Episode 390 - Jumpy

00:00:00[intro theme playing]

Welcome

00:00:23Melissa Ellis: Welcome to episode 390 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.

00:00:35Oliver Spake: And I am Ollie Spake and I'm joining once again from Dharawal Country.

00:00:40Melissa Ellis: We've missed Dharawal Country.

00:00:44Oliver Spake: Look, I have to say, Mel, I've missed Dharawal Country. I think it's my first order of business. I'm here to lodge an official complaint about the lack of Shellharbour parkrun content.

00:00:57Melissa Ellis: Fair enough. But it's nice to have you back. Welcome back. And we've missed you. And what have you been up to?

00:01:07Oliver Spake: Not much. Volunteered at Shellharbour. That's about it. What about you? No. I've been up to a few things, Mel. Yes, yes, I certainly have. And I was going back through the podcast records because even I couldn't remember when the last Blue Moon was, this being a Blue Moon pod and my opportunity to come and say hello to everyone online. Beginning of May.

00:01:31Ingrid Botha: Oh, was it?

00:01:32Oliver Spake: Yeah, beginning of May. So not long after our palm 2024 is the year, isn't it? Yes.

00:01:39[crosstalk]

00:01:39Melissa Ellis: Yes, that's the year we're in.

00:01:40Oliver Spake: That's the year we're in, yes.

00:01:41Melissa Ellis: We should probably give a disclaimer. Ollie is feeling poorly tonight.

00:01:46Oliver Spake: Yes. Yeah. As I've said to Mel, I may not make it through this podcast. I'm suffering from a severe bout of man flu. And if that happens, then you're just going to be listening to Mel for the remainder of this podcast.

00:02:02Melissa Ellis: Oh, dear. Let's hope that doesn't happen. So you've primarily been busy, I think, with kids activities and kids sports and volunteering at your beloved Shellharbour.

00:02:13Oliver Spake: I have. I have. Yeah. Look, Mel, it's been a bit of a long time between drinks for me. As reported in early May, my last parkrun was the 27th of April and it remains the 27th of April. Wow. Which is slightly horrifying. I had to go and triple check that. But, yeah, that is in fact true. Since then, you're right, Zali's soccer season has taken full flight, with my parkrun experience largely limited to gear delivery, course setup, the occasional RD stint and all the behind-the-scenes fun and activities. But, yeah, it's always a pleasure to enjoy the vibes of Kikie. I'm never going to complain about that as much as I love my parkrun. And to be cheering on Zali, although I have been taking that a bit personally, they get to win a match when I have been present. I'm the bad omen.

00:03:15Melissa Ellis: Yeah.

00:03:17Oliver Spake: But, yeah, what else? What else? I did almost make a parkrun, in fact. I did in early May make it to Tasmania as I was down there to help my dad with his yacht. Was that May? I can't remember. I think it was May.

00:03:32[crosstalk]

00:03:32Melissa Ellis: Oh, I think we reported that you didn't get to. I remember informing the listeners that you did not manage to get off the yacht. But the yacht is safely – It's in Shellharbour.

00:03:46Ingrid Botha: Oh, it's at the marina? Yeah, it's at the marina. Wow.

00:03:50Oliver Spake: As of Saturday, just gone, which was my latest reason for not being able to attend a parkrun.

00:03:56Melissa Ellis: So it took all that time to make its way up?

00:04:00Oliver Spake: It did make its journey up to Jervis Bay, which is just south of here in Yuin country, and it was bobbing off the coast on a little buoy in the water in Jervis Bay. Less than, I would say, less than a kilometre from the Huskisson parkrun turnaround point. So if anyone's been at Huskisson parkrun in the last couple of months and looked out there at the yachts as they've turned around, it's been there. But logistic, which I'm convinced is a verb my dad and my brother down to, well, right near Huskisson parkrun.

00:04:39[crosstalk]

00:04:40Melissa Ellis: That's what we've missed about you, Ollie.

00:04:41Oliver Spake: Yeah.

00:04:45Melissa Ellis: Did you hear that, Sam? He logistic.

00:04:50Oliver Spake: Oh, dear. Yeah. Old habits die hard. But, yes, got my dad and my brother down to the yacht as they sailed it up. And I turned around and I drove away from Huskisson parkrun just 25 minutes before the starting point to get up to Zali's game. So...

00:05:10Melissa Ellis: There's only 15 more years of that, Ollie, don't worry.

00:05:14Oliver Spake: I appreciate you letting me up onto level two. I didn't think my past would work. I'm pretty sure it's got a geo tag and it can tell when you haven't been to parkrun very much. I must be teetering on the edge of being absolutely blacklisted from this podcast.

00:05:31Rachel: Not at all.

00:05:32Melissa Ellis: Not at all. But we've had some fun and games and we've been enjoying some challenges with our listeners. Yes. And TOC invented a thing.

00:05:45Oliver Spake: I like that. I like inventing things. I like TOC inventing things. This one was quite popular. It was. I have to admit. We saw quite a bit of an uptick, I did notice, in people reporting in their own Melidex and Tokidex. Yes, and probably would have even more so if the 5K app hadn't gone down over the weekend, Mel.

00:06:06Melissa Ellis: Yeah, that was big news. Hey, I actually, probably like many people, assumed it was user error on my part, and I uninstalled the app and reinstalled it. But of course, it was a glitch with an update that had caused the crash, which has now been rectified. I'm sure everybody will have found out before this pod goes to air, but it's all back up and running. However, the fact that I Foolishly uninstalled the app means all the people I was stalking, I've lost all their details. I'm going to have to restalk them all and add them back to my list.

00:06:41Oliver Spake: All that fresh stalking and excitement all over again. That's great.

00:06:45Melissa Ellis: Thank you.

00:06:46Oliver Spake: Yeah, that's all right.

00:06:47Melissa Ellis: There was probably a few old ones on there I was ready to replace.

00:06:51Rachel: So, yes.

00:06:53Melissa Ellis: And, Ollie, I looked up my Olidex and discovered that we have ran and volunteered at 14 events together over the years. But the most interesting thing that I discovered was the Shellharbour parkrun where we met, the Palm event, was not our first parkrun together. Yeah.

00:07:13Oliver Spake: Hold the phone. I didn't say that.

00:07:16Melissa Ellis: See, ha ha. So we first park ran together at St Peters on the 8th of August in 2015. City to surf.

00:07:29Oliver Spake: You know who was also there? My mother was there. Yeah.

00:07:32Melissa Ellis: Really? That's right. I've got a Galen X too. That's right. Yes.

00:07:41Oliver Spake: Wow.

00:07:42Melissa Ellis: So that was my first year coming up for City to Surf and running City to Surf. So we can have a little discussion about City to Surf towards the end of the pod. Ah, yes, yes. I was blown away. I had never realised that in the past that we had been at that same event on that day.

00:07:56Unidentified speaker: Ah.

00:07:57Oliver Spake: Well, yeah, I'm delighted to discover that. I'm genuinely, genuinely surprised. I am, of course, trying to, on the run, look up the other... Idexes, if that's the correct grouped term. But, yeah, needless to say, homework on the run has never been my strength. I did have a look at the Tokadex, and I believe mine stands at eight. But still working on – what's the – is it the Simidex? Simidex, yeah. The Simidex. Right.

