Episode 400 - Thank you for the Music

00:00:00[intro theme playing]

Welcome

00:00:23Melissa Ellis: Welcome to episode 400 of the parkrun adventurers podcast, a podcast about life, if your life is all about parkrun, like ours is. My name is Mel and I am coming to you from Wurundjeri Country.

00:00:36Tony O'Connell: And my name is Toc, and I'm coming to you from Boon Wurrung Country. Mel, how are you this evening? I am super, super. Super, super celebrating 400? I know. That's got to be a milestone. Surely it's worth us bringing a T-shirt or something out for. Can we get some commemorative merch? I mean, parkrun brings out all the merch now. Surely we can have a arbitrary 400th merch.

00:01:01Melissa Ellis: We haven't even got an Office Lady to make us stickers anymore, Tony.

00:01:05Tony O'Connell: Oh. The wheels have fallen off the merch. We'll have to get back. We'll have to call the ROCV out or for those overseas, we'll have to file on our automotive support and get the wheels back on the cart.

00:01:23Melissa Ellis: Yeah, if anybody wants to join a merchandise committee, please let us know.

00:01:30Tony O'Connell: Oh, dear. You've let the genie out of the bottle there, Mel. Oh, well. Well, speaking of journeys out of the bottle. Yes. Cinder tracks. You didn't know what cinder tracks are.

00:01:41Melissa Ellis: No. No, they sound fancy, but I have no clue.

00:01:45Tony O'Connell: Nah, cinder tracks were just made basically out of cinders, which is pretty funny given the name. They formed a lot of running tracks in that originally and probably a lot of those tracks have been resurfaced since. So, yeah. Yeah, cinder track's also known. We have a cinder track in Wonthaggi, for example, from the coal mine where they had a lot of waste product and they just used it to make a path. So yeah, there's various forms of cinder track.

00:02:11Melissa Ellis: Okay. So you telling me that it is, as it sounds, literally cinder still doesn't really explain it to me because my mind is going, you run on lumps of coal.

00:02:22Tony O'Connell: Yeah, that's burnt coal is essentially what you're running on. Right.

00:02:26Melissa Ellis: So does that make your runners dirty? Is it like white runners stay away from cinder tracks?

00:02:32Tony O'Connell: No, they actually have various forms of cinder, and I've actually seen some coloured stuff in that as well. So, yeah. Some of the almost like a scoria type of rock, the red rock you see in the gardens. Yeah, that's a form of something.

00:02:49Melissa Ellis: See, I know scoria. Oh.

00:02:51Tony O'Connell: We'll make you a builder's labourer yet. That's just picking up on last week's little bit of homework.

00:03:01Melissa Ellis: Thank you very much. Thank you for doing our homework for us. And also, as we're speaking about last week, I would like to say a special thank you to those in the community who responded to my reference earlier. about juniors and whether small numbers were considered successful or not. So I did have a few people reach out to me and give me their opinions, and I appreciate that. Thank you. And that's probably all we need to say about that.

00:03:29Tony O'Connell: Fair enough too, Mel. Mel, parkrun this week. I don't know about you, but I was down at Inverloch at the Stump this week. Back at home. I wasn't. Nice and close. We had to relocate one of our sons. So we were nice and close to home so we could shoot off fairly quick after it. We celebrated with 119 finishes at Inverloch. But the two things I really loved about the day, well, we had two juniors do milestones. One of them did his junior 10 milestone, but he's volunteered six times already. So he's got a 60%. volunteer ratio and he's one of those young blokes that doesn't take the easy jobs he takes on photographer or roles like that so love seeing the young kids come along and the other one was a ran his 100th And he's also a regular volunteer, regularly around the finish line, so doing tokens, he's done timing, he's done barcode scanning. I just love that young kids can jump in and do these roles that you know adults oh they're too hard I can't do it I'm too scared and here we got kids under 10 that are doing the doing the thing and doing it well and there's no no issues there's never any problems so well yeah if if someone out there's got a little bit of hesitation just think there's there's kids out there doing those things and they're doing it really well

00:05:02Melissa Ellis: No fear. I love that. And I do think about that sometimes because we often have juniors keen and eager to jump in and take on responsibility, volunteering. And I just love that we are breeding this whole generation of kids that it's just normal to do your bit on a Saturday or a Sunday morning volunteering. That's got to have a big impact going forward in the community as those kids grow up into adults and it's just normal for them to do those sorts of things. I guess that already happens in, you know, sporting clubs and organisations. But, you know, I guess I'm seeing it firsthand, so...

00:05:46Tony O'Connell: So I was pretty close to home this week, but I just wanted a quick recap. The week before, we were at O'Connors Beach, or as it was cleverly renamed, O'Connell's Beach. You'll hear a little bit more about that in our roving reports, but just wanted to say a big thank you to Val and Steve Warwick, who hosted us for a couple of days, and to Charles Gregory, one of our listeners. And I can remember first virtually meeting Charles when he sent an email in, into the podcast uh Charles actually drove up from hobart and caught up with us and it was uh really good to catch up and actually put a face to the name that we see fairly regularly so yeah we'll hear a little bit more about my adventure in in Tassie and roving reports. Toc, was Charles one that was at Bellerive an adventurer at Bellerive but we never met him I believe he was. Yes, I'm pretty sure that he was.

00:06:42Melissa Ellis: Excellent. So now one of us has met him. Yay. I'll have to get back to Tassie. Catch up with Giles. Mel how's your parkrun day well I had a guest staying at Alice Palace this week, TOC, and it was the OG OL herself, Sam Schroder who flew down for a whistle stop visit and to accompany me to Pucka parkrun Sam got more than she bargained for having arrived amidst a coronal mass ejection now I know you know what that means which had provided me with a Friday morning Aurora treat on my 5.30am walk with Lucy. Often with these larger events, there is a chance of further activity in the 24 hours proceeding and I had been keeping my eye on the advice from the experts, aka the Facebook groups, and the apps of course there's no crystal ball and the experts give their best predictions but I knew there was a high chance of another display so after dinner on the Friday night at the pub I suggested to Sam and Dave that we duck home don some warmer clothes and drive 20 minutes to bacchus marsh to climb the thousand steps which I believed would be a good place to view an aurora Now, most people might balk at the crazy idea like that, but Sam and Dave were up for an adventure. So within 30 to 40 minutes, we were climbing the stairs, me with my headlamp, peering at the dark sky and hoping the clouds would clear. As I neared the top, I caught some colour and I bolted ahead. Bugger me if the clouds didn't clear enough to delight us with 10 to 15 minutes of purple, green and magenta skies dancing above the lights of Bacchus Marsh below us. The timing was perfect. We had the place to ourselves as we marvelled at the sight of messaged our loved ones and genuinely pinched ourselves at how lucky we were. David and I had both witnessed the morning aurora and the evening auroras, and Sam had a bonus adventure that she hadn't planned on. But I'm supposed to be talking about parkrun, and Saturday morning we headed back to Pucka parkrun on the lands of the Taungurung people, where we picked up Dave's son Dermot and rendezvoused with adventurers Andrew and Martine for a run on the Enviro track. Andrew was Tail Walker with Martine. Sam did her training plan. I had a run... I nearly said wonderful. I had a wonderful run chat with an old mate, Megan. Meanwhile, Dermot ran his fastest time to date and Dave did a Pucka PB. So everyone was a winner. Even Eric Banner, who slipped through security to claim the limelight in the photos. After the event, we milled around chatting for ages before heading into Seymour for a long brunch at Little Stones Cafe, where I had reserved a table. And Lynn Black joined us after volunteering at Goulburn River Trail. That was pretty much the end of Sam's visit. We dropped her back at the airport on our way home after another amazing parkrun morning on a must add that we even saw emus. So that was a bonus. That was my 12th run at Pucka, which is one of my favourite parkruns and a place where I feel like I'm at home. So shout out to ED's Michael and Annika and RD Chris, who will be taking over the reins as ED in the new year. They have built a wonderful community.

