually, you know what? How about you should just send them an email. They barely ever get emails on the pod, and I know because I never got emails on the pod either, even when it was me and Scotty. So, yeah, if you just want to send an email to parkrunadventurers at gmail.com, I'm sure they will be super excited to hear from you. But I've got to go. Thank you for the chat. It was really lovely to speak to you. I'm really terrible at ending conversations, so I'm just going to go. Bye.
Melissa Ellis: Thank you, Mel. It's been so lovely to hear your voice again.
[other]
Hotline
Interview Scott Trickett — Original co-host of the parkrun adventurers podcast; founding host from 2016 to episode…
Melissa Ellis: Hello, is this the parkrun adventurers Hotline?
Scott Trickett: Hang on. I need a moment. I've waited years for this call. Yes, it is. How can I help?
Oliver Spake: Oh, great. Look, long time listener. Took me a while to make a call, but hey, just wanted to make an inquiry about the Contiki tour. We're still going ahead. Can I make a booking through the desk here?
Scott Trickett: You're bringing back some memories. So first, one of my fondest memories is the hotline. And the Contiki Tour, still in the works. It was a bloody good idea. It was a bloody good idea. And everything worth doing takes time. So I'm happy to take your booking.
Oliver Spake: Excellent, excellent.
Scott Trickett: And hopefully one day it'll come true. No guarantees.
Oliver Spake: We live in hope, but we'll be there, absolutely, when it's all possible. But, yeah, of course, it's Scotty, isn't it? It's the funny one from the parkrun adventurers hosts. You know, Scotty, I was part of the 11% who voted for keeping the poem zone.
Scott Trickett: Oh, you know, you... You were always my favourite. You were the one that I wanted to replace me when that choice came and I knew that you'd be on board with the Poem Zone. Did you check, was it only 11%? Or did you just make that up?
Oliver Spake: No, look, I have done the research. Okay. I have enjoyed some back catalogues. Okay. And, yeah, 11%. Who would have thought? I thought it was a raging success.
Scott Trickett: Yeah, look, the Poem Zone, it's still got potential, and I don't know. Look, I'll admit I'm a few weeks behind. I've been honest and upfront with you and Mel about that, you know, off air. But if you want to bring back the Poem Zone – You know, sometimes things just take time to catch on. And yeah, I mean, is the audience better now that we've gone? I imagine it would be. So there's more poets out there willing to offer their contributions.
Oliver Spake: Well, that's right. That's a good point, Scotty. We'll have to put out the call. And look, just, I suppose, reflecting, funnily enough, 2021, who would have thought, has actually been a real year of achievements. The pods reached its 250 milestone and you've achieved stopwatch bingo. I mean, what's left to achieve, really?
Scott Trickett: Yeah, the stopwatch bingo was, it was a sort of a thrill when it popped up. I didn't remember at the time. But it wasn't soon until people actually started messaging me with congratulations. And so that was good. Achievements, like it's a bit boring. Um, what, what's left to achieve? Uh, I got fit. So, you know, lockdown, um, has really sucked in a lot of ways for so many people, particularly with what it's taken away from parkrun. We've all done that to death. Um, but what I managed to do is get fit. Last year and this year. So I kind of want a new PB. I got one. I've already got a new PB. I want to go sub 20. I want to be like you, Ollie. I want to be, it's okay to aspire to be a bit quicker. So that's what I'd like to achieve. And if we ever get back to parkrun. You know, I like the idea of creating a new event again. There's some things in the works and, yeah.
Oliver Spake: Okay. Well, look, I appreciate you calling me fast. Thanks, Scotty. Checks in the mail.
Scott Trickett: Well, I have been listening. I knew what you've achieved. Exactly. You're always in the top ten and, yeah.
Oliver Spake: Yeah. Oh, look, I try. I try. And, yeah, look, I appreciate that and I'm sure you're going to hit it. You're absolutely going to hit it. Now, I know that there have been many highlights over the 250 episodes and so many involving you. Mel, that is the Ellis one, of course, and I've been reminiscing about some of our favourite segments. We've even managed to rehash a guest or two as well, of course. A perlustration might be fun, but tell me, what segment would you bring back?