00:08:42Melissa Ellis: Surely you've parkrun with Simon.

00:08:44Oliver Spake: I have parkrun with Simon.

00:08:46Melissa Ellis: He came to Shellharbour. Six. Yeah?

00:08:51Oliver Spake: Six. Yeah, we have a New Year's Day double as our first. Right. That's right.

00:08:58Melissa Ellis: Oh.

00:08:58Oliver Spake: Very good. And a visit to Mossman before, of course, he came to Shellharbour. So, yeah, well done, TOC, and thank you.

00:09:07Melissa Ellis: Yeah, that was a fun little thing. And that, as you said, created a lot of engagement. 51 comments on the pod post this week. So that's, I would assume, an all-time record of engagement there. But Jackie declared Tokidex of 437. I just have to say, I think significant others may be excluded from playing the game.

00:09:33Oliver Spake: So we need a bit of a so rule.

00:09:35Melissa Ellis: Yeah, I think so, yeah. Yeah, but also there was another comment, Ollie. Do you want to tell us about that?

00:09:38[crosstalk]

00:09:43Oliver Spake: That's right. Yeah, look, couldn't let this one go without a mention. And thank you, Calum Burrell, for reporting that we've also seen an uptick in budgie smuggler ads. So budgie smuggler, budgie smuggler, budgie smuggler, budgie smuggler. You're welcome, everyone.

00:10:02Melissa Ellis: Now, I am proud to, or I am pleased to announce that Yvette Turner also commented on the published post and said that she was on the cricket tour team bus from Bristol to Southampton this morning. so popped in the earbuds to listen to the latest parkrun adventurers podcast. I got a very big surprise to hear Bill and I mentioned a game. Podcast is a weekly habit now. Certainly made our day and gave us a big laugh and really enjoyed the episode. And she shared a selfie of herself and Bill on the said bus. So that's really good. So I think we've won them over, Ollie. We've got some new listeners there. I think so. But Yvette also popped into Dazza's and stepped up to the task after we challenged them to come back this week with emoji evidence of having listened. And she said, Bill and I went to Southampton parkrun this morning at Southampton Common, which has been suggested dates its park history back to 500 AD, but has documented history of being a public park dating back to the 13th century. We met RDK, who brilliantly managed the 900 plus participants, along with a band of fantastic volleys. We also met a lovely couple and their two speedy boys who had just disembarked from a cruise. The event is run on paved surfaces through the gorgeous park. Lots of shade provided on this sunny morning by the gorgeous trees. We should have got an Olympic medal. As we speed walked back to our hotel, we had to catch our team bus, which is visiting Stonehenge this morning. And she posted an emoji of a gold medal, two running people and a cup. So well done. Thank you.

00:11:49Oliver Spake: Yes. Yes. They've definitely meddled on that attempt.

00:11:52Melissa Ellis: They have.

00:11:53Oliver Spake: They have. They have. And yeah, great to hear the mention of Southampton as well. Still on the list, Mel.

00:12:00Melissa Ellis: Oh, that's your one where you've got family. Ah, see, I remember.

00:12:03Oliver Spake: Yeah, that's right. That's right. Well, moving on to the parkrun Day just gone, I suppose I could talk about other things than my parkrun Day because I suppose I did touch on that a little bit. Would you like to share your parkrun Day experience though, Mel?

00:12:21Melissa Ellis: I would. So firstly, adventurers, I've got an apology to make. I claimed that I was going to go to Maribyrnong parkrun last weekend and I did not. I changed my mind, which is my prerogative. Yeah. And also we record on a Monday night, so often things come up in the week and my circumstances changed, which gave me a little bit more flexibility with how far afield I travelled, which meant I could venture out to Wyndham Vale parkrun event number 373 on the lands of the Bunyarong and Wadawurrung people for adventurer Nicola Wright's last parkrun before undergoing knee surgery. So Nicola had a bit of an event that she had created and called out to her parkrun friends to join her. She doesn't know when her next parkrun will be because she's going to be out of action for quite a while. So off I went to support her and she was actually quite nervous about getting through the parkrun and not having a fall because if she had any sort of fall or any grazes or anything like that, that would affect said surgery. But guess what happened? I had a fall. I had a fall at the start line. I didn't even get past the flags, Ollie. And I fell over, due largely to human error. And as a result, I enjoyed a lovely walk chat, with the Wyndham Vale founding ED Maria Lodola-Price and who incidentally is this coming week handing over the ED role that she shared with her husband Andrew to parkrun adventurer Daryl Smith. So there was multiple reasons for celebration on the morning. It was also Maria and Andrew's wedding anniversary. So the community, they've been the EDs there, as I said, from the start. So the community was very excited to share in their wedding anniversary celebrations. There was also a large contingent of visiting MCRs and cupcakes and chocolate ripple cakes, available at the finish line for everybody to enjoy and the cupcakes gifted by Nicola for the community. So it was all going on at Wyndham Vale. It was my 10th visit. So I've added Wyndham Vale in my P index in my challenge to get my P index to 10. Yep. Excellent. Wyndham Vale's now ticked off in that respect as well. Excellent. So that's about it. Don't have much else to add.

00:14:59Oliver Spake: Well, I'm sorry to hear you took a fall, but can I say I'm glad it was you? Yes, it was good it was me, yes. Yeah, that was really thoughtful of you, Mel.

00:15:04[crosstalk]

00:15:09Melissa Ellis: And yet again, another incidence where I tripped over my own feet on a perfectly stable concrete path.

00:15:16Oliver Spake: Yeah. Oh, look, it happens to the best of us. It certainly does. But Nicola, wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery, a nice, smooth and speedy recovery. And... Yeah, yeah, and the lesson aside from watch your footing everywhere is don't believe a word Mel says about where she's going for a parkrun day.

00:15:42Melissa Ellis: Yeah, sorry, Maribyrnong. I did have the best intentions to turn up at Maribyrnong. But, yeah, like I said, when I discovered I had a little bit more time, it meant that I could get out to Wyndham Vale, which is opposite direction to Maribyrnong.

00:15:58Oliver Spake: Yeah, yeah. Well, Mel, I know it's a bit rich, me, even tongue-in-cheek, criticising anyone for skipping any form of parkrun or changing parkrun plans, given what I had mentioned earlier in the pod about my track record. But... Yeah, I suppose I will do one or two parkrun recaps, just so that I can experience that, if you'll humour me. During the period since last I got to say hello to everyone, well, firstly, it's been cold. I should know better than to complain about the cold and the wind and the rain of the winter because, of course, many of our listeners know what that's really like and would laugh at me doing so in little old New South Wales wedged between the two alleged greatest states. LAUGHTER But, yeah, we've had the odd cancellation as a result as the wet has again tormented the grassy hills of Shellharbour. But a particular highlight in that time, Mel, has been the 10th anniversary celebration from Shellharbour parkrun where, despite the fact it was wet and it was muddy, and we did celebrate with a parkrun white milestone theme being the 10th anniversary.

00:17:27Unidentified speaker: That's right.