00:10:07Tony O'Connell: It certainly is a wonderful event to go to, Mel. I've enjoyed my couple of visits to Pucka and it's been good catching up with Michael and Annika. Like even the week after I went up to Pucka, I caught them the following week as well. So I've got to say g'day two weeks in a row when they came up to Nagambie. So, you know, great little course in the scrub. And as you said, emus running between the buildings and out on the ovals and that was a little special treat as well for those that have been up there.

00:10:34Melissa Ellis: And, yeah, Michael and Annika are keen tourists. So although they're going to be moving on from leaving Victoria at the end of the year, they're 100% keen to do as many more Victorian parkruns as they can before they leave. They were asking me what my recommendations would be based on their parameters. So, yeah, it'll be good to see them out and about experiencing a few more Victorian parkruns before they move on to Brisbane. Yeah.

00:11:01Tony O'Connell: So if they're looking for a good parkrun, no doubt you said come to Inverloch.

00:11:06Melissa Ellis: No, no, because they have a one-hour radius, so that limited their choices slightly.

00:11:13Tony O'Connell: Yeah, well, from what Thaggy, he blocks within a one-hour radius.

00:11:17Melissa Ellis: Yeah, right. Goodness me. But we have some updates, some more updates, Tony. We have Budgie updates. Now, Budgie has been successfully passed on this week at Shellharbour where adventurer Karen Hamilton... passed him on to our very own lovely Bec Bailey. And Bec popped into Dazza's and she said, ''Nice run at the local today. The aeroplane has been handed over. I'll be at Shellharbour on the 19th, then Lithgow on the 26th for anyone interested in coming to visit or anyone interstate coming to visit, I should say. If that all fails, I'll have it at the Panorama Punish on the 27th for any parkrun adventurers in attendance.'' And this is a new development, TOC. Budgie has a German friend now joining him on his travels. There was a pic posted by Bec and Karen of Budgie's German Lufthansa airplane girlfriend. He's picked up a German backpacker. What should we name her?

00:12:30Tony O'Connell: This could become a bit of an issue, Mel. We might need a bigger pencil case for Budgie.

00:12:38Melissa Ellis: How many different... I guess all the airlines probably have a... Oh, goodness.

00:12:44Tony O'Connell: Oh, dear.

00:12:45Melissa Ellis: Anyway, that's kind of cool. So, yes, Budgie's still at Shellharbour. So if you're going to be at Shellharbour this coming weekend... And you are going to be touristing and venturing in the near future. Reach out to Bec and take ownership and Budgie can move on. Anyway, it's in the hands of the gods.

00:13:05Tony O'Connell: It is, Mel. And in other news, there's a photo that's been spotted and circulated around from Yzerfontein parkrun, which is in South Africa. And it's a very unusual finishing system they have where all the finish tokens are on a big scale. circular ring and as you finish you all stay in order and as you walk up to where they do the scanning you flick the token over get the token scanned your scan and then move on the next person in line flips the next token and gets scanned it means you never lose finish tokens I did wonder what happens if someone ducks out of the funnel. That would create chaos. But yeah, there's a photo showing the metal hoop on a pole holding the tokens sort of up in the air. So yeah, interesting concept. And I went a little bit further, had a look at their volunteer roster, and they don't actually have a finished tokens person at all on their volunteer roster, really so they have they have every other position on their finish on their volunteer roster they're one of the parkruns that does have the setup and the pack up person and the comms and every other role but yeah last week they didn't have a finish token person they don't have a hoop flipper I think it's been outsourced wow that's cool yes I saw that photo and I do believe though that works because it is a smallish parkrun Yeah, they seem to have an average of about 100 attendees each week. I don't think you'd want to be doing that at Bushy or Albert Park or anywhere like that.

00:14:45Melissa Ellis: No. And just, I think... Maybe it's less of an issue for the smaller parkruns to lose tokens, would you say?

00:14:54Tony O'Connell: Yeah, look, in experience, I've seen parkruns with 20 or 30 people lose one or two tokens. So, yeah, it's not like... They know everyone all the time. I have seen smaller ones lose tokens, but you're probably more likely to lose them at a larger crowd where people just disappear. They're not sure what the token's for. I know at Inverloch one week, we went four weeks in a row where we lost tokens and they're all about the same number. And one week, or the fifth week, one of the RDs saw a bloke putting it on his key ring. She said, TOC, TOC, go and talk to him. So I went over. And he didn't realise that you got a result. He just saw that you kept the token every week. And so he was putting them on a key ring. He was doing a collection of them because he thought that's what you did.

00:15:44Melissa Ellis: Oh, dear. Oh, well. I guess they do have a handy little hole at the end to do that, don't they?

00:15:49Tony O'Connell: Yeah, yeah, very well done.

00:15:50[background music]

parkrun news bulletin

00:15:52Melissa Ellis: Now, Toc, we have a newsflash. Now, spotted in the socials this week, progress is being made on an event resumption of Pioneer Dairy parkrun. Now that the access road has been completed and the board has given us permission to restart, we can pretty confidently press ahead and get things happening. And they say, step one, course redesign and risk assessment. Thanks to John Newton for walking the trails with me this afternoon, which included some new usable sections, some non-usable sections. See the bridge photo and an encounter with a cute local. And there was an emoji of a turtle. The good news is we think we can now set an A course without the need to double up on sections. That will add additional interest and showcase more of this beautiful spot. Stay tuned. Still lots to do, but hoping for a late January, early February start. And so there was photos there showing John with a measuring wheel, a grass section, a path photo, evidence of the turtle, possible addition maybe to the mascots they have there. Well, they had there at Pioneer Dairy, I think, get their name but they were two cows anyway there was a swamp a selfie of Gordon spence and John a broken wooden bridge not safe and roads and um unsure if the roads are meant to be part of the course or what the context was there, TOC but good news for Pioneer Dairy parkrun

00:17:34Tony O'Connell: Mel, give me a little bit of context. Pioneer Dairy, it's not one I'm familiar with.

00:17:39[crosstalk]

00:17:40Melissa Ellis: Don't tell the New South Wales people.

00:17:43Tony O'Connell: Geographically, which way would I go? And you've just answered that. It's in New South Wales, or it was in New South Wales, was it?

00:17:49Melissa Ellis: Yes, and it was, I don't know where. But Richard, Richard was from the area of Pioneer Dairy.

00:18:00Tony O'Connell: There you go, and if I go to, I've just Googled their page, and if I go to it, it says the course is closed until further notice. Nearest parkruns to it are the entrance, San Remo, Mount Penang and Woy Woy, so up in Caro's area.

00:18:20Melissa Ellis: Yeah, that would make sense because Richard runs at San Remo as well. There you go. So good news though, the possible return.

00:18:31Tony O'Connell: Looking at the map, it's on the central coast about halfway between Newcastle and Sydney. So there we go. Every day is a learning day at parkrun adventurers. Now, in some other news, we've had a listener question come in. And the question was, South Africa has Freedom Day, but Namibia and Eswatini don't, as they're not South Africa. So do they do anything? And the answer from our South African correspondents is no, they don't have their own special days yet. And since 27th of April is not a public holiday for them, they don't join in. There has been some unsuccessful lobbying. It's not unusual for smaller countries not to have special days for several years until they have more events like many in Europe. Well, I'll... I actually like the idea of having questions come in and being able to outsource the answering of them.

00:19:29Melissa Ellis: Yeah, that was good. And it was an interesting question about Namibia and Eswatini. They don't get enough mentions, probably, because they are swept under that banner of South Africa. But I know that is an issue and that they would probably rather be individual.

00:19:46Tony O'Connell: And I know that... April 27th, day next year, our friends from the Airey Airways crew have got a big trip organised over there where they're going to, I think it might be Eswatini first, then back to South Africa for the special day and then across to Namibia to finish the trio of those events off over the course of eight days.

00:20:11Melissa Ellis: Well, that's a bit clever, isn't it? If only we could all do that.

00:20:17Tony O'Connell: Now I look seriously at it, and it's two weeks after Palm.

00:20:21Melissa Ellis: Oh, no.

