My next door neighbour grew up in the bush and he's a real man's man.

The poor guy didn't know what to think when I greeted him with ''Hi Gav'' as I just continued mowing.

I work as a middle-aged Chartered Accountant. Which would probably make me the most boring person in the group. There is some pop- psychology about however that says runners are subconsciously running away from their lives. Maybe I was meant to be a Geologist after all (Which really would make me the most boring person). I live in Coorparoo. I have lived in Brisbane since 1988 and joined the Pat Carroll running group in March 2004.

My favourite restaurant is The Mughal Palace Indian restaurant in Mt Gravatt.

My earliest childhood memory is running away from my older brother.

Being an adult means I don’t have to run away from my brother as much as I used to. Besides, he wouldn’t catch me anymore.

My favourite movie is “The Mission”. It was around for about a second in the mid-eighties and had a great sound track. Can’t even get it on video any more.

Brisbane City is a great place to live, raise a family and run because we have everything we need and can still live a relaxed life-style.

My regular holiday destination is New York (Sorry – just showing off now. It’s the geologist coming out in me)

If money was no option I would get a map showing all the world’s deserts and see how many of them I could visit/explore.

It frustrates me when I meet people with no sense of curiosity.

I have been involved in running sincemy early twenties (although I have had a few long “rest days”) and my most memorable running experience is running at the Gold Coast with PC and breaking 3hrs in my first marathon.

I enjoy distance running because it means I don’t have to be a geologist. (We don’t know any geologists do we Pat?)

My favourite run is Southbank/Kangaroo Pt/New Farm. Brisbane really is a great place to run. I am looking forward to The Green Bridge being opened.

Motivation is something that comes with the emails every week sorting out who is meeting whom for why. Running around Brisbane with like-minded folk is about as good as it gets.

Injuries are a serious issue for those of us with a pathological need to keep doing the things which get in the way of a reasonable recovery. It’s is the sort of thing which sets PCRG members apart from the great unwashed – much to our detriment at times.

Seeing my brothers at New Year 2000/01 was a turning point in my life because they encouraged me to take up running again after a ten year lay off. They had just ridden their push bikes from Canberra to The Blue Mountains to see me and my family.

The Pat Carroll running group is a bunch of very strange folk with an odd addiction to putting their bodies on the edge. Makes them very likeable people.

I prefer running in daylight because it helps to avoid the rabbit holes.

Running is only difficult if you don’t embrace it as a way of life.

The best advice PC gave me was “We’ll see”. It was the first time I met him and I had just gone to some effort to explain that I was a broken-down hack well past my prime and that I would never again run under 82 minutes for a half- marathon.

Taking up running again inspires me to be involved in all sorts of life’s activities which can easily be set aside if we choose to disengage. I spent a great week walking with Heather in NZ earlier in the year. I will never regret meeting Mark Jones. He said: “come and run with the Pat Carroll mob”.

The Brisbane Running Buddies and the Regatta Runners are running from The Regatta Hotel this Saturday (7th Jan). A few are starting at 4.30am and doing a 30k river loop. The rest are starting at 6am running varying distances from around 8k up to about 25k - some are doing a flat run and others are running over Mt Coot-tha.

Brekky/coffee afterwards at The Regatta. All welcome!

Contact tfabian@bigpond.net.au if further details are required.

This limited edition wall calendar features public holidays and dates of major race in Australia and NZ, as well useful websites.

You can receive the 2006 Runner's World calendar for only $18.00 (plus $2.00 P/H) giving yourself motivation and inspiration the whole year through.

3 WEEKS TO GO

You can obtain an entry form from me at training.

I managed to get a good deal on some Mizuno clothing so I am happy to reduce the usual cost of the singlets etc.

If purchased at training:

Singlets $35, T Shirts/Crop Tops and Bra Tops $40

I also have some men’s running shorts in M/L & XL at a cost of $25

You are welcome to take any item home to try before you buy.

This could be your first major challenge in 2006.

Thank you to pb sports nutriton for your ongoing support in providing product which is used at the group sessions.

Make sure you visit INTRAINING @ Milton for all your running needs.

INTRAINING kindly sponsors our ''Athlete of the Month'' prize.