00:17:29Oliver Spake: Fortunately, there were no injuries reported with some of the mudslides, but it was very enjoyable to see all of those white outfits get really muddy as a result. That's sadistic. Special thanks, though, to, of course, the lovely team behind the scenes coordinating, volunteering, baking, and, of course, visiting us from the event as we did have Tracey in a Tutu make the journey down amongst others. So, yeah, given I'm cherishing my parkrun time a little more at the moment, this one really hit the spot. And I will say, Mel, I did take a warmer holiday. I went to Bali. Oh. So that was fun.

00:18:12Melissa Ellis: It's not a parkrun country, Ollie.

00:18:14Oliver Spake: It's not a parkrun country, yeah. And, yeah, that was a little warmer holiday. I did make it out for some runs. It was nice to listen to the podcast and be running out there, but probably the most notable experience I had there was, and maybe you're used to this, Mel, in your line of work, but running past 25, I counted them, Balinese soldiers running with their guns. I didn't stop to ask them, but given they were all wearing vests, I assumed that they were my paces, so I kept up my pace. Yeah.

00:18:56Melissa Ellis: Oh, that might have been a little disconcerting.

00:18:59Oliver Spake: Yeah, it was a new one. But I think I deduced that wearing the vest means it's okay, it's just exercise.

00:19:06[crosstalk]

00:19:06Melissa Ellis: Was it high-vis?

00:19:07Oliver Spake: High-vis vest, yeah. Oh, right, okay. Genuinely armed paces. It's a new role.

00:19:15Chrissie: I'm sure they weren't loaded.

00:19:16Oliver Spake: Don't worry. No, that's right. Yeah, and Mel... Being this time of the four-year cycle or three-year cycle, depends on whether you've got a global pandemic or not, but we will naturally talk more Olympics shortly. And while my multitasking game isn't quite as strong these days, I've also managed to coordinate my home's second ever home Olympics. So last time we held ours in the middle of lockdown and utilised our little free time to go and get outside with some productive effort. This time we're revisiting it by choice. So we've got some holiday events coming up like tile swimming, bocce putt, equestrian and the ping pong-a-thon. So I look forward to proudly representing Malawi and Colombia or whoever the girls pick for me. Excellent. But, yes, it is that time, Mel, and have you been watching any Olympics?

00:20:17Melissa Ellis: I have when I can in between waking up and going to work. finishing the day's activities and going to bed. I'm watching highlights. That's about it. So, yeah, Australia's off to a good start. In the pool, that's always a bit of fun to watch the swimmers. They're pretty high profile in our country, our swimmers, so we know their names and we have our expectations. And, of course, Arnie...

00:20:48Oliver Spake: Yes, that's right.

00:20:50Melissa Ellis: Has got a gold medal already. So hopefully I'll wake up to her having a second one tomorrow. And Jess Fox.

00:20:57Oliver Spake: Yes, yeah. What's it called? Was it the slalom?

00:21:02Melissa Ellis: Yeah.

00:21:02[crosstalk]

00:21:02Oliver Spake: The canoe slalom?

00:21:03Melissa Ellis: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was. So I loved that and especially I am actually, here's something I've taken up, Ollie. I am a new adopter to Wordle. I know I'm only 1,100 weeks late. Yeah, heaps of time now you know you can't rush these things but interestingly today I read an article about Jess fox she was trying to calm her mind while she waited to run her run whatever you call it her slalom run where because she'd had in the heat she hadn't done so well and she had a second go at it and that was the one where she did really well and to calm her mind she did wordle Ten minutes while she was waiting.

00:21:43Oliver Spake: That's it. Choice of champions, Mel.

00:21:45[crosstalk]

00:21:46Melissa Ellis: Bless her.

00:21:47Chrissie: She's so pretty too. She's lovely.

00:21:49Melissa Ellis: But, Ollie, we are getting a bit excited. It's not track and field time yet.

00:21:55Oliver Spake: It is not, it is not, but it's just around the corner. And I'm sure by the time that many of you will be listening to this podcast and some of you, this is distant history, but yes, track and field time. And we're always excited to see our parkrunners out there, our registered parkrunners who occasionally make an appearance at a parkrun here and there. And yeah, You have to forgive us for being maybe a bit parochial. We know that there are some other registered parkrunners, obviously, around the globe. But I know in the past, Mel, we have enjoyed at least stalking a couple of our parkrun Olympians. And is this where I admit it's maybe a little more difficult to stalk the statistics of some of our – no, I'm not going to go there –

00:22:50Melissa Ellis: We've had all sorts of problems, haven't we? Yes, with the ability to get the information. But just quickly, I would also like to say to our international listeners, if you are aware of some of your own country's Olympians... who have done the odd parkrun, let us know. Write in and let us know, and we will follow them with interest and see how they do.

00:22:51[crosstalk]

00:23:19Oliver Spake: Yeah, yeah. No, I think so. And there have been some familiar names pop up in the Olympic squad, so we will, of course, in our neck of the woods, be looking out for the likes of, of course, Peter Bol, Rose Davies, Liam Adams, Jess Stenson, Izzi Batt-Doyle, And, oh, yeah, Shellharbour parkrun's own Jess Hull.

00:23:47Melissa Ellis: We will be watching...

00:23:48Rachel: Sorry, Rachel's just interrupting. Sorry.

00:23:58Melissa Ellis: if that got picked up there um we will be watching our uh Olympic parkrunners with interest and I will take special notice uh also jared in the paralympics yes yes I believe he may also be I haven't done my homework though

00:24:12[crosstalk]

00:24:22Oliver Spake: No, and I think, yeah, some more homework is due. I'll certainly be scouring what I can because we have had some wonderful accounts from some of our Paralympians and Olympians over time here and there popping up. And I know, you know, Jared, it was lovely to hear a bit more of his story previously. And also, is it Madison De Rosario? Is she in the Paralympics again? I need to do my research.

00:24:57[crosstalk]

00:24:57Melissa Ellis: Yeah, we really should have looked this up first. Yeah, that's right. But we can bring you that news next week.

00:25:05Oliver Spake: That's right, that's right. Let's perhaps hand over to those who have done their research and have actually done a bit of preparation.

Roving reports & the Channel 5 News crew

00:25:13Oliver Spake: Mel, I think it's time to hand over to the... The Roving Reports. So we've got a couple for you this week, so let's have a listen.

00:25:15[background music]

Roving report Ingrid Botha — Jubilee parkrun, Tenterfield

Talking to Chrissie — Event Director, Jubilee parkrun, Tenterfield (NSW)

00:25:29Ingrid Botha: Hi, this is Ingrid reporting in from Jubilee parkrun, Tenterfield. Is that right, Chrissie? That's right, Jubilee, beautiful Tenterfield. So Chrissie, you're the ED here? Yes. And it's a fairly new event still. What number was this for you?

00:25:43Chrissie: Today was number 15.

00:25:45Ingrid Botha: 15 wow after a long journey of getting organised but we finally got it yeah it's fantastic so I'm going to say the thing that struck me about this one is given that you're only 15 events in today was Christmas in july and so many people I think there were 23 finishes today yes and the number of people that all the volunteers are dressed up in Christmas stuff it's fabulous we have an awesome group of volunteers and um

00:26:12Chrissie: we've just got a little following and it's just a lovely way to start and they're a good crew and they get excited about everything and everyone and it's just a lovely way to start the weekend

00:26:22Ingrid Botha: Yeah, your passion really shows through and everybody, the cheering we got from the Marshals, it's just really lovely.