00:20:22Tony O'Connell: We can't go east, then go west.

00:20:26Melissa Ellis: Should we not try to, like, do a deal with Andy Airey and go, let's, like, organise something together? Anyway.

00:20:38Tony O'Connell: Bit of potential for our friends in the UK to have a combine. Let's... Oh, a potential palm next year in Malaysia or... Oh, you said that, not me.

00:20:48Melissa Ellis: I'm not taking the blame for that. Everybody, that was TOC.

00:20:53Tony O'Connell: Come on, Mel. Mel, Malaysia's not in Victoria.

00:20:59Melissa Ellis: I know, I know, but I copped the flack for all the big ideas like WA and New Zealand.

00:21:07Tony O'Connell: Happily support those ideas, Mel. I know, thank you. I happily support your ideas. All in favour, talk to the Pouty Planner.

00:21:17Melissa Ellis: Now, what have we got next? You've thrown something in under my name. Let me read it. Epworth Equestrian in the UK has been permanently closed due to withdrawal of landowner permission. They went out last week with an attendance record of 454 with 43 volunteers. And TOC, you have noted the six biggest weeks were the last six with everyone trying to get there before it closed. So at least they're going out on a high.

00:21:48Tony O'Connell: Yeah, Mel, I think they announced seven weeks ago that they were closing due to a landowner permission. I believe the team are relocating, so they're not going to lose one in that area. But yeah, every week's just grown until this week, which is the final week, and the numbers sort of exploded. So, yeah. Mel, in more UK news, it's all coming out of the UK this week. Oh, it's all about the UK. Yeah. One of the parkruns over there has renamed themselves. Malling parkrun has been renamed to Leybourne Lakes to avoid confusion with Malling Rec parkrun. And that came about at the request of the event team. And I believe the event team, possibly during one of the briefings, I believe, may have announced that there was big news and Malling was no longer going ahead. And apparently the look in the crowd...

00:22:44Unidentified speaker: Thank you.

00:22:45Tony O'Connell: was aghast people thinking oh no our parkruns closing whatever but it wasn't they then announced that it was changing the name and part of their Facebook page says the name change follows long-term tourist confusion about there not actually being a specific place called Malling; there's an East and a West Malling but both are several miles from Leybourne Lakes and recently this has been compounded further with the new Malling Rec event so we're set up today uh The official naming policy would have meant it was either Leybourne Lakes or Leybourne Lakes Country Park parkrun. And since the latest quite a mouthful, we asked for Leybourne Lakes and HQ kindly agreed. And it goes on to a little bit. And for those out there that are into their alphabets, that apparently there is a huge number of M parkruns. There's not many L parkruns over there. So there's some people that are quite happy and there's obviously a lot of people that are not happy because they've lost their M.

00:23:44Melissa Ellis: But the traditionalists don't like change in general. But that's exciting. And I think there's definitely a lot of, well, I can think of Victorian events that could perhaps benefit from maybe updating their naming regulations. Can you?

00:24:01Tony O'Connell: Yeah, I think the one in Victoria that really jumps out was when Hastings Foreshore was renamed from Morningst Peninsula. I think that was a good move because it more clearly identified the area it was from. I think there's been a few in the UK that have changed name. I think there's a few in Victoria, or there's a few in Australia that could probably do with a bit of a... a name change but yeah I think it's good that this one's come from the event team it hasn't been something that they've been asked to do or anything it came from the event team they recognised a need and they wanted to do it well that's good yeah so obviously there's been confusion and they've acted on it so good on them for being proactive we like to be proactive

Roving reports & the Channel 5 News crew

00:24:47Tony O'Connell: Now, I think our next lot of news is going to come from our wonderful team of roving reporters. So let's go across and listen to a couple of our roving reporters.

00:24:50[background music]

00:24:59[the recording continues here — the words are not reproduced]

Roving report Ali Sheppard — Rosensteinpark parkrun

00:25:05Ali Sheppard: G'day adventurers or should I say guten tag. Ali from the UK here but I'm not in the UK. I am in Germany. It is Thursday the 3rd of October and I've just completed Rosensteinpark parkrun in Stuttgart and I'm here with the Run Director James. Hello. [German: "good day / hello"]

00:25:28James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Hi.

00:25:28Ali Sheppard: So hang on a minute. It's Thursday, Thursday the 3rd.

00:25:32James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah.

00:25:32Ali Sheppard: And we've just done parkrun. What's all that about?

00:25:35James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah, well, every country is able to have two special parkruns every year. And in Germany, it's different to the UK. So we don't have a Christmas Day parkrun. We do have a New Year's Day parkrun. But as with a lot of the other countries, it's the national sort of celebration, day of celebration, which is used regularly. And so in Germany it's the Tag der Deutschen Einheit, which is reunification day, or German unity day as it's often known as.

00:26:03Ali Sheppard: So this is when the East and the West were united.

00:26:06James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Exactly, yeah.

00:26:08Ali Sheppard: And so that's lovely for parkrun because parkrun unifies people and there are people here from all over who've come.

00:26:16James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): And there are a lot of people who live in Stuttgart who are from East Germany as well originally and have moved here. But yeah, we get people from all over the world as we've seen today with 150 odd participants that we had this morning.

00:26:30Ali Sheppard: Fantastic and in Stuttgart there are a number of parkruns around and I understand for Unity Day each one doesn't always take part in Unity Day so you take it in turns so the other people can go and you go and visit other parkruns.

00:26:43James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah, exactly right. Yeah, we're lucky that we've got quite a few different parkruns that we can reach within half an hour's drive or on a train as well. So over the last few years, we've had a sort of an informal agreement that we do a rotation between them. So last year we had Kräherwald, which is also in Stuttgart. Yes. Very different type of parkrun to here, which is great that it was more of a trail run.

00:27:10Ali Sheppard: Yes.

00:27:11James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Which is part of the great thing with parkrun. Each course has its own uniqueness to it, really. And so we had 200-odd people there celebrating last year. The weather was a bit better last year. And Ludwigsburg as well. Yes. Exactly, yeah. And then the one in Esslingen. So over the last few years, we've rotated between them.

00:27:25[crosstalk]

00:27:35Ali Sheppard: Yes.

00:27:36James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): And it's nice because then we, as the core team, get to... all meet up at the same time, one of them as well.

00:27:43Ali Sheppard: And I understand that. So at the beginning, it was a fantastic party atmosphere here today. And at the beginning, there was a wall that represented the Berlin Wall made out of a sheet that was made by one of the Event Directors at Neckarufer parkrun. And at the start, we all ran through the wall, which was very symbolic.

00:27:54[crosstalk]

00:28:09James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah.

00:28:09Ali Sheppard: And that's been used at each of the Unity Days.

00:28:12James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah. So he's, I don't know when he produced it, but he brings it along to each of them. So I remember two years ago in Ludwigsburg, it was there, last year in Kräherwald.

00:28:17[crosstalk]

00:28:19Ash - founding Event Director, O'Connors Beach parkrun: Yeah.

00:28:19James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): It's a bit like one of those car wash things you build as a kid out of a shoe box that you run through the flapping sheets. Yeah.

00:28:28Ali Sheppard: And there were inflatable pretzels and beer and everyone dressed up. Lederhosen and dirndl. Lederhosen and dirndl, yes. I'm wearing my dirndl. So, yeah, no, it was great fun. But you either have a fantastic British accent or… I have a fantastic British accent because I was born… Well, no, I was raised in the UK. Okay, okay. But you live now in Stuttgart. [German: "leather breeches and dirndl - traditional German dress"]

00:28:50James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah, yeah. I've lived here 15, coming up 16 years now.

00:28:55Ali Sheppard: Yeah. So tell us about Rosensteinpark parkrun. How long has it been going?

00:28:59James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): So it started on the 4th of June 2022. And it was a long fight. So our resident, our local parkrun ambassador, Chris Greenaway, had been battling for a few years to try and bring it to Stuttgart. And this was the plan all along was to have it in Rosensteinpark.

