Episode 367 - YMMV

00:00:00[intro theme playing]

Welcome

00:00:24Melissa Ellis: Welcome to episode 367 of the parkrun adventurers podcast, a podcast about life, if your life is all about parkrun. My name is Melissa Ellis and I'm coming to you from Wurundjeri Country.

00:00:36Oliver Spake: And I am Ollie Spake and I'm joining once again from Dharawal Country, once again by myself without the campground.

00:00:48Melissa Ellis: And two weeks in a row. Yeah, yeah.

00:00:52Oliver Spake: This is unfamiliar territory for me, Mel.

00:00:54Melissa Ellis: I know. You can give us an update on how the duathlon went.

00:00:59Oliver Spake: Well, yes, yes. Successful. Thank you. We didn't medal this year because last year, of course, we managed to nab a bronze in our category. But, yeah, thanks to some excellent swimming in the opening leg by Bec Bailey. We did manage to pull through, and I think we were the 17th mixed team out of something like 50 or 60 mixed teams. And, yes, the overwhelming feeling that I would have another one of the Windang clan, Bec's housemate Lance, creeping up on me at any point in time in the run kept me going. And I'm pleased to say it's the first time I've run 7Ks without stopping since November.

00:01:50Melissa Ellis: So you can do it.

00:01:52Oliver Spake: I can do it.

00:01:53Melissa Ellis: You just need the motivation.

00:01:55Oliver Spake: That's right. Just needed the motivation. So yeah, much slower than last year.

00:01:59[crosstalk]

00:01:59Melissa Ellis: I was going to say, never mind about the medals. We're all just interested to know if you beat Lance. Yeah.

00:02:05Oliver Spake: Well, no, Lance beat me by a couple of minutes. But, yeah, fortunately and unfortunately for Lance and the other Windang clan housemate, yeah, the swimming leg won it.

00:02:16Melissa Ellis: Wow. Well done, Bec.

00:02:18Oliver Spake: Yes, yes.

00:02:20Melissa Ellis: Oh, good-o.

00:02:22Oliver Spake: So, yeah, I needed someone to carry me, not unlike this podcast, but... But it was a good morning and we had Hannah and James in the fun run and lots of parkrunners around. And, in fact, and I only realised this today, the long course female winner was, in fact... a former Shellharbour parkrun junior. So there we go.

00:02:24[crosstalk]

00:02:46[crosstalk]

00:02:47Melissa Ellis: You have to always find a way to get in.

00:02:50Oliver Spake: I have to, absolutely.

00:02:53Melissa Ellis: Now, one thing that we forgot to mention coming back after our Christmas break, Ollie, and I thought I would bring it up, is that we are now in our ninth year of the podcast.

00:03:03Oliver Spake: Yeah, season nine.

00:03:04Melissa Ellis: This little pod started back on the 6th of January 2016. So we missed our eighth birthday. Yeah. We weren't even recording. But, yeah, so here we are in our ninth year and our fourth year as co-hosts.

00:03:23Oliver Spake: Wow. Where has the time gone? I know. And a lot has changed in those four years. We've seen, obviously, the massive return of parkrun, as we've been noting in some of the recent episodes with attendance and volunteering participation numbers over the summer and contrasting quite significantly to when we took over during the COVID time.

00:03:52Melissa Ellis: And I think the pod has evolved as well, so also quite a different podcast to the format. We did probably put our own spin on it, so it is different to how it started, but, you know, elements do remain the same.

00:04:06Oliver Spake: That's right. That's right. And we will always recommend if any of our listeners haven't checked out the back catalogue, please go ahead. That's what got me hooked in the first place, and there are some great – Yeah, great parkrun adventures, interviews and other fantastic segments that have come and gone over that time in there as well.

00:04:29Melissa Ellis: And probably one of the big differences is we have not done as many interviews, I guess, as Scott and I used to do. But we might have somebody that has previously been interviewed on the past coming back in a little while. So look out for that in the upcoming weeks.

00:04:47Oliver Spake: Yeah, I do look forward to that Mel and yeah, another year begins and yeah, it has been an exciting beginning to the year in the parkrun world but I suppose a little closer to home and a little closer to now. How was your parkrun day Mel?

00:05:07Melissa Ellis: Well, I went to Studley parkrun, also on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people, and it brought my visits to Studley to six, as I often visit to meet my interstate parkrun friends who are staying in the CBD. And this time it was Sarah Jefferson and Matt Stephens who were in town visiting family and enjoying the activities in Melbourne, such as the Oz Open and the Princess Diana Exhibition. It was event 347 and we were amongst a crowd of 368, which was second only to their course record of 379 finishes set back in February 2020, just prior to the COVID pause. There was excitement all round with Medibank, Australia's presenting partner, on location giving out free T-shirts and Channel 9 filming footage for the news due to the one millionth participant milestone. I enjoyed a relaxed run chat with Sarah after Matt left us in his dust, but sadly we didn't have the opportunity to enjoy brunch together as I dropped them back to their motel shortly after we finished so they could check out. Nevertheless, always a pleasure to catch up with my friends from the West Side, however briefly. Not much else to report this week. I had a rare week off from volunteering at Juniors, although Lucy didn't afford me the luxury of a day off from our morning walk. On a final note, although I believe parkrun Australia has not, to our knowledge, named the one millionth participant, it could very well have occurred at Studley parkrun amongst the 37 parkrunners recording their very first parkrun.

00:06:42Oliver Spake: Yeah.

00:06:43Melissa Ellis: Do we think it was in Victoria? Well, you can't prove it wasn't.

00:06:48Oliver Spake: I'm sure someone will calculate it, but then we'll see the results updated anyway. So, yeah, I can't disprove your claim, Mel. So, today's world, you're right. Yep.

00:07:02Melissa Ellis: Thank you very much.

00:07:03Oliver Spake: Yeah, but no, it sounds like a fabulous parkrun day with friends.

00:07:08Melissa Ellis: It was, and boosting my numbers for my P index, so Studley's up there amongst the events that I have frequented the most. Ah, yes, yes. Giving me another option, so.