00:26:27Chrissie: It's not the most straightforward course. Do you want to give a quick course description? Being a small town and trying to make sure we found a 5k course that didn't cross a road was very difficult to begin with. So it's a mix of grass and path and we have to include our cricket field, the inside of our cricket field. to get that extra distance but yeah it's a lovely little

00:26:54Ingrid Botha: Yeah, it was quite lovely. It's in a lovely rural park and there's a rotunda for those of you collecting rotundas. So that was quite lovely. It was a little bit of a slog carrying a seven kilo dog called Paris. But yeah, it was a lovely course. It's a two lapper too. And there's toilets and the parking was quite easy. So yeah, it's a lovely little spot. So what does it mean? Tenterfield's not a big town. What's the population? Do you know what? I don't even know the answer to that.

00:27:21Chrissie: Our shire's actually quite large. So the The area is quite big. And so for our small little town in that shire, it's only very small. And we were getting a lot of new people coming in, younger families, people who are looking for a tree change when they come to move in. So that's been good because a lot of people have experienced parkrun in their places where they lived prior. So they were excited to have that kind of come to town too. So we've had a lot of locals not knowing what it was. who have started and then a lot of people who've sort of moved in who are excited that it's here yeah lovely well thank you for sharing the morning and well done on such a great little parkrun thank you thanks for coming

00:28:05[background music]

Roving report Alison Fraser (King) — Moana Point Reserve parkrun

Talking to Karen CROSSAN — Event Director, Moana Point Reserve parkrun, Whangamata (New Zealand)

00:28:05Alison Fraser (King): Kia ora koutou, adventurers. It's Alison here reporting in back across the ditch in New Zealand after my three-month trip to Europe. And while I was away, a number of new parkruns launched and I'm at one today. So today I am at Moana Point Reserve parkrun in Whangamata on the Coromandel Peninsula and joining me is Event Director, Karen. Welcome, Karen. Welcome. Hello. Welcome to Whangamata. Your course today... Tell me about how you got parkrun going in Whangamata. [Te Reo Māori: "Hello / greetings to you all (three or more people), adventurers."]

00:28:30[background music]

00:28:37Karen Crossan: Well, I've been coming here for 10 years probably, or maybe a bit longer as we have a batch here. And then I always said when we retired down here, I would get a parkrun because we came every second weekend and I missed my parkrun in Auckland. So we had set out, me and a couple of fellow runners from my marathon club in Auckland, and we found a course, which wasn't easy because it's park. And we decided we couldn't run on the beach because it was too tidal and the sand dunes would have to be too back and forward. So Moana Point was the obvious choice after looking around. It's beautiful.

00:29:05[background music]

00:29:16Alison Fraser (King): So you were already a parkrunner with connection to this lovely town. What got you started in parkrun in the first place?

00:29:25Karen Crossan: For me, oh, through my marathon club in Auckland, everyone was doing it, so I just decided it's time, and it got me to have my run on a Saturday morning and have a coffee, and I'd be home by 10 o'clock to carry on my normal day, get your fix in.

00:29:41Alison Fraser (King): So those weekends when you came down to Whangamata must have been really difficult for you, not having your parkrun here.

00:29:47Karen Crossan: It was. I missed the company. I'd go for a run on my own, and it's not the same. It's definitely not the same. Yeah.

00:29:52Alison Fraser (King): And when you mapped out the course, there were, listeners, there were at least 40 different flags out marking where to go so you didn't get lost. It's on a reserve between houses and the estuary. So was it tricky finding a course in the town?

00:30:09Karen Crossan: Yes, it was, because there's not a lot of areas that you could do it without doing circles, which... I know a lot of people don't like too many circles.

00:30:19Alison Fraser (King): Yeah.

00:30:19Karen Crossan: Especially on one of those. Yeah. Yeah.

00:30:20[background music]

00:30:21Alison Fraser (King): So you're still early days. What was that event today? Event number?

00:30:24[crosstalk]

00:30:24Karen Crossan: 15. 15? Yeah. So it is early days.

00:30:27Alison Fraser (King): Yeah.

00:30:28Karen Crossan: And how are you finding it? It's been really quite a journey. It's been interesting to see how many different places we've had people from. We've had from as far as Vancouver, which was Helene's daughter-in-law, and Invercargill, Dunedin. So all over New Zealand, it's been amazing. Yeah. Yeah, and all different stories, which is great. Why should people come to your parkrun? Because it's the most beautiful in New Zealand. Not that we're not biased, but yeah. Well, it's an interesting little town. It's very friendly.

00:30:58Alison Fraser (King): I think most people would know, most people in New Zealand would know Whangamata for its beach hop and the surf beach.

00:31:04Karen Crossan: Definitely, yes, it is. So another excuse to come to Whangamata is to come and do parkrun.

00:31:10Alison Fraser (King): And your parkrun's pretty much all on grass, which is a first for New Zealand. Oh, right. So definitely trail shoes required, I think.

00:31:20Karen Crossan: When I've run it, we've done it for a couple of years before it got official, and I definitely would recommend trail shoes, definitely. But it is a great strengthening course, we call it, because being an ex-cross-country runner... I love running off-road, so it's great.

00:31:38Alison Fraser (King): So you mentioned you were running unofficially before you launched.

00:31:41Karen Crossan: Yes.

00:31:41Alison Fraser (King): Yeah, was that just to get the community involved and tied into parkrun?

00:31:46Karen Crossan: I guess, no, it was just that we needed our own little group on a Saturday morning, so we had the Whangamata community runners, and we'd start at the marina and just meet on a Saturday and go out. So that was while we were sourcing it, and then I moved here in September last year. Feminately, so that's when I really got pushing it to get a bit official once I'm here.

00:32:08Alison Fraser (King): So you've run quite a few parkruns yourself, Karen, so can you tell the listeners your top three courses, not including your home parkrun?

00:32:16Karen Crossan: Okay, I would say East End and New Plymouth, but that's because I was born in Taranaki, so I do like going back to that one, but it is rather pretty with the mountain. Taupō, I quite enjoyed Taupō, and maybe Queenstown. They would rival you for the most beautiful parkrun. Probably, yeah, the three of them probably more dear.

00:32:20[background music]

00:32:32[crosstalk]

00:32:37Alison Fraser (King): Cool, well thank you so much for such a wonderful morning, and hope to see many more people coming to Whangamata to find your hidden gem.

00:32:40[background music]

00:32:46Karen Crossan: Thank you, we do too. Thanks for coming.

00:32:56Melissa Ellis: And thank you to Ingrid coming to us from Jubilee Tenterfield and Alison from Moana Point Reserve parkrun in New Zealand. So Ingrid out there talking to Chrissy at Event 15. And coincidentally, Ollie, it was also Event 15 at Moana Point Reserve with Alison talking to ED Karen. Yeah.

00:33:19Oliver Spake: Yeah, I was interested that whilst not the name of the parkrun, I think we've got another potential fung.