00:29:18[crosstalk]

00:29:20Ali Sheppard: And you've been involved since the beginning.

00:29:22James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah, so my first parkruns are in 2020. And I've been doing it since then. And Kräherwald got started up in between because it took such a long time to get the UK here. Because it's such a beautiful location. And it's a bit of a protected park. It had a lot more hoops to jump through with the different... Council. Exactly.

00:29:30[crosstalk]

00:29:40[crosstalk]

00:29:43Ali Sheppard: And it's two laps of the park. And also very unusually, you can see a camel and donkeys and deer because it runs past the zoo.

00:29:53James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah. You can feel like you're running across all of the continents. Absolutely.

00:29:56Ali Sheppard: So there's this huge camel as we were going down that, that, um, yeah.

00:30:00James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah. Location is, is fantastic. And it's like I say to most people, it's almost was perfectly designed for parkrun. I mean, exactly two laps of the the park is the 5k parkrun course and you get a great view as you come down past the zoo you can smell all of the fire and you get a view across the river and it's beautiful beautiful parkland wonderful trees really lovely um so yes come to if you're in stuttgart come to Rosensteinpark parkrun but um do you do much touring around or a little bit but mostly when um the opportunity arises so I've been to the UK a couple of times when I've been back to visit there so I've managed to get in the one or the other one yeah I think each time I'll go and try a different one next time and seeing the uniqueness of some of the different ones there and I've done a few of the local ones so like the other unity day park funds I've got the chance to go to those or if there's a special birthday or milestone.

00:30:16[crosstalk]

00:31:01Ali Sheppard: Yes, milestone, yeah. So, you know, one question we like to ask people, can you think of your sort of, not top three, but three parkruns that have been particularly unusual, and you can't mention this one, or not unusual, you know, fun or memorable for different reasons?

00:31:18James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah, okay. I mean, yeah, so in terms of being a tourist, it's 10, I think, is the total of my different parkruns I've done.

00:31:24Ali Sheppard: Okay, okay.

00:31:25James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): This is one thing you see with a lot of, on days like today, you see a lot of the tourists that come and some of them have not done one parkrun more than once at all. So the Tag der Deutsche Einheit last year was quite special because it was where I did my first parkrun in Kräherwald. We had 200 people turn up. The weather was fantastic. It was a party atmosphere like today. We saw people from other parkruns around that came regularly. So that really was special as well. Another time was probably my first parkrun there, also in Kräherwald as well. And as I said, it's a bit of a trail, so it's up and down the woods. [German: "the Day of German Unity last year"]

00:31:44[crosstalk]

00:32:07Ali Sheppard: I did it. I think it nearly broke me. I think I finished crying.

00:32:14James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah, it can get a little bit muddy down at the bottom. But I first did it with my son, my smallest, who was only two years old back then. And I did it in a jogger buggy as well. So that was also quite an extra challenge in terms of getting up and down the hills with that. And then from a third one, I'd say actually probably doing the... junior parkrun because my son who was at that time in a jogger buggy I managed to convince him we went to the one in Cheltenham right I did it on the Saturday the day before yeah got a PB which was also great and then because it was very flat yeah yeah and uh convinced him the next day to uh go and do the junior parkrun yes And he did a great job. He was five and he really enjoyed it. Ran a little bit too fast at times, had a couple of breaks.

00:32:47[crosstalk]

00:33:05[crosstalk]

00:33:07Ali Sheppard: Yeah, the juniors don't understand the pacing.

00:33:10James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah, exactly. So I think it's a great thing that it's there in the UK. It would be nice to be able to bring it to Germany as well, but it's another challenge completely.

00:33:14[crosstalk]

00:33:21Ali Sheppard: Yeah. So Kräherwald, Cheltenham. Yeah. And then the Cheltenham Juniors.

00:33:25[crosstalk]

00:33:25James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah. The two different ones in Kräherwald. My very first one. Oh, yes. The Tag der Deutschen Einheit. Yes. And the... the junior one with my son. [German: "the Day of German Unity"]

00:33:34Ali Sheppard: Yeah, fantastic. Well, that's wonderful. I've really loved today. It's been wonderful, I would say. If you're visiting Germany, if you're in the Stuttgart area, do come along to Rosensteinpark. It's probably one of the easiest ones to get to by public transport.

00:33:48James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): It's very easy to get to. It's very close to the centre. You can walk it. There's public transport is really...

00:33:55Ali Sheppard: easy and it's there's uh the the tram stop is right around the corner from the cafe where the finish line is and this unity day also um ties in with the Cannstatter Volksfest yes the basin so which is a big like beer festival I think the munich one is probably better well known but

00:34:12[crosstalk]

00:34:12James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): It is. It's known as the Oktoberfest, although it's mostly finished by the end of September. Yeah.

00:34:19Ali Sheppard: So I know quite a few of the people who are here today had rather sore heads because they'd been to the Wesen yesterday.

00:34:27James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah. Plan my trip for afterwards so it's a little bit easier. But it's called the Volksfest here in Stuttgart. The Volksfest, yes. Yeah. It's... [German: "Volksfest means 'folk festival' - the Stuttgart funfair and beer festival (the Cannstatter Volksfest)"]

00:34:36Ali Sheppard: Great fun.

00:34:36James - Run Director, Rosensteinpark parkrun (Stuttgart): Yeah.

00:34:37Ali Sheppard: Brilliant. Well, thank you ever so much, James. That's wonderful. I had a fantastic time. Well, thank you for coming to visit. Wonderful. All right. Thank you. That's a wrap.

Roving report Tracey Wood — Lawson parkrun

00:34:48Tracey Wood: Good morning parkrunners, it's Tracey in a Tutu and happy 20th birthday parkrun and happy 30th winning anniversary to Mr Tutu. We have come up here to the Blue Mountains this weekend just for a four day getaway. The requirement was that there must be a parkrun within cooee of our accommodation and there was. So here I am at Lawson parkrun. Okay, team, I'm standing at the start line and I've found Louise who tells me she's going to be a Marshal at the greenery roundabout area. The clearing, the meadow, fantastic. And then she's just described the course. I've had a look at the map. Louise, tell me about this course.

00:35:27Louise - marshal, Lawson parkrun: It's a very different course if you're used to a flat parkrun along concrete paths. We have about two square metres of concrete behind us, a little platform. The rest of it is all trails. It's mostly fire trails. We have a hill. We have a little creek crossing with some stepping stones. It's through the bush. I'd be looking out for some wildflowers out there. I haven't seen any waratahs on this course, but it's that time of year, so you might see something. You may see a wallaby, but probably not. You will definitely hear cicadas.

00:35:56Tracey Wood: And how would you describe the shape of this course, the outline of it?

00:36:00Louise - marshal, Lawson parkrun: It's a bit of a tricky one to describe. It's got a lot of out and backs. I think there are five out and backs. So we start with a little, about half a kilometre out and then back again, back to the clearing, cross the creek, up the hill, keep going to the very top of the hill, then you do both sides of a T-intersection at the very top, come halfway back down, do another little out and back, back to the clearing, and then there's the cruel kilometre where you have to do that first out and back again, even though you can almost see the finish line from the clearing down there.

00:36:27Tracey Wood: Right, come to Lawson, do the cruel kilometre. Fantastic. Now tell me, how many people have you lost here?

00:36:35Louise - marshal, Lawson parkrun: Well, none that I know of. They may still be out there. We do have marshals at all the points where you have to take a turn. And the trick to it is any time you come to an intersection, turn left.

00:36:47Tracey Wood: I think I can do that. Thank you, Louise. I'll see you out there.

00:36:50Louise - marshal, Lawson parkrun: I'll see you there. Enjoy.

00:36:53Tracey Wood: Okay team, I'm on the last loop of Lawson parkrun course. I've found my way around. I've tripped over five rocks, found three marshals, picked up a million cones, and I'm currently listening to about a million cicadas. I tell you what, it's worse than Ollie's house on a recording night. Have a listen. Okay, team, I've finished Lawson parkrun and I've found the Run Director of the day. It's Lindsay. How are you, Lindsay?

