From 28 Stone to parkrun: Chaarlee Eastmond's Journey to Belonging

Chaarlee Eastmond never thought running was for people like him.

Growing up overweight and struggling with confidence, food, and identity, Chaarlee eventually reached a serious health crossroads at 28 stone and pre-diabetes. Following the end of a toxic relationship, he made the difficult decision to undergo gastric sleeve surgery — not to become a runner, but to save his life.

What happened next began with something much smaller than a finish line.

Walking.

Then came a moment that changed everything: watching a close friend compete in a backyard ultra and feeling, for the very first time, the pull of the running community.

Discovering parkrun (Lloyd parkrun) gave Chaarlee a welcoming doorway into movement, confidence and belonging. Now 26 parkruns into his journey, taking on the LonDone challenge, racing 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons, and aiming for the London Marathon next year, Chaarlee is rebuilding his life one Saturday at a time.

This is an emotional, honest and uplifting conversation about courage, identity, community, self-belief and why the first step really matters.

Whether you’re a seasoned parkrunner, a nervous first-timer, or someone standing on the sidelines wondering if you belong — this episode is for you. Share it with someone who needs to hear this powerful message too.  You never know where it will take them!

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Transcript

Speaker 0:12

Hi there, and a very warm welcome back to the Parkrunners Podcast. I'm your host, Catherine Stenson, and today on the podcast I'm joined by Chaarlee Jay, a Lloyd Park parkrunner, whose story is such a powerful reminder that the journey into running doesn't always begin with running at all. Charlie grew up never really seeing himself as a runner. He describes years of struggling with weight, confidence, and his relationship with food, eventually reaching a serious health crossroads at 28 stone and pre-diabetic. But what I love about this story is that it didn't start with a dramatic finish line moment. It started with walking. It started with tiny steps and it started with Chaarlee deciding to choose himself. Then came a backyard ultra, the atmosphere of the running community, discovering parkrun and slowly building a completely new identity. One Saturday morning at a time. Now Chaarlee is 26 parkruns into his journey, taking on the London Challenge and racing 5Ks, 10Ks, and even half marathons. He's setting his sights also on the London Marathon. This is such an honest, hopeful, and uplifting conversation about courage, community, and self-belief and what can happen when someone realizes they belong at the start line too. So let's get into it. How are you, Chaarlee? And a very warm welcome to the Parkrunners podcast.

Speaker 1 1:39

Oh, what an introduction that was. Thank you, Catherine. It's really lovely to be here. I'm a huge fan of this podcast.

Speaker 1:45

Fantastic. And Chaarlee, can you tell our listeners where you're joining from today?

Speaker 1 1:49

Yes. So I'm from Croydon in South London.

Speaker 1:53

So, Charlie, we're just going to get stuck in because you've been very open about growing up as an overweight person. What was your relationship with movement like back then?

Speaker 1 2:04

Very minimal. Even from a young child, I mean, you look back at um photographs. I I'm always the child in the background who's, you know, got a packet of crisps in their hand or an ice cream cone. I was always like labelled, you know, the the funny, the stereotypical funny over overweight child. And exercise was always the the least priority in my life, even from a very young age. So exercise from a very young age was always very like barely minimal. When you look back at photographs of me, family photographs, I'm always the you know, chubby overweight child in the corner who's, you know, got a packet of crisps or an ice cream in their hand or something. Exercise was always the least priority in my life. Even, you know, being in primary school, break times and stuff, my friends were always playing football or basketball and stuff, and I was more interested in reading a book and you know, just sitting on a picnic table or something.

Speaker 3:05

Yeah. That just wasn't your identity then. So did you did you feel like running something that belonged to other kids, other people, not not you?

Speaker 1 3:14

Yeah, I mean, as a child I always just believed that the small skinny children who w were fast were were always the ones who running was for.

Speaker 3:24

Yeah. And I guess looking back, Chaarlee what do you think people like often misunderstood about you?

Speaker 1 3:33

From the age of 16, went through quite a lot of personal problems. Like for example, I grew up with a dad who was well, he was dying with emphysema at the time. And I suppose looking back now, I was pretty much a young carer. I'll you know, I was helping my mum and food was always, you know, my my get-to for, you know, in terms of my emotions. It was always, you know, a go-to for comfort. You know, from then I, you know, I suffered with depression growing up. It was always there was always a reason why food was always, yeah, a a go-to.

Speaker 4:15

Yeah.