Scott Trickett: Yeah, good question, bring back well I know you guys brought back madness um yes yes I've got a I've got a point to pick with you there like I thought I was the reigning champ um but obviously not because I haven't been invited back onto madness so I love I love that you continue that uh The hotline was great, the poem zone. You've hit all the highlights. The perlustration, that was just me really fishing for ideas of where to take the pod. Give people what they want. So actually literally blatantly ask them. I had this – I can say this now because we're no longer the hosts. I always had this idea that Mel would never let me do. It was like a bracket breakdown. And With Me Now did it on social where they asked. Yes. Because it's the prettiest, right? Yes. But that doesn't work when you ask for a popular vote. It just goes to the event with the most amount of parkrunners. So I just wanted it to be completely opinionated from Mel and I, where we just did a bracket breakdown and we got to the point where we nominated, you know, the prettiest or the best, God forbid, parkrunner I ever do. So just for a bit of fun. Everything's a bit of fun, isn't it? But of course, people do take things very seriously. So we never did it.
Oliver Spake: Yeah. Well, both can coexist, but all right. Noted. Noted. Thanks for the tip. Okay. And look, before I say goodbye, because I know this call is timed, I understand you're sitting on 99 global parkrun events. Any plans for the 100th? Post lockdown, of course. Yeah.
Scott Trickett: Yeah, so I got right to 99, and the last one I did was a new event, and it did dawn on me that I was very close. No plans. I don't even know when I'm going to get to parkrun again, but I just want to make it fun. I just want to take parkrun back to being fun. Is that a pretty simplistic view, but you know? That's what it's all about at the end of the day. You know, you get up in the morning on a Saturday morning and you plan what you're doing with your mates or you hope you're going to meet some new mates and you might get fitter in the process. You might get to drink a bit of coffee or whatever. Just have a bit of fun. Or a doughnut. Whatever it is.
Oliver Spake: Yep.
Scott Trickett: Yeah, doughnut.
Oliver Spake: Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's right. Okay, so fun's on the cards for the 100. Fun's on the cards, yeah. That's good. I think that sounds like a plan. Well, well done. 99 is a very impressive number. It's not 250, but still pretty good. Now, how about a song to take us out, Scotty?
Scott Trickett: Oh, look. Do you know how much work went into those efforts of mine to produce that singing? I mean, people think... You know, the 99 Luftballons recording, Actually, maybe it was just one take. I can't remember. But, yeah, so a song. Now, look, Kanye West dropped his album this week, but a middle-aged white guy rapping on a parkrun podcast. I don't know if I want that as my lasting legacy. Also, maybe inappropriate for a middle-aged white guy, you know. I'm quite fond of Taylor Swift, so maybe I could finish with happiness, you know. But I probably won't.
Oliver Spake: Well, I appreciate the thought. Yeah. Yeah, give us the heads up if you're going to change your name to just T. T. No.
Scott Trickett: No, I'll stick with Scotty. Scotty for now. Yeah. And it's not a hard no. Like, check your emails in a couple of days' time. I might drop something and send it to you. So...
Oliver Spake: Excellent. We'll stay tuned. Thank you, Scotty. And again, my reservation is in. I'm coming on the Contiki.
Scott Trickett: Okay, good. Good. It's you and me so far. Yeah, I don't know if Mel's committed or either of the Mels have committed, but you and I will have a great time. Absolutely.
Oliver Spake: Absolutely.
Sign-off
Oliver Spake: Yep.
Scott Trickett: But just now let's get a bit serious. Thanks again publicly for you and to Mel for carrying the torch for the parkrun adventurers. Whatever we can do to spread the word of parkrun and get more people to do it, to experience it, to live it. That's a good thing. So thumbs up to Mel and Ollie for what you continue to do. I'll guarantee you I'll catch up and I'll try and listen in sync. And, you know, I've got enough time on my hands at the moment, so I should catch up in the next few weeks. Thanks again.
Oliver Spake: Well, that's the beauty of a podcast. It's there when you need it. And thank you to you and Mel for everything you've done. It's 250 is huge and we appreciate it. And we still look back and delight in episode one and everything that's come since. Thank you, Scotty.
Scott Trickett: Awesome. Thanks a lot.
[music]
Unidentified speaker: Hi Mel and Ollie. We did our five kilometre not parkrun this week with no dress ups, just normal people going for a normal walk. No crazy this week, but we still had fun. Happy 250th episode. Bye adventurers. Stay safe.