00:07:19Oliver Spake: Not a bad parkrun by the sounds of it to be boosting the P index, as you have pointed out as being a suitable one for visitors. I am due a visit to my sister at some point in Melbourne, so.

00:07:33Melissa Ellis: Oh, you haven't done Studley yet.

00:07:35Oliver Spake: I haven't done Studley.

00:07:36Melissa Ellis: That's going to be my next visit then. Oh, there we are. There we are. Good. All right. Book it in. But what about you, Oliver? What did you get up to at Shellharbour on the weekend?

00:07:48Oliver Spake: at Shellharbour on the weekend I was the Run Director as we welcomed uh also a swather of first timers and visitors to our parkrun and in what was our largest crowd on the new course I believe or at least the largest crowd since the beginning of January 2021 so um Yeah, it has been a pleasure to see a lot of visitors come through international, domestic and some, yeah, some returning familiar faces that haven't been back at our parkrun for some time. I guess pretty happily I can say it was a fairly uneventful visit, parkrun Day, we did have a dash of baking as we celebrated one of the team's 250th parkrun. Congratulations to Vera, who is often our Volunteer Coordinator, but not a listener. So, Vera, I'll have to get you listening so you can hear your congratulations. And, yeah, it was... Keeping it fairly low-key, Mel, but, yeah, with the return, as we mentioned, with the Aquathon and running, I have been back out there running a bit more and, yeah, somehow managed to clock up three consecutive days of, you know, semi-decent running. So it's coming back. I'm remembering how to do it and, yeah, I look forward to my next parkrun not too far away.

00:09:17Melissa Ellis: That's good, Ollie, but you're not supposed to run every day. You're supposed to have rest days. So you're still doing it wrong. And does that mean you went and ran and did the course check, I suppose, before you run directed?

00:09:20[crosstalk]

00:09:28Oliver Spake: No, I had a little gym workout running session beforehand where I made the mistake of admitting to the trainer afterwards that I hadn't been going at full energy or full pelt or whatever the appropriate terminology is. So I've been warned that I need to improve.

00:09:47Melissa Ellis: Oh, really? Yeah. Okay, so positive reinforcement isn't kind of the tactic.

00:09:53[crosstalk]

00:09:54Oliver Spake: No, no, no. Yeah, he's tough. He must be military. Yeah, so a nice parkrun day. Thanks, Mel.

parkrun news bulletin

00:10:06Melissa Ellis: Excellent.

00:10:07Oliver Spake: But I suppose as you did mention in your recap and, yeah, switching across to our news and discussion earlier, The one millionth participant is kind of a big thing, and it has been lovely to see that marked, as we have seen with that one millionth participant in Australia, the release of the limited edition drink bottle. So parkrun Australia sharing an exclusive 750ml limited edition. I'm one in a million bottle crafted from – I should have read this word beforehand – Crafted from robust, what is it, borosilicate glass?

00:10:52Melissa Ellis: Looks, yeah, good job.

00:10:53Oliver Spake: The scientists and the listeners are going to call me out on that. I know it. Yeah, this bottle ensures durability while it's airtight. Bamboo lid provides a stylish and eco-friendly seal. The material composition comprising natural bamboo and borosilicate glass guarantees a BPA-free experience. I feel like I'm on a game show, Mel.

00:11:17Melissa Ellis: You're on the showcase.

00:11:18Oliver Spake: That's right.

00:11:19Melissa Ellis: And this could all be yours. Yeah, but do we need another drink bottle? Like I looked at it and I've got my barcode drink bottle that I never use. I shouldn't say that, but I don't need another drink bottle that I don't use.

00:11:36Oliver Spake: Well, seemingly there are some more potential customers out there with the bunch of parkrunners that rocked up at the weekend. Yeah. I can only presume that there must be some, yeah, some interested potential buyers. And I have to admit, I haven't bought a parkrun drink bottle. So, I've still got my parkrun Keep Cup, but I at one stage lost the rubber ring around it. So, now I burn my hand every time I pick it up. Oh.

00:12:04Melissa Ellis: Okay. Well, I lost the little plug that plugs the hole in the parkrun Keep Cup. So mine sloshes.

00:12:07[crosstalk]

00:12:12Oliver Spake: It sounds like what we're saying is. It's between us.

00:12:15Melissa Ellis: We could get one.

00:12:16Oliver Spake: That's right.

00:12:17Melissa Ellis: I'll buy you a plug off you.

00:12:19Oliver Spake: That's right. Goodness me.

00:12:23Melissa Ellis: But, yeah, so that did dominate, didn't it? parkrun Australia social media this week, the one millionth participant was dominating. But I might just add as well Colin Thorne was still dominating the media as well. I put my TV on, my smart TV, and intending to watch something on Netflix and the main screen that came up had Colin Thorne and I was so confused because Why is my TV showing me Colin Thorne?

00:12:53Oliver Spake: It knows you, yeah.

00:12:55Melissa Ellis: Yes, everything listens. And I think it was a YouTube clip. So he was continuing to make headlines.

00:13:07Oliver Spake: Yeah, which is, I mean, as we said last week, it's wonderful to see, you know, the experiences and the stories of others really do inspire us. Collins is absolutely a huge, you know, a great example of that. And one thing I failed to mention in my own recap is I had a first-time volunteer come along. Turns out one of Zali's classmates came and marshalled with his mum and his younger brother. So after telling Zali, she's declared that she wants to... to complete 5Ks with Nona next parkrun day. That's good. So that's my very, very tenuous link there to Colin Thorne, not drawing comparisons there, but, yeah, absolutely an inspirational story and clearly you telly things.

