From 13 runners in Bushy Park to more than 2,500 events across 23 countries and millions of lives changed, Paul Sinton-Hewitt's story is one of the most remarkable in modern sport and community building.

In this special episode of *Masters on the Move*, Justin Hill sits down with the founder of parkrun to explore the journey behind a movement that has transformed Saturday mornings around the world.

Paul shares the adversity and trauma that shaped his life, how running helped him navigate mental health challenges, and the extraordinary series of events that led to the first Bushy Park Time Trial in 2004. He reveals the philosophy that keeps parkrun free, inclusive and volunteer-driven, reflects on milestones including the one millionth parkrun event and the first 1,000 parkrunner, and celebrates the incredible volunteers who make it all possible.

They also discuss:

• Paul's early life and the experiences that shaped his values

• How running became a powerful tool for mental wellbeing

• The injury that unexpectedly led to the creation of parkrun

• Why parkrun was designed to be free and held every week

• The story behind the name "parkrun" and the famous lowercase lettering

• The evolution of results emails and milestone shirts

• The importance of volunteers and community connection

• Bruce Fordyce's influence on parkrun in South Africa

• The growth of parkrun in New Zealand

• How communities can start their own parkrun

• Paul's advice for living a meaningful and connected life

Whether you're a runner, walker, volunteer, or someone searching for belonging and purpose, this conversation is a powerful reminder that one small step can change everything.

📖 Paul's book: *One Small Step*

🌍 Are you part of the parkrun community? Share your parkrun story in the comments and let us know where you join your local event.

👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe and share the episode to help more people discover the inspiring stories of Masters on the Move.

#MastersOnTheMove #parkrun #PaulSintonHewitt #RunningCommunity #Volunteering #MentalHealth #BruceFordyce #NewZealandparkrun #RunningPodcast #HealthyAging

00:00 The Extraordinary Beginning

03:36 Childhood Trauma and Its Impact

06:44 The Role of Running in Mental Health

12:16 Lessons from Adversity

14:15 The Birth of Parkrun

24:45 Gaining Structure and Permission

29:32 The Evolution of Results and Communication

34:34 Rebranding to Parkrun

37:36 The Evolution of Parkrun's Identity

39:00 Milestones and Community Impact

45:53 The Role of Volunteers in Parkrun

56:38 Encouraging Participation and Inclusivity

01:00:07 Reflections on Personal Connections and Legacy

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