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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Northland running legend Jim Kettlewell joins the podcast to share the lessons from a lifetime of running. From humble beginnings to winning an XTERRA Trail Running World Championship title at the age of 66, Jim reflects on the training, mindset and consistency that shaped his remarkable journey.

We also explore his leadership with Hātea Harriers, the story behind Whangārei parkrun, how running has changed from the days before GPS watches and carbon shoes, and his advice for staying active for life.

This is a conversation about longevity, community and the enduring power of running.

SECURE FREE TICKETS HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/bruce-fordyce-comrades-and-parkrun-talk

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email justinhillcoach@gmail.com

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What is the absolute limit of human endurance as we age? 🏃‍♂️💨

In this episode of Masters on the Move, we are stripping away the myths of aging and diving deep into the raw grit, storied history, and unbreakable community spirit of the world’s oldest and largest ultra marathon: The Comrades Marathon.

From the harrowing World War I trenches where its foundation of Ubuntu was born, to modern-day masters athletes completely redefining what is biologically possible after 40, 50, and 80—this is the ultimate motivation for anyone out running their local 5k parkrun or training for their next major milestone.

We break down the mind-boggling pacing strategies of the oldest elite winner in history, and celebrate the incredible, ongoing legacy of 83-year-old Johannes Maros Mosehla, who proved to the world that age is nothing but a number on a bib.

🎟️ LIVE NZ EVENT: MEET BRUCE FORDYCE! (AUGUST 14th)

We are bringing the king of Comrades himself, 9-time winner Bruce Fordyce, right here to New Zealand to speak and join us at parkrun!

Tickets: COMPLETELY FREE (But registration is essential!)

When: August 14, 2026

Where: Whangārei, NZ

Secure Your Tickets Here: https://events.humanitix.com/bruce-fordyce-comrades-and-parkrun-talk

🎁 ENTER THE BOOK GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away a free copy of Bruce's legendary book, The Winged Messenger! The winner will collect it on the night, meet Bruce in person, get it signed, and grab a photo.

HOW TO ENTER: Watch the episode to find the answer to the trivia question below, and drop your answer in the comments!

TRIVIA QUESTION: According to today's video, how old was Johannes Mosehla and his official finish time when he extended his record as the oldest finisher in 2025?

(Note: If you want to secure a copy regardless, you can pre-order additional copies for just $29 NZD when booking your free tickets at the link above!)

A massive thank you to our incredible local sponsors who made this zero-cost community event possible:

⛰️ Trek Trail & Fish & Stride Performance (Lucky-draw attendee giveaways!)

🛏️ Parkhill Fine Accommodation (Providing Bruce's stunning stay overlooking the Town Basin)

🍯 NZ Fudge Farm (For the special gift arrangements)

...and all of our private sponsors covering travel and venue costs!

00:00 The Absolute Limit of Human Endurance

00:43 New Zealand Bruce Fordyce Event and Giveaway

03:27 The Brutal History of Comrades

05:31 The Oldest Winnwers and Finishers

09:09 Comrade Spirit at parkrun

Get in contact and follow us - Send in your questions, show suggestions and comments (good or bad) to:

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Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motmpod?igsh=MW8yamF4cHBkZWpxZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

email justinhillcoach@gmail.com

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