00:37:23Lindsay - Run Director, Lawson parkrun: I'm fantastic, you might hear the cicadas buzzing away so that's a sure sign that it's a nice warm day here at Lawson on the Blue Mountains. It's a cracker of a day. Now how long have you been part of this parkrun? Well since 2011 it was Boxing Day 2011 I turned up for the first time and I've been coming ever since. I've done 270 parkruns I've been in RD for about five odd years, a number of years now, I can't quite recall. That's fantastic.

00:38:00Tracey Wood: Now, I had a chat before with Louise who told the listeners all about the course. What would you like parkrun tourists to know, especially about Lawson parkrun?

00:38:12Lindsay - Run Director, Lawson parkrun: Well, Lawson parkrun is not a regular parkrun. There's no asphalt or concrete parts. It's all on fire trial, grass, tree roots, rocks, sand and a little bit of dirt. So it is a challenging course. Don't forget the creek crossing. Oh yes, the creek crossing. We have a creek and you never know how high it's going to be but the stepping stone is right across it so that's an added feature.

00:38:44Tracey Wood: You look like you're being pulled elsewhere. I'll let you go and pack up the course. Thank you for having me and thank you for chatting with me. All right, parkrun tourists, I'm signing off from Lawson parkrun. Have a wonderful weekend.

Roving report Paul Kitching — Mount Barker parkrun

00:38:58Paul Kitching: Good morning, parkrun adventurers. This is PK checking in for a much overdue roving report. It's been a while because I haven't been adventuring, and today I'm not even adventuring far. I'm at home because I've come back to Mount Barker, the place I love here in South Australia, 20 minutes up the freeway from Adelaide, to do the parkrun birthday celebrations, the 20th birthday celebrations here at my home, parkrun, as encouraged by our founder, the great man himself, P.S.H., doing your birthday parkrun at your home parkrun, if you can. And no judgment to anyone. If you've done it at another place, if you've travelled afar, that's cool as well. You do you. Anyway, happy birthday to everyone. And let's go and chat to some of the legends here, see how they're celebrating parkrun's 20th birthday. Rightio. I said I'd find a legend, and I have. This is one of our co-EDs. G'day, PB.

00:39:59Paul Butler - Co-Event Director, Mount Barker parkrun: If I qualify for that. I think you qualify more, PK.

00:40:01Paul Kitching: Oh, mate. This is PB, better known as Paul Butler, one of our co-EDs here. Thank you for everything you do for parkrun. My pleasure. Why do you do parkrun?

00:40:10Paul Butler - Co-Event Director, Mount Barker parkrun: I just love it. Simple as that. Love coming along and catching up with everyone. Today's been perfect. It's just amazing, isn't it? We've got drizzly weather. Still got a huge crowd. And then today we've had the added bonus, the athlete's foot turning up at our parkrun on the week that the parkrun shoes launched. So good, right?

00:40:27Paul Kitching: Fantastic. Yes, I'm going to go and chat to the crew in a minute. So how long have you been doing parkrun for?

00:40:33Paul Butler - Co-Event Director, Mount Barker parkrun: For 10 years, just over 10 years, yes. I started when Mount Barker started. Yes, fantastic. I was having it on the 5K app. Am I allowed to mention the 5K?

00:40:40[crosstalk]

00:40:40Paul Kitching: Of course, yeah, we do. We know it's unofficial, but yeah.

00:40:44Paul Butler - Co-Event Director, Mount Barker parkrun: They've got that chart there that shows how many times you've attended each year. So it's good to scroll back and have a look at that. Yes. I did miss a few during the winter, I must admit, but since then. Yeah, I know. Only missed a couple here and there because, you know, that's what the weekend is. Great.

00:40:48[crosstalk]

00:40:58Paul Kitching: And Mount Barker has evolved well over the years, hasn't it? it has sensationally yeah just got bigger and better and yeah all the friendships that have formed yeah and new people coming every time as well that's what I love about it yeah well thank you for everything you do for parkrun PB yeah thank you happy 20th birthday yeah it's brilliant woohoo let's go and eat cake well either that or breakfast well done mate and as promised I'm now with Heidi from Athletes Foot g'day Heidi thank you so much for coming to Mount Barker why are you here

00:41:31Heidi - The Athlete's Foot, Co-Event Director at The Avenues parkrun: Oh, I'm here to support parkrun 20th anniversary at Mount Barker parkrun here with the athlete's foot. There is no other way I'd love to start my Saturday morning than being here with the team at Mount Barker parkrun.

00:41:45Paul Kitching: Awesome. Fantastic. Well, thank you so much for coming. What does parkrun mean to you?

00:41:49Heidi - The Athlete's Foot, Co-Event Director at The Avenues parkrun: parkrun means giving back to the community. If I can help just one person with their health, well-being, no matter whether it's Mental, physical, emotional, anything like that. If I can help you be the best version of yourself on a Saturday morning, then my job is done. And that's what means the most to me on a Saturday morning.

00:42:07Paul Kitching: Good on you. Thank you for everything you give up for parkrun far out. I mean, you enjoy doing parkrun. You're usually at Kaipo, sorry, the avenues. But where are you? Yeah. Where do you like to be?

00:42:17Heidi - The Athlete's Foot, Co-Event Director at The Avenues parkrun: Well, at Mount Barker, I actually started my parkrun journey here.

00:42:20Paul Kitching: Oh, nice of you to come home on the 20th birthday. Look at that.

00:42:20[crosstalk]

00:42:23Heidi - The Athlete's Foot, Co-Event Director at The Avenues parkrun: I absolutely came home. I did it, I reckon, 2016. I was very, very nervous about coming, but I broke down all those barriers. It's such a supporting group here. Actually got into volunteering, which actually means the most to me as well. If I'm not out there running, I spend most of my time volunteering and I've now, I love it that much, I'm a Co-Event Director at the Avenues. Yeah, you are. Absolutely love it and I literally spend my days talking about parkrun to anyone who cares to listen or not.

00:42:51Paul Kitching: I love it. Well, and just finally, this is the parkrun adventurers podcast and you're about to go on an adventure yourself.

00:42:57Heidi - The Athlete's Foot, Co-Event Director at The Avenues parkrun: I certainly am. So in approximately 10 days, I'm getting on a long haul flight to Texas, y'all. And I'll be travelling around doing a bit of a half marathon in Nashville, but finishing my adventure, at Bear Creek parkrun. So I am super excited and the lovely Tracy Shepard and Sam McEwen did it when they went over at the start of the year. They know we're coming. They know the Aussies are coming and I have parkrun merchandise for them. Oh, wow. And they're going to see us and we're going to love it and we're going to bring the Aussie flavour to Texas.

00:43:30Paul Kitching: Good on you. Well, I love that. There you go. There's some adventuring to be had. Well, thank you so much for everything you do for parkrun, Heidi. Love your work.

00:43:36Heidi - The Athlete's Foot, Co-Event Director at The Avenues parkrun: Thank you, PK. It's a pleasure to be here. Absolutely love it.

00:43:39Paul Kitching: Love it. And good on you and Jared. Well done, Jared. Well done coming out today. Legends. Thanks, guys. There you go. So that is me over and out. I better go and have some celebratory birthday breakfast at a nearby cafe and, yeah, talk all things parkrun as we do. That's PK signing off. Over and out.

Roving report Tony O'Connell — O'Connors Beach parkrun

00:44:01Tony O'Connell: Howdy, parkrunners. Toc from Inverloch, and I'm coming to you from the lands of the Kanarakuna people across Bass Strait in Tasmania. Yep, Jack and I have ventured across to St Helens on the northeast tip of Tasmania to come and participate at O'Connors Beach parkrun and celebrate parkrun's 20th anniversary. Happy birthday, parkrun. More a little bit later, guys. We're just having a look at the course being set up now, and we'll come to you with a little bit more. All right. Howdy, parkrunners. We're here at O'Connors Beach and I'm here with Ash. Ash is the founding ED. She was at one of our wonderful marshals today. She had the rock box going out on the bridge. Welcome, Ash.