Speaker 1 4:16

Yeah. And as uh the older I got, obviously the the struggle increased a lot more.

Speaker 4:22

And I I think food is a crutch for a lot of people. Um and it's it's really it's really challenging when you have those um things that you've described, like a dad who was um suffering very badly at the time, you had that caring um role. So it's kinda easy to see how how food became the comfort, and you reached a point in time that change became non-negotiable. Can you take us all back to that moment, Chaarlee?

Speaker 1 4:56

Absolutely. I got to around the age of 33 and I noticed that uh the that my day-to-day life was just getting a lot harder physically to the point where I mean it sounds dramatic, but I would uh I would literally wait for a bus just just to go to the shop to get a loaf of bread. Um walking was just even a huge struggle for me. And I I went to the doctor's one day just for a general checkup. The doctor was quite blunt with me to be honest with you. I was 28 stone at the age of 33, and uh he basically told me that if I didn't make some, you know, some drastic changes that I wasn't gonna make 40. Yeah. Um he told me, you know, that I was pre-diabetic and that yeah, some changes needed to be made.

Speaker 5:51

And how did that make you feel? Like was that the wake-up call, or was that something that maybe set you back because you thought, oh god, I don't even know how to change?

Speaker 1 6:03

It was a bit of both, to be honest with you, Catherine. I remember coming out of at that appointment and feeling really angry, but I was burying my head in the sand because the reason I was so angry is because I knew that everything that the doctor was telling me was right.

Speaker 6:17

Yeah.

Speaker 1 6:18

So I I was in denial. I know looking back now, I I I know that what the doctor did was was right, telling me telling me what he told me. But um it but it at the same time it was a wake-up call in that I knew there and then that something needed to happen.

Speaker 6:38

Did you talk to anybody about it? Because I don't know if you've listened, but I had another podcast guest on, Dr. Hussain Al-Zubaidi. Yes, I'm gonna do that. And he's he's a lifestyle doctor, and he had a wake-up call like that. He was only 23 and studying medicine and was told he had fatty liver disease. He was he said in his own words, he was m embarrassed, mortified really, that he was so out of control with his own eating habits. But he said he didn't talk to anybody about it for a little while. I'm just wondering how did you how did you move from that moment of like painful truth, if we could put it that way, to working out what you could do about it.

Speaker 1 7:23

I suppose, I mean, at the time my partner had recently just had a gastric sleeve around the same time that I was given the warning. And I didn't know much about the procedure at the time, but she had it done and she lost a significant amount of weight from it. Nearly half her body weight.

Speaker 7:43

Gosh.

Speaker 1 7:44

And then I I watched a a uh a YouTube video and it was of the footballer Rosa Rudddock, and he yeah, so he was on talk sport and he had had the procedure done as well because he was he had drinking problems and stuff. I think he had a heart condition, um, and so he had the gastric sleeve and it looked as though it changed his life completely. And it that was pretty much like the final box to tick um for me personally to think, okay, this looks like something that I need to get done.

Speaker 8:17

And you've described your surgery as life-saving. What was what was going through your mind at that time you made the decision?

Speaker 1 8:26

Yeah, um at the time when I had the procedure done, I was a about five months beforehand, uh my partner at the time and myself had ended our relationship, and we'd been together for twelve years, we were going to get married. So I was I was on quite a downer. I was quite heavily depressed, I was taking time off work and um and stuff like that. And I had already been on the waiting list for a while with the NHS to get the procedure done, but the NHS obviously is, you know, under so much pressure, um, and the huge waiting list. And then one day I spoke to my brother-in-law about the possibility of him helping me out and getting me a loan to get it done privately. And that day he um he applied for a loan and we managed to get yeah, confirmation that day, and I was able to talk uh contact a private hospital and that was just they they offered they offered me an appointment six weeks later and it just Amazing. Yeah, and it just I I just said to myself, yeah, let's get it done. And I was I was scared even on the day I was petrified, and it got to the point where I was in the hospital bed with the gown on and I I still wasn't sure whether I was going to have the procedure or not.

Speaker 9:46

That's tough.

Speaker 1 9:47

Yeah, it really was. And the more the doctors described it, the more worried and anxious I was feeling about, you know, having 80% of my stomach removed. But I've got no regrets about getting it done at all. It was definitely definitely the greatest thing that I've ever done is get that operation.