00:13:54Melissa Ellis: There was another social media post that came to us through ABC News and I clicked on it to watch. It was a video piece. And it was Victorian based, so I assume it would have been played through ABC Melbourne, I guess. And it was based out at the Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve parkrun. But one of the celebrity parkrunners that they often have out there, Ross Noble, if you're familiar with comedian Ross Noble. Yes, he was in that package as well and I'm no doubt Frankston would have shared it on their socials but it was definitely through ABC News that I picked up on that little piece and and had a good look at that and that was showcasing you know a lot of mostly their regular parkrun volunteers and highlighting how parkrun had changed their life as we know it does yeah and and

00:14:53Oliver Spake: I suppose, you know, we're talking about different forms of media here, but it does seem to be showing parkrun increasingly becoming more and more mainstream, you know, and I know the maths, you can't technically say it's one in 27 because, you know, we're fortunate enough to have had so many international visitors, you know, parkrunning with us and whatnot, as in Australia, on in 27 Australians, given that number. But it's clearly a high proportion, relatively speaking, of the population. And my point being, if you listen to one of the time capsule episodes, I think it was Scotty and Mel some time ago, one of those predictions or dreams for the future was, you know, you can have a chat to someone on your street and they know exactly what parkrun is. It's that sort of... It's part of that everyday vernacular and familiar activity. And it's great to see more and more people discovering it.

00:15:52Melissa Ellis: I'm trying to do my bit with my car.

00:15:55Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:15:56Melissa Ellis: Yeah, yeah.

00:15:58Oliver Spake: Doing a very good job by touring around the country with it, Mel. Thank you. Yeah.

00:16:03Melissa Ellis: But in other news, Ollie, let's jump to the next item. It was Australian of the Year was announced. Obviously, we celebrated in Australia, Australia Day on Friday. Now, it was Joint Australian of the Year, and one of the pair was parkrunners. So congratulations to one of GreenWay parkrun's regular parkrunners, Professor Richard Scolyer on being named the Joint Australian of the Year with his colleague, Professor Georgina Long, for their pioneering work in melanoma treatment. The pair, accredited with saving the lives of thousands of Australians whose diagnosis of skin cancer would once have proven fatal, but are now largely curable. But Scolyer used his moments in the national spotlight to talk about his diagnosis with stage four brain cancer. Long and Scalia's scientific partnership has led to the use of immunotherapy in the treatment of melanoma, but it was Scolyer's own 2023 diagnosis that led to groundbreaking discoveries in the life-changing applications of their immunotherapy approach when he and Long developed a series of world-first treatments based on their melanoma work. By undertaking an experimental treatment at the risk of shortening his own life, Scolyer has advanced the understanding of brain cancer and is benefiting future patients. And I now quote, devising this world first experimental treatment for my type of brain cancer was bold. For me, the decision to take on Georgina's groundbreaking plan was a no brainer. Here was an opportunity for us to crack another incurable cancer and make a difference. If not for me, then for others, he said. Well, back on the issue of melanoma, the pair are also urging advertisers and social media influencers to stop glamorizing tanning or using it for advertising. So, Ollie, we can, I guess, try to assist in getting the message out through our small channel. Yes. But obviously, what an amazing man. Well, both of them, but to be turning around his own misfortune to try to make a difference in the world I just think that's incredible so just congratulations and I know GreenWay parkrun also shared the information on his win and made him feel very special on the last parkrun day as well I saw there was a video of him crossing the line and getting cheered on

00:18:39Oliver Spake: And that's wonderful and thank you, Mel, for sharing a bit more of Professor Richard's story and journey because it is obviously so incredible and such a potential impact. I've been out of the loop and I really can't believe that I didn't understand or know too much about the work of Professor Richard and Professor Georgina, but obviously the The potential for them to provide such a positive impact in helping find a pathway towards curing an incurable, so far incurable, form of cancer and something so personal to him is incredible. And not wanting to steal anyone's thunder there, Mel, but wouldn't it be nice to see potentially a bucket hat that maybe promotes the message there? Absolutely. Bucket hat.

00:19:35Melissa Ellis: Like at the BBL. Okay. I could make one of those. Could we have adventure of merch?

00:19:44Oliver Spake: Well, even our good friends at parkrun Australia. I mean, yeah, what a great potential partnership that could be.

00:19:51Melissa Ellis: Ah, yes. And I did also want to say while we're on this topic, I was watching the project. We all do that, yeah. Which is an Australian light-hearted, I think, current affairs program. They did interview both professors on their win and he did manage to drop parkrun into the conversation. Now, unfortunately, it was because he was sporting a large graze on the side of his face. And when questioned as to what had occurred, he had woken up late for parkrun, like in Mel's style. And rather than his usual manner of getting to parkrun, which I assume would be jogging down there, he decided to ride his bike and became a cropper. Yeah.

00:20:35Oliver Spake: So not the Stack Club technically, but yes, yeah, that sounds right.

00:20:40Melissa Ellis: So anyway, parkrun mentioned on the project as well. So there we go. We've just been all over the media this last week in Australia.

00:20:49Oliver Spake: Really have.

00:20:50Melissa Ellis: Mainstream media.

00:20:51Oliver Spake: Yeah, congratulations to them. Yeah, I suppose also on the news and discussion side, but technically it is an email from Bill Barker, who has written in, and we'll share this one now as we have a couple of emails, and said, Hi, Mel and Ollie, or TOC, Simon, sending in a request that the adventurers start a running league. In the purple 5K app, in the section that has parkrun, clubs, friends, etc., is leagues. You can make a public or private league. Points are calculated on your age grading. However, if you volunteer in a job that finds you not running or walking, Timekeeper, for example, you get top points. However, you do have to run or walk eventually as you only get points volunteering for a set amount of weeks. Leagues add some extra enjoyment to the run. The winner of the league could claim the title of Adventure Business at the Front 2024. And in the bottom half of the field, someone that competes, in brackets, gets points each week, could claim the title of adventurers Party at the Back 2024. Sent in for consideration regards Bill, in brackets, formerly from Goulburn, now the Newcastle Nomad. So many great courses can't decide on a home course. So Mel, there's a bit there to unpack. Firstly, our region of runners, parkrunners, it sounds like Bill's up for grabs. Who wants to claim him? But that aside, I haven't looked into the league's side of the 5K app, so this is in fact news to me.