00:44:43Ash - founding Event Director, O'Connors Beach parkrun: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thanks for coming to our parkrun.

00:44:45Tony O'Connell: No, it's a beautiful little parkrun. It's a pity you couldn't have turned the wind down somewhat. It got a bit blowy out there. Yeah, no, that does happen for us. So, Ash, give us a bit of a description of the course at O'Connors Beach.

00:44:58Ash - founding Event Director, O'Connors Beach parkrun: We are a two-lap course along the beautiful new infrastructure here that the council set up. So a fun fact about St Helens, we actually didn't have a path all the way around the bay connecting Stiglitz to St Helens. And when I first started wanting to set up a parkrun here, This was actually the only location that we could do because of all of the boat ramps along the path. We originally wanted to go all the way to Beauty Bay, which is such a beautiful spot, but unfortunately we couldn't make it that far. So I just worked with parkrun with all the rules that we had to stick by to get this one up and running.

00:45:36Tony O'Connell: And it'd be a fairly fast course when the wind's not blowing. It's fairly flat. It is, yeah, very flat. Yeah, good gravel surface to run on. So, yeah, no, it's a beautiful little course. You've got a good outlook, look across towards St Helens and I'm not sure what it is across Pelican Point, across the other side of the bay.

00:45:53Ash - founding Event Director, O'Connors Beach parkrun: Yeah, yeah, that's beautiful. We get a lot of tourists. We're definitely a tourist-based parkrun, but I'm a local here. I've been here for six years, and running is my thing, and it was just something that I really wanted to bring to the community.

00:46:06Tony O'Connell: And the numbers today, numbers seem to be fairly good today.

00:46:10Ash - founding Event Director, O'Connors Beach parkrun: Yeah, they're probably our holiday tourist numbers. Throughout the year it drops down a bit, but we're very lucky. We've got such a great volunteer crew and they stick through us all through winter to keep us going. So we're very fortunate to have those locals that volunteer.

00:46:28Tony O'Connell: Yeah, the volunteers are the backbone of it. And, of course, today's parkrun's 20th anniversary. So happy birthday, O'Connors Beach.

00:46:35Ash - founding Event Director, O'Connors Beach parkrun: Yeah, thank you. Happy birthday, everyone.

00:46:37Tony O'Connell: Thanks a lot, Ash. And that concludes our Tassie adventure. Special thanks to Val and Steve for all their marvellous hospitality and to Charles Gregory for driving up from Hobart to visit us at St Helens today at O'Connors Beach. Cheers, guys. TOC out. And Mel, it was really great to hear from the various places of all the points on the compass. We had Ali coming to us from Rosensteinpark on reunification day in Germany. We had Tracey coming to us from Lawson and happy 30th wedding anniversary, Tracey. And well done on the cruel kilometre. Sounds like a bit of a challenge to finish that one. And then we had PK at Mount Barker, and he was chatting to PB. Or for those in the know, Paul Butler, one of our good friends, and to Heidi from The Athlete's Foot. And lastly, we heard from some bloke called TOC at O'Connors Beach, and he was talking to the Event Director over there, Ash. And Ash was really bubbly. Ash was a Marshal the day we were there. She was standing out near a bridge. She had a rock box going. They were dancing around and having a ball out there. So I love the people that bring some life to parkrun. And well done, Ash. You certainly brought life to our day. Right.

00:46:45[background music]

Dazza's

00:48:08Tony O'Connell: Mel, I think we should crack on with Dazza's. What do you think?

00:48:11Melissa Ellis: Oh, yes, no, crack on.

00:48:13Tony O'Connell: All right, let's crack on. This week, Dazza said, today is Universal Music Day. Do you have music in your ears at parkrun? Do you crank the radio up on the way there? Or maybe just being at parkrun puts a beat in your step and a song in your heart. Whatever you heard, we at Dazza's are ready to listen. Tell us about your Saturday morning.

00:48:36Melissa Ellis: And we should add that this week's adventurer challenge was to throw a salute into your post. Now, I didn't specify if that was an actual action or an emoji. And we have had a mixture of those this week. And first we heard from Pauline Taylor coming to us from the greatest state. And she said, Russell and I enjoyed Albert parkrun Melbourne today, joined the other 870 people for the one lapper around the lake in beautiful sunshine and she gave us the salute emoji and there was a beautiful photo of Pauline and Russell by the water and the shady tree there at Albert Park and we could see how sunny it was.

00:49:18Tony O'Connell: Now next, heading north, and someone that took the do a salute to the physical degree, Rex Gream from New South Wales. With music in my ear, completed home parkrun Armidale, but not without a salute to all your adventurers. And the photo was of Rex with a salute. So well done, Rex. You took that one perfectly.

00:49:41Melissa Ellis: And next, we heard from Johan Duvenhage, and he said, Levi and I set off to St George's parkrun in Gqeberha, South Africa this week, to close up a glaring hole in my Varanaro map. Port Elizabeth, as it was previously known, and is a lot easier to say... held up to its friendly city reputation, but thankfully not the Windy City. It was a beautiful morning. St George's Park is steeped in history, but probably most known for its namesake cricket grounds. Levi's ears and tail were standing on attention the whole run. He has never run in such a large event with so many other bark runners. Thanks to the volunteers putting up an awesome event. As Charlie Chaplin said, life salutes you when you make others happy. And there was a running pic of Johan and Levi and Johan wearing his adventurous top. And good on you, Johan, for dropping in the word salute to your post.

00:50:45Tony O'Connell: Well, we're going to head across to the UK now and Sunil Chimund has commented, Hi Dazza, I love posting when I run with actual Aussies. My friends were visiting Leicester from the state of Victoria and one of them did their first ever parkrun. That deserves a salute. And then we had the salute emoji. And look how a parkrun combines the state and my city. And the pic was of Sunil with his Aussie friends under some shady green trees at Leicester in Victoria.

00:51:15Melissa Ellis: Yeah, Leicester, Victoria. That's the name of the parkrun.

00:51:19Tony O'Connell: There we go. Mel, it sort of brings me back. I met Sunil when we were at Ziegelwiese and we ran on a very similarly sunny day under green trees as well. So yeah, hi Sunil. It's great to hear from you again.

00:51:32Melissa Ellis: Next, we heard from Adrian Luscombe coming to us also from the UK. And he said, my 400th parkrun coinciding with the 400th episode of the podcast. Here's to many more for both of us. Cheers and salutations from the UK. And he had the UK flag emoji and the emoji emoji. And there was a pic of Adrian with the maidenhead pop up. And I threw that in so we knew where he was.

00:51:59Tony O'Connell: Well done, Mel. Back into New South Wales, and we had a comment from Heather Hunter. No music today while running or walking, but the half-hour trip each way to parkrun at Taree today is perfect for listening to the latest pod episode while driving there and back. So thank you for putting it all together every week. And Heather threw in the salute emoji, but Heather didn't throw in a picture.

00:52:25Melissa Ellis: That's okay. Sometimes we don't need a picture. We also went south to Tasmania where we heard from Steve Warwick and he said, there was music in my heart as I jogged my way to the turn marshal position at Bells Parade parkrun where I was also photographer. The music I could imagine was from the sound of music. Dough as I anticipated my parkrun breakfast of a perfectly baked sausage roll. Ray as the sun's golden rays warmed my back. me that's right it was me alone that could hear the music far it was a long slow jog with a heavy camera to my martial position so it was just so perfect out there encouraging our participants la It was a joy to see the laughter on some faces. Tea. No, I wasn't going to have a cup of tea for it's coffee of the cappuccino variety for me. Dough, which brings me back to dough. I shouldn't have tried to sing that. So I should have a doughnut as well from the bakery. Dazza, I salute thee. Perhaps I should also sing you a sweet lullaby and rock you back to sleep. Thank you, Stephen.

