Episode 337 - Interference

Welcome

00:00:24Oliver Spake: Welcome to episode 337 of the parkrun adventurers podcast. I am Ollie Spake and I am joining from Dharawal Country.

00:00:33Melissa Ellis: And I am Melissa Ellis and I am coming to you from Wurundjeri Country.

00:00:37Oliver Spake: Somewhere I recognise, having been in the neighbourhood a little recently.

00:00:42Melissa Ellis: You were on Wurundjeri Country, weren't you? That's right. Because our fine city is on Wurundjeri Country.

00:00:50Oliver Spake: Thank you for having me too. Yes. In your fine city. Are you and all of the other Melbournians? Yes.

00:00:56Melissa Ellis: Ah, see, no, you've done it wrong again. Let's practice, Ollie. Melbourne.

00:01:03Oliver Spake: Melbourne.

00:01:05Melissa Ellis: Melburnian.

00:01:07Oliver Spake: Melburnian.

00:01:09Melissa Ellis: You're still sticking a little O in there somewhere.

00:01:12Oliver Spake: That's right. That's right. Yes.

00:01:15Melissa Ellis: But we'll come to that in a minute. I wanted to say 337 episodes. We're chugging along. But, Ollie, you know what? We never do. We never explain the podcast to people when we introduce it, you know, us being an unofficial podcast for parkrun.

00:01:32Oliver Spake: That's quite right. Yes. Yeah. So needless to say, I wasn't down there on official parkrun budget or official parkrun business. There's nothing official parkrun about us and certainly not really a budget per se either. Yeah, it's really just for the enjoyment of parkrun that we do this, isn't it, Mel, like everyone else?

00:01:55Melissa Ellis: It could be described as an extended hobby.

00:01:58Oliver Spake: Yes, that's right.

00:02:01Melissa Ellis: But definitely don't want people to think that we speak on behalf of parkrun. We try to report any parkrun-related news and we try to promote what we believe to be parkrun's ideals, I guess you could say, Ollie, and spread education on certain aspects, to do with volunteering or attendance at certain events but uh yeah we are just two people doing this in our own time so welcome if you're new to listening welcome to Ollie and Mel sitting here just uh having a yarn about parkrun for about an hour for us it's our Monday nights

00:02:44Oliver Spake: And thanks to Mel's editing, a little bit more of your week, Mel.

00:02:49Melissa Ellis: Tuesday night and Wednesday night.

00:02:51Oliver Spake: That's right.

00:02:52Melissa Ellis: Saturday afternoon, Sunday.

00:02:55Oliver Spake: It's made possible through a lot of help and contributions too, not least those that correct us on our pronunciation, which is one of my favourite things. Because that's how we learn. And parkrun being a global community movement means there are global terminologies that we are faced with from time to time, new words, new pronunciations. And it's A lot of enjoyment to learn about that along the way. So I always appreciate the offerings of our parkrun community, our adventurer community, and, of course, the contributions of the many of you that get out there and share with us your experience, whether it's through a roving report, a Dazza's post, an email, or anything else. So, yeah, if you are new, as you say, Mel, if you are new, we always encourage you to reach out and, yeah, share with us your experience.

00:03:53Melissa Ellis: Yes, engage. We love engagement. We love hearing from our five listeners all the time.

00:03:59Oliver Spake: One day we'll get a sixth.

00:04:02Melissa Ellis: Okay, let's rewind back to you being in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Country. So you had a good time while you were here, I hope.

00:04:11Oliver Spake: Look, as holidays with kids go. Yes. It was peaceful. It was relaxing. No, it was an absolute ball to visit Melbourne and also to get the opportunity to go down to Phillip Island as well, which is, what's that, Bunurong Country?

00:04:30Melissa Ellis: Oh, that sounds good. You say that much better than you say Melbourne. Yeah.

00:04:36Oliver Spake: Thank you.

00:04:37Melissa Ellis: So perhaps stick to Wurundjeri.

00:04:40Oliver Spake: Yes. So we did have all sorts of plans floating around, but this was a birthday present to Zali, my 10-year-old, who is absolutely besotted with anything Harry Potter related to go and watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. So naturally, we made a three-night trip out of it, squeezed in the drive down to Phillip Island, the visit to the penguins. And while Kathy took Zali to the show, I took Ava to the zoo. And yeah, we did a whole lot of other things as well. But yeah, absolutely. A highlight, Mel, was whilst the others were laying in bed, the chance to come out and do a parkrun with you.

00:05:22Melissa Ellis: I know. That was a nice treat that we got to run together. And thank you for running with me and helping me get another number two.

00:05:32Oliver Spake: So this was my third Victorian event. I'm a little behind you on the Victorian events list. Just a bit. Yeah, a fair way. But yeah, my first trail parkrun in Victoria was And, yeah, I think for me, as I say, it was an absolute highlight to spend the parkrun in your company and in the company of a few others before, during and after the event. But first things first, it kind of took me back to what parkrun means to me, has always and hopefully always will, which is it's the weekly reset and, you know, the chance to do that in just such a peaceful environment. um a really enjoyable location with good company at a pace that that you know was a challenge um but yeah also you know very very pleasant and it just felt fresh so it was a nice way to to start the weekend did we say the name of the parkrun no No. So we were at Woodlands Historic Park, parkrun there.

00:06:38Melissa Ellis: We absolutely were. And we were there with Bill Lodwig, Errol Poole, Scott Trickett, Geoff Wiffen, Martine Barrot and Andrew Johnston, fellow adventurers. And I did speak to everybody except Bill. Bill, you have to come up and say hello if you're at a parkrun and you see us.

00:06:57Oliver Spake: Maybe Bill didn't see us. Maybe not. Maybe not.

00:07:00Melissa Ellis: No. Maybe he was out in front.

00:07:03Oliver Spake: Potentially, yes. Yeah, I think I did see in the results Bill was certainly up the finishers' table quite a bit. But Mel, yeah, a highlight. We thought we'd have two hosts of the parkrun adventurers there, but three. Yes. Three turned up.

00:07:18Melissa Ellis: Surprised to catch up with Scotty. That was nice. He is looking good and doing well. He might even listen if we mention his name enough times.