00:22:36Melissa Ellis: Yes, and I'm not familiar with it either. It has the potential, I believe, to maybe cause some competition in a way that I guess parkrun as a whole tends to try to avoid. against other people in that respect rather than competing against yourself. Yes. But I do understand the added motivation of being part of something which also could motivate people to volunteer.

00:23:10Oliver Spake: Yeah.

00:23:11Melissa Ellis: For points reasons.

00:23:13Oliver Spake: That's true. That's true. And I'm sure we all have different length competitive bones in our body and some may in fact have none. But, yeah, it does provide consideration if – Yeah, if that's a motivator, because I can certainly think of a few that have had even just that silent competition with the parkrunner in front. This is that other form of motivation.

00:23:40Melissa Ellis: Or the Windang housemate.

00:23:42Oliver Spake: Yes. But also, I do like Bill's... got a very strong pitch in theming some of those titles that could be obtained with the business at the front and the party at the back. But, yeah, I'd be curious for other people's thoughts, certainly here, Mel, and I also don't like to force people into competition, particularly if they're there for the enjoyment. But, yeah, I welcome another form of inclusion if it provides that. Absolutely. Yeah.

00:24:19Melissa Ellis: So I guess let us know. Yeah. Let us know in the comments of the episode on Facebook or write in and give us your opinion. Is this something that you think would add value to the podcast and how much work would it involve because I don't need any more work.

00:24:37Oliver Spake: No, no, perhaps not.

00:24:38Melissa Ellis: Maybe Bill's not volunteering.

00:24:40Unidentified speaker: No.

00:24:41Oliver Spake: So stay tuned for the end of this podcast for our email address and our ways to contact us if you haven't heard them many, many times before. But from the theme of inclusivity, Mel, to exclusivity. Nice segue.

Palm update

00:24:56Oliver Spake: We've perhaps got a little bit of an update, a palm update.

00:25:02Melissa Ellis: We've got a couple, actually. We do, yeah. You want to go first or second?

00:25:07Oliver Spake: Oh, we haven't talked about this. Fun job. You go first. All right. So firstly, the exclusivity teaser. Those of you that have been listening to the pod will know our parkrun Adventure Listener Meetup for 2024 is in Toowoomba. It's in April. And for those joining us at palm24, there's a bit of exclusive merch going to be available on site, on location in Toowoomba. And stay tuned. Stay tuned for more details.

00:25:44Melissa Ellis: Yep, we're not announcing what it is yet. You just have to wait.

00:25:49Oliver Spake: It's not the shirt, the shirt that's still available but won't be for very much longer.

00:25:51[crosstalk]

00:25:54Melissa Ellis: Something new. And we're very excited about. And, yeah, there will be more to come in upcoming weeks. But also while we're giving you little teasers about Palm, we've got another exciting announcement and that is the theme for the dress-up night that we traditionally have at the Listener Meetup. Now... What have we had over the years, Ollie? They've generally been quite broad. Like I think the very first year was just come in a dress up.

00:26:27Oliver Spake: Yes. I was Harry Potter, I believe. You were. Yes.

00:26:27[crosstalk]

00:26:31Melissa Ellis: You were. I was a Mexican.

00:26:33Oliver Spake: That's right. Good Victorian costume.

00:26:36Melissa Ellis: And the next year, where were we? Newcastle.

00:26:40Oliver Spake: I was a rock star.

00:26:41Melissa Ellis: Yeah, I was Alice in Wonderland. At least I thought I was, yeah. What would that have been?

00:26:45Oliver Spake: Goodness.

00:26:46Melissa Ellis: Oh, come as a character maybe? Can you remember what the?

00:26:51Oliver Spake: We've done our research this week, haven't we? You've done your research. I think it might have just been dress up as anything again.

00:26:55[crosstalk]

00:26:58Melissa Ellis: Where did we go after? We went to South Australia.

00:27:04Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:27:04[crosstalk]

00:27:05Melissa Ellis: And then we had the 1920s. No, it was just 20s.

00:27:08Oliver Spake: 20s.

00:27:10Melissa Ellis: That was the theme.

00:27:11Oliver Spake: There were some classy outfits at that palm, I must admit. Yes.

00:27:15Melissa Ellis: Yeah, I didn't, I wasn't really very, I didn't think up a very good idea for that one. I just came dressed in 1920s clothes.

00:27:22Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:27:23Melissa Ellis: Clothing. Well, actually, so did you.

00:27:25Oliver Spake: Yeah, yeah.

00:27:27Melissa Ellis: We took the easy option that year.

00:27:28Oliver Spake: I think many of us did, which is why the following year in Nambour, I think we got a bit more lateral and it was parkrun related. Nice narrow theme for this audience. That's right.

00:27:45Melissa Ellis: And you were the barcode app.

00:27:47Oliver Spake: I was the, yeah, that's right, the virtual volunteer app. And I'm still looking for excuses to wear that costume.

00:27:56Melissa Ellis: What did I? Oh, I was brunch.

00:27:58Oliver Spake: You were.

00:27:59Melissa Ellis: It was a cupcake. Yes. And then we went to Tassie.

00:28:04Oliver Spake: That's right.

00:28:05Melissa Ellis: Yes. Next was Tassie.

00:28:07Oliver Spake: Next was Tassie for the pea party.

00:28:09Melissa Ellis: Pea. Where you were a pharaoh.

00:28:13Oliver Spake: Yes, I was promoting Fekrun. The website's still there, I believe. You can still register as a FAQ runner.

00:28:23Melissa Ellis: And I was a pink lady.

00:28:25Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:28:26Melissa Ellis: And then so we then went to West Australia last year. And what was our third? West. Western. West. West was our theme where I was just dressed as a cowgirl and you were a black swan.

00:28:34[crosstalk]

00:28:43Oliver Spake: Yeah, I was one of the lesser elegant black swans there, but yes.

00:28:50Melissa Ellis: So as you can tell from just divulging our previous costumes, there's a lot of interpretation that's acceptable when it comes to parkrun costumes or palm costumes.

00:29:07Oliver Spake: Some people, I do believe, managed to find a way to wear the same costume to every single one. Dress up night. Or the same shirt, I should say. Oh.