00:33:28Melissa Ellis: We do?

00:33:28Oliver Spake: It would help if I could remember the town name. But I know better than to try and attempt that without having looked it up again. No, here we are. Whangamata. Whangamata.

00:33:44Melissa Ellis: Right. Okay. So Cousin Fung.

00:33:48Oliver Spake: Cousin Fung. That's right. That's right.

00:33:51Melissa Ellis: Interesting.

Dazza's

00:33:52Melissa Ellis: Now, Ingrid also popped into Dazza's and I thought I would read this one to you because she said, I took Paris to Jubilee Park around Tenterfield for a walk carry. It was lovely to join a spont frond with Tracey Wood and the Queensland crew. Now, there was an emoji of... five rings and she did say I hope you get both those references so I do assume it's the five rings do relate to the Olympic rings and of course her lovely dog Paris which is the location of the Olympics very appropriate my mind's ticking over whether there's another reference there but I'm gonna have to I'm not game enough to put myself out there for that so moving right along you did mention Dazza's

00:34:30[background music]

00:34:41Oliver Spake: And this week, Mel Dazza said, this week in the UK is Love Parks Week. I feel us adventurers don't need much of an excuse to show love and appreciation for our parks. Maybe you love the scenery or the wildlife or the flatness or maybe you just love the people. Whatever the reason, come into Dazza's and tell us why you love the park at which you ran, walked or volunteered this week. And one such adventurer popping in was Tracy Leiper in Queensland, who said, No emoji boxing glove emoji kangaroo this morning at Ecco Ripley parkrun. Just the normal few grazing in the fog with one funny new addition. Laughing emoji. And the photo, of course, was Tracy in a kangaroo onesie. Wearing an Ugly Christmas Singlet. Because, of course, that was the day. It was. It was the day.

00:35:41Melissa Ellis: It was. Oh, you didn't get to parkrun, so you didn't get to wear your...

00:35:46Oliver Spake: I didn't get to wear that. I did wear it in the week, but sadly not for that one.

00:35:52Melissa Ellis: Okay, now we also heard from Rex Gream continuing his USA vacation and he said attended second US parkrun at Rock Creek Trail parkrun. Had the pleasure of meeting Amelia Griffo, a previous adventurer interviewee. We Aussies are everywhere. Course was an out and back with a slight detour on the run out. All bitumen path, warm with no shade. My run wasn't a gold medal effort, but got it done. And picture is with Amelia and Steve from London onto Seattle. And Rex did manage to get a little gold medal emoji. And, of course, this week's challenge to our listeners, Ollie, we should say, was to include an Olympic-themed emoji in your Dazza's post. So big tick for Rex.

00:36:42Oliver Spake: Big tick. Big tick. And Tracy. And Tracy.

00:36:44Melissa Ellis: Tracy had the boxing kangaroo.

00:36:46Oliver Spake: Yes, yeah, which is very appropriate. Let's see if Bec Bailey in the Netherlands managed, who said, when your journey home from Morocco has a three-hour layover in Amsterdam, you make it three days and get a parkrun in. Nice to be back after four Saturdays of no parkruns. Beautiful one-lap course through the park and forest of Amsterdamse Bos. parkrun this morning. Sponsor Brooks on site for some shoe fitting and running juice, handling out yummy smoothies and flapjacks post-run. Onto a train to Paris tomorrow before my long flight home begins Monday. Sorry, I'm a couple of weeks behind the pod from adventuring around. Not sure what the Dazza's challenge is this week. We'll listen on my train tomorrow. And the photo there was Bec with the Amsterdamse Bos pop-up holding a sign, dreaming about my next parkrun, wearing her Shellharbour... apricot and adventurer's buff. And Mel, in Bec's defence, do we say that both Morocco and France are in fact competing at the Olympics?

00:37:56Melissa Ellis: Yes. Obviously, Bec has already claimed that she didn't know what the challenge was, but she inadvertently got it right. She included a couple of country flags there. That's right. So we'll give her that one. Now, next up, we have Chloe Bravos coming to us from the West Side. And she said, we love our park at Aveley parkrun. Had my first official go at first time as today after doing it a bunch unofficially. Dave on tail walking and Lucy doing her best effort yet. No whinging. And Dave hardly had to be on Lucy lifting duty at all. She's looking stylish in her extra, extra small apricot parkrun dress. And Chloe included a bunch of emoji references there. There's a little Olympic medal. There is a weightlifting emoji man or woman. And oh, you could even say the clock is like the timekeeping. So good work.

00:38:52Oliver Spake: Nicely done.

00:38:53Melissa Ellis: I like Lucy's dress. I've been through that stage. Ezra had lots of parkrun dresses when she was little.

00:38:59Oliver Spake: Now, Mark Hibbard popping in from, I guess we call it the average of the greatest states, finish line at Wilson Park, also known as Lawson parkrun. And Mark did include the emoji of a wheelchair athlete, if my eyes are correct. Yes. And the pic there of Mark running in his adventurer's top.

00:39:20Melissa Ellis: And we heard from Geoff Glaab coming to us from USA. And he said, Though to be fair, it's more like Park Swim here in the US this time of year. And there was an emoji of a swimming person and a medal and the US flag and photo evidence of Jeff in his ugly doing the first time as welcome. So another tick for Olympic themed emojis.

00:39:52Oliver Spake: Over in the UK, Ian Thompson ran in ugly singlets at Richmond Park parkrun, then jumped on scanners. Plus, it was my friend's 250th parkrun into the bargain. And a photo of Ian and co in the uglies with the Richmond Park pop up.

00:40:11Melissa Ellis: Next, we heard from Sue Keane, and she said, after arriving at the Ponds parkrun in the teeming rain, I thought we may have to swim. Athletes foot on site for shoe try-ons, shoe trying, honouring. They did have to wait for me to get back to return the shoes. At one stage, I thought a paddle might be the go, but A lot of soccer and basketball called off, must be because of the weather. And can I get a medal for turning up and running? And that was a little bit hard to interpret because Sue replaced some words with emojis there, so I just did my best effort. And it might not be very good English.

00:40:56Oliver Spake: Well done, Sue. I think, yeah, well and truly deserves the medal there. Great to see you at the Ponds. Now, back to the UK, Calum Burrell, feeling the parkrun emoji love with wifey Lindsay and dad David with Lorraine Leighton and her loving dog.

00:41:15Melissa Ellis: Does that say sled? It's a sled. No sled today, too warm for that.

00:41:21Oliver Spake: although the budgies did confuse some folks. A few people introduced to Ugly Christmas in July 2024, and the selfie there was of Calum in his budgies with before-mentioned friends.

00:41:35Melissa Ellis: And do you reckon the sled is a reference to a bobsled? That's what I thought.

00:41:39Oliver Spake: Yes, yes, yes.

00:41:41Melissa Ellis: Good job, Calum.

00:41:42Oliver Spake: Yep.

00:41:42Melissa Ellis: Bobsleds are a favourite of mine. Oh, but that's Winter Olympics. Wait on. Well, did we... Did we... Did we specify? Did we specify?

00:41:51Oliver Spake: Well...