Speaker 10:07

I'm so pleased that you have that as your outcome. Because, you know, not just the positive physical outcome, but the fact that mentally you're so comfortable and happy that that was the right direction and path for you. So congratulations on actually been brave enough to do that because it takes it takes, as you say, some courage to leap off and put your faith in not just the medical profession, but in the procedure and what that can bring about. So I guess without going into anything you don't want to share, I'm just curious if the end of the relationship, your long-term relationship, did that in some way create space for you to start seeing yourself and maybe choosing yourself more as the priority?

Speaker 1 10:54

100%. I'd realised being without going into too much detail, I'd got myself into some really bad habits, physically and mentally. And um yeah, the relationship ending was almost like the detox for me to be able to re-evaluate my life in that moment in time.

Speaker 11:15

And just linking that now to how you went on from surgery to discovering running. I know it all started with walking, and that's what I really love about your story. So, what got you walking and what did those first walks feel like physically and mentally?

Speaker 1 11:32

Yeah. I always so going back, I had just had the procedure. I'd always enjoyed walking, and it was it was quite depressing for me not physically being able to walk. There's nothing that I enjoy more than listening to a podcast um like yours like yours, Catherine, or listening to a bit of music and just getting some fresh air and just clearing my mind. And after having the surgery, they told me that I would be bedbound for two to three weeks. And I just basically thought, well, no, that's that's not gonna happen at all. Um so I I tried to make sure that I bed was getting up, doing things, and one day I just felt like going out for a walk to the top of my road, and I started doing little walks every day. Uh and about two weeks after the surgery, I started taking longer walks, maybe for an hour or so, and I just felt physically more capable, you know. My calves weren't tightening up as much, I wasn't out of breath nearly as much as I was originally, and it made me feel a lot more optimistic about exercise in general.

Speaker 12:41

Did you did you set goals early on, Chaarlee, or was it simply about just getting yourself moving?

Speaker 1 12:47

In terms of running, no. I'd I'd never given myself a goal as a runner. I always wanted to just be more physical, more active, more able to do things. I can remember, for example, about six years ago going with some friends to Thorpe Park, the theme, and it was the most embarrassing moment of my life, but I can remember queuing up for a couple of hours with friends for a ride, getting all the way to the front, sitting down, and I was too big to fit on the ride.

Speaker 13:17

That is heartbreaking.

Speaker 1 13:18

Yes, and it was so embarrassing. Everyone saw, and I I said to myself that I'm good I'm going to fix this moment and I'm gonna come back here one day and I'm going to enjoy this, and I but I'm not also not going to forget this moment. Um and I actually went to Fort Park a few weeks ago, funnily enough, and I managed to fit on every single ride and it felt amazing. Yeah.

Speaker 13:41

You know, that's I I think that's something that people will relate to a lot because the the queuing, anyway, is really hard work. But to get there and to suffer the disappointment and ignominy of being asked to step aside, yeah. Well, that is, as you say, probably deeply upsetting inside here and a bit mortifying.

Speaker 1 14:02

Yeah, and disheartening as well.

Speaker 14:04

Yeah.

Speaker 1 14:05

Yeah.

Speaker 14:07

But it sounds like that almost was a shift in inside you that where you said, no, I'm going to change something here. So you talked also um about how you went to watch a friend at a backyard ultra run.

Speaker 1 14:24

That's right.

Speaker 14:25

So what what was it about that experience that helped you migrate from, you know, these daily walks, which was massive progress for you, kudos on that. But to that moment where you thought, I might actually like to give running a shot.

Speaker 1 14:41

Yeah. Um was from the beginning of my relationship ending, I got back in touch with a really good friend of mine called Dan, who we had been close friends for all of our school life. Um, and then naturally, as you do, as you get older, you lose touch with one another. But he was one of the first people to um contact me and get in touch with me after my relationship ended. And um he's a very he's gone through his demons himself. And now when we talk, he says, like, you looked terrible, but you looked like you were struggling, I was severely overweight. Um, and then I'd just had the surgery and he told me about this backyard ultra that he was doing, which wasn't too far from where we live in Croydon. And I knew that Dan was a big time runner, I had no interest in it whatsoever, I didn't see what all the the fuss was about at that moment in time. We both say that I was meant to be there that day because the aura that was going around that day, it was just it was amazing. Like the atmosphere, everyone was just cheering each other on. It was a great big trail run. Um, for anyone that doesn't know what a uh backyard ultra is basically it's having to run 6.4 kilometers on the hour every hour. Oh wow, um yeah, and until For how long? For us until the last band standing.