00:53:39Tony O'Connell: Well done, Steve. Heading back to the UK now. We're jumping up backwards and forwards over the ocean quite a bit today. Nick Graney again. Welcome back, Nick. Overcast day in London. Visited Highbury Fields in the UK. Five laps, lots of overtaking and being overtaken. Easy to get to from the CBD using the underground. Almost 600 people. Volunteers did a great job looking after everyone. Train and salute emojis were provided naturally. And the photo was of Nick by the flag and pop-up.

00:54:15Melissa Ellis: Awesome. And also from the UK, very UK flavoured podcast this week. We heard from Calum Burrell. Team Burrell were at Cheadle Hulme parkrun. Like Eminem, I was a Marshal. Lindsay was a metronomic with her timekeeping. Top of the pop-ups. Like Little Mix, we salute all of today's volleys. And there was a selfie of Lindsay and Calum with a pop-up sign. Good to hear from you guys. Thank you to everybody for coming to Dazza's.

the Obi Award — Sunil Chimund

00:54:49Melissa Ellis: And, TOC, do we have the Obi loop?

00:54:54Tony O'Connell: We have the Obi loop, Mel. The winner of this week's Obi is... Sunil Chaman from the UK. Well done, Sunil.

00:55:12Melissa Ellis: Hooray. Cheers and salutations. All righty. Yes, good job. Good job getting the Australian tourist friends visiting into parkrun. I hope they continue to parkrun.

00:55:27Tony O'Connell: And it'd be interesting to find out a little bit more about where exactly they came from, Mel. In the greatest state. So, yeah, hopefully we see a couple of people that maybe their second parkrun might be at a Victorian event.

00:55:43Melissa Ellis: Hopefully.

Emails

00:55:44Melissa Ellis: What have we got next? We don't have any emails, I don't think. No, we did not.

00:55:45[background music]

Club Corner

00:55:49Tony O'Connell: No emails this week, Mel. I think then we should throw across to Reginald.

00:56:01Reginald Yardley Pomphrey III: This is Reginald Yardley Pomphrey III, with Club Corner, where we talk about the what and why of parkrun clubs, and I am coming to you from Arrernte Country. Today we are continuing with volunteers and the start of a parkrun day. There are many roles that care for the event and participants before the 3, 2, 1, go, of parkrun, starting with Event Day Course Check, pre-event setup, and car park marshal. The Event Day Course Check is a compulsory role and should be performed as close as possible before parkrun. This role can be completed alongside the pre-event setup for those events that need setting up. The Event Day Course Check is responsible for ensuring that the course is safe to use for the day. Hence the request from HQ that the check be performed on the morning just prior to parkrun. I shall not give major examples, but we have all heard of events finding trees or branches down on course, or flooding be it major or minor. Or perhaps another event is sharing their space unexpectedly, and we have even heard of a boat washing ashore causing an event to cancel on the morning of parkrun. The Event Day Course Check is also responsible for confirming that the risks identified in the event risk assessment are assessed. If the Event Day Course Check person is not the RD, remember, that is the Run Director from last time, then they pass their report on to the RD. It is the RD who makes the call about whether the event occurs or is cancelled that week. Do I need to explain pre-event setup? No? Good, moving on. If an event has anything tricksome about their parking, then an event may utilise a car park marshal. This is a volunteer who directs people about where they can park their car. If the event you are adventuring to has a volunteer asking you to park somewhere, please follow their advice. Thank you. The last thing events need are public complaints or issues with their landholder. The landholder relationship is something that the ED manages, remember, that is the Event Director from last time. The ED has great influence over making the roles discussed today easy or less easy. Things like good course design and clear risk assessments and having a good relationship with their landholder or landholders and clear communication within their core team. The ED should intimately know each role within scope of their event team. Please note though, that there is no reason for an event with ample and available parking to know about, nor include car park marshal in their roster or thinking. Not all ED or events have the same weekly experience. That is sufficient for this time, and please remember, in parkrun life, all non-milestone clubs are unofficial and unsupported by parkrun, so stay tuned for our future club corners.

00:59:18Melissa Ellis: And thank you very much to Reginald for bringing us the information about course check, pre-event setup and car park muscle. Car park muscle is one volunteer role I have never done. They're not a typical volunteer role. Not all events have that because as Reginald so rightly pointed out, it's only if there may be parkrun issues that an event will call that position into...

00:59:48Tony O'Connell: into use if you like that's one that I've actually achieved at two different locations Mel so there are opportunities out there Birdsland's probably the closest one very small car park and they they request parkrunners don't park right down the bottom because of the public usage in that very small car park

01:00:07Melissa Ellis: I can also think of Fair Park parkrun. I know it's currently relocated to Lewis Road parkrun, but I remember Fair Park parkrun had a car park marshal, as does Frankston.

01:00:21Tony O'Connell: Yes, it does, definitely.

01:00:23Melissa Ellis: So they're just the Victorian ones that come to mind. But TOC.

Consolidated Club Report

01:00:29Melissa Ellis: The adventurers Consolidated Club Report for Saturday, the 12th of October, 2024. Of a total of 700 members. 504 took part on this day in nine countries across 265 locations that's a bit of a milestone I can remember when we first started off looking at the global largest clubs and seeing you had to be ballpark 700 to get on that list and I never in my wildest dreams thought we would make that list that now doesn't exist

01:01:09Tony O'Connell: And, Mel, I just love the symmetry of it, that we've hit 700 members on our 400th podcast recording.

01:01:16Melissa Ellis: Oh, we did, didn't we? Go us. Now, in the UK, there were adventures at 53 events. There were eight in South Africa, three in Ireland, two in the USA, and one each in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Singapore. Locally, we had adventures at 48 events in the greatest state.

the Frond — Bug Hunter Waters parkrun and Cornerstone Lakes parkrun (six each, international); Shellharbour parkrun (ten, Australian)

01:01:39Melissa Ellis: 47 events in Queensland there was 46 in New South Wales 17 in west Australia South Australia had 14 act had seven five on the North Island four in Tassie two on the South Island and one in the Northern Territory and Mel our largest international fronds we had two events this week with six participants at them

01:02:02Tony O'Connell: One of them was very UK, and we had at Bug Hunters, we had six people, and they were Denise Evans, James Avery, Nadege Rutter, Cass Castleton, Debbie Airey, and Andy Airey. And there was an interesting photo getting around, and a comment from Andy Airey, brought my costume off the web for our group visit to the brilliantly named Bug Hunter Waters parkrun. You'd think the eight extra legs would make me run faster. Instead, it just made more parts sweaty. And we had a picture of Andy dressed in an inflatable spider costume with two others as inflatable snails. All at bugs. So great pic, Andy. Well done. And moving across to the USA, and this is almost a very Aussie USA picture. We had six people at Cornerstone Lakes and of course the marathon was on at Chicago this weekend, so quite a few people over there. We had Stuart Henderson, Eman Vergara, Romul Vergara, Kristine Vergara, Natalie Wilson and Joe McLean. Stuart Henderson popped into Dazza's and said, great to meet Eman at Cornerstone Lakes parkrun this morning with us both running the Chicago Marathon tomorrow. And the picture was of Stu, Eman and Juno with the pop-up. And we also heard from Joe McLean. I heard the music of hundreds of geese volunteering as Tail Walker at Cornerstone Lakes parkrun. Such a pretty parkrun with two laps around the lake. Friendly core team and locals who put on an amazing breakfast feast for the 100 plus tourists from all over the world here for the Chicago Marathon tomorrow. Bonus running into Eman, Christine and the kids. A wonderful experience all round. And the photos of Joe in her adventurer's top with Eman at the pop-up.

01:03:52Melissa Ellis: And well done to all of those who did the Chicago Marathon. That's a major and very impressive feat. Absolutely wonderful. And it was good to know that Hendo Stew got to catch up with some Aussies. Hooray! Now, the pilgrimage. There was no pilgrimage this week, so sad but what there was was a largest Australian Frond and there was ten at Shellharbour, seven at Samford Parklands and six at Albert Melbourne and Inverloch But I am going to highlight Samford Parklands in Queensland. They had, as I said, seven. They had Tim Robbins, Jill Gardiner, Alan Burrell, Michaela Hannett, Nicole Sanday, Samantha Roberts and Rasheen Burrell. So well done to all those out there at the new event, Samford Parklands.