00:41:57Melissa Ellis: Oh, well.

the Obi Award — Tracy Leiper

00:41:59Melissa Ellis: Do you have the Obilope?

00:42:02Oliver Spake: I do. I do. You do. You're prepared. I am. Excellent. I'm glad no one ever cleans up my desk. Just kidding. I couldn't even find my name.

00:42:15Melissa Ellis: Your desk went out on the rubbish with the comfy chair. We've all got stand-up desks now. We've done a refurb of the office.

00:42:18[crosstalk]

00:42:23Oliver Spake: Gee, I bet you don't even have post-its anymore.

00:42:26Chrissie: Okay, well, shall I open the Obilope?

00:42:30Oliver Spake: Yes, please. Okay. And the winner of this week's Obi is... ..Tracy Leiper. bouncer. There really had to be just one choice this week. The only colours we see this week are green and gold.

00:42:48[crosstalk]

00:42:59Melissa Ellis: The boxing kangaroo.

00:43:01Oliver Spake: That's right.

00:43:01Melissa Ellis: Which is, of course, for all the international listeners, sort of synonymous with the Australian Olympic team or any kind of Australian sports. Matilda? Was Matilda a Or bouncy. Jumpy.

00:43:18Oliver Spake: Skippy. Are you thinking of Skippy?

00:43:22Melissa Ellis: No. Robbo, when he goes over with the Olympics, he's got an inflatable kangaroo and it's called Jumpy.

00:43:24[crosstalk]

00:43:30Oliver Spake: Jumpy. Oh, I had forgotten that. I had forgotten that.

00:43:35Melissa Ellis: Yes. But Matilda is the sort of official name of...

Emails

00:43:40Melissa Ellis: the boxing kangaroo back when I think we had probably a com games was it the mascot of a com games in Brisbane um maybe I'm just making that up never mind let's move on Ollie we've got mail

00:43:56Oliver Spake: You've got mail. We've got mail. And so this week's mail comes from Ali Sheppard, who has said, G'day Mel and TOC. I'm a relatively new parkrun adventurers listener, but have been parkrunning for 11 years here in the UK. And I'm an avid listener of the With Me Now podcast, which I've listened to since episode one. But... But...

00:44:18[19 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

00:44:37Oliver Spake: Then a couple of months ago, my workplace gave me an amazing opportunity to go to Sydney for a week for work. I soon worked out that if I took some annual leave and stayed over a bit longer, I'd be able to get three parkruns in. And so I have started planning where I'm going to go, and I started listening to the parkrun adventurers podcast to get some ideas as to which parkruns to go to, and was surprised to hear contributions from a number of my friends in the UK parkrun community, like Calum Burrell, Helen Rutter, and Rory Marriott. I'm loving the podcast, although still struggling to work out all the jargon and to understand what an Obilope or a frond is, who Dazza is, and what zoomies are. I have been corrected by Calum, though, on one thing, which is that you're not actually talking about a parkrun called The Great Estate, that is E-S-T-A-T-E, but are in fact referring to the greatest state. Anyway, I'm coming to Sydney at the end of August. My work commitment is from Monday to Friday, so I'm arriving in the week before and then taking a week afterwards and hiring a car to drive around and see something. So, which parkruns should I do? And where should I go on my week-long road trip? There's so much choice. I know that I want to visit Dolls Point parkrun on one of the parkrun days. Oh. Either the first or last of my three Aussie parkruns and my work commitment finishes on the Friday in Manly. So it makes sense to stay an extra night in Manly and visit one near there. Probably Mosman or Curl Curl. but where to go for the other parkrun. Any suggestions would be gratefully received. I wonder if you'd also like me to do a roving report from wherever I end up each week. My only other question is, how do I get a hold of a parkrun adventurers t-shirt? I'd love to buy one, but can't figure out whether they're on sale all the time or just when you have a palm. Best wishes and happy adventuring, Ali Sheppard, A729932.

00:46:47Melissa Ellis: There's a lot to cover in that email, Ollie.

00:46:50Oliver Spake: That's awesome. Firstly, welcome, Ali. Well, I'm sure we have some suggestions for you.

00:46:56Melissa Ellis: Oh, it starts with S and it ends in harbour.

00:47:02Oliver Spake: But you will not be disappointed wherever you go, particularly with some of those parkruns you have mentioned, of course. Mel, I suppose first and most important there, the parkrun adventurers T-shirt. Any comment there?

00:47:18Melissa Ellis: They have previously been out for limited release and there's no current plans to release them again. I'm not sure if we've got enough interest for another run, but if adventurers want to put their hand up and let us know, we can definitely look at it again. So at the moment, no.

00:47:40Oliver Spake: That's right. But whilst I'm sure we can help with some of the jargon, Mel, would you have a parkrun recommendation or a road trip recommendation? You do tend to prove quite apt at planning a bit of parkrun adventuring.

00:47:55Melissa Ellis: Well, I do like the fact that she is already planning on Dolls Point.

00:48:01Oliver Spake: Yes.

00:48:02Melissa Ellis: If she also went to Mosman, she's knocking off two of Sydney's prettiest parkruns.

00:48:09Oliver Spake: Okay.

00:48:11Melissa Ellis: So good choices there. And I'd really like to know how much time Ali's got to possibly travel or whether she needs to stay close to Sydney because if she had time to go further afield, of course there's the beautiful Shellharbour, but I was also going to suggest Newcastle and the beaches. You read my mind. Yeah. Yes. Did I? Yeah, absolutely.

00:48:43Oliver Spake: A beautiful place to visit and quite the experience going to the Beaches. Yes.

00:48:50Melissa Ellis: Yeah. And would possibly be a good time to explain some jargon to people that we use regularly in the pod and we assume that it's assumed knowledge, isn't it really?

00:49:05Oliver Spake: Well, yeah, let's start from the start. Firstly, I'm Ollie. I used to be a host on a more regular basis, and they've just let me in this week. That's kind enough of Mel. But let's start with the frond, which, of course, is an extension or maybe a smaller version of a palm, a palm tree, which is palm is an acronym for our parkrun adventurer Listener Meetup. So a frond is a collection of adventurers gathering outside of the parkrun adventure listener meetup. Any collection. A frond is always merry and a frond can be any size above one, I suppose, on a parkrun day. Correct.

00:49:49Melissa Ellis: Yes, and Dazza, I will explain Dazza. Dazza is a concrete statue that sits at my front door that is the face of our virtual cafe that we have every Saturday morning. And when we decided on the idea of having a virtual cafe for... listeners that maybe can't get to the actual cafe after parkrun but would like to join in a bit of a post Saturday morning parkrun community they can come in and have a virtual coffee with the other adventurers who are online and have a chat, share stories, and tell us how the day was. So we needed to name the cafe, I guess. Yes. And Dazza, yes, is my statue at my front door.

00:50:40Oliver Spake: Dazza was there.

00:50:42Melissa Ellis: He supported my community through the pandemic. When I did my at-home parkrun, he became the face of my at-home parkrun, my Ellis Palace not parkrun during the pandemic. So Dazza. Got a bit of a following through then and it just grew. So there you go. That's Dazza.