Speaker 16:07

No, wow, I didn't realise that.

Speaker 1 16:09

Yeah, absolutely. It could it could take 12 hours for the last person to ring the bell, it could take three days, but that's how it works. And yeah, my mate did amazing, and on that day I met friends of his who um who have now become really good friends of mine, and we've got like a little running community, which is amazing. But the the way that everyone was supporting one another and the community and the vibe. I remember during one of his laps, Dan was recovering and I was I was sitting next to him um in on one of the in one one of the chairs in the tent and um I just smirked and looked at him and he said what what's up with you? And I said, Dan, I said, I'm I'm gonna do this one day.

Speaker 16:54

Really?

Speaker 1 16:54

And he went, What do you mean? And I said, No, I'm I'm gonna run. I'm gonna run. And he said, You're being serious, aren't you? And I said, Yeah, I really am. But I knew at that moment in time that talk is cheap and I knew that I had to show that. And the very next day I went for my very first run. It made something in me. Yeah, someone inside me was just saying, you know, run.

Speaker 17:16

So a c a combination of the atmosphere, the people, like the camaraderie.

Speaker 1 17:21

Yeah.

Speaker 17:21

It all went on and hooked you. And the very next day you went running. That's incredible.

Speaker 1 17:27

The progress that I was making physically at the time as well. It was like a jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces just came together.

Speaker 17:32

Kind of like the stars aligned, you know, that friend showed back up in your life. It's almost sometimes you feel in life that you're in exactly the right place at the right time.

Speaker 1 17:41

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 17:42

It's a very nice feeling.

Speaker 1 17:43

Yeah.

Speaker 17:44

So linking that now, if we can, to discovering parkrun.

Speaker 1 17:49

Yeah.

Speaker 17:49

How did you how did you first come on to hear about Parkrun? When is when did it come onto your radar?

Speaker 1 17:54

I'd always heard about Parkrun itself. Lloyd Park is my local parkrun, and I'm in Croydon they're quite nearby. So, you know, I'd all traveled past and seen this massive thing taking place, and I was intrigued. Oh, what's going on over there? Like, you know, that looks cool. And then when I started running myself, um, few people that I know who are runners would say to me, You should try park run. But in my head, I'm thinking, I'm not a runner, I'm I'm not at that stage yet to be able to do something like that. Because in my head, I'm thinking, it's not a run, it's a race.

Speaker 18:29

Yeah, and it's not.

Speaker 1 18:30

Yeah, but then someone I know said, give it a chance. And my sister has always been a runner, she's done six marathons. Um, and it I spoke to her and she said, You should give it a try. It's fun, it's exciting, and no one judges you no matter how slow you are, whether you want to walk, whether you want to run, even if you want to volunteer.

Speaker 18:52

Yeah.

Speaker 1 18:53

So four weeks, I think, after my surgery, I did my first park run. It's really quick. Yeah, it was probably a bit too quick, to be honest with you, but um, in my head, I just I felt incredibly motivated at the time to get something done.

Speaker 19:09

So I'd love you to share with our listeners what you remember about that first park run. Like how hard was it for you?

Speaker 1 19:15

I had never done a 5k in my life. It was really overwhelming, I remember, to begin with. I'd showed up about half an hour before the run started because I didn't know how it worked, I didn't know whether you needed to check in or anything like that. Um, and then all of a sudden, yeah, just as you know, 10 minutes before the run starts, a hundred people come out of nowhere and arrive. Yeah, it was really overwhelming to begin with, I remember. But then it was so fun and it just it felt natural. You had your marshals there and they're cheering you on, telling you you're doing amazing, and you know, I had my headphones in and I just enjoyed the moment for what it was.

Speaker 19:58

Oh, lovely. And if someone is listening who is not not a runner yet, maybe not even a walker yet, yeah, and who might actually feel nervous about showing up at parkrun, how what made it feel accessible to you and what could you say to those people about um parkrun?