00:29:20Melissa Ellis: Yes. Not mentioning any names. Brendan Peel.

00:29:24Unidentified speaker: Yes.

00:29:25Melissa Ellis: Anyway, we've rabbited on enough about that. The actual theme for Palm 2024 is... Ah, being that we are going to be in the town of flowers. That's right.

00:29:45Oliver Spake: So, yeah, read into that what you will, adventurers.

00:29:49Melissa Ellis: We're not going to give you any more tips. Just run with it.

00:29:53Oliver Spake: We'll just encourage you. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. But, yeah, thank you, Mel. So that's it for the updates and the hinting for now. But I'm sure in the pods coming up, listeners, adventurers that might be coming along would want to stay tuned and listen in for a bit more information. But this is where I would usually throw to the roving reports. But we don't have any roving reports. We're all caught up. And that being the case...

Dazza's

00:30:25Oliver Spake: it's time for Dazza's.

00:30:27Melissa Ellis: And we didn't insert what Dazza has said this week. Could you see that expression on my face?

00:30:33Oliver Spake: No. So as I very quickly scroll up this week at Dazza's, Dazza was in fact reflecting and said, each week Dazza trawls the Google machine for special days to celebrate. Imagine his excitement when he found out today is chocolate cake day. Who wants a piece? Come on in, place your order and tell us all about your parkrun adventures this weekend.

00:31:00Melissa Ellis: And while I quickly added our names beside the entries while you were speaking, first up we had Roberta Winters coming to us from Queensland and she said, Hey, Dazza, I headed to Ocean View parkrun today for their 250th event and they must have known about Chocolate Cake Day as they had a chocolate cake at the finish line. And Roberta shared a lovely photo of herself in the Ocean View selfie frame. And happy 250th ocean view. It is one on my bucket list, I will admit. Hmm.

00:31:35Oliver Spake: Now we heard in South Australia from Tracy Kavanagh, who said celebrated my 250th parkrun at Seacliff Esplanade parkrun's 250th event. And Tracy shared a photo of herself in a 250 cake by the ocean. That almost sounds like the song Cake by the Ocean.

00:31:55Melissa Ellis: I don't know that song. Oh.

00:31:57Oliver Spake: It's all in my head now.

00:31:58[crosstalk]

00:31:58Melissa Ellis: You move around a lot. I am noticing, Ollie. Don't stop jigging.

00:32:04Oliver Spake: Yeah, I'm standing up.

00:32:06Melissa Ellis: So, yeah, that's good work, marrying up your 250th parkrun with the 250th anniversary. Good work, Tracy. Now, we also heard from Dave Allmark coming to us from WA, and he said... Some of the old farts, Franz, Kev, Michael, went to Whitfords Nodes parkrun today, but with Andrew Yeatman having other engagements, I have had to step up with the post. Unfortunately, I failed to get a photo of us too. That's Andrew Yeatman's job. But here's a photo of the waiter slash waitress at breakfast afterwards. And this photo was really cool, Ollie. So it was a robot waiter. Yeah, at the brunch venue bringing food to the table and somebody sitting there with their parkrun shirt on, but I don't know who that was. LAUGHTER

00:32:52Oliver Spake: It's photo evidence nonetheless, but yeah, excellent. Well, okay, in New South Wales, Cathy Crispin checked in and said, "'Touristed today and Cowra parkrun, you did not disappoint. What a truly picturesque, friendly and enjoyable parkrun. The vista was stunning. We were incredibly blessed with cooler running weather despite yesterday's heat." The countryside is green and the undulating concrete tulip course was just right and the volunteers were lovely too. No chocolate cake this morning, a beautiful morning. And the photo there of Cathy and a friend with a bark runner showing the lovely conditions at Cowra there.

00:33:32Melissa Ellis: Now we heard from Brett Bailey coming to us from across the ditch, and he said, yum, chocolate cake. Sorry, Dazza, no time for that. Handed out finished tokens at Pegasus parkrun, then straight to the annual Muscle Car Show to help Marshall in the car park. Fundraising for the surf club, so busy, so hot. And a photo of Brett and co.? at Pegasus in their volley vest. So there's a bit in that. So not only was he volunteering at juniors, he was volunteering at a car show that was raising money for the volunteer surf lifesavers. So good on you, Brett.

00:34:10Oliver Spake: Absolutely. And, Mel, not wanting to call you out there, but I think you were manifesting future parkruns on Pegasus there. Why, what did I say? I think you may have said juniors. Did I? Yeah. You've got your instructions.

00:34:19[crosstalk]

00:34:27Melissa Ellis: Thanks for pointing that out. I could have edited it, but now I have to leave it in.

00:34:31Oliver Spake: Oh, sorry. Yeah. That's all right. I'm sure there's some good pronunciation coming up. So Chantelle Hosking in New Zealand as well said, visited Whangarei today and got on New Zealand most event list. And the screenshot provided proved the most events list achievement there. And it's the Whang again, Mel.

00:34:57Melissa Ellis: I know. Any excuse. That's how they got in. That's right. Chantelle's post got in this week because it mentioned the fun. Oh, no, but good effort, Chantelle, too. Yes. Very good effort. Yeah. Now, we also heard from Chloe Bravos, Bravos even, also from WA because she said, this is the face of a child who just dropped their Zooper Dooper. Lucky it's a day for chocolate cake. We had a great time at Wanneroo parkrun and thanks to their lovely RD who swooped in with a fresh Zooper Dooper for Lucy after he witnessed the tragedy firsthand. And there was a photo of the three Bravos in the selfie frame showing a very sad little Lucy. She is so cute and I'm glad she got a replacement Zooper Dooper.

00:35:40Oliver Spake: Yes, justice.

00:35:43Melissa Ellis: Andrew Blanda. Coming to us from?

00:35:48Oliver Spake: I believe that was Victoria. It's not what I wrote. Saying, look who travelled to the second greatest state today. With a disclaimer saying, depends on where one resides normally as to which state is deemed greatest. YMMV.

