I work as a Systems Analyst for
OneSteel IS. I live in Camp Hill, have lived in
Brisbane since moving down from Townsville in 1986 and
joined PCRG in March 2006.
My favourite restaurant is probably
MacDonald’s. Having 3 young kids it is hard to find something
that better accommodates them. Even the finest steak/lobster
is no good if your child is running through the place taking
out fellow patrons.
My earliest childhood memory is
sticking a garfish in my older brother’s ear while he was
pulling other bait out of the fishing net. I remember his
reaction as surprisingly energetic. Why did I do it? It seemed
like a good fit.
Now that I am an adult and I have my
own kids I am learning to be respectful of my genetic
connection (and to be honest with my own childhood memories)
when they do and say things that they shouldn’t. Maybe they
will be good runners.
My favourite movie is The
Incredibles. I am still a kid at heart, but also having kids I
can empathise with the characters. What proud parent wouldn’t
want to have superhero children?
Brisbane City is just about perfect,
because of the climate mostly, but it’s the right size and
near to so many wonderful places.
My regular holiday destination is
Coolangatta. Easily pleased, but it too is just about perfect.
If money was no option I would have
no excuse for my sloppy attire, but seriously, I would love to
actively pursue alternatives to our reliance on fossil fuels
to make sure the planet is still beautiful for my kids, and
their kids.
It frustrates me when I get injured.
It is not necessarily the most frustrating thing in my life,
but cruel to the extent that running is the best way to get
free of your worries, and get your head right. Injuries
preclude this, and fitness dwindles, then coming back is
harder than ever. The race to get back to your best makes you
prone to further injury, a vicious cycle that has dominated my
running career.
I have been involved in running since
I was a kid who was teased for being fat so I started
doing laps of the estate. Someone who ran nearby invited me to
join Townsville Road Runners and I never looked back. I have
been running on and off ever since (too much of the latter)
and my most memorable running experience is a 20 year
ghost (80min half Marathon when I was 15). I plan to update
this entry before too long. It is getting harder to remember
every year.
I enjoy distance running because it
is such a natural high. It is a battle every time I run, but I
know that while I’m still running, I’m putting distance
between myself and that fat person I used to be.
My favourite run is along the beach
at dawn, from Coolangatta up to Elephant Rock and back, then
finishing off with a swim in the surf. I love running with
others, but sometimes you just have to run alone.
Motivation is something you can find
anywhere. I was over 105kg 2 years ago, and told my ENT
specialist (and anyone who’d listen) that I wanted to do the
Noosa Triathlon again (last time 1991). He basically told me
to forget that dream. I thought of his words every morning I
got up to train, and as I struggled to get to the finish last
year I thought of every person who had an opinion encouraging
or otherwise. Prove the knockers wrong, and take strength from
those who were supportive.
Injuries are my greatest obstacle.
The worst thing is, that they are mostly avoidable.
Two years ago I lost 20kg. It was a
turning point in my life because otherwise I fear what
would have happened to me. I never really stopped running, but
changing my diet and my priorities allowed me to turn the
corner, and run more consistently (more often). It was finally
listening to professional (dietician’s) advice that made the
difference. And now I don’t stop breathing in my sleep
anymore.
PCRG came as a huge surprise to me.
I had always thought that I would never find another group
like the old Townsville Road Runners. Brisbane had
consistently shown me that people don’t care as much in the
“big smoke”, but the PCRG is a credit to Brisbane and Pat
himself. From day one, I felt like I was running with friends.
I prefer running in a friendly group
because there is enough to worry about without having to feel
anxious about other people.
Running is quite difficult
with 3 young kids, and being a triathlete, and having 2 other
disciplines (cycling / swimming) to fit in makes a big ask on
the whole family. It means a lot of sacrifices, so a
supportive group is a huge benefit.
The best advice my father gave me
was to “not put off ‘till tomorrow, that which you can do
today”. It is easy to miss a run, roll over in bed and promise
yourself that you will make it up tonight/tomorrow, etc. You
know in your heart, that you have already broken too many
promises, and it gets easier every time. Grit your teeth and
do it, it only takes a moment to push through. Another gem of
wisdom, this one from an old boss who never told me anything
else worthwhile: “The important things in life are often not
urgent, and the urgent ones are often not important”. Your
health and fitness is important, but not necessarily urgent
until it is a threat. Make it a priority.
What inspires me is often something
that is not inspirational on its own, but something that you
relate to at the time. An action or gesture, a story, or a
song that says the right word with the right emotion can make
the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. It’s about
relating to the situation. I admire and watch in awe at the
brilliance of our best athletes, but it is hard to translate
it to my own performances. My peers are my best yardstick. A
team will usually fire up collectively. Go team!
I will admit to some regret for the years I lost to
procrastination, self-doubt and stubborn disbelief that I
would ever get fit again. It seems to be taboo to admit to any
regret, so to keep it positive, I’ll admit to yet
another taboo, a sense of pride for getting through it all.
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