Parkrunners Podcast

What happens when an ordinary Saturday morning at parkrun suddenly becomes a matter of life and death?
Dr Wendy White is an NHS GP, passionate Bushy parkrunner and self-confessed former non-runner who once hid in the bushes during school cross-country.
Today, she has more than 300 parkruns behind her, has completed a 54K ultramarathon and describes parkrun as her “church”.
But in 2022, Wendy was waiting among around 1,500 people for Bushy parkrun to start when a man arriving on his bike suddenly collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.
Wendy and a small group of fellow medics stepped in. A defibrillator was rushed through the crowd. He was shocked more than once — and survived.
Wendy was subsequently recognised with the Spirit of parkrun award, although she's characteristically quick to credit the whole team who helped save his life that morning.
In this warm, funny and refreshingly candid conversation, Wendy joins Catherine to talk about:
Her journey from hiding during school cross-country to 300+ parkruns and an ultramarathon
The extraordinary morning a fellow parkrunner's life was saved at Bushy
Why she believes parkrun is an enormously powerful public-health tool
Why nervous first-timers don't even need to run or walk — they can simply turn up and watch
Her own experience of movement and weight loss
Midlife and women's health, and why there's really no such thing as an “average patient”
Why Saturday morning parkrun has become her “church”
And why she describes parkrun as “possibly the only useful addiction I can think of.”
From medicine and midlife to movement, community and the extraordinary things that can happen in a park on a Saturday morning, this is an uplifting conversation about just how far the impact of parkrun can reach.
🎧 The Parkrunners Podcast —> stories from the people who make parkrun much more than a 5K.
Send us Fan Mail
Thank you for tuning in. It's been great to have you here.. If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay connected with us on social media (Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!

What happens when parkrun becomes more than a Saturday morning habit and grows into a family legacy spanning three generations?
In this warm and uplifting episode, Catherine is joined by Sonya Byers OBE, a parkrun trustee, dedicated volunteer and CEO of Women in Transport.
Sonya’s own parkrun journey began through volunteering at junior parkrun before she finally took on her first 5K in Kraków, Poland, in temperatures of minus eight degrees — where her 70-year-old father beat her in a sprint finish.
She shares how her involvement at Barking junior parkrun  led to community outreach work, an ambassador role and eventually a seat on parkrun’s global board of trustees.
Sonya also introduces us to her extraordinary parkrun family. Her father, now 80, has completed more than 550 parkruns and over 500 volunteer occasions. Her mother is fast approaching her 500th volunteer credit, her brother is a junior parkrun Run Director, her husband is also a Run Director, and her young daughter already has an incredible record across both adult and junior parkrun.
Together, they offer a remarkable picture of parkrun as a truly multigenerational community built on participation, generosity and belonging.
Catherine and Sonya also discuss:
• Why volunteering builds confidence, skills and friendships
• The growth and impact of junior parkrun
• parkrun’s role in public health and community wellbeing
• Creating welcoming and inclusive events
• Safeguarding and trust within local communities
• Sonya’s work supporting women across the transport sector
• Why keeping parkrun simple is central to its global success
This is a joyful conversation about family, service, inclusion and the lasting impact of showing up for others.
Listen now to The Parkrunners Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
Send us Fan Mail
Thank you for tuning in. It's been great to have you here.. If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay connected with us on social media (Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!

We all want to live longer. But perhaps the better question is... how do we live better?
This week on the Parkrunners Podcast, Catherine is joined by Tim Howe, founder of The Longevity Games, former parkrun Run Director, passionate volunteer, and someone who believes that healthy ageing isn't about expensive gadgets or miracle supplements—it's about movement, community and purpose.
With 235 parkruns, 122 volunteer credits and years spent inspiring others to become more active, Tim shares why he believes parkrun may be one of the greatest public health initiatives of our time.
Together they discuss:
🏃 Why parkrun is about far more than running
💛 The surprising connection between community and longevity
🙌 How volunteering can be just as rewarding as taking part
💪 Why functional fitness matters as we age
👴 The remarkable lessons Tim learned from his grandfather, who lived independently until the age of 97
🌍 His mission to help more people enjoy healthier, happier and more connected lives through The Longevity Games
Whether you're chasing a PB, walking your first parkrun or simply looking for inspiration to move a little more, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and uplifting stories.
Because getting older doesn't have to mean slowing down.
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
Send us Fan Mail
Thank you for tuning in. It's been great to have you here.. If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay connected with us on social media (Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!

For more than three decades, Lisa Millar has been one of Australia's most respected journalists and broadcasters. 
From reporting around the world as ABC's Bureau Chief in Washington and London, to becoming a familiar face through ABC News Breakfast, Back Roads and Muster Dogs, Lisa has spent her career telling other people's stories.
But on Saturday mornings, none of those titles matter.
Like thousands of others, Lisa is simply another member of the parkrun community.
In this warm and uplifting conversation, Lisa shares her journey from a tiny Queensland town to international journalism, why she always knew she wanted  "A BIG LIFE", and how parkrun became an unexpected source of friendship, routine and mental wellbeing during some of the most demanding years of her career.
We talk about:
🟡 Growing up in rural Queensland
🟡 Reporting from Washington and London
🟡 Discovering parkrun while living in London
🟡 Why parkrun  became so important for her mental health
🟡 The power of volunteering and community
🟡 Albert Melbourne parkrun and life in Australia's most liveable city
🟡 Back Roads, Muster Dogs and returning to what matters
🟡 Why ordinary human connections still matter most
Lisa's warmth, humour and love for people shine through this episode, making it a conversation about far more than running.
Whether you're a parkrunner, volunteer, walker or simply someone who values community, this is an episode full of hope, kindness and perspective.
Enjoy!
Hosted by Catherine Stenson
The Parkrunners Podcast
Send us Fan Mail
Thank you for tuning in. It's been great to have you here.. If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay connected with us on social media (Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!

This week I’m thrilled to welcome my very first parkrun Japan guest — Akihiro Matsuda — whose beautiful mantra is:
“parkrun exists in every place I call home.”
Akihiro’s parkrun story spans Singapore and Japan, and it’s packed with warmth, community-building and quietly brilliant leadership. We begin with his early parkrun days at East Coast Park parkrun (Singapore), and follow his journey back to Japan where he helped bring parkrun to life close to home — launching Gongendo 2gou Kouen parkrun (GGD2) and building an event culture based on belonging, friendship, and shared responsibility.
We also chat about Akihiro’s recent experience supporting the launch of a brand-new event in Toyama — Fuganunga Kansuikouen parkrun (FKK) — and two powerful “connection moments” that show just how deeply parkrun can weave into our personal history and sense of place.
And there’s a standout section where Akihiro shares his simple, memorable view of “parkrun and happiness” — and how Saturday mornings can help unlock the feel-good chemistry that keeps us coming back.
In this episode we cover:
 Why “home” can be a feeling — and how parkrun helps create it 
 Starting and growing a new parkrun event community in Japan 
 The leadership “secret” behind GGD2’s success (including shared leadership and junior Run Directors) 
 The magic of new event launches — and what they reveal about community 
 A wonderfully practical happiness model you’ll want to share 
If you’ve ever travelled, moved, started again, or simply needed a place to belong… this one will land.
🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts)
💛 If you enjoy the episode, please follow/subscribe, leave a rating/review, and share it with a fellow parkrunner.
Send us Fan Mail
Thank you for tuning in. It's been great to have you here.. If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay connected with us on social media (Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!