00:07:27Oliver Spake: That's right, quite possibly so. But, yeah, I don't know. How did that event rate for you, Mel, compared to your many, many other Victorian events?

00:07:40Melissa Ellis: Oh, I can't compare my children, Ollie.

00:07:43[laughter]

00:07:43Unidentified speaker: LAUGHTER

00:07:45Melissa Ellis: I think I might have been to Woodlands Historic Park years ago in a different type of an event. I used to do a bit of rogaining years ago. And what makes me think of that is that Andrew Johnston also does some rogaining. So I think I might have headed out when I used to live in the southeast to this very park and wandered around, wandered around the grounds looking for whatever it is you look for when you're doing rogaining little little um oh I was going to ask what is rogaining what is um I haven't had time to prepare that I'll come back to you next week no no You can run or you can walk and when you do it in an urban environment, so streets, you're running around streets with a map that doesn't have street names, navigating your way to find certain points at what point there's like a little hole punch where you hole punch your card to prove that you were there and then you run on to the next one and the person that comes back to the finish by a certain point in time with the most hole punches gets the highest score. Okay. How's that? Yeah.

00:08:57Oliver Spake: That's excellent, yes.

00:08:59Melissa Ellis: And rogaining is a version of that, only you don't do it in an urban environment. You do it in a park and you have to use natural features to navigate your way around. Oh, Andrew, I hope I did that justice.

00:09:12Oliver Spake: No, well, there's my introductory explanation. I'll have to do a bit more research myself and find out a bit more. But thank you for sharing. And look, I guess we could talk about the course and the event, Mel, but you actually managed to catch up, which we'll hear a little later on in the roving reports this week with our Event Director and Run Director on the day. So should I save the information for then?

00:09:38Melissa Ellis: Yes, let's listen to Jorge later and we can get everything from the horse's mouth.

00:09:46Oliver Spake: Yes, yes, but it's rare for me these days to have two consecutive weeks of parkruns away from home and remiss of me not to have wished Em from Shellharbour a happy birthday last week, which was on Sunday just past. So I did miss all the celebrations back home at Shellharbour and look forward to getting back there soon.

00:10:06Melissa Ellis: Well done on getting a Shellharbour mention.

00:10:09Oliver Spake: That's right. I hope you had a happy birthday, Em.

00:10:11Melissa Ellis: And happy birthday to Em.

parkrun news bulletin

00:10:12Melissa Ellis: Yeah.

00:10:13Oliver Spake: But, Mel, I think that's probably a tidy little segue to our news and discussion of this week because there has been another Australian record broken, not in the parkrun distance but the 1,500 metres, the female 1,500 metres by none other than Shellharbour parkrunner Jess Hull.

00:10:34Melissa Ellis: I need another sound effect for every time you mention Shellharbour because I miss not using my fine sound effect. I'll have to find a substitute. But, yes, anyway, Ollie, we did get notified by a friend of the pod, Michael Gentle, about this record that Jess broke over the weekend. I'm not sure what day it was. But in any case, yes, she ran 1,500 metres in 3 minutes 57.29, which was an Australian record by 1.52 seconds it was an oceania record her ninth Australian record her third occasion when she has broken the record she is number four in the world in 2023 number five commonwealth all-time

00:11:25Oliver Spake: Yep, yep.

00:11:26Melissa Ellis: The time would have placed her on the podium in all but two Olympics in history and won six of the last seven Olympic 1500s. The time would have won 16 out of the 18 1500 metre world championships in history and is the largest improvement in the record since 1996.

00:11:46Oliver Spake: which is quite huge. And those stats, yeah, thank you to our friend of the pod, Michael, and the stats courtesy of David Tarborton. But what an impressive set of stats. And might I add to that three Shellharbour parkrun PBs, and former course record holder of her 11 parkruns in total at Shellharbour. Excellent. Last joined us in 2016, but, yeah, clearly she's had other things to focus on. So congratulations, Jess. Thanks.

00:12:20Melissa Ellis: Yes, she's informed. She might come back to Australia and have a crack at the parkrun record. You never know.

00:12:26Oliver Spake: Yeah, wouldn't that be fun? But in other news this week, Mel, it's Global Running Day. So Global Running Day will occur between, well, between when we're recording this podcast and parkrun Day. So I'm expecting it's in the past for everyone listening at the moment, but Global Running Day began in the US in 2009 as National Running Day and and is a day that celebrates the sport of running. It is held annually on the first Wednesday of June. Participants of all ages and abilities pledge to take part in some type of running activity by submitting their names through the Global Running Day website. Global Running Day 2023 will take place on Wednesday, June 7. There is a Garmin badge to achieve for those who enjoy collecting those by recording a running activity on your Garmin watch. And parkrun partner Brooks are hosting a virtual five kilometre challenge on Strava to motivate you to connect with like-minded individuals to inspire, motivate and celebrate the power of running.

00:13:32Melissa Ellis: That's exciting. I am a Garmin badge collector, Ollie. I find that quite motivating.

00:13:36Unidentified speaker: Yeah.

00:13:38Melissa Ellis: So I'll be finding a way to record a short running activity on Wednesday to get my badge. What about yourself?

00:13:46Oliver Spake: I, well, firstly, I've been very lazy, but I hope to drag myself out on Wednesday. I have, however, stopped running with a Garmin. I've recently got a smartwatch that connects directly with Strava and I'm a bit torn because that works and I can listen to music on it, but it means no more Garmin. So life's just up in the air, to be honest. Yeah. It does feel a bit radically different. So, yeah, maybe for Global Running Day I'll just have to pull out the Garmin and use that.

00:14:21Melissa Ellis: Well, maybe you don't have to worry because if it goes to Strava, you'll still. Yeah, true, true. You can do the virtual challenge.

00:14:30Oliver Spake: Yes, provided I do 5Ks.

00:14:32Melissa Ellis: Oh, yeah, that's true. I'm pretty sure you would. You would do a 5K as a minimum, wouldn't you?

00:14:39Oliver Spake: I'd try to. I'd try to. What about you, Mel?