Speaker 1 20:18

Do it, just do it. Simple. Yeah, it's so simple. Just go out and do it and what but most importantly, do it for yourself, don't do it for anyone else. Um I agree. Yeah, don't worry about that chap who's doing you know 5k in 17 minutes. That's not what it's about, it's about doing what's right for you and enjoying the moment. Um, and you meet so many amazing people, I've made so many friendships in parkrun, met some incredible people like Dame Kelly Holmes. I can say that I've run a park run with her, she's such a lovely person as well. Um, you know, I did Bushy Park parkrun one year on my boat. Uh I turn around the corner and I see John Altman, Nasty Nick. Yes, yes, as one of the marshals, and it, you know, just all these incredible memories. Um, I did Valentine's Park Run on Valentine's Day, and there were 2,000 people there, and it was, you know, and it was just an incredible experience. In those moments, I've I met some wonderful people.

Speaker 21:20

Yeah, and you know, you sell it very well, and I've been fortunate enough to have John Altman, Nasty Nick from EastEnders, on this show. He's one of my early guests, and he he has been both runner and now he's a um a more regular volunteer. Um, and and Dame Kelly Holmes, I I bumped into her when she came to do Bushy Parkrun, and I invited her on the podcast, and yeah, she loves Parkrun and she said yes. So I was thrilled to be able to share her story because she's had her struggles, even though she's a double Olympian. And this is the thing, Charlie, I know you feel the same when. Is that parkrun is for everyone, whatever your age, stage, or fitness level, and whether you want to walk, run, or or volunteer. And you can get something really positive out of that that lasts you well beyond a Saturday morning.

Speaker 1 22:16

Yeah, without a doubt.

Speaker 22:17

So from parkrun, you then migrated to doing races. Okay, 10K, half marathons. Please, please tell me how that came about because that shows a big growth in confidence and capability.

Speaker 1 22:31

Yeah, so after going to my friend Dan's ultra marathon, the next day I did that that very first run that I was talking to you about, Catherine, and I had also booked my very first race for I think six weeks later. It was a K race at Greenwich Park. I just thought to myself, I've got no clue, no idea how to train for a race whatsoever. I don't know what I'm doing. Instantly regretted booking booking it. Um so I did some research and I found the runner app. So I paid for a subscription on that, and I mean, I can't give any more credit to that. It gave you ev all your runs you needed to do that week, um, all the way up to the race. Yes, so six weeks later, I did my very first 10-kilometre run, and it was the heart really the hardest thing in life that I'd ever done. But it again, it felt incredible. It really did.

Speaker 23:30

The transformation that you're describing, coming out of that bariatric surgery, within four weeks, you're at a park run. You've had so much motivation from watching your friend at that backyard ultra that you sign yourself up for a 10k, you download an app. All these are the behaviors of people who've been running for years. You tapped into this within weeks. So there's there was obviously almost a residual burning desire for you to find something that you could put your passion and energy into.

Speaker 1 24:04

Yeah, these these were things that I always wanted to do, Catherine. I just I unfortunately got myself into a really hard situation physically and mentally to the point where it almost felt impossible to be able to do those things. But then once I had the surgery and I followed the procedures that I had to post-surgery, I knew that these things were a possibility for me if I made the right choices.

Speaker 24:29

Charlie, what would you say you are most proud of? And is it what you might have expected before you became a runner?

Speaker 1 24:38

I would say the the thing that I'm proud of the most running-wise on this journey so far is probably when I did the Richmond Park half marathon.

Speaker 24:50

Congratulations!

Speaker 1 24:52

Thank you. I did that in in February, and that was my first half marathon that I did, and that was an incredible struggle struggle. It was probably the wettest day of the year. Yeah, it really was. It was uh if you haven't been to Richmond Park before, it's very traily. I have, yeah. I hadn't done enough research um that uh beforehand. And I got to I got to about 12 kilometres in, and I just didn't know whether or not I could finish this race. I didn't know much about nutrition at the time in terms of running gels and keeping hydrated, but I managed to get through, and what got me through it was I had people who I care about show up unexpectedly. Um and my sister had come anyway, I knew they were coming, but my other sister showed up on my third lap when I really hit the pain wall, and then my best friend Dan and another friend of ours, Dave, both showed up right at the end when I really needed that motivation, and that really kept me going.

Speaker 25:59

I do think that supporters on those longer endurance runs and a half marathon is a hell of a long run for somebody, Chaarlee , in your situation. Still relatively new to running, most people are not taking on challenges like that. So kudos to your friends and family for getting behind you because that will have driven you over the finish line. And what a feeling.

Speaker 1 26:24

Yeah, yeah, what a feeling. Honestly, do not think I could have done it without them in that moment in time. It was, yeah, it was amazing feeling.

Speaker 26:32

And Chaarlee, when had you when did you start to actually see yourself as I'm a runner?