00:51:01Oliver Spake: That's right. A zoomie. I do like a zoomie. I'm particularly, I almost said frond, fond of the zoomie, which... As far as my interpretation goes, Mel and Ali and everyone, it's just having fun, sticking your arms out and flying along at any pace as you do a parkrun or, in fact, as you volunteer. You might look a bit like a scarecrow if you are a stationary zoomie, but... Arms wide out, you can sway to the side, but, yeah, it's all about flying and enjoying the moment.

00:51:40Melissa Ellis: Particularly when you see the photographer.

00:51:43Oliver Spake: Yes, yeah, that's right.

00:51:45Melissa Ellis: And it's aeroplane.

00:51:47Oliver Spake: Yes, of course, yeah, zoomie, yes. Not a cactus.

00:51:51Melissa Ellis: Now, and that kind of brings us to an Obilope, which was a term we coined for the envelope that we have to draw the winner of the Obi each week. I guess that means that we have to then go into what an Obi is.

00:52:11Oliver Spake: which is the award that is awarded to someone each week for their participation in the podcast, their effort to parkrun, their link, their inspiration, their great photo, whatever it may be. But it is named after someone very special to parkrun Australia, which is Tim Oberg, who was, of course, the founder of parkrun Australia.

00:52:35Melissa Ellis: And it's just prestige. You don't actually get a prize because we don't have a budget.

00:52:40Oliver Spake: Unless you come to Palm.

00:52:42Melissa Ellis: Oh, yes.

00:52:43Oliver Spake: Yes. Correct. Real-life Obis there.

00:52:46Chrissie: Yes.

00:52:47Oliver Spake: So I hope that has helped. Have we covered them all? I think we have. But, Ali, by all means, I think we should keep this going. Maybe we need some suggestions from our listeners. I'm sure that we'll get one or two in terms of parkruns to visit. But, yeah, certainly a swather of different terms to talk to, Mel. So let's keep going. I think we've talked enough for now.

00:53:10[background music]

Club Corner

00:53:14Oliver Spake: And hand over to Rachel for Club Corner.

00:53:16[13 seconds of audio that could not be transcribed]

00:53:30Rachel: This is Rachel with Club Corner, where we talk about the what and why of parkrun clubs, and I am coming to you from Arrernte Country. What do the parkruns I am about to list all have in common? I will give you a quick pause to guess when I am done. Baraga, sorry, I mean Bagara. Baringa, sorry, I mean Baringa. Lol, just pretend that I said that right. Berrinba, Bowen, Brightwater, Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, at Blackbutt Queensland. Broadbeach Waters, Bundaberg, and Bunyaville. Yes, they all started with B, but what else? They are a club called Queen B's. This club was proposed by Craig Murrell, a parkrun event ambassador, and they are all parkruns starting with the letter B in Queensland. We also have Craig the Thank for the very cubely named CQ, which sounds like CQ, which stands for Central Queensland. These were a couple of the many, regionally based clubs. Some other region type clubs include, COL, or COL, which stands for the, City of Logan, which is a council jurisdiction in Southeast Queensland. Or you might become a Gippslander, which is all events in the Gippsland area of Victoria. Or you might turn red, for all the events in Redlands Shire of Queensland. We have had one club proposed that once earned you might be called an Olympian. It's to complete all the events on, slash, around the Olympic Highway. But it's not a very Herculean task, as there are only two events on the highway. Cowra and Wagga. The highway stops short of Albury-Wodonga, and Willow. So it remains a club of two. Maybe if you went on foot between Cowra and Wagga, and covered the additional 220 kilometres, it might be considered an Olympic-sized task, question mark? Besides, I hear that those five ring people take their name very seriously, so maybe not, eh? So, any major boundary slash area can have its own region to complete and make a club of it. Let me know if you would like me to run through some of the others, as some do have public histories. And remember, in parkrun life, all non-milestone clubs are unofficial and unsupported by parkrun, so stay tuned for our future club corners.

00:55:41Melissa Ellis: And thank you very much to Rachel bringing us some regional clubs this week, Ollie. Interesting, the Queen Bees, the Coal. The Coal. City of Logan, yes. Gippslander from the Great Estate. And Turning Red or Turn Red, which I just didn't really understand, so I need to go back and re-listen to Rachel. But that's fine. I'll get plenty of opportunities to do that when I edit.

00:56:09Oliver Spake: That's right. That's right.

Consolidated Club Report

00:56:11Oliver Spake: But Mel, it's been a while since I've been able to ask, how are we going with the Consolidated Club Report?

00:56:18Melissa Ellis: We're growing, Ollie. It's getting bigger and bigger all the time. This week, the adventurers Consolidated Club Report for Saturday, the 27th of July, 2024. Out of a total of 669 members, 492 took part in 12 countries across 263 locations. So in the UK, there were adventurers at 53 events. There were five in Sudafrique, three in the USA and two in Germany, Canada, Italy and Ireland. There was also one in Austria, the Netherlands and Denmark. So we were spread far and wide during this first week of the Olympics. But locally, we had adventurers at 53 events in Kingsland, tied with the UK, and 43 events in the greater state, 41 in New South Wales, 19 in West Australia, 13 in South Australia, 10 in Tassie, 6 on the North Island, 4 in the ACT, and 1 in the Northern Tree and South Island. So there we go. That's where we were all this last weekend. [French: "There were five in South Africa"]

the Frond

00:57:29Oliver Spake: What about international fronds, Ollie? A couple of concentrations of international fronds, Mel. We actually had four times three. So that's four international fronds across, sorry, yes, four groups of three. I don't know why this maths is so hard, but I'll blame it on the gold. So I will read out the names of the events, but given the number, I might keep it there. So we had three at California country in the UK, three at Morden in in the UK, three at the University of Northampton, and three at Mitchells Plain in South Africa. I can't say it like you do, South Africa. But worth noting there, we did see in Dazza's Wendy Pallant drop in, who was one of those at the frond in the University of Northampton, who said, University of Northampton today with Gabby Lipson, Lee Stott and Steph. Lovely park next to the campus and a great bridge which you run over at the start and finish. Photo of the group with the pop-up.

00:58:34Melissa Ellis: Fantastic. But locally... the largest frond there was a few so I shall just highlight Broken Hill Racecourse this week where we had a frond of six and one of those was Sherry Brandtman and she also popped into Dazza's and said the fifth birthday celebrations at Broken Hill Racecourse parkrun were amazing So many visitors in town for the Mad Max race event. Completed my 100th location today to join the Cowell Club. So glad I was able to make Broken Hill my 100th location. Nice little frond was formed with pic posted by Sherry Cottle.

Launches and anniversaries"Where is the cake?"

00:59:16Melissa Ellis: Now, Mel, we've got some new hatches in the parkrun world.

00:59:20Oliver Spake: I'll kick us off with one that's fairly local to me. That is Pirrama in Sydney. So this harbour side two-lap course starts on the apron in front of the Pirrama Park kiosk and it heads out along the foreshore before turning at the site of the old Pyrmont Bridge. It heads back along the shore before turning on Pirrama Road and back to the start. It's repeated for a second lap but on the return finishes on the grass. We saw 28 volleys there Mel. 219 finishes and 10 first timers.