00:14:41Melissa Ellis: Oh, my minimum will be two. Just since the start of the year, I've been trying to get a minimum of 10,000 steps a day and a minimum of a 2K activity, just my own little streak that I've been challenging myself to.

00:14:58Oliver Spake: Yeah. Well, we might chuckle, but that's pretty impressive. And it's not something that I have consistently achieved at all. So, yeah, I think, yeah, keep it up, Mel. That's obviously a nice regime to have and, yeah, I hope one day to emulate that. Thanks. Yeah, so, look, that's, I think that's largely it in terms of our updates.

00:15:22Melissa Ellis: I'd say so, yes.

Roving reports & the Channel 5 News crew

00:15:24Melissa Ellis: Now it's probably a good time to throw to our roving reports and have a listen to, oh, sort of around the grounds around the countries.

Roving report Melissa Ellis — Woodlands Historic Park parkrun

00:15:42Melissa Ellis: Good morning, adventurers. I'm out here at Woodlands Historic Park parkrun.

00:15:47Melissa Ellis: I'm with the Event Director, Jorge. Good morning, Jorge. How are you?

00:15:51Jorge: Good. Awesome.

00:15:54Melissa Ellis: Now, it was event two today. How did it go?

00:15:56Jorge: It went quite well. So I was so happy to see new faces. So we got a good turnout. So it was beautiful. So despite the rain, so the weather, so I'm so happy that I saw many people today.

00:16:09Melissa Ellis: How many did we have here today?

00:16:11Jorge: Today we got 110 people. Okay. So that's good. So, you know, even when you know the weather is not... Perfect, but as I always say, the skin is waterproof.

00:16:21Melissa Ellis: That's exactly right. So would you like to give a course description for us?

00:16:25Jorge: Yes, so our course is really a 5K loop. It's more like a trail track, trail run. So it's really, you know, it's quite picturesque. So, you know, you're surrounded by kangaroos, by big trees, but you are really exposed to the nature. So I think this is more so the course description.

00:16:47Melissa Ellis: Excellent.

00:16:47Jorge: And it's not a flat course. But it is a challenge at the end of it.

00:16:54Melissa Ellis: Yeah, it's not too steep. It does have some undulations.

00:17:00Jorge: Exactly. I would call some undulations. I think for me, when you have that kind of undulations, it gives you an extra. So an extra for, you know, when you're really... So I know that people are in respect of when, you know, do flat course. But sometimes when you have that... Small challenge on the road. It's good to give you a different sense of the run.

00:17:21Melissa Ellis: Yeah, good for the trail runners who don't like running on their bitumen, isn't it?

00:17:25Jorge: Ah, yeah.

00:17:26Melissa Ellis: Yeah. And you're quite close to the airport, we've mentioned.

00:17:28Jorge: Yes, we're close to the airport, so you can see the runway is next to us, so you can hear the airplanes. So we are in a good location, so we're close to the airport. We're really located to Living Legends, which is, I would say, a historic place. So I think, yes.

00:17:46Melissa Ellis: And I believe Living Legends is, well, this area that we're in, they've got ex-Melbourne Cup horses.

00:17:53Jorge: They have, exactly. They do. So they keep the ex, I think, the winners, actually. They keep the winners' horses. So, yes, and they have been quite supportive as well. So they are happy to build up this new community. So to build this new event really for the community. So all of that, so...

00:18:12Melissa Ellis: And there's a lovely homestead here, and we've just had our brunch or our breakfast here afterwards. You said they are opening especially now for your park?

00:18:19Jorge: Yes, they're opening especially for now. So normally they open at 10 o'clock, but because they are really supportive with us, we are very participatory as well. So they're opening now at 7.30 on Saturdays.

00:18:31Melissa Ellis: Okay. Now, you've got a bit of a history with parkrun, I know, because you were also the founding Event Director over at Brimbank. Is that correct?

00:18:38Jorge: That is correct, yes. I was the Event Director for Brimbank for six years. So, really, I love it. I still love Brimbank, so it was my baby. So, yes, I had a good time. So, I think, really, I would say that my parkrun journey started there. So, as an Event Director. And then, well... I found this beautiful place and I was surprised for some people and they say, why not to open something new for a different community? Something different, you know, to give another option to the community. So I'm now here, back to the parkrun family.

00:19:16Melissa Ellis: Did you parkrun before Brimbank?

00:19:18Jorge: Yes, I do. My first parkrun was Point Cook. Oh, yeah? So, yeah, well, because I live over there and then one of my friends who launched Point Cook parkrun invited me and then I started getting involved with parkrun after that I moved to the side of the city and then a friend of mine reached me in that way to open Brimbank that's why I had that opportunity so but yes that's my part of my street but and I have been in other parkruns around you know Victoria

00:19:49Melissa Ellis: So you're a bit of a tourist?

00:19:50Jorge: How many different... No, no, really, not really. No? But I have, I mean, I have been in other, so just because, you know, I was there. Okay. Then occasionally, ah, so there's a parkrun there, so like... So when you're on holidays, you would do a parkrun there? Yeah, like I was in... I remember Shepparton. I have been one in... What is the other one? The Long Beach Cobra. It's more like a trail as well. It's a beautiful trail. Yes. I don't know where else, but yes.

00:20:24Melissa Ellis: Very good. Well, thank you very much for talking to me today. We wish you all the very best with Woodlands Historic Park parkrun.

00:20:32Jorge: It's quite long, but it gives you a... It's quite interesting, you know, because I used to say, and then it's like, Woodlands Historic Park parkrun.

00:20:43Melissa Ellis: You weren't tempted for it to be Living Legends parkrun?