00:36:08Melissa Ellis: Yeah, I was going to ask you about that. I didn't know what that meant. What do you think?

00:36:13Oliver Spake: I haven't got an answer to that one. I am stumped easily. Just ask, yes, a certain bicycle character. But, yes, coming to us from the Great Estate, there we are. And the photo there Andrew shared was him in his Adventurous shirt in the Benalla Botanical Gardens selfie frame.

00:36:32Melissa Ellis: Right-o. And lastly, we heard from Mark Hibbard coming to us from New South Wales. Chocolate cake and coffee and a nice place to relax and listen to the hottest 100 in Taree. Thanks for the lovely Zooper Dooper, Taree parkrun. So there's another mention for the Zooper Dooper. And, yeah, it was hottest 100-week end. Did you listen, Ollie?

00:36:52Oliver Spake: I did. I forgot to mention that in the recap. Yeah, that's essential listening in our household every year.

00:36:58Melissa Ellis: Did Padam Padam get in?

00:37:01Oliver Spake: Padam Padam did get in. I can't recall. It may have been in about the 40s, 41, something like that. I can't recall. Yeah.

00:37:09Melissa Ellis: Rightio. So, yeah, photo of Mark there in the Taree selfie frame. So thanks for writing in, Mark.

00:37:15Oliver Spake: Yes. And just incidentally, in the Hottest 100, sad to say that Voyager, our Australian Eurovision entrance, I don't think made an appearance in the top 100 or 200. I did vote for them, but nonetheless.

00:37:29Melissa Ellis: You should have told me. They've done us proud. You could have made a difference.

00:37:33Oliver Spake: Never mind.

00:37:34Melissa Ellis: We could have had a campaign, Ollie, next year.

00:37:35[crosstalk]

00:37:37Oliver Spake: We could.

00:37:38Melissa Ellis: Oh.

00:37:40Oliver Spake: One job. One job. Yeah. Well, okay.

the Obi Award — Dave Allmark

00:37:44Oliver Spake: Now I have a different one job, I believe. That's not in the envelope. Yes. So.

00:37:56Melissa Ellis: camera ready did anybody actually go on to the pod post last week I posted the photo proving we actually have an envelope so if you didn't go back to the last episode's pod post and look in the comments and you'll see the photo I'm about to take another one yeah just just don't look too closely at the details and the photo there and

00:38:18Oliver Spake: Yeah, this particular envelope wasn't even clearly labelled, but there we are.

00:38:23Melissa Ellis: Oh, is the Office Lady getting a bit slack?

00:38:29Oliver Spake: I don't think I'm in a position to pass.

00:38:33Melissa Ellis: Do you have to call her out?

00:38:35Oliver Spake: Any blame? No, no. When one leaves post-it notes everywhere in the office, one doesn't criticise others, but yes. This week's Obi goes to... Oh, hang on.

00:38:43[crosstalk]

00:38:45[background music]

00:38:56Melissa Ellis: I need a photo.

00:38:58Oliver Spake: The old farts.

00:39:01Melissa Ellis: Yes, you have to say it too. This is not a visual medium, but good for the photo. Thank you.

00:39:06Oliver Spake: That's absolutely right. So, congratulations, Dave. Yeah, well done stepping up when Andrew was otherwise occupied and that photo was excellent. So... Well done, our tech-savvy old farts, and congratulations.

00:39:23Melissa Ellis: Hooray. Okay.

Emails

00:39:26Melissa Ellis: Now we're going to move on to our emails. I'll take the first one, seeing as we haven't named those either. And, gee, we've been slack today, haven't we? But anyway. The first one comes to us from Andy Airey, and he said, Hi, guys. Please mention to your listeners who may be visiting Europe at the end of September that a group of 115 tourists are going to Pokkinen park. Pokkinen, yes. Pokkinen parkrun, which is the most northern event in the world. Oulu is close to the Arctic Circle and they get on average 16 participants per week. Finland has only had six occasions in its five and a half year history where there have been more than 100 turn up. When we run on the 28th of September, we will have the second highest turnout, although I am expecting nearer 200 on the day. Now, there is a list of six dates.

00:40:27Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:40:27[crosstalk]

00:40:28Melissa Ellis: Yes. What?

00:40:29Oliver Spake: I believe so.

00:40:32Melissa Ellis: These are attendance numbers.

00:40:34Oliver Spake: Attendance.

00:40:35Melissa Ellis: Of why did I give myself this email? Yes.

00:40:40Oliver Spake: So, yes, so these are the occasions where more than 100 have turned up. So number one, the highest attendance there is Tokoinranta, and the in-laws will really enjoy my terrible Finnish pronunciation here, with 166, and that was on the 18th of May, 2023. Tampere, second highest, third highest, fourth highest and fifth highest. So 126, 112, 110 and 105 respectively and the dates there ranging through 2018, 2017 and 2022. I'm skipping the details there, my apologies. But number six, Puolarmaari with 102 on the 16th of October 2021.

00:41:31Melissa Ellis: Excellent. I can take over from here. We are even taking our own RD, Lorna, who lives a lot further south in Finland and is on track to be the only person to be Run Director at every Finnish event. To add a bit more fun to this airy airways adventure, we are all travelling from Helsinki on Friday night in the sleeper train. We arrive at Oulu train station after a nine-hour, 18-stop journey on at 8.15am where we will walk one kilometre to the start line. Most of us are staying at the Radisson Blue Hotel, which is two minutes walk from the finish of the Finnish event. The hotel has agreed to extend breakfast till midday so we can start checking in after parkfaff. So if anyone is in Europe this September, come and join us for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Keep up the great work, and I love the positivity of your pod. Andy Airey, A1083171, and he says, P.S., when you go on the Finnish parkrun page and translate to English, the event is called Crazy parkrun. Thanks, Andy. Yeah. Thanks for giving the listeners the heads up. And I do believe Andy has a Facebook group. We've mentioned it before, Airey Airways. It's just a group of like-minded people where Andy organises group events.

