What happens when an ordinary Saturday morning at parkrun suddenly becomes a matter of life and death?

Dr Wendy White is an NHS GP, passionate Bushy parkrunner and self-confessed former non-runner who once hid in the bushes during school cross-country.

Today, she has more than 300 parkruns behind her, has completed a 54K ultramarathon and describes parkrun as her “church”.

But in 2022, Wendy was waiting among around 1,500 people for Bushy parkrun to start when a man arriving on his bike suddenly collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.

Wendy and a small group of fellow medics stepped in. A defibrillator was rushed through the crowd. He was shocked more than once — and survived.

Wendy was subsequently recognised with the Spirit of parkrun award, although she's characteristically quick to credit the whole team who helped save his life that morning.

In this warm, funny and refreshingly candid conversation, Wendy joins Catherine to talk about:

• Her journey from hiding during school cross-country to 300+ parkruns and an ultramarathon
• The extraordinary morning a fellow parkrunner's life was saved at Bushy
• Why she believes parkrun is an enormously powerful public-health tool
• Why nervous first-timers don't even need to run or walk — they can simply turn up and watch
• Her own experience of movement and weight loss
• Midlife and women's health, and why there's really no such thing as an “average patient”
• Why Saturday morning parkrun has become her “church”
• And why she describes parkrun as “possibly the only useful addiction I can think of.”

From medicine and midlife to movement, community and the extraordinary things that can happen in a park on a Saturday morning, this is an uplifting conversation about just how far the impact of parkrun can reach.

🎧 The Parkrunners Podcast —> stories from the people who make parkrun much more than a 5K.

Send us Fan Mail

Thank 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!