00:59:56Melissa Ellis: That's an interesting term, the apron. I've never really come across that terminology, describing a parcel of land as an apron. Interesting. Now, we also had a launch in Kingsland, and it was Seaview Mackay. And they start across the Bucasia. Was that how you would say that? The Bucasia Beachfront Bar and Restaurant and Seaview parkrun is an out-and-back course and follows the coastline along a path, 16 volleys, 152 finishes, including 31 first-timers.

01:00:39Oliver Spake: Now, crossing Canada, Welland Canals Trail had 88 participants, nine volleys, including 23 first-timers in those participant numbers. It is an out-and-back course along the Welland Canal Trail, beginning at St Catharines Museum in Ontario.

01:00:58Melissa Ellis: And to finish off the launches for this week, okay, there was a launch in the U.K., Withernsea Promenade, Withernsea. Let's go with that. 149 participants, 17 volunteers. It's a three-lap course of the Withernsea Promenade on flat pavement. Where is Withernsea? Well, I looked it up and it is a seaside resort town and a civil parish in Holderness, east riding of Yorkshire in England. So welcome to the family, all the new baby parkruns.

01:01:32Oliver Spake: Indeed.

01:01:33Melissa Ellis: May you go forth and prosper.

01:01:35Oliver Spake: Yes.

01:01:37Melissa Ellis: But going forth, Mel, where will going forth take you over the coming parkrun days? Well, we're going to parkrun days next.

01:01:48Oliver Spake: Oh, no, looking forward. Looking forward. See, I'm out of practice.

01:01:52[crosstalk]

01:01:52Melissa Ellis: We can... No, no.

01:01:54Oliver Spake: All righty.

01:01:54Melissa Ellis: Well, we have referenced City to Surf. So I guess it's time. It's approaching fast. It's only a couple of weeks away. We haven't really talked about it. Some years we rave on and on and on. And then there's years like this year where we forgot. But I'm running, Ollie, and I believe you are too.

01:02:14Oliver Spake: I will be back. Yes, I'm looking forward to that. I believe it's a sellout, Mel. Wow. I believe it is officially sold out. Okay. I don't know if that, you know, we'll see any additional releases. But, yeah, that'll be exciting.

01:02:26Melissa Ellis: I heard someone say 70,000. Would that be right? Yes.

01:02:30Oliver Spake: 70 to 80, I would imagine. Wow. Yes. Okay. It's a big frond run.

01:02:31[crosstalk]

01:02:34Melissa Ellis: Well, I'm glad I secured my accommodation.

01:02:37Oliver Spake: Yes, yes.

01:02:39Melissa Ellis: Now, it has been traditional the last couple of years for us to nominate an event where we will parkrun on the Saturday, the day before the event. Yes. But this year, Ollie, you and I, we're not going to be in the same location for our parkrun.

01:02:55Oliver Spake: Yeah. Sorry, Mel.

01:02:57Melissa Ellis: So would you like to tell everybody where you might be found?

01:03:00Ingrid Botha: Yeah, I might be found at a parkrun, funnily enough.

01:03:04Oliver Spake: Hooray! It is quite surprising, but for my own logistic reasons, Rex Jackson Oval parkrun happens to be the same location of my daughter's football game, sorry, kick-yay game, one hour later. So that's where I'm going on City to Surf Eve Day, and then looking forward to seeing, hopefully, some friendly faces in the crowd. Hooray!

01:03:28Melissa Ellis: And Rex Jackson is a relatively new event. So will this be the first time you've got there? I would assume so, because pretty much since it's launched, you haven't been to parkrun.

01:03:37Oliver Spake: That's right. That's exactly right. So much has changed. It's now my Nendy. So, yeah. Wow. Nice job, Zali. Excellent.

01:03:45Melissa Ellis: Now, I've got exciting plans to go and visit the ponds. I'm jealous. I've been wanting to get to the ponds for so long and I have decided that this is the week. So I didn't get there for Christmas in July, which has always been my hope because no one puts on a Christmas in July party quite like the ponds. But never mind, a few weeks late. So if you are in the area and you are able, I will...

01:03:49[crosstalk]

Streaky September

01:04:12Melissa Ellis: happily join a frond at The Ponds that's right yes but also Ollie we are approaching fast streaky September we need to get organised

01:04:23Oliver Spake: Yes, very, very timely for me to reappear, I suppose. It's always a fun time, Streaky September. And for those of you who might be new to the podcast, new to listening to the parkrun adventurers, you will hear more about Streaky September. And our wonderful Adventurers community always contributes some great tips, including our Streakmeister. But suffice to say, it's a chance to get out there, have some fun, get active and share it all back with us over the month of Septmeber.

01:04:54Melissa Ellis: And we are going to start getting ideas for our Bingoe card. And I believe, Ollie, you're happy to once again be the creator of the Bingoe card, a job that you took over from Scotty when we inherited the podcast. And I was a little bit nervous. I was a little bit nervous with you being around less often than me. I was going to have to figure that out.

01:05:15[crosstalk]

01:05:17Oliver Spake: No, delighted.

01:05:18Melissa Ellis: Thank you. And do you know what? September is a blue moon month.

01:05:20Oliver Spake: Yes, yes. I had remembered that, actually. So, yeah, I will be held to account. Awesome.

Sign-off

01:05:30Melissa Ellis: Excellent. Now, moving forward to next parkrun day, I'll go first. And I have to admit that I don't have plans yet. So I can't even give a fake parkrun location.

01:05:48Oliver Spake: Okay. Well, a mystery parkrun day for Mel.

01:05:51[crosstalk]

01:05:51Melissa Ellis: It'll be local. I'm not touristing anywhere.

01:05:55Oliver Spake: Yeah.

01:05:56Ingrid Botha: What about you, Ollie? For me, I'll be volunteering at Shellharbour. Nice.

01:06:01Oliver Spake: It is an exciting parkrun day coming up for me, actually. Yes, yes. For all of my own excitement and my own statistics, this Saturday is all about mum. She's coordinated her 250 and 50 combo. So that is, of course, a 250 milestone and a 50 volunteer milestone. And yes, as with all mums, I'm sure that she's probably earned more volunteering credits than she's been given credit for in that number. But nonetheless, we'll take this opportunity for cake. So I'll be run directing and mum will be tail walking.

01:06:35Melissa Ellis: Excellent. Have a great day, Galen. I look forward to seeing the photos, which I'm sure will appear in Dazza's.

01:06:42Oliver Spake: That's it.

01:06:42Melissa Ellis: Now, next week. Well, thank you for joining me today, Ollie. Next week, Simon's back in the chair at the stand-up desk. It's not a chair.

01:06:55Oliver Spake: catch up again thank you very much yeah thank you very much for having me Mel and and everyone for allowing me to indulge in a dose of parkrun it's been it's been a long awaited and I look forward to the next blue moon but for now as always you can contact us via parkrun adventurers on Facebook or our email which is parkrunadventurers at gmail.com that's it for another week and we'll see you next week for more adventures

01:07:25Alice: You know what that means

01:08:07Oliver Spake: Now, Mel, I'm a little out of practice. I had one job, one job, and I forgot it. For those that want to get the hint for Dazza's this week, you have a word. So we want to see some references to that word. It could be wordplay. Treat it as you will. Your word is jumpy.