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)
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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, 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.

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

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!

Chaarlee Eastmond 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) 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, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms.

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!