What does Australia's largest parkrun know about building community that the rest of us don't?

When Joanne Watkins first arrived at Albert Melbourne parkrun in January-2012, around 30 to 50 people would turn up each Saturday. The first time attendance reached 100, they celebrated because they genuinely thought the event had peaked.

Nearly 15 years later, Albert Melbourne parkrun can attract more than 1,000 runners, walkers and volunteers. But the remarkable part isn't simply its size... it's how Joanne and her team have tried to grow something enormous without losing the connection that made those early Saturday mornings special.

That means two timekeepers, dozens of volunteers, an extraordinary double finish funnel. But it also means noticing the newcomer sitting alone, remembering people's names, shared ownership... and extraordinarily... Joanne “firing” her entire run-director team every year.

In this conversation, Joanne shares what nearly 15 years at Albert Melbourne has taught her about running, volunteering, leadership and human connection; and why people might come to parkrun for five kilometres, but stay because they've found somewhere they're seen, known and connected.

If you've ever wondered why running communities can become such an important part of our lives, this episode is for you..

In this episode:

• What Albert Melbourne parkrun looked like with just 30–50 participants.
• Why Joanne believes people don't really come to parkrun just for the 5K.
• Building systems designed around simplicity, redundancy and collective ownership.
• How Albert Melbourne grew dramatically following Melbourne's COVID lockdowns.
• Deliberately making newcomers feel noticed, welcomed and connected.
• How the famous double funnel handles enormous numbers of finishers.
• The catastrophic accident that left Joanne needing to learn to walk again.
• How the parkrun community supported Joanne throughout her recovery.

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Can running give you somewhere to belong... especially if belonging has never come particularly easily?

Since October 2025, Josh Rischin has encouraged other runners to open up about their lives, identities and the role running plays in them. Now, it's his turn.

In this one-off special, good friend and previous guest Shona turns the microphone around. And she doesn't go easy on him; questioning whether Runbelievable might also have provided Josh with a rather convenient place to hide.

Growing up, Josh rarely felt like he fitted in. Persistent bullying, a deep desire to be accepted and years spent searching for the next achievement, career, interest or place left him wondering where (if anywhere) he actually belonged.

Running initially became another pursuit to "master". First came parkrun, then a running club, PBs, races and eventually five marathons. But somewhere along the way, getting faster became less important (let's be honset, he kind of no choice!).. with the people around him becoming the focal point.

In this conversation, Shona explores Josh's complicated relationship with belonging, why he trained for months before feeling 'ready' to attend his first parkrun, what happens when the PBs stop coming, the origins of Runbelievable, and why running may finally have given him something he spent much of his life searching for.

In this episode:

• Growing up with bullying and struggling to feel accepted.
• Searching for belonging through achievement, career and new challenges.
• Training for months before feeling brave enough to attend his first parkrun.
• Joining a running group for one reason: to get faster.
• Realising that the running community mean more than performance.
• How the original idea for Runbelievable emerged from curiosity about other runners.
• Why other runners' stories have helped Josh better understand himself.
• Finally finding a community he doesn't feel an urge to leave.

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Why would anyone choose to run 52 half marathons in 52 weeks... for children they'll probably never meet?

Aly Robertson started running because it was cheap, accessible and required little more than putting on a pair of shoes and heading outside.

Then running became something much bigger. After completing 42 half marathons in 2025, Aly decided to attempt 52 in 2026... roughly one every week. But this time, he wanted them to mean something. So he began raising money for KidsCan, supporting New Zealand children living in material hardship.

There was just one additional rule: keep it interesting.

That has meant running a half marathon at midnight while listening to a horror soundscape, drinking litres of milk, consuming wine and cheese, letting dice determine his distance, and even turning the donation of his hair into a 21.1km adventure.

If running has ever started to feel a little too serious, Aly's story might remind you just how much fun you can have with 21.1 kilometres.

Follow Aly's journey: https://www.instagram.com/alyplods/

Learn about KidCan: https://www.kidscan.org.nz/

In this episode:

• Why running appealed as a cheap and accessible way to exercise.
• The spontaneous first half marathon that changed how Aly saw himself.
• How a breakup led to a period of “relentless self-improvement.”
• Raising money for KidsCan and the reality of child poverty in New Zealand.
• Why every half marathon needs its own concept.
• Why Aly believes a run is ultimately what you make it.

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.