Eight weeks in.
An ultra-urban setting in the heart of Canberra, Australia.
And in week 2, a staggering 731 people showed up for Woden Town parkrun!

In this episode of The Parkrunners Podcast, Catherine chats with Andrew Dempster and Lili Mooney, co-founders of Woden Town parkrun – one of Australia’s newest and busiest events. Set against high-rises, roads and shared paths, Woden Town proves you don’t need a picture-perfect park to build a powerful parkrun community.

Andrew shares how a simple idea (“Why doesn’t Woden have a parkrun?”) and how they've attracted crowds often bigger than Brooklyn Bridge parkrun in New York. He also lifts the lid on how they used data and AI to predict attendance and keep 700+ runners, walkers and volunteers moving smoothly through the finish funnel.

Lili opens up about her deeply personal journey from compulsive exercise and anorexia to a genuinely healthy relationship with movement – and how parkrun, and now Woden Town parkrun, have become a joyful, sustainable part of her life.

Together, they talk about:

• What it takes to launch a parkrun in a busy urban centre
• How they created a welcoming culture for every pace and every body
• The community stories that already make Woden Town feel special
• The small details that make a huge difference when c700 people turn up at once

Whether you’re a seasoned parkrun tourist, a volunteer in hi-viz, or someone wondering if your own town could support a new event, this conversation will leave you inspired – and maybe just a little bit tempted to start something where you live.

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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, Catherine is joined by storyteller, creative director and much-loved parkrun volunteer Emily Fleuriot — a woman who brings imagination, compassion and community spirit into everything she does.

Emily’s parkrun journey spans run reporting, co-event directing at Figges Marsh junior parkrun, supporting parkrun inside UK prisons, and being an active member of Tooting Run Club. In this beautifully thoughtful episode, Emily reflects on the power of showing up — for ourselves and for each other.

Together we explore:
✨ The joyful chaos and deep meaning behind junior parkrun
🔒 What parkrun looks like inside the prison estate — and why representation matters
📖 How storytelling can build belonging, reshape narratives and change lives
🏃‍♀️ The magic of grassroots running communities
💛 Why volunteering continues to be the heartbeat of parkrun

Emily’s perspective is warm, grounded and deeply human. Whether you’re a seasoned parkrunner, a parkwalker, a volunteer, or someone curious about the power of community, this conversation will leave you inspired to connect more — and perhaps to judge less.

🎧 Tune in and meet Emily — a true champion of people, creativity and the parkrun spirit.

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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’s episode is a little different – it’s just you and me, your host Catherine Stenson.

When a planned guest recording needed to be rescheduled because of a family emergency, I decided not to skip a week but to celebrate the incredible parkrun stories we’ve shared so far – and give you a sneak peek at who, and what’s, coming next on The Parkrunners Podcast.

In this feel-good solo episode I reflect on:
• The Instagram message that led to a conversation with US ultra runner and politician Greg Nance – mid–Guinness World Record attempt along the Mississippi River
• The hi-viz legends of Bushy parkrun, including a volunteer who turned up on his wedding day and others with hundreds of runs and volunteer stints
• Community-builders like Black Girls Do Run and Asian women’s running groups whose journeys began with parkrun
• The joyful mix of guests so far – from 4-year-old junior parkrunner Isaac to septuagenarian marathoners and former “Nasty Nick” actor John Altman

I also share a teaser of upcoming guests, including double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, TV doctor and GP Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, the founders of Woden Town parkrun in Canberra, and grassroots prison parkrun volunteer Emily Fleuriot.

If you love stories of community, hope and the quiet magic of 5k in a park, this one’s for you. 🎧

💬 Got a parkrun story you’d like to share on a future episode? I’d love to hear from you – get in touch via the Parkrunners Podcast Instagram or connect with me on LinkedIn or email me on parkrunnerspodcast@gmail.com

See you on the start line.

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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!

In this episode I’m joined by Ben Roach, Brit abroad, sports & media lawyer, and founder/Event Director of Brooklyn Bridge parkrun – the very first parkrun in New York City and New York State. Ben and his American-born wife Beth moved from London to NYC with a shared mission: bring parkrun to their new home.