00:20:47Jorge: No, we thought about that, but really because Living Legends is inside of the Woodlands Historic Park. So Living Legends is part of the story, sorry, the Woodlands Historic Park. So that is why we said, no, we need to keep the Woodlands Historic parkrun. And plus, also, we didn't know that it was already a Woodlands parkrun, oh there isn't a South Africa okay so we at the start we were just thought to name it like a woodlands but then we saw no there is already a woodlands and I said okay and then I did a little bit of search you know I said and when you really look the word Woodlands Historic Park there's a lot of history behind that so this is one of the new uh the first houses in Victoria and now when I was in Melbourne okay from like 1860 so yep so that is why so yes I think that we need to keep the name yeah so because it has uh you know significance significance exactly that's history and I say you know that is good so thank you very much thank you very much and really appreciate all the best came here and thank you very much

Roving report Paul Kitching — Oaklands Estate Reserve parkrun

00:21:54Paul Kitching: G'day parkrun adventurers, it's PK checking in for another roving report from another parkrun here in Adelaide. It's one I've done before. I've talked about it. I think actually someone else has talked about it recently as well. This is Oaklands Reserve parkrun. Oaklands Estate Reserve parkrun. Even though I've talked about it before, the reason I wanted to jump in here today was to chat to the Run Director because they have a very interesting role. They're a co-Run Director today, and you'll hear why in but a moment. So I just checked. When I arrived, I went, oh, yes, I'm going to chat with that man.

00:22:31Unidentified speaker: Anyway, let's get on with the run. It's beautiful out here.

00:22:34Paul Kitching: Oaklands Estate Reserve parkrun is near Marion or probably in Marion, I should say. Not far out of Adelaide. Beautiful parkrun out around a park land. Really simple, easy, flat. Loved it. Helped a mate, you know, get along here today that hadn't done it before. So God love that. Let's go and have a parkrun and then have a chat with the awesome RD here today.

00:23:01Paul Kitching: Right now, I am with Emma, who is the joint RD today, along with Rolf. How are you going, Rolf? Good, thank you. Great to see you and great to see you, Emma. How are you?

00:23:12Emma: I'm very well, thank you.

00:23:13Paul Kitching: Awesome. I'm super impressed, Rolf. I think this is the very first time that I've ever been at a parkrun where the RD is visually impaired, and doing a magnificent job with your VI Guide as the joint RD. This is magnificent. Congratulations.

00:23:28Rolf: Well, thank you very much. It's a role I've enjoyed doing a few times, but yeah.

00:23:33Paul Kitching: Well done. What do you like about the role for a first?

00:23:37Rolf: I like it because it sort of invites people to do the parkrun, lets them know what they need to do or who sponsors. I just like to be able to try and invigorate some joy in their running.

00:23:51Paul Kitching: Fantastic. I love it. How long have you been parkrunning?

00:23:55Rolf: Just over two years.

00:23:57Paul Kitching: Awesome. And this is your home parkrun then?

00:24:00Rolf: It is now my home parkrun. It's still technically Christies Beach.

00:24:04Paul Kitching: I should change it. Mix it up. I love it. I love it. That's fantastic. And how long have you been volunteering? And was it something that you just wanted to do? Or how did you go about it, I suppose? Did you at first feel apprehensive that you may not be able to do it or they may not, you know, accept? But as we know, it's totally inclusive. But I'd like to know your version of it. Yeah.

00:24:24Rolf: My first volunteer roles were tail walking.

00:24:27Paul Kitching: Yep.

00:24:28Rolf: That was what I could enjoy, and I have enjoyed it. I still like to do it. But, yeah, run directing, I fell into it by accident last year, something I wanted to do.

00:24:39Paul Kitching: Yeah.

00:24:39Rolf: But Tucson suggested I take a role because I had a fall...

00:24:44Paul Kitching: outside a parkrun but um and broke my wrist on the run oh gosh so I felt uncomfortable doing some running so someone suggested let's do some let's do use an RD at Christies Beach yeah fantastic and I took it on from there great oh congratulations I love it and Emma um thank you for being a VI Guide as well that's a super important role that's now becoming even you know more regular you see it um do you so you have a VI Guide every week

00:25:10Emma: We do. Every week, Rolf is here. We have somebody who does it. And Rolf is a run walker. He's a pretty quick run walker, about 37 minutes. So we have a little rope. And we just have to say, you know, when we're turning a corner, where there's something on the ground, if it's slippy, that kind of thing. And then we just have a chat the other time.

00:25:30Paul Kitching: I love it. Super important. And great for other people and people listening out there to the podcast, you know, that if you...

00:25:34Emma: want to be a VI Guide it must be a very rewarding role it's good yeah it's good you get yeah you get to meet all sorts of different people you can train people as well because if somebody comes up this week and says I want to do it next week they lap you right um so you train them and then they're ready to go the next week fantastic um we've got one lady here who helps who um is a qualified person because her partner and child are visually impaired so she knows the rules better than we do there's certain phrases we have to use aren't there Rolf but yeah I try encouraging that know how they're going throughout the first time when we do the course or yeah we get our p plates well I well you certainly don't need the P plates anymore today and thank you so much for everything you do I'll let you keep doing what you're doing you don't want some

00:26:23Paul Kitching: like yapping away to you when you're meant to be doing being rd so thank you so much Rolf for everything that you do for parkrun yeah you too often thank you so much really appreciate it thanks guys there you go that's um magnificent uh to see here and great that as we know you know parkrun is totally inclusive and that's just another fantastic example of that So if you are visually impaired and want to do parkrun, you can do it, clearly, if you've never thought about it before and this is the first time you're hearing about it. Or maybe you want to step it up and be a volunteer, be a Run Director, be a visually impaired Run Director. How fantastic is that? This is PK signing off from another awesome parkrun. Keep being legends. See ya.

Roving reports & the Channel 5 News crew

Roving report Tony O'Connell — Ziegelwiese parkrun

00:27:05Tony O'Connell: Howdy parkrunners, TOC from Inverloch reporting in for the Channel 5 News crew. This week we've ventured to Ziegelwiese parkrun in Germany in the town of Halle. Ziegelwiese in German translates into brick meadows. The site was a former brick kiln and brickworks. Transitioned back into a park in 1911 and the northern end of the park actually was getting flooded for a long time to make an ice skating rink over winter. So it Obviously, it gets pretty cold here. We're in glorious sunshine, blue skies. We're all in T-shirts. And we're in for a cracking parkrun. Talk to you later. Howdy parkrunners. We're at the finish of the parkrun. We're standing beside an absolutely gorgeous lake. There were some white swans before. We've got ducks everywhere. [German: "brick meadow"]

00:27:51Tony O'Connell: And I'm with Ann. Ann, you're one of the event team today. You gave us a briefing. Very good. I didn't get lost. The two in front of me did, which was great. I went from fourth to second in a very short time frame. But it's a really well-marked course. How would you like to give us a bit of a description of your course?

