Free Weekly Timed by Vassos Alexander

05.06.2022

Counting steps with Jenni Falconer

Radio presenter Jenni Falconer is on the pod this week to chat about her love of running and parkrun. She tells us about her quirky way of counting steps while running.

04.29.2022

Finding parkrun through adversity

Andy Large is our guest this week who tells us how finding out he had diabetes prompted him to start going to parkrun.

04.22.2022

Retiring from parkrun

The brilliant Malcolm from Bolton joins us this week to chat about his decision to retire from parkrun at the tender age of 91. He completed 100 parkruns at Bolton and has volunteered 205 times making him a parkrun legend....

04.14.2022

Celebrating 12 years of junior parkrun

Helen’s on her own this week as we celebrate junior parkrun turning 12. She speaks to the Crebbin family about why they got involved with parkrun and how it has become an integral part of their weekend. Volunteer Adrian Dixon...

04.08.2022

Meeting Muhammad Ali

Author Matt Whyman is on the pod this week to talk about his new book - ‘Failure is an Option’. He tells us his story of a love of running that developed from school cross-country through parkruns, to one of...

04.04.2022

Fuelling for parkrun

Nutritionist and author Anita Bean joins the pod this week to tell us more about sports nutrition. She breaks down some of the myths about food, and explains what we can all do to improve our lifestyles.

04.01.2022

Fuelling for parkrun

Nutritionist and author Anita Bean joins the pod this week to tell us more about sports nutrition. She breaks down some of the myths about food, and explains what we can all do to improve our own nutrition.

03.25.2022

Wellness and parkrun

Wellness coach Davina Driver joins the pod this week. She tells us what wellness means and how it can be used in relation to parkrun. And Vassos receives some good news, before realising it’s not that good!

03.18.2022

An Olympic gold medallist

Professional triathlete, Olympic gold medallist and avid parkrunner Alex Yee joins the pod this week. He tells us why parkrun is so important to his whole family, the joy it gave him taking his grandfather to parkrun to celebrate his...

03.11.2022

The remarkable Olivia Smith

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we hear from 19-year-old Olivia Smith who tells us why volunteering at parkrun is so important to her. Shortly after discovering parkrun three years ago, she was diagnosed with a debilitating neurological disorder that...

03.04.2022

This Girl Can

Frances Drury from Sport England joins us this week to chat about “This Girl Can”, which is their nationwide campaign to get women and girls moving. We hear about a milestone for Mary and debate the new rules regarding dogs...

02.25.2022

Worth the wait

Amy Rose O’Hanlon joins us this week to tell the story of how it took nearly 12 years for University Parks parkrun to become a reality. The inaugural event took place a few weeks ago, and Amy talks us through...

02.18.2022

parkrun and politics

This week we speak to BBC Politics reporter David Cornock about his love and even obsession with everything parkrun. Vassos shares his latest passport fiasco and we get more suggestions for the world's hardest parkrun.

02.11.2022

Coping with Covid

This week we hear the story of Bedford parkrunner Marianna Slivnitskaya who contracted Covid back in March 2020, which later got diagnosed as Long Covid. Nearly two years on, she tells us that while even standing up is a struggle...

02.04.2022

Changing of the guard

New parkrun CEO Russ Jefferys is on the pod this week to chat about his promotion. Vassos has an idea to bring Valentine’s Day and parkrun together and we indulge ourselves as FWT features on a BBC podcast.

01.28.2022

Miracle Man

We chat to Sean Doyle - a real life parkrun miracle man. Louise is off touristing, and we hear how you’re all getting on with the challenge we set to bring at least one new person along to parkrun.

01.21.2022

Looking for love at parkrun

Minreet Kaur is back on the pod this week to tell us about her quest to find love at parkrun. Having gone through a divorce 13 years ago, she has decided to find the man of her dreams by going...

01.14.2022

On Every Saturday

We head to Australia this week to chat to North Sydney parkrunner David Crook who has just written a book celebrating parkrun’s first decade Down Under. He tells us how he went about the research for the book and shares...

01.07.2022

Start with… parkrun

To kick off a new year of pods who better to get on than the brilliant Kirsty Woodbridge from the parkrun comms team. She tells us all about the new campaign “Start with…parkrun” and what it actually involves.

12.31.2021

Defying the odds

For our last pod of the year we speak to the inspirational Liam Critchett who, along with 5 other people with spinal injuries, completed his first ever parkrun a few weeks ago. Having been told he'd never walk again, he...

12.24.2021

Flying Boobies!

Nothing says Christmas more than Flying Boobies! This week we speak to parkrunner Richard Banks about his love of Saturday mornings, and why he set up the Flying Boobies to keep him and his friends connected. Helen and Vassos...

12.17.2021

Thank you Nick

CEO Nick Pearson joins the pod today to discuss why he’s leaving his role at parkrun. He also looks back at what has been a difficult, yet rewarding 12 months for everyone at parkrun. We also read out more of...

12.10.2021

My inspiration, my father

Minreet Kaur is our special guest this week. The journalist, presenter and, of course, parkrunner tells us how getting fit and healthy changed her outlook on life. She also gives us the inside track on her dad - The Skipping...

12.03.2021

Crossing off the days until parkrun

This week’s special guest is Doctor Simon Tobin, who tells us about the importance of parkrun for one’s mental health. He shares his own personal story how parkrun gave his father a sense of community after the passing of his...

11.26.2021

Accepting digital barcodes

COO Tom Williams joins the pod to discuss parkrun’s decision to allow the scanning of barcodes on mobile devices. He discusses why they made the decision and how it impacts participant’s ICE details. Tom also breaks the FWT record for...

11.19.2021

Nell McAndrew

This week’s special guest is TV presenter, model and author Nell McAndrew. She tells us about her love of parkrun, what her favourite volunteer role is and how she will celebrate her 100th. We also hear more of your parkrun...

11.12.2021

A history making BBC presenter

Our special guest this week is CBeebies presenter and avid parkrunner George Webster. George is the first BBC children’s presenter with Down’s syndrome, and he tells us all about his new job. He also shares with us his love of...

11.05.2021

Running round Britain

Avid parkrunner Elise Downing joins us this week, she talks about her experience of running around the coast of Britain, why she decided to do it, how she ended up writing a book about it and how parkrun helped her...

10.29.2021

Writing about running

Rick Pearson from Runner’s World is our special guest this week. He tells us all about his journey to working for the UK's biggest-selling sports magazine, his inspiration for writing songs about running and his love of parkrun. And Vassos...

10.22.2021

The inclusive nature of parkrun

With Vassos and producer Patrick away on their holidays (not together), Helen continues our celebration of everything volunteering. This week she speaks to visually impaired parkrunner Neil Skene who took on the role of Run Director at Ury Riverside parkrun....

10.15.2021