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 timewhy walking is one of the most underrated health tools we havethe importance of recovery and sustainable progresswhy mental fitness matters just as much as physical fitnesshow social prescribing (including parkrun) could shape the future of healthcareand why action-focused support can be especially powerful for men’s mental healthIf 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 Send us a text 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!