00:28:08Ann: Hello everybody. Yes, we are here in Halle. An der Saale it's called because we have a nice river here, Saale. And in between two arms of the river we have our Peissnitzinsel. And that's a really nice park, I think. And we are going all around the coast between trees, along the river and the pond we talked about with the swans and ducks and also... [German: "on the Saale — the river Saale, which gives Halle its full name Halle (Saale)"] [German: "Peißnitz Island — the island in the Saale between two arms of the river, where the parkrun is held"]

00:28:35Tony O'Connell: It's a really amazing course. I think I stopped and took about 20 photos on your course. You go from around the pond, as you said, where you've got ducks and swans. You run along the river. There's a bit of a lock at one end. There's bridges. You run through a little bit of forest at one point that's really beautiful and green, very lush. How long has parkrun been going in the town?

00:28:58Ann: parkrun today, it was the 112th parkrun in Halle.

00:29:03Tony O'Connell: Okay, beautiful. And numbers are up a little bit with tourists today. I think we had four or five Australians, a couple of Scottish and a few UK.

00:29:14Ann: Yes, I guess we were around, I guess, eight, nine international visitors and participants.

00:29:22Tony O'Connell: And would we end up with about 20 finishers today, roughly? Yeah.

00:29:25Ann: Yeah, something about that, yes.

00:29:28Tony O'Connell: So I assume being one of the Z parkruns, you get a lot of tourists for exactly that reason?

00:29:34Ann: Yes, that's right. Last week we had Australians too, and two weeks ago there were one woman, Liz, from Wales. Maybe she's listening to your podcast too.

00:29:45Tony O'Connell: Okay. Well, look, thanks for having us along. It's an absolutely gorgeous day. It's blue sunshine. It's absolutely stunning, and this park is beautiful. Congratulations on the parkrun. Yeah.

00:29:55Ann: Thank you very much.

Roving report Tony O'Connell — Amager Fælled parkrun

00:29:57Tony O'Connell: Howdy parkrunners, TOC from Inverloch, and we're reporting in from Copenhagen today on a special day. It's a Monday. Yep, we've got another bonus parkrun on our European Grand Tour. And I'm here with two of the locals.

00:30:11Tony O'Connell: One of them has the distinction of being the first to get 500 volunteers outside of the UK and Ireland. And when you think that we don't have juniors over here, that is an amazing, amazing achievement. Henrik, thank you very much for your contribution to parkrun.

00:30:26Henrik: Thank you very much.

00:30:27Tony O'Connell: And I'd like you to pronounce the name of the local parkrun because I know if I try with my Aussie accent, I'm going to butcher it.

00:30:34Henrik: The name here is Amager Fælled parkrun. That is what we say in Danish. [Danish: "Amager Common"]

00:30:39Tony O'Connell: Beautiful. And have you got an English translator? I think it translates into something field, I think. That is a common.

00:30:48Unidentified speaker: So it's, Amager Common parkrun. It's a common. Excellent.

00:30:53Tony O'Connell: And you were today's RD today.

Talking to Antilla — Run Director, Amager Fælled parkrun — Run Director on the day, Amager Fælled parkrun, Copenhagen

00:30:56Tony O'Connell: Yep. Give us a little bit of, sorry, first name, Antilla? Antilla, yep. Give us a little bit of a description of the course.

00:31:04Unidentified speaker: It's a two-lapper on gravel parts around the park. Very easy, straightforward course in a beautiful part of Copenhagen.

00:31:15Tony O'Connell: And generally, it's a special day today. You're absolutely swamped with tourists from the UK, from Ireland, from Australia, from everywhere. Give us your thoughts on your regular numbers and what happened today.

00:31:28Unidentified speaker: So regularly, we get about 60 to 80 people on a Saturday. Sometimes we're close on 100. Today we had 402, which is our new participant record. Smashes the previous one from New Year's Day 2020. But, you know, there are economies of scale in this thing. It doesn't really matter whether you have 50 people or 500 people. You make the funnel a bit longer and... Take a lot of cute humour and, you know, it's wonderful to have all these visitors. It really gives a boost to the local team to have all these exciting people visiting us.

00:32:07Tony O'Connell: It really actually flowed really well today. Look, the finish line, it just flowed through. Everyone knew what they were on about anyway, so it worked really well. Your start line, when we lined up along the track, and I tried to get a photo back on the start line looking back, and there's just this sea of faces for as far as I could see.

00:32:25Unidentified speaker: Yeah, it's a 10-foot wide bridge. bath uh so you know you can imagine it gets a bit busy when you're trying to line up 400 people there we did today for the first time we tried to get people seated in order there because we had 200 runners on Saturday and it got a bit busier at the start line so it was even busier today but apparently no incidents everyone's happy so it's a brilliant brilliant day okay look thanks for your time thanks for running the parkrun and hosting the extra day we really appreciate it coming from Australia and everything um and thanks for all that you both do for parkrun amazing place amazing achievement well done and you enjoy your travels thank you

00:33:16Oliver Spake: And thank you very much to our roving reporters. Thank you, PK. Thank you, TOC. Well, thank you, Mel, too.

00:33:22Melissa Ellis: Oh, you're welcome. TOC's been busy over there in Europe, Germany and Denmark this week.

00:33:26Oliver Spake: Gosh. Yes, certainly making the most of things there. And, yeah, it's good to hear what's going on, as you say, around all the countries, including our own, yeah, with some of the great volunteers out there as well.

Dazza's

00:33:40Oliver Spake: But, yeah. Mel, is it time to catch up on Dazza's?

00:33:45Melissa Ellis: Yes, I have written a bit of a recap, so buckle yourself in, Ollie.

00:33:50Oliver Spake: Okay, yep.

