Not content with just one guest who has run across America on the podcast, we have found another one - Rob Pope. He is the first person ever to run across the USA four times in one year - and he also followed the same route as Forrest Gump. His latest achievement was to run 24 different parkruns in 24 hours and he tells us all about it.

Free Weekly Timed

Becoming Forrest

Fresh from doing the London Marathon, Vassos tells us how it transpired that he did all 26 miles dressed as a Minion. Plus, parkrun’s head of volunteer management Jaz Bangerh joins us as we continue to celebrate our hi-vis heroes.

The lovely Jaz and a sweaty Minion

As parkrun turns 17, we join the celebration of everything volunteering. Who better to speak to than the first ever volunteers Paul and Jo Sinton-Hewitt. They take us back to that first event in 2004, and tell us how the role of the volunteers has evolved.  We also hear from a 19 year old Run Director at Harrogate juniors.

Happy Anniversary parkrun

This week we caught up with a man who has run across America seven times. Swede Bjorn Suneson tells us why he does it, and how at the age of 71 he’s not finished. Louise checks in from her parkrun travels and we hear about an extraordinary act of generosity from the good folk at Hadleigh parkrun.

The Swedish Forrest Gump

With parkrun resuming in the Republic of Ireland, we hear from those involved with Monaghan Town’s first event back. The inspirational Kevin Webber talks to us about living with incurable cancer and how running and parkrun has kept him going. And we find out whether Vassos finally made it to parkrun, or conjures up another poor excuse for not going.

Ireland returns…but does Vassos?

parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt joins the pod this week to discuss his delight that many 5K events have now returned. He also tells us about his mammoth cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Vassos reads out a belter of an email and we find out how his first parkrun in 18 months went...or maybe we don’t!

Vassos manages to rope in producer Patrick to co-host the show with Helen away on her holidays. The listeners pile in on the debate regarding scanning tokens attached to shoes and we hear from the inspirational Tim Beynon on how running helped him deal with prostate cancer.

Dealing with adversity

Vassos is back from his holidays to join Helen for a busy show. They celebrate parkrun’s return in Wales and hear from many of those involved. Louse is back and reports from Kingdom parkrun in Kent and Vassos and Helen have differing views on barcode tokens being scanned while attached to one’s shoe!

Scanning shoes

With parkrun having restarted in Scotland, we hear from husband and wife team John and Moira Smith. John was RD for the day at Strathclyde parkrun and tells us how it all went and Moira was dispatched with a microphone and spoke to many of the participants. Vassos catches up with comedian, podcaster and author Rob Deering to chat about his running journey, parkrun and what’s on his playlist.

Scotland’s back!

With Vassos away on holiday, Helen is joined by husband & parkrun COO Tom to chat through some of the news coming out of HQ including the return of parkrun in Scotland. We also hear how the plan for the return in Wales is going.

Mr & Mrs Williams

This week we hear from Natasha Joseph, who attended her first parkrun as it resumed in England back in July and tells us why it was so special. Louise Ayling is back in her role as roving reporter, and Vassos claims to have the greatest stat in the history of stats!

An old-timer and a first-timer

After parkrun resumed in England, Helen gives us a first hand account of her day at Harrogate parkrun, and speaks to some of the volunteers, runners, walkers and joggers. Patrick tells us why he’s parkrun rusty and out of pocket after the weekend, and there the return of the FWT stats quiz.

“It’s like it’s never been away”

In celebration of parkrun’s return in England this week, Vassos and Helen have decided to add a musical element to the pod, playing out a selection of songs to get everyone in the mood. And COO Tom Williams pops in for a chat to discuss the resumption in England.

parkrun’s back in England!

With just over a week until parkrun’s resumption in England, we hear from a couple of Bangor parkrunners who have been using the Virtual Volunteer app for the first time after parkrun returned there last month. We also got a lovely email from a couple with the subject - “a parkrun love story”.

A parkrun love story

This week’s special guest is Mike, who shares his parkrun journey - and it’s a journey that we can all identify with. Vassos is left a little bewildered with Mary’s reaction after he broke the news that Whitstable junior parkrun had been cancelled, and we read out more of your emails.

A familiar journey

Free Weekly Timed explores everything parkrun and is presented by Vassos Alexander and Helen Williams. The pair share experiences, chat to guests and interact with fellow parkrun runners as they debate the big talking points of the week. To get in touch, email us at hello@freeweeklytimed.com or tweet us @freeweeklytimed. You can also get in touch via our website Freeweeklytimed.com

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