Launches and anniversaries"Where is the cake?"

01:04:49Melissa Ellis: Speaking of new events, we've got some launches, TOC.

01:04:54Tony O'Connell: Mel, we had a couple of launches this week. We had Battersea in the UK. It's a new event for the London Challenge. Battersea is a suburb on the Thames, just southwest of London, and this new event's possibly the closest to London city itself. So I think for tourists, it's going to be a bit of an easy one to get to. It's a flat two-lapper on tarmac paths. And the launch had 269 finishes with only three people doing their first ever parkrun. Our 36 volunteers supported the launch.

01:05:29Melissa Ellis: That's good, TOC. So maybe that will take a little bit of pressure off Bushy. That may be the hope.

01:05:35Tony O'Connell: I think so, Mel. It's a really nice, close one into London. So, yeah, it's certainly walking distance. It's not far from Westminster Abbey and a lot of the other tourist hotspots.

01:05:46Melissa Ellis: Oh, I hope to get there one day and see all the things and do all the touristing. But over the ditch, we had Halswell Quarry in New Zealand launch. They are in the southern suburbs of Christchurch. That is Bailey country. And this becomes the sixth parkrun in this region. The two-loop course starts in the lower quarry, followed by a challenging incline to the top of the quarry rim, then down into the japanese garden offering a total of 180 metres elevation wow week one saw the course completed by 450 finishes supported by 41 volunteers 68 of these people were first time ever parkrunners 450 that's quite large for a South Island event

01:06:37Tony O'Connell: It is, Mel, but you've got to remember that it is the newest event in that group of five parkruns. And I think if you take Pegasus, which is the most northern one of them, they're all fairly close by. And of course, New Zealand parkruns are well advertised. There's no under the radar. Yeah.

01:06:56Melissa Ellis: Yes, we should say that. There's no restrictions. They do not have silent launches. And all New Zealanders are quite welcome to toddle along to a first event. Well, I don't know how long that's going to last with numbers like this. But in any case, that is how it stands at this moment. So no shade on New Zealanders.

parkrun adventure challengelistener challenge

01:07:17Tony O'Connell: No, not at all, Mel. Mel, I think it's probably a good opportunity now. We probably need to throw out a challenge to the people that actually listen to the podcast. What's on your mind?

01:07:29Melissa Ellis: Oh, so I've got a fun one this week, Toc. Trying to think of something that people can physically do, a physical action in a photo. And I'm thinking, you know when you can... sort of lie on the ground and form a letter using your body well I want people to do that I want you to use the first letter of the parkrun you're at and see if you can't form the first letter of the name

01:07:56Tony O'Connell: That sounds like a fairly decent challenge, Mel. I'm just trying to think where I'm going to be this week and what I need to do for that one.

01:08:05Melissa Ellis: Oh, oh, oh, oh, TOC. And if you want to level it up, get a friend to hold the selfie frame so that your letter appears in the middle of the cutout aperture.

01:08:17Tony O'Connell: And I'm really looking forward to the Dazza's photos next week, Mel. This is going to be a cracker.

01:08:22Melissa Ellis: Because, you know... The old selfie frame photo can get a bit boring. I mean, lovely, but a bit boring. So, yeah, we're zhuzhing it up.

01:08:33Tony O'Connell: Mel, I've got a feeling that this is coming off the back of some of the level-up challenges out of streaky September. We're trying to lift the ballgame.

01:08:41Melissa Ellis: We're trying to amuse ourselves. But, Toc, have you noticed how many comments we're getting in Dazza's? We have to have guidelines to choose. You know, back in the day, we just used to read them all because there wasn't that many. But now, you know, we've got to take the cream of the crop. You want to get into Dazza's, you've got to impress us.

01:09:04Tony O'Connell: That's right, Mel, this week there were 130 comments in Dazza's. So, you know, very limited selection out of those. So come at us with your photos of letters.

01:09:15Melissa Ellis: Yes. All righty. So that's that. Now, what have we got next? Let's talk Palm.

01:09:21Tony O'Connell: Now, the only thing to remind people about Palm is being on the South Island where it is and being school holidays for not only New Zealand but most of the Australian seaboard, eastern and western, just reminding people to jump in and get booking done for accommodation and for flights. They're probably not going to get any cheaper, so jump in and grab it while you can.

01:09:47Melissa Ellis: I have been surprised with some people that maybe haven't been to Palms before saying that they are booking and that they are coming. That's great. We'll have some new faces.

01:09:59Tony O'Connell: It's actually surprised me the number of people that have already jumped in and said, we are booked. We are coming.

01:10:04Melissa Ellis: Yeah. I've booked my accommodation, well, for Queenstown anyway, for the Palm weekend. So I am good. I didn't want to miss out because there's some expensive stuff in Queenstown. So basically you want to get in quick so that there's still cheaper options.

01:10:21Tony O'Connell: Oh, that's great, Mel. I've got flights and a hire car booked, so I might be crashing in the back of a car Ryan style.

01:10:29Melissa Ellis: Oh, we've got a bunk room. If you get stuck, you can have the top bunk. Now, something we also want to mention when it comes to looking forward, there was a certain UK podcast host who has had a bit of a milestone and it's Mr. Danny Norman. He has celebrated his V500, which that's no shabby attempt. That's pretty good. That's worth celebrating, don't you think?

01:11:02Tony O'Connell: It certainly is, Mel. It's something that I am probably 10 years away from. So I think it's something really worthwhile. And it's great that Danny can finally join Nick Nick with the V500 badge.

01:11:18Melissa Ellis: Oh, dear. Yes, yes. Wear it with pride, Danny. No, in all seriousness, it's a fantastic achievement. He's got his Run 500 shirt and now his V500 shirt. And it's certainly something to aspire to. I know myself, TOC, I am on 204 volunteers, and I believe you are on 225. So between the two of us, we don't even equal Danny's 500th, but I do think that he's been parkrunning a little bit longer than us.

01:11:51Tony O'Connell: He has been, Mel, and look, it's not just his volunteering. There's so many other things that Danny does with parkrun and for parkruns. So, yeah, well done, Danny.

01:12:00Melissa Ellis: We salute you. See what I did?

01:12:05Tony O'Connell: Now, if we can get Danny to form a letter on the ground... Now, let's move it along.

Sign-off

01:12:15Melissa Ellis: Where are you at next parkrun day? Well, thank you for asking. I am planning to head across town to the southeast and head to Marriott Waters parkrun. Now, this is a small suburban event out in the southeast in the area of Cranbourne, of Been to the event a few times, I believe. I couldn't tell you off the top of my head how many times. Probably only three or four times. I think I did a milestone out there. Maybe my, actually my 25th volunteer. And I've got a friend celebrating a milestone. So I am going to head out there and surprise her. So nobody tell her. Shh, nobody say where I'm going. What about you, TOC?

01:13:01Tony O'Connell: Well, the plans are at the moment we were going to go to Phillip Island last week. Didn't happen. We went to Inverloch. So this week I'm hoping to get across to the rock that is Phillip Island, which ironically is actually on Churchill Island, not Phillip Island, but...

01:13:17Melissa Ellis: I nearly brought that up earlier when we were discussing parkruns that could possibly be renamed because I think that 100% that is one Victorian event that possibly needs to look at naming conventions.

01:13:29Tony O'Connell: It's rather funny that we've got Phillip Island parkrun that's on Churchill Island and a little bit further north we've got Churchill parkrun which is on Phillip Street.

01:13:39Melissa Ellis: Oh, the poor tourists.

01:13:42Tony O'Connell: Chaos in the GPS.

01:13:44Melissa Ellis: Now, next week, next week, you are going to hear from Simon and Sarah. Yes, it's Sarah from the West Side coming back to take my place and give me a little break from preparing pod notes. Thank you very much, Sarah.

01:14:02Tony O'Connell: And Mel, 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. We'll see you all next week for some more adventures.