00:42:57Oliver Spake: Yes, for people to connect at various parkruns, and that sounds like an amazing experience. I did see some video footage of the course set up over there at Pokkinen in the dark, in the snow, and it looks like one unique experience. Obviously, different time of year to this particular one. It would be much lighter at that point. But I digress. We also heard from Paddy. And I would say that would be our one and only Patty Oshimo, who said, hi, Mel and the lazy Susan of co-hosts. Happy 2024. I hope you all have a very happy year with many parkruns. Ever since TOC mentioned the recording of not parkruns, I decided to record them myself again. I stopped recording them when parkruns returned with the lifting of COVID restrictions, but I have found a reason to log them again. I'm maintaining a spreadsheet of my notties alongside those entered through the parkrun website. With that, I'm able to keep track of my not stopwatch bingo. Currently, I've completed 109 noughties with 47 not stopwatch seconds ticked off. On average, I should be able to get my not stopwatch bingo in 188 more runs, but the frequency of those runs is up to me. Of course, one could cheat with one's not stopwatch bingo, but I wouldn't do that. Maybe others feel motivated by this idea, as I am. Happy running. Best wishes, Patrick Paddy Shimo.

00:44:41Melissa Ellis: Oh, good job.

00:44:42Oliver Spake: Yeah.

00:44:43Melissa Ellis: Thanks for riding in, Paddy.

00:44:44Oliver Spake: That's right. And one thing that I didn't get to do in my run brief because he had already disappeared down to the lagoon as Paddy volunteered with us on Saturday at Shellharbour parkrun for his 50th volunteer. So happy 50th volunteer, Paddy.

00:44:58Melissa Ellis: Absolutely. Hooray. Okay, moving on. And, yes, let us know if you think Paddy's idea is a good one and you take it on. Yeah. But we did hear, in addition, from Chris Gore, and he said, Hi, Mel and Ollie and Sam. Just a couple of comments on the show this week, which we listened to in the car to and from parkrun this morning. We had our 24 parkruns in 24 hours on the 13th of January and Phil did indeed complete them all along with eight other runners. Phil managed to do all his parkruns in under 24 minutes as well. I managed five complete and partially completed another three. It was a very, very hot day with a temperature above 40 degrees for most of the afternoon. And in the evening and early morning, it didn't get below 30. We did get some relief when we did Whitfords Nodes parkrun on the coast where it was only 35. LAUGHTER Thank you.

00:45:56[17 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

00:46:13Melissa Ellis: It is a great trail run with a course that looks confusing on the map, but is actually not too hard to follow once you're running it. We did it in February, so much of the muddy ground was frozen. I imagine it would get a bit messy when it thaws out. It had a friendly crew and a lovely cafe on site for the post-parkrun coffee. Plus, if you display your barcode in your car, you get twice the amount of time on your parking ticket. Looking forward to catching up with you all in a couple of months. Cheers, Chris and Karen. Oh, they must be coming to Palm.

00:46:45Oliver Spake: That's right. That's right. And thank you, Chris and Karen and Chris Gore for sending that in because, yeah, they've got our back. And, yeah, I knew I'd heard someone mention their travels to Itchen Valley Country Park parkrun in the last year or so. So, yeah, now I have. So now I have my memory jogged and, yeah, congratulations on the spectacular and horrendous sounding effort of the 24 parkruns in 24 hours in those temperatures.

00:47:22Melissa Ellis: Yes, it was brought to my attention that that event actually did start in WA and that Phil had done it multiple times. Yes. And he puts his own little spin and challenge to it. He's an incredible man, but also to all those other people that... Completed it in whatever manner.

00:47:41Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:47:41Melissa Ellis: They did. Just seems crazy in that heat to be able to do that. But now it's time. We're going to have a break. How are you feeling? We've been going a while. We've been nearly an hour. Oh, goodness. Doesn't matter.

00:47:55[background music]

Birthday Boy

00:47:57Melissa Ellis: Now it's time to hear from the birthday boy. Music

00:48:06the Birthday Boy: Howdy, it's the Birthday Boy here with some of the goings-on for February 2024. February has four parkrun days. On the 3rd, the 10th, the 17th and the 24th. There are no special days around the world in February. How many weeks are you planning to come to parkrun? What's your parkrun goal for February? Are you getting your volunteer vibe on? An anniversary reminder first. Events may celebrate what they like, when they like, so please check all details with the local source, i.e. their webpage and or their Facebook page. This is especially true for dress-ups, cakes, etc. Is there anyone joining Main Beach, New Farm or Albert, Melbourne on 12? Yes, Kirra. Congrats to this lovely event near the border between the greatest state and New South Wales. We have two events turning 11 in February. One is Happy, Lake Mac in New South Wales, and one is not, Tuggeranong in ACT, as they are closed for foreshore path renovations with an unknown return date. The works project has several stages and the overall finish date is expected to be mid 2024. So hopefully they are back before then. Now let's check out the first anniversaries. We have four events turning one, including three on the 10th. The affectionately named Ass parkrun, the Australian Standing Stones in New South Wales, Maria Creek Reserve in South Australia, and Point Hut Pond in ACT. The fourth event is on the 24th of the month and it's Newcastle Park. No, not New South Wales. It's in 2JWA. What else is interesting this month from the other 35 anniversaries? Well, week one's got nearly half of them with 15, ranging from Cyril Curtain Reserve turning two through to Toolern Creek turning nine. Many options this month. Week two has got six events on, including two 10s. We've got Ipswich Queensland in Queensland and Golden Beach, also in Queensland. Week three has got six anniversary events. Week four has eight anniversary events and Nightcliff is in that week, all in territory. For junior parkruns, we've got Bellevue Park Junior parkrun at Ashmore on the Gold Coast. Again, in the greater state, Queensland. They are turning three this February the 25th. It's a Sunday, don't forget. As with all parkrun adventures, the parkrun cancellations page is a valuable tool. See parkrun.com.au forward slash cancellations. The official cancellations page contains information for the coming weekend, plus two further weeks. So be sure to check it again mid-month. Well, see you next month for some more birthday boy banter. And be sure to let Mel and Ollie know if you have any requests.

