Parkrunners Podcast
Parkrunners Podcast shares real stories from the global parkrun community—runners, walkers, and volunteers whose lives have been transformed by movement and connection. Hosted by Catherine Stenson, each episode celebrates courage, belonging, and the quiet power of showing up.
Parkrunners Podcast
From Parkrun to Team GB: Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi Prescribes Movement as Medicine
What if your healthiest future didn’t start with a grand plan — but with one small Saturday habit?
In this episode of The Parkrunners Podcast, host Catherine Stenson is joined by Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi — GP, TV doctor, health coach, passionate parkrunner… and now a Team GB triathlete. Hussain shares his powerful story of transformation, from a once-sedentary lifestyle to elite-level sport, and how parkrun became the turning point.
Together, Catherine and Hussain explore why movement really is medicine — not as a slogan, but as a practical, achievable approach to better physical health, stronger mental fitness, and greater resilience. They talk about the unique “magic” of parkrun: the community support, the accessibility for walkers and runners alike, and the way it helps people build small, consistent habits that genuinely stick.
This conversation is especially timely if you’re making New Year resolutions, trying to rebuild your fitness, or searching for a realistic way to feel better — without the pressure, guilt, or unrealistic goals.
You’ll hear Hussain’s insights on:
- how small regular habits can create massive change over time
- why walking is one of the most underrated health tools we have
- the importance of recovery and sustainable progress
- why mental fitness matters just as much as physical fitness
- how social prescribing (including parkrun) could shape the future of healthcare
- and why action-focused support can be especially powerful for men’s mental health
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start — this episode is your reminder that the first step can be simple… and you don’t have to do it alone.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi
01:24 Hussain's Personal Health Journey
05:38 Discovering Parkrun
12:00 The Impact of Parkrun on Health
18:34 From Parkrun to Team GB Triathlete
24:09 Movement as Medicine
27:20 Building Resilience for a Healthier Life
30:11 The Importance of Mental Fitness
34:31 Prescribing Parkrun for Mental Health
39:26 Transformative Stories from Parkrun
43:25 Men's Mental Health and Actionable Support
44:01 Setting Realistic Movement Goals
49:44 De-Medicalization and the Role of Nature
54:06 The Future of Social Prescribing
#parkrun, #health, #mental wellbeing, #lifestylemedicine, #socialprescribing, #walking, #movement, #GP, #community, #resilience, #TeamGB, #triathlon
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