A Rescue Dog, a Barcode and a Movement: Tim Oberg on founding parkrun Australia

What does it take to turn a Saturday morning idea into a movement that half a million Australians now call part of their weekly routine?In this episode, Catherine sits down with Tim Oberg, the founder of parkrun Australia, for a warm, candid and often surprising look back at how it all began, including the true story of how a rescued street dog from Montenegro named Clarence was the reason Tim discovered parkrun in the first place (dogs used to get their own barcodes — yes, really).Tim, a former national junior weightlifting champion who "actively avoided" endurance running for most of his life, talks about the email that started it all, the coffee meeting with parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt, and arriving in Australia in 2011 with nothing but a licensing agreement, three stopwatches and no idea what he was about to build.From the first 110 finishers at Main Beach to parkruns now running inside Australian prisons, on Hamilton Island, and in the country's smallest regional towns, Tim shares:The real reason parkrun works so well in the modern world - his theory of the lost "third space"The candid, funny truth about working with parkrun's famously blunt founder, Paul Sinton-HewittHow he borrowed a idea from Flight Centre's "Family Village Tribe" model to scale parkrun across the countryA moving tribute to the late Professor Richard Scolyer and fellow parkrun advocate Lisa MillarWhy he walked away from parkrun in 2022 after 11 years — and the new mission driving him now: getting a million Australian kids moving before Brisbane hosts the 2032 Olympics, through his Healthy Kids Project and RAD Run ClubThis is a founder's story about community, purpose, and knowing when it's time for the next chapter.Find out more about Tim's current work: radrun.club🎧 Listen now — and if this episode moves you, share it with someone who needs their own "third space."Follow us: Instagram: @parkrunners_podcast Email: [email protected] us Fan MailThank 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!