Tag: club

Meet MATT DAVIS

About Matt

• Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Queensland.
• Physics Lecturer to undergraduate students, and researcher in Quantum Physics.
• In 2015 I was fortunate to spend 12 months on sabbatical at the University of Colorado in Boulder where I got to spend 100% of my time on research.
• intraining Club Member since 2013

intraining Running  Groups

• Tuesday Speed:  Indooroopilly
• Thursday Threshold:  Indooroopilly

Matt works in an area called “ultracold quantum gases”.  “These can be realised experimentally by taking a small sample of pure atoms of a metal such as sodium or rubidium, and using lasers and magnetic fields to cool them down to a few billionths of a degree above absolute zero.  At such cold temperatures quantum physics takes over, and the gas can become a “superfluid” – it can flow without friction, and rotate only by forming vortices.  “My particular speciality is studying these systems driven away from equilibrium.”

This research has led Matt to be involved in two recently announced Australian “Centres of Excellence.”

“The Centre for Engineered Quantum Systems is trying to develop new ‘quantum technologies’ based on this sort of physics for precision sensing and building new types of devices.  “The Centre for Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies is trying to develop devices using these ideas that use minimal power – a significant amount of the world’s energy budget goes towards electronics.”

RUNNING FACTS ABOUT MATT

Favourite Race / Distance

parkrun! I do like the 10km distance though.

What running experiences did you have while living in Boulder for 12 months?

I discovered that I really enjoyed running in the snow!  With the right layering it is beautiful on a crisp, cool morning.

What is it that you enjoy about the intraining community?

I really like the positivity and encouragement, regardless of natural ability.

How did you start running?

I found it hard to fit exercise in between work and family.  But I had a very large colleague at work who began running, and within 12 months was as skinny as a rake and was running marathons in close to three hours.  A second colleague from Germany is even busier than me – but when he came to visit me for a month, I discovered that he was still fitting in time to train for a half marathon.  I decided that if those guys could make the time, then I could too, and started running on my own one or twice a week.

I was cajoled by friends into entering the Bridge to Brisbane in 2012, and really enjoyed it. I did it again the next year after qualifying for the “red zone” and had such a good time I decided I would start training more regularly for a half marathon. I met Stephen Walmsley by chance at the Rocks Riverside parkrun trial run, and he encouraged me to come along to an intraining session.

What do you do to relax?

Running has been the very best thing I have found for relaxation!

Personal Best’s (PB’s)

• 5km: 20:19
• 10km: 43:47
• Half: 1:35:19
• Marathon: I have yet to develop the urge to train for a marathon

Keen to meet other intraining club members?

Click here to meet more members.

Ready to join the club or want to find out more?

Meet SIMON SAUER

About Simon

• CEO, Mates4Mates
• Previous RAAF Serviceman of 26 years: Group Captain, Chief of Staff, Combat Support Group RAAF, Amberley
• intraining Club Member since 2006

intraining Running Groups

• Tuesday Speed: Indooroopilly
• Thursday Threshold:  Indooroopilly
• Coach:  Relief intraining coach Tuesday speed and Sunday long runs

Simon has been instrumental in the growth of Mates4Mates locally and last year the opening of a larger center in Milton that include a gym and easier access to public transport for members.   Mates4Mates is a not for profit charity that provides physical and psychological