Speaker 1 26:37

I think for me, saying I was a runner was probably when I managed to run a five kilometre sub 30. For me, I would say that was when I was like, yeah, I'm I'm a runner now. But fantastic. But looking back, for me and for anyone else, I would say if you can put a pair of shoes on and a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and you can do a few kilometres at a reasonable pace, you're a runner. Simple as that.

Speaker 27:11

How has running changed how you show up in everyday life? Like you we spoke about your primary school teacher. Have your um class and your peers in the staff room notice a difference in Chaarlee Jay.

Speaker 27:25 Speaker 1 27:25

Yeah, 100%. Uh I'm I'm lucky enough that my colleagues are always, you know, noticing, especially the drastic weight loss. A few of my colleagues are runners as well. So we know we've always got that, you know, that conversation of, you know, oh, what race have you got coming up? Are you are you doing a park run this week? Um, which parkrun are you doing? In terms of the children, um not net not exactly the children who up that I'm teaching this year, but previous pupils have definitely seen a difference.

Speaker 27:55

Yeah.

Speaker 1 27:57

And yeah, what what changes it's made in everyday life, I mean, I work everything around what I'm what I'm doing running-wise that day. Because for me, whether I have an amazing day or you know, a rubbish day, or whether I'm feeling, you know, overwhelmed or exhausted, going out for that run four days a week makes such a difference to me mentally. Even if I don't feel like it, I'll put my shoes on and I'll go for, you know, a light jog. And before I know I'm I'm getting a decent pace and I'm feeling good, and then I'll speed up a little bit. And then before I know it, I'm in my run.

Speaker 28:41

It's such a positive headspace because it both clears your head and you know, it decompresses you from a day if you do it at the end of the day, and it sets you up for a day if you do it at the start. So I don't think I've ever done a run I regret.

Speaker 1 28:55

You never regret a run. Absolutely not. You might not have wanted to do the run, but at the end.

Speaker 29:01

You're you're doing some of the parkrun challenges. I think the one um London challenge. Um what inspired you what inspired you to um take that one on?

Speaker 1 29:11

So when I first started doing parkrun, um I was on social media and I I didn't know that there were more than one parkrun.

Speaker 29:21

Yeah.

Speaker 1 29:21

I was quite naive and I just thought that Lloyd Park was the only parkrun. Um and then I looked online and I saw that there was all these different events, and one guy in particular on social media who's actually become quite a good uh good friend of mine since, and you've had him, Catherine, on your podcast, Tom Sharp.

Speaker 29:43

He's fantastic.

Speaker 1 29:44

Yeah, he's amazing, he's a great, he's a great guy. Um I started seeing his videos on Instagram, yeah. And seeing that he was doing this thing called the LonDone Challenge. So I contacted Tom and I said, Hey, look, I really want to I really want to do this. Um, how do you get started? And he said, Oh, you know, you just go to every event that's in London, 66 of them, you just tick them off one week at a time. And I'm on number 24 now.

Speaker 30:13

Fantastic.

Speaker 1 30:14

Yeah. I love it because I've realised, and I've said this to Tom and other people who I've learned who I've met from Parkrun, no parkrun is the same.

Speaker 30:24

Yeah.

Speaker 1 30:25

There are so many different parks that do this amazing thing that we go to every Saturday morning. And some of them are traily, some are are paths, some are hilly, some of them are flat. You meet new people, there's different communities there. Yes, I'm doing it to do the challenge, but you know, I'm enjoying every part of the journey as well.

Speaker 30:46

Well, it's it it's also nice to have um a goal.

Speaker 1 30:50

Yeah.

Speaker 30:50

And you know, it keeps you it keeps you moving forward. I think this is a nice extra dimension to to parkrun for you. And yeah, it's it's it's lovely to hear that you're still setting yourself those goals. Because you've one other goal, if I'm um correct, and there is a little London marathon dream that is forming in your mind. So just quickly tell us about that if you would.

Speaker 1 31:15

The London Marathon is not the final goal for me, but it's the long-term goal, definitely.

Speaker 31:20

Yeah.

Speaker 1 31:21

And it's it's something that I'm manifesting in my head that I'm going to be doing in 2027.

Speaker 31:28

It will happen.