Ben shares a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how that dream became a weekly 5k under one of the world’s most iconic bridges – from navigating city bureaucracy and securing a route in Brooklyn Bridge Park, to recruiting volunteers, winning over sceptics and managing the growing crowds of locals and parkrun tourists drawn to this bucket-list event in the 'Big Apple'

We also talk about the buzz created by a recent Time Out New York feature, and what it’s like to watch the start line fill with visitors from all over the world who have planned their trip around this parkrun.

If you’ve ever wondered how a parkrun starts, dream of setting one up in your own community, or just love a good parkrun story, this episode will leave you inspired for your next Saturday morning.

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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!

In this episode of The Parkrunners Podcast, Catherine is joined by Labour MP Nick Smith, Member of Parliament for Blaenau Gwent in South Wales and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on parkrun. From a New Year’s resolution in 2017 to more than 240 parkruns and 50 volunteer stints, Nick shares how a Saturday morning 5k became a non-negotiable part of his life – for both his health and his community.

With The Economist recently dubbing parkrun an “unwitting British public-health success” and valuing its benefits to Britain at up to £668 million a year, this conversation dives into why parkrun is now firmly on Westminster’s radar.

Nick explains what the parkrun APPG actually does in Parliament, how MPs are thinking about inactivity, health inequalities and community sport, and why volunteering is just as powerful as crossing the finish line.

He also reflects on running marathons for charity, the importance of inclusivity and accessibility, and his hopes for parkrun’s future across the UK and beyond.

Stay tuned to the end for a quick-fire round where Nick reveals his favourite parkrun course, go-to volunteer role, and the one change he’d love to see for the parkrun community.

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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 on The Parkrunners Podcast host, Catherine Stenson, is joined by Tasha Thompson – NHS professional, marathoner, community builder and founder of Black Girls Do Run UK.

What started as Tasha’s personal love for lacing up her trainers has grown into a mission to make running more inclusive, joyful, and empowering for everyone. A chance encounter with a marshal opened her eyes to how underrepresented black women were in running, and she set out to change that by creating a community where women feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

In this conversation, Tasha shares:
🌿 How running became her outlet and her joy
🏃🏽 Her marathon memories and how parkrun fits into her running story
🤝 The creation of Black Girls Do Run UK and the movement it has become
✨ Why representation matters—and how parkrun echoes the ethos of running together, not alone

Whether you’re a seasoned parkrunner or just curious to try it, Tasha’s story is a reminder of the power of community, representation, and purpose-driven change.

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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 on the Parkrunners Podcast, we meet Alex Mann—a passionate parkrunner and proud Dad—and his energetic 4-year-old son Isaac, who’s already chasing PBs (personal bests) at Junior parkrun in Hove! With a £1 reward from Mum, Dad, Nanny & Grandad for every new personal best, Isaac’s motivation is sky-high. But it’s not just about the numbers—Alex turns each Sunday 2k into a mission to beat the “bad guys” on the hills, helping Isaac push through with imagination and grit.

This joyful episode follows our previous conversations with Shona McCallin, Junior parkrun ambassador and Olympic gold medalist, and Celia Dawson, Head Teacher of Cricket Green Primary the pilot school for the parkrun primary initiative. This episode offers a fresh perspective on how families are embracing parkrun as a shared adventure.

Whether you're a parent, a parkrunner, or someone who loves seeing kids thrive through movement and play—this one’s for you.

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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!

Celia Dawson OBE is Headteacher at Cricket Green School—the SEN school that helped pilot parkrun primary, the new UK initiative twinning schools with local junior parkruns to get children more active. Celia is more than an Headteacher, she is an extraordinary and inspiring community leader and she shares how after completing ~102 parkruns herself, she now volunteers most weekends and channels that community spirit into school life—advocating for disadvantaged and SEND pupils, and showing how movement builds confidence and belonging. We talk about what the pilot taught schools, practical tips for twinning, and how borough-wide partnerships can lift wellbeing and learning for every child.
(Celia received her OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to children and young people with special educational needs. Parkrun Primary launched nationally in September 2025 with a goal to partner with primary schools and drive participation at Junior parkrun to help boost children's health, happiness and wellbeing.)

Send us a text

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!