00:51:15[background music]

00:51:28Oliver Spake: And thank you very much to the birthday boy. And, well, we're back now.

Consolidated Club Report

00:51:34Oliver Spake: I think it's time for the Consolidated Club Report, though. So how are we doing?

00:51:39Melissa Ellis: Well, this week's Consolidated Club Report for Saturday, the 27th of January 2024. Of a total of 547 members, 434 took part on this date in seven countries across 219 locations. In the UK, there were adventures at 29 events. There were four events in South Africa, two in the USA, and one in Ireland and the Netherlands, locally we had adventures at 45 events in New South Wales 41 events in Queensland there was 40 in Victoria aka what Just for those playing along at home, Ollie thinks he's very funny and he's changed the Greater State to aka the Third Greater State. Yes, 40 events in Victoria, 17 in South Australia, 12 on the West Side, 10 in Tassie, 8 in the ACT, the North Island had 6, the South Island had 3 and there were none in the Northern Territory. So close.

the Frond — The Ponds parkrun (10 adventurers) - largest Frond; University of Northampton - international Frond

00:52:48Oliver Spake: And from a frond perspective, but internationally, the University of Northampton, a frond there of Phil Olson, AMH. Amanda Murray-Holland. Sorry, Amanda. And Helen and Andy Rutter.

00:53:04Melissa Ellis: Woohoo! And locally, the largest Frond was indeed at The Ponds this week with 10 Dennis Peden, Geoff Robinson, Manish Bindroo, Jamie Cleen, Penny Prosser, Chirina Giran, Charles Burns, Vincenzo Coco, Kevin Pickup and Rio Lambino.

Launches and anniversaries"Where is the cake?"

00:53:21Oliver Spake: But on the launch front, I'll throw to you because I don't want to steal your thunder there, Mel. Yeah.

00:53:29Melissa Ellis: I just stole your thunder. I didn't pay attention. I'm used to doing that. Yes, I didn't even read it.

00:53:34Oliver Spake: Not at all.

00:53:35Melissa Ellis: Do you want to do it again, Ollie? And you read it? Because I didn't mean to do that. No, that's quite okay.

00:53:41Oliver Spake: I was actually quite glad that you read that one because it rolled off your tongue. Okay, all right, all right. Yes, but on the launch front, Mel, we had two launches. Yes.

00:53:53Melissa Ellis: Yes, indeed, Ollie. We had an event coming to us from Corowa in New South Wales, and it was Ball Park parkrun. Now, it launched with 105 participants. 37 were first-time parkrunners. This course is three out-and-back laps along the Murray River. Now, I thought I'd give you a little bit of insight into Corowa. The town is located in the Murray region in the state of New South Wales. It is on the bank of the Murray River, the border between New South Wales and Victoria, opposite the Victorian University, town of waganya waganya I've never heard of waganya but there you go so that was Ball Park and there was a second launch in the world that we're aware of called Happy Valley it was in the UK and as far as we can ascertain Ollie it's a closed facility and it does appear to be a military facility yes

00:54:47Oliver Spake: But, yeah, welcome to the parkrun family, Ball Park and Happy Valley. Ball Park, Mel, could that be in the ballpark to be your new NENDY?

00:54:55Melissa Ellis: Absolutely is my new NENDY.

00:54:58Oliver Spake: There we are.

00:54:59Melissa Ellis: I'll be marking that one on the calendar.

00:55:02Oliver Spake: There we go.

00:55:02Melissa Ellis: Yeah, probably for a four- to five-hour drive for me. Yay.

00:55:08Oliver Spake: You sound thrilled. But, okay, we're going to look forward now. We're going to look forward with a very, very brief reminder as we are getting towards the date where the orders will be closing for the adventurers shirts. So those adventurers shirts, those orders are open until midnight on the 11th of February. No shirts are made or sent until after this date. And if you've got any questions, of course, please pop them in the comments or shoot The Office Lady a message.

Sign-off

00:55:40Melissa Ellis: Absolutely. Now looking forward to the next parkrun day, Ollie. Let's start with you. I know that's not what's on the run sheet.

00:55:49Oliver Spake: That's right.

00:55:50Melissa Ellis: But why be professional now? Why start now? No, exactly. Let's just continue the mayhem.

00:55:54Oliver Spake: Consistency.

00:55:56Melissa Ellis: Where are you going to be?

00:55:57Oliver Spake: Copy and paste, Mel.

00:55:58Melissa Ellis: Copy and paste.

00:56:00Oliver Spake: Run directing at Shellharbour parkrun. I do have a few weeks following where I'm not on the roster, but not sure what will be the plan. But, yes, run directing. And with all going to plan, I'll have a 10-year-old that completes her parkrun again. So we'll see.

00:56:20Melissa Ellis: We look forward to that happening. And all jokes aside, I know you're there very regularly, but you are a very good volunteer, as was evident in your recent award. So good on you for being such a good volley.

00:56:31Oliver Spake: No, thank you, Mel.

00:56:34Melissa Ellis: What about you, dare I ask? Insert crying face emoji. So this is one very infrequent one, occurrence where I actually cannot attend a parkrun so I have to work and when work says I have to work I have to work yes not really any choice very disappointing but uh I'll be back in two weeks yeah yeah parkrun will be there for you uh so there you have it adventurers uh we're relying on you this week

00:57:12Oliver Spake: Extra vicarious adventures for us, please. But at this stage. That's all we are looking forward to. But as we did mention briefly, stay tuned to the next podcast or a couple of podcasts for a few more precious details as we approach palm24. But thank you for having me back, Mel. It's hopefully been a little more quiet in the background this time around. But, of course, if you did hear anything strange in the background or if you'd like to give any feedback to any of the other conversation topics or bring on some new ones, you can contact us via parkrun adventurers on Facebook or our email, which is parkrunadventurers at gmail.com. That is it for another week, and we'll see you all next week for your adventures.

00:58:00[outro theme playing]

00:59:03Unidentified speaker: Bye.