Speaker 1 31:29

It will happen. Um I've already put my name in the ballot. I've contacted five different charities now to uh to take a place with them in case the ballot's unsuccessful. Like it's going to happen. And I'm not going to go all out, but I'm not expecting ridiculous results. But I just finished to say that I've done the London Marathon. Um, that guy who went to the GP and got told you're not going to make 40 if you don't make some drastic changes. Um, and going from 28 stone to now currently being 17 and a half stone, it feels like that's what I need to do to give myself the um I'm not quite sure what what the word is I'm looking for, Catherine, but the um self-congratulations, but also, you know, to say to myself, you did it.

Speaker 32:21

Yeah. It's it's it's about celebrating your own ability to take control, to set a goal, and to actually make things happen. That's such an important discipline. And there's so it's such a rewarding feeling when you set a goal and you achieve a goal. So I have no doubt listening to you, Chaarlee, and all of the things you've accomplished in what is a relatively short period of time, that you will find a way to deliver on that, on that goal. So um, yeah, the best of luck with getting um selected in the in the ballot as well. So we're coming towards the end of our conversation, and I would love you to offer some words of encouragement to somebody who's listening who might say, I could never be a runner.

Speaker 1 33:08

Yes, you can, without without a shadow of a doubt. Put those shoes on, go out, and even if you go out for a walk to begin with, I've been there. You go for your first run and you think everyone's looking at you. I can guarantee you now, no one cares. No one's looking at you. Just keep doing what you're doing, and you know what? More than anything, people probably are saying, good on you. Look at that person trying to change and make themselves better. Exactly.

Speaker 33:36

And and park run can be a very powerful starting point, even if you are at that stage where you're not ready to start running. Go there and walk. Um, because there's plenty of people who go on a Saturday morning and walk rather than run. And some of them end up running, some end up volunteering, some stay r walking. Whatever takes, I personally think that you won't regret making parkrun a weekend stop for yourself and and and get in, get into a very positive, healthy lifestyle that way.

Speaker 1 34:08

Couldn't agree more.

Speaker 34:09

So a quick fire round, um, which is light and fun. What's your favourite park run so far?

Speaker 1 34:14

You know what? There's been so many different parks that I've really enjoyed, but I think my favourite one, I've got a soft spot for it because I've done quite a lot of races there. I've achieved some really good PBs for myself, and that's made some great friends and memories. My favourite's Battersea Park.

Speaker 34:32

Yeah, and that's a busy, it's a busy one. Has a has a lot of PBs there.

Speaker 1 34:36

Yes.

Speaker 34:36

Um, do you have a favourite post-park run treat?

Speaker 1 34:39

Well yeah, if it's if it's winter, it will be a caramel flat white.

Speaker 34:44

Nice.

Speaker 1 34:45

In the summer, it will be an ice latte, definitely.

Speaker 34:49

Fantastic. And what's the um one thing that you can't run without?

Speaker 1 34:55

Music.

Speaker 34:55

Music. What's your favourite track to run to?

Speaker 1 34:58

Cinderella Man by Eminem.

Speaker 35:00

Okay. And finally, do you have a bucketlist park run destination?

Speaker 1 35:06

Actually looking at going to one in Great Yarmouth. I can't remember the name of it exactly, but it's meant to be the toughest park run in the country. It's really it's purely on sand. That is very hard. It's meant to be incredibly difficult, but it's something that intrigues me. Apart from that, um I I've recently ticked it off Bushy Park, and I'm definitely looking at going back there because I've got some unfinished business there. Um lovely. But yeah, it yeah, Bushy Park and Great Yarmouth.

Speaker 35:39

Fantastic. Um, Chaarlee, it has been a real pleasure hearing your story. Commend you and thank you for the honest sharing of you know your former reality and how you have gone about transforming all of the struggles you had. You found a way through walking, then running. You are now a true convert to Parkrun. It's been it's been really joyful hearing about how you've got so much great support from family and friends. Dan, kudos to you for taking him to the backyard ultra. And the very, very best of luck in everything that you take on, Charlie, and especially in securing your place at the London Marathon. Charlie Jay, thank you very much for joining me on Parkrunners Podcast.

Speaker 1 36:30

Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure. Cheers.

Speaker 36:32

Thanks for joining us on the Parkrunners Podcast. I'm Catherine Stenson, and I love sharing stories from our amazing Parkrun community. So if today's conversation has inspired you, why not share it with a friend? Or better still, bring them along to your next parkrun. Now, don't forget to hit follow so you never miss a new parkrun story. Until next time, keep moving, keep smiling, and I'll see you at the start line.