00:33:51Melissa Ellis: Saturday was World Bicycle Day and many adventurers shared how they addressed the occasion. Linda Coombes was enjoying a nottie in Birdsville with a group of onesie-clad friends from Warwick. We all secretly hoped she'd bump into the Office Lady and Luke, who were also knottying around the outback town. David Bravos continued along the Merri Creek Trail with Lucy, enjoying a different set of wheels at Coburg parkrun. Claire Corkill was ticking off challenges at Blue Gum Hills and Sherry Martin got a PB at Minnippi. Fronding it up at Yass were Billo and Roberta Winters, while Erica Leota did the same at Glenoma, and the Quizmaster attended a special event at Fodder Forest. While Chris Fraser used buses and trains to regain his statesmanship at Arse, Sherry Bradman went with Plan B at Wentworth Common. Chloe Bravos was child-free for Pace a Week at Shelley, and Martine Barrot joined Andrew Johnston for a spot of aeroplane watching at Woodlands Historic Park. Bec Bailey took her four-legged friend to Sandon Point. Carmel Roll wore the maroon at West Beach and Patricia Smith nabbed a Wilson at Scribbly Gums Conservation. Ingrid took a friend to a pretty parkrun at Mosman. Caveman Cam mused over his lead bike mishaps and Karen Campbell nabbed a PB at Central Lakes. Lyndell led the frond at Fodder Forest. Jo McLean hired an e-bike after Broadbeach Waters and Anne Fry was back on track at Pakapakanthi. Holly Pleasance enjoyed a welcome to winter week at Warwick. Cherie Cottle zoomed around Newy and Felicity Castellan was enjoying celebrations at Inverloch. Over in New Zealand, Alison was working on her P index while Axel volunteered at Tauranga. Tanya joined a friend to bark run at Pegasus and Brett sends his best wishes to Haven at the Special Olympics. Further afield, TOC found a cycling parkrunner at Ziegelwiese, Dawn dodged bikes at Oh, gosh. I'm struggling. Okay.

00:35:50[21 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

00:36:11Melissa Ellis: Natalie Soper enjoyed the sunshine at Richmond Olympic and Calum Burrell spiralled around a cyclo-cross track at Somerdale Pavilion. Our weekly volunteers were Richard at San Remo, Fiona Hinchliffe at Warrington Lakes, Jodie Mazie at Calembeen, Heather Patzel at Mount Gambier, Chris Ruse at Kaki. And we will end this broadcast with Steve's bike.

00:36:33[15 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

00:36:48Melissa Ellis: Who said? Long time no speak, everyone. I love a day named after me. Today, I ventured to a Victorian parkrun with a bloody large wall. Luckily, I didn't have to climb it. That said, this location definitely had some elevation. Thankfully, I had the sanctuary of some pumped up tyres. I'll leave you all to ponder that.

00:37:10Oliver Spake: What do you think about my roundup, Ollie? That's an impressive job. Thank you, Mel. And thank you, everyone, for joining us at Dazza's. I'm just obviously showing my lack of awareness of Victorian parkrun events because I don't know where Steve was. But, well, sorry, Steve's bike was.

00:37:27Melissa Ellis: I do. And TOC does. I saw TOC figured it out.

00:37:31Oliver Spake: Ah, okay.

00:37:32Melissa Ellis: But yes, our adventure is we're very busy and I enjoyed putting that together. So I might continue that. That was fun.

00:37:37Oliver Spake: Yeah, no, impressive. And hey, well done with the pronunciation. I believe we will have to see. Yet to be decided. That's right. That's right.

00:37:48Melissa Ellis: But something else that was impressive, Ollie...

00:37:50Oliver Spake: Oh, impressive might be an understatement. We did mention it in passing at the back end of last week's podcast, but it's now happened. She's done it. Congratulations to our very own Office Lady on a stunning effort out at Birdsville in the Simpson Desert Ultra, the 50Ks.

00:38:13Melissa Ellis: Yes. Well done, Sam Schroder. You did it. Hooray. We're very proud of you. And we hope you are resting up and that Luke is running around after you and you're getting all the things.

00:38:25Oliver Spake: It was, I think, just to see some of the, I'm lost for words. To see some of the images, you know, what the ground looked like, what obviously the landscape looks like. I really want to see it one day, but I don't want to do it. So thank you, Sam, for doing it on our behalf.

00:38:43Melissa Ellis: One of the descriptions that I keep seeing thrown around, Ollie, is brutal.

00:38:48Oliver Spake: Mm. That it looked.

00:38:50Melissa Ellis: Yeah. So definitely a challenge. One, if you are looking for an event that's a bit out there and a test of your, test of your what, Ollie? Test of your, well, not abilities because, you know, we can train for such things, but test of your determination.

00:39:09Oliver Spake: Yes, that's right. Wonderful to see. So proud of Sam's effort. But look, the achievements keep coming. Mel, we've heard of another impressive achievement and I think it was mentioned very briefly there in the Dazza's recap.

00:39:23Melissa Ellis: It was one of our very own roving reporters, Lyndell the Legendary, had a bit of a milestone herself this weekend. So she was exchanging microphones with the quiz master who met her out there at Fodder Forest. So we're going to throw now... to a little bit of audio that comes to us from the morning. So let's have a listen to that.

Roving report Lyndell Murray — Fodder Forest parkrun

00:39:55Lyndell Murray: G'day parkrun adventurers, it's Lyndell here and today I am checking in from the lands of the Quandamooka people. I'm at Fodder Forest parkrun and there's been a bit of a milestone here so I'm going to try and interview Lyndell.

Interview Lyndell Murray — Roving Reporter and co-host; celebrating her 100th different event (Cowell Club)

00:40:10Lyndell Murray: Lyndell's here and actually no, look, happily our Quizmaster Simon is also here so I'm going to pass it over to him. He's got some news for you. How are you Simon?

00:40:23Simon Mackley: Doing well, Lyndell. So the reason that Lyndell's here is that she has reached a massive milestone. What is it, Lyndell?

00:40:31Lyndell Murray: Today is my 100th different event, so I've joined the Cowell Club today.

