The PCRG Christmas run will take place on Thursday Dec 21. Please feel free to come dressed with the Christmas spirit in mind.

The Christmas run will finish at the South Bank pool and Intraining will be kindly providing breakfast.

If you wish to take part in the secret santa (no obligation) please bring a non gender specific gift no more than $10 in value.

You family is welcome and if you are bringing your kids please make sure they are armed with water pistols to help cool us down.

I work as an IT Consultant for Oracle, basically that means pretending to know stuff about computer systems, and helping companies make less mistakes with them. I have lived in Brisbane since 2004. I’m originally from the UK, but spent 3 wonderful years living, working and skiing in Denver, USA.

My favourite restaurant is anywhere I can use my 2-for-1 Gold Card pass.

My earliest childhood memory is being bitten on the head by a big dog when I was three years old. Ever since then, I’ve been wary of big dogs, especially when running in parks where (for some reason) I always seem to get chased by them.

I don’t really like being an adult ask my kids, they are more sensible than me. Basically, I’m probably too serious at work and too childish at home!

My favourite movies are Titanic (for reasons I’m not sure) and Pulp Fiction.

Brisbane City is the perfect place to live because once you’ve experienced the weather in England; Brisbane is like paradise. I’ve lived and worked in over 30 cities across the world, and Brisbane is truly one of the most beautiful and comfortable places to live.

My regular holiday destination is “Australia” because every time I look at the map there is another awesome place to go see, i.e. Straddie, Fraser, Moreton Island, Hinterland, Whitsunday’s. This list is endless.

If money was no option I would rent a yacht in the Whitsunday’s, then fly all my family down from the UK and spend the next month cruising around. I’d then get a massive guilt attack, and fly us all to Africa and spend a year trying to make a difference to other people’s lives.

It frustrates me when I get injured and I must be the worst person to live with when I can’t run. I’m not particularly religious, but I truly believe that injuries are sent to challenge our inner strength. Although I hate being injured (which has been for most of this year), there is no better feeling in the world than coming back and running “free” after being out for a few months.

I have been involved in running since 2001, when I decided that I’d better get my life in shape and give my kids a father to look up to.

My most memorable running experience was completing my first 10k in the Bolder-Boulder (Colorado) and finishing inside this huge football stadium with 20,000 people cheering me on. My time was 59:45, and I’ve been trying to get under 50:00 for the last 5 years. But I know with the help of PCRG, I’m going to smash that target.

I enjoy distance running because it’s the ultimate personal challenge. To a sane person, it’s seems like madness to run around until it hurts, then do it again and again!. But to me, it’s about setting personal goals, then convincing your body its not too old to achieve them!.

My favourite run is Daisy Hill park, or along the beach front between Currumbin and Coolangatta.

Motivation is something that my brain has heaps of, but my body can’t always follow!! It’s a little sad, but most things in my life seem to be target driven, i.e. leaving the house by a certain time, finishing a project at work, the kids homework etc. So running for me is the ultimate motivator, because the goal is simple, and crystal clear, set yourself a time, then beat it. And as I didn’t start running until my late thirties, I know all my PBs are still in front of me!!

Injuries are something I have all the time, but I try and do a bit of running in between them!!

Finding a running machine in the basement at work was a turning point in my life because it made me realise that we all have the choice to sit around and get old and fat, or to see what we really can achieve.

PCRG is a highly motivated & positive group of individuals who inspire me every time I run.

I prefer running in my dreams because I can beat Sebastian Coe’s 800m old world record every time. Running is easy for the brain, but difficult for the body, but as the brain doesn’t feel pain so who cares about the body.

The best advice anyone gave me was “1 more”, I used to be a serious Olympic weightlifter when I was a school, and my coach would always be asking for “1 more” rep, even when I’d just done “1 more” the previous 3 times. What that disciple taught me about sport (and life in general) is no matter what your target is, you can always go that one step further

Many things inspire me, my wife, my kids, watching other people improve in Pat’s running group. Recently I read Lance Armstrong’s book “It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life”, now that’s inspirational to go from deaths door, to possibly the greatest athlete who ever lived! I don’t have any regrets in life. This old guy once told me that “Life’s a bitch, then you die”. I try my best make sure my life’s not like that.

Our final PCRG Friday Night drinks for the year is coming up on Friday 15th from 5:30pm at the Ship Inn. If you would like to attend please RSVP by emailing Matt at puntermatt@hotmail.com or SMS me at 0438685390. This ensures that we can reserve a table to cater for us comfortably.

These sessions usually attract 15-20 Group members for relaxing drinks and dinner after work. You might pop in for an hour on your way home and enjoy a quick drink or start the weekend in style with a nice meal.

Rest assured that I will start working on the 2007 social calendar in conjunction with Pat very soon!!

Hope to see you there!!

Matt Phillips

You can purchase online via c/c or eft.

Alternatively - see Susan @ training for a better deal!

The Adidas Sunglasses PCRG Summer Series is designed to:

• Provide group members with a focus during the summer period.
• Reward loyalty to PCRG.
• Provide sponsors a marketing opportunity and to ensure sponsors are acknowledged accordingly.

The 2007 Brisbane Running Groups 3k challenge will be held @ 6pm on Friday February 16.

All running groups will meet at The Ship Inn (South Bank) and the 3k challenge will take place in the Botanical Gardens. Presentations and drinks etc will be held @ The Ship Inn.

You can purchase your Adidas Sunglasses from INTRAINING.

Thank you Adidas Sunglasses for being a PCRG sponsor.

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

Thank you INTRAINING for being a PCRG sponsor.

Brisbane's own ''Majer recruitment'' was recently voted Australia’s favourite Generalist Small to Medium sized recruiter.

Majer competed against the nation’s top firms in the Seek Annual Recruitment Awards.

Thank you Majer Recruitment for being a PCRG sponsor.

The latest R4YL issue is out now!

Thank you R4YL for being a PCRG sponsor.

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

Thank you ''The Ship Inn'' for being a PCRG sponsor.

Intraining stock a full range of Mizuno shoes and apparel.

Thank you MIZUNO for being a PCRG sponsor.

Karla works from her home @ Morningside and is also willing to travel to you.

Thank you Karla for being a PCRG sponsor.

Jodie works from her home @ Morninside and is also willing to travel to you.

Thank you Jodie for being a PCRG sponsor.

Thank you Auscript for being a PCRG sponsor.

Thank you KPMG for being a PCRG sponsor.

Thank you Viridian Noosa Half Marathon for being a PCRG sponsor.

Thank you Sunshine Dry Cleaners for being a PCRG sponsor.

Option A:
For pick up call 3891 7007
Call Sunshine Dry Cleaners by 9am for same day service in the CBD.
Suburbs can be serviced but on a Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri depending upon the suburb.

Option B:
Drop your dry cleaning off @ Sunshine Dry Cleaners:
Wooloongabba: 74-76 Annerley Rd. 3891 7007
Yeronga: 427 Fairfield Rd. 3848 3775
Valley: Shop 7A, Valley Centre, Brunswick St. 3252 2395

If you fail to follow a sensible diet your body will not gain full benefit from all of those enjoyable and challenging runs and you won't recover as well as you possibly could.

Kerith Duncanson is an accredited dietician as well as a former International class runner. An online dietary assessment by Kerith may assist you to achieve your goal.

Kerith offers 20% off her advertised fees to any runners involved with me through online coaching or any runner who is a regular member of PCRG.

The Canberra Marathon is a first class event. Possibly you could make the Canberra Marathon your first major goal in 2007!