From 28 Stone to parkrun: Chaarlee Eastmond's Journey to Belonging

Lisa Millar: Big Life, Big Stories and Simple Joys

For more than three decades, Lisa Millar [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Roads_(TV_series)] and Muster Dogs [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 [https://www.parkrun.com.au/albertmelbourne/] 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 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2530997/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://www.instagram.com/parkrunners_podcast/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574917412432] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13184454/]) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!

Akihiro Matsuda (Japan) -parkrun in every place I call home!

This week I’m thrilled to welcome my very first parkrun Japan [https://www.parkrun.jp/events/#geo=2.67/35.59/134.38] 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) [https://www.instagram.com/gongendo_2gou_kouen_parkrun/] 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 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2530997/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://www.instagram.com/parkrunners_podcast/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574917412432] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13184454/]) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!

Sophie Raworth: from BBC News to Marathon des Sables — Why parkrun still grounds me

This week on the Parkrunners Podcast, Catherine Stenson is joined by one of the UK’s most recognisable broadcasters — but also one of the parkrun community’s most inspiring runners — Sophie Raworth [https://www.instagram.com/sophieraworth/]. Many people know Sophie as a trusted BBC News presenter, but away from the newsroom she has quietly built an extraordinary running journey that began in her 40s and continues to redefine what’s possible in later life. Now aged 58 — and fitter and stronger than ever — Sophie has completed more than 220 parkruns, countless marathons and ultra-distance events, including the legendary 250km Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert. She also achieved an astonishing parkrun PB of 20:31 at the age of 51 — proof that progress doesn’t have an expiry date. In this uplifting and deeply honest conversation, Sophie shares: 🏃‍♀️ How running transformed her life after 40 🌳 Why parkrun became such an important part of her story 💪 Recovering mentally and physically after a fractured ankle forced her to stop running for a year 🔥 What drives her to keep challenging herself 📖 The inspiration behind her new bestselling book Running on Air ❤️ Why community, movement and Saturday mornings still matter so much From her Richmond Park parkrun memories to ultra marathons in the desert, this episode is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to begin — and that one small step can truly change everything. Whether you’re chasing a PB, coming back from injury, walking your first parkrun, or wondering if it’s “too late” to start… Sophie’s story will leave you inspired. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Buzzsprout and all major podcast platforms. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2530997/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://www.instagram.com/parkrunners_podcast/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574917412432] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13184454/]) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!

From 28 Stone to parkrun: Chaarlee Eastmond's Journey to Belonging

Chaarlee E [https://www.instagram.com/runningman_1991/]astmond never thought running was for people like him. Growing up overweight and struggling with confidence, food, and identity, Chaarlee eventually reached a serious health crossroads at 28 stone and pre-diabetes. Following the end of a toxic relationship, he made the difficult decision to undergo gastric sleeve surgery — not to become a runner, but to save his life. What happened next began with something much smaller than a finish line. Walking. Then came a moment that changed everything: watching a close friend compete in a backyard ultra and feeling, for the very first time, the pull of the running community. Discovering parkrun (Lloyd parkrun [https://www.parkrun.org.uk/lloyd/]) gave Chaarlee a welcoming doorway into movement, confidence and belonging. Now 26 parkruns into his journey, taking on the LonDone challenge, racing 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons, and aiming for the London Marathon next year, Chaarlee is rebuilding his life one Saturday at a time. This is an emotional, honest and uplifting conversation about courage, identity, community, self-belief and why the first step really matters. Whether you’re a seasoned parkrunner, a nervous first-timer, or someone standing on the sidelines wondering if you belong — this episode is for you. Share it with someone who needs to hear this powerful message too.  You never know where it will take them! 🎧 Listen now on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4ncoCQdegCysdHEcbeK4fQ?si=05fb5c4d9b174ed1], Apple Podcasts & all major platforms. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2530997/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://www.instagram.com/parkrunners_podcast/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574917412432] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13184454/]) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!

Christine & Layla Wilson on how parkrun became the rhythm of their family life

In this heartwarming episode of The Parkrunners Podcast, I’m joined by Christine Wilson [https://www.instagram.com/theparkrunfamily/] and her 13-year-old daughter Layla from The parkrun family — a lovely grassroots story of Saturday mornings, milestones, parkrun tourism, shared memories Together, Christine, Layla, Steve (Dad) and Chloe (10yrs) have completed an incredible 983 parkruns — just shy of the 1,000 mark. But this episode is about much more than numbers: it’s about how parkrun became the rhythm of one family’s life. In this heartwarming episode of The Parkrunners Podcast, I’m joined by Christine Wilson [https://www.instagram.com/theparkrunfamily/] and her 13-year-old daughter Layla from The parkrun family — a lovely grassroots story of Saturday mornings, milestones, parkrun tourism, shared memories and the simple joy of doing parkrun [https://www.parkrun.org.uk/woodley/] together.  What began as a family activity has become something much deeper: a weekly rhythm built around movement, connection, confidence, community and plenty of post-parkrun coffee-and-cake moments too. This is also a family known and loved for embracing the fun side of parkrun life — including dressing up for milestone celebrations and bringing an extra sense of joy to the events they visit. That playful spirit shines through in this conversation. Christine shares how parkrun became woven into family life, while Layla brings the story to life through a younger voice — sharing what parkrun feels like from a child’s perspective, what makes a parkrun morning special, and why it has become such an important part of their world. This is a warm, relatable episode about family, belonging and the quiet magic of showing up week after week. In this episode, we explore: *  how parkrun first became part of their family life  *  when it grew from a Saturday activity into a real family rhythm  *  the joy of family milestones, tourism and dressing up to celebrate  *  what parkrun gives children as well as adults  *  why parkrun is about so much more than the 5k itself  A lovely listen for parkrunners, parkwalkers, volunteers and anyone who believes that the smallest weekly habits can shape family life in the biggest ways. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2530997/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://www.instagram.com/parkrunners_podcast/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574917412432] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13184454/]) for updates and more inspiring parkrunners' stories. Until next time, keep running, keep smiling and keep on showing up!