00:40:36Simon Mackley: Amazing. It was good to have you here at Fodder Forest. I noticed that it was one of the very few that you have in southeast Queensland. So your next one, I guess, is Ballina. Is that your NENDY? Yeah.

00:40:46Lyndell Murray: I actually don't know.

00:40:47Simon Mackley: I reckon it's going to be Ballina.

00:40:49Lyndell Murray: It might be Kingscliff. Oh, sorry, Kingscliff.

00:40:51Simon Mackley: Yeah, sorry, you're right.

00:40:52Lyndell Murray: So that is probably my NENDY. And yes, doing today will probably, I think, mean I've done all of them in Brisbane and the, you know, surrounding council areas again. I've been saving this one up, Simon.

00:41:04Simon Mackley: Amazing. No, it's good to have you here. So I'm going to ask you the question that you ask a lot of people. What's your top three apart from your home event?

00:41:12Lyndell Murray: Yeah, good question. Good question. I was hoping you wouldn't ask me this. I'm just going to randomly pick a few. So probably an event that I always look back as being one of the best parkrun experiences I've ever had was at Milano Nord in Italy. I wasn't intending to go there until I did a quick Google map when we were over in the

00:41:33Simon Mackley: Only.

00:41:34Lyndell Murray: Yeah. So I booked myself a hotel, drove over to Milano Nord, and it was such an amazing party atmosphere.

00:41:44Unidentified speaker: Yeah.

00:41:45Lyndell Murray: There was a massive big group there from Ireland. The Monza was on, so there was always people there. They set an attendance event record for Italy, and it just made it more special because it wasn't something that I'd planned. It was a bit of a spontaneous kind of decision to go, and it was just wonderful. Yeah. Beer, Prosecco, cookies at the end. Oh, nice. They have their post-parkrun get-together in a gelato store. There was just so much to love about it. Yeah, of course. That's amazing. So Milano Nord. One local event that I always give a bit of a shout-out to is Barron Bar parkrun on the south side.

00:42:21Unidentified speaker: Yep.

00:42:21Lyndell Murray: Again, it was just a really surprising, lovely event, little lap around a lake in just in a hidden in a the middle of a suburb you know quite a industrial quite well well built up suburb there's this little oasis at barren bar I always love that one I agree with that one that's yeah it is a hidden gem yeah it really is yeah um and then hmm this is a good question I don't know um I always think Kawana is the best view in parkrun in Australia um I love Nambour for fluffy and I love the trails um I really enjoyed Mount Gambier um oh I don't know I can't anyway there's five so I don't know what to I don't know which one to put in as my other top three so

00:43:07Simon Mackley: Okay. Now, I think we're getting interference from this tower, but I'm going to ask you anyway, what's your bottom three?

00:43:08[other]

00:43:15Lyndell Murray: Well, they would be... And then the next one would be... Yeah, and I just, you know, I don't rate... Oh, I'm so glad we got that.

00:43:30Simon Mackley: Well, it was really good to have you here. It looks like they've actually packed up and all your friends seem to have disappeared. So I'm going to let you get to the cafe. But yeah, it was good to meet you as well. Fellow Quizmaster.

00:43:39Lyndell Murray: So great to meet you. Yes. I can't believe it. I feel like I know you, but yes, we've never met in person before. So wonderful to actually meet you, Simon.

00:43:47Simon Mackley: Yeah, great. Thanks, Lyndell.

00:43:57Oliver Spake: Thank you once again to the Quizmaster. And congratulations once again to Lyndell the Legendary. 100 events. And that's a Cowell, 100 different events. But what I meant to say, Mel, over 246 parkruns. So way to go, Lyndell. That's something I aspire to do one day.

00:44:15Melissa Ellis: How close are you to a Cowell?

00:44:18Oliver Spake: I'm not quite halfway there. Okay. So in doing so, yeah, she's knocked over seven different countries there, being a bit of a traveller, our Lyndell, and all of the Australian states.

00:44:31Melissa Ellis: I did notice she was wearing the World Tourist Buff.

00:44:35Oliver Spake: So, yeah, certainly covered some ground, Mel.

00:44:38Melissa Ellis: Excellent.

Consolidated Club Report

00:44:39Oliver Spake: But I'm curious to hear who else has covered some ground this week across the Adventurers Club.

00:44:45Melissa Ellis: Oh, good segue. Okay, well, this actually wasn't posted this week. I must add a caveat. This wasn't posted on Sunday. And apologies for that, but basically I didn't have the time. So I might take this opportunity to say anybody that might have an interest in helping us out. With the Sunday Consolidated Club Report post, get in touch because, yeah, sometimes it's a little bit, it is a lot of work to put all these things together and I just didn't get it done this week. However, the adventurers Consolidated Club Report for Saturday the 3rd of June 2023 of a total of 433 members, 338 took part on this date at 177 locations, in the UK there were adventurers at 26 events South Africa had adventurers at three the USA Sweden Netherlands and Italy each two events Canada Austria Denmark Germany Norway and Poland one locally we had adventurers at 31 events in Victoria in New South Wales in Queensland, South Australia had 12, WA had 11, there was four on the North Island, ACT and Tassie had three and two on the South Island.

the Frond — Fodder Forest and Glenoma (tied, nine adventurers each)

00:46:12Melissa Ellis: Now the largest frond, there were nine adventurers at two separate events this week. At Fodder Forest, there was Lyndell Murray, Simon Mackley, Leonie Butler, Lisa Atkinson, Irene and Parth Bommakanti, Rhonda and Ian Garvin and Belinda Taylor. Meanwhile, out at Glenoma, we had Roger and Barbara Luther, Erica Leota, Ian and Catherine Greenstreet, Gemma and Neil Kiaski, and Pauline and Russell Taylor.

00:46:41Oliver Spake: Yeah, so some big offence there, Mel, and thank you to the quiet tip-off. To ensure that we were reporting all of the states and territories in the Consolidated Club report this week, remiss of me to let a certain omission Go by last week. Curses. Well, needless to say, the second consecutive week with the having the most Adventurers Club members at different events.

00:47:11Melissa Ellis: Oh, really? I didn't know this. But anyway, moving swiftly on, in this week around the world, as mentioned last week by our birthday boy, there is two special days occurring. So one of them, again, today out in Denmark, Constitution Day. I did look up how many events there are in Denmark, Ollie. They have nine of which six have declared that they are running today for their special day. And then tomorrow, on June the 6th, Sweden is celebrating their Swedish National Day. They have 11 events in Sweden and also six have declared that they will be running. So we will have adventurers joining those. I've already seen the photos on Facebook today. We know we've got a swather over there in Denmark.

00:48:03Oliver Spake: That's right. Tis the season, that's for sure, to be parkrunning in Europe.

00:48:08Melissa Ellis: They're living the life, aren't they?

00:48:09Oliver Spake: Yes. But... Mel, it's also the season and we did recap last week, so I won't attempt to read them all out again this week for our longest runs to be kicking off. And we have a series of longest runs happening this Sunday, being the 11th of June, but I missed one. Yes. I missed the Victorian event. I missed Melbourne North.

00:48:32Melissa Ellis: Well, I think it's understandable because on Contemplation, we do have two events in Victoria with North in the title. So we've got Melbourne North and we've got North East, which is more Victorian, North East Victoria. So I think, hey, Billo, I think we might need to reconsider the name next year for that event of yours up on the border. Oh.

00:48:57Oliver Spake: For these confused out-of-towners like myself. Well, I trust it's going to be a fantastic day. Wish I could come and experience it all. But all the best to everyone embarking on a Longest Run this weekend. And if you haven't already, look up your Longest Runs on Facebook, either through the Longest Run Australia page or the different events for those different Longest Run groups happening.

00:49:24Melissa Ellis: I might just throw in too that... Melbourne North event starts at Warringal.

Sign-off

00:49:30Oliver Spake: Yeah. Well, I suppose speaking of this coming weekend, Mel, any plans?

00:49:35Melissa Ellis: I've got my visitors this week, Ollie, my Toowoomba visitors, but I'm not saying where I'm going. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know where I'm going.

00:49:45Oliver Spake: Bit of mystery. Okay. Easy.

00:49:47Melissa Ellis: You'll have to wait. Tune in next week. It's a clip.

00:49:50Oliver Spake: That's right. Well, let me balance that out and say I will be run directing for the ninth birthday of Shellharbour parkrun this weekend.

00:49:58Melissa Ellis: It's your birthday.

00:50:00Oliver Spake: That's right. That's right. So we're having a cat theme. So I'm looking to where my cheetah is and as much leopard print as possible.

00:50:09Melissa Ellis: Cat.

00:50:10Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:50:10Melissa Ellis: Okay. Oh, nine lives.

00:50:13Oliver Spake: Yeah, there we go.

00:50:14Melissa Ellis: Clever.

00:50:15Oliver Spake: Yes. And so, yeah, that will be me.

00:50:18Melissa Ellis: So the largest frond next week, we know where that will be. All the favourites will be flocking home.

00:50:26Oliver Spake: Yeah, let's hope. But, well, we can also hear more about that next week, that's all that I can think of that's coming up this weekend, Mel.

00:50:37Melissa Ellis: Hey, before you finish, Ollie, something just occurred to me, and it was just when I said about the Shellharbour faithful flocking home. Was there or was there not Shellharbour people in South Australia at Coober Pedy?

00:50:51Oliver Spake: Ah, there were indeed.

00:50:53Melissa Ellis: Yes. It just occurred to me. Somebody from the mothership didn't come to Dazza's.

00:51:00Oliver Spake: Oh.

00:51:01Melissa Ellis: Oh, yes.

00:51:02Oliver Spake: Well. Maybe the reception's a bit dodgy there.

00:51:07Melissa Ellis: Well, those people in Birdsville made it to Dazza's.

00:51:11Oliver Spake: Yeah, that's true. That's true. All the coffee's just better in Coober Pedy than at Dazza's. But, yes, there were some visitors to Coober Pedy. That's right.

00:51:22Melissa Ellis: Oh, well, there you go. Anyway.

00:51:23Oliver Spake: Who I bumped into at Sydney Airport on Thursday morning. So, yeah, the people you bump into. But, yes, I'm sure we'll hear from our mothership adventurers very, very soon.

00:51:35Melissa Ellis: That brings us to the end of another episode. If you listened for the first time, then I hope you stuck with us and you give us another go next week. But as always, you can contact us via Facebook or our email, which is parkrunadventurers at gmail.com. That's it for another week and we'll see you all next week for more adventures.

Interview Louis Bravos — visiting parkrunner from Bakersfield, California (name as spoken) — Visiting parkrunner from Bakersfield, California; regular at Byxbee parkrun, Palo Alto

00:53:06Unidentified speaker: Okay, I'm here with a gentleman who's travelled quite far away. Where are you from, sir, and what's your name? Louis Bravos from Bakersfield, California. Fantastic. That's quite a trip. So you've come out here for a special event in WA, have you? The Total Solar Eclipse in Exmouth. Oh, fantastic. Well, that sounds like quite a fun thing to do. And you thought you'd pop along to your WA parkrun just for something to fill in the time? Family's here. Ah, well, that helps. They dragged you along.

00:53:37Louis Bravos: I wanted to be here. This is great. This is almost as good as the Eclipse. Is this your first parkrun? I run parkrun at Byxbee parkrun in Palo Alto, California. Oh, fantastic.

00:53:49Unidentified speaker: Oh, we've had a catastrophe. The food bowl has dropped. I repeat, the food bowl has dropped. That's okay. We've picked it up. Oh, so you might know of running to Geoff Glaab over in Byxbee? No. Is that where he is?

00:54:02Louis Bravos: Ever heard of him? Well, since I go, I'm the longest distance participant at Byxbee because I come all the way from Bakersfield. So I don't know the names over there. Is that a bit of a drive? Please forgive my ignorance. It's almost half as much as driving from here to Exmouth.

00:54:21Unidentified speaker: Oh, okay, yeah, so not a short drive. Okay. Well, look, thank you so much for coming to UWA today, and I hope to see you at the listener meet-up afterwards. This is an amazing parkrun. Hope to come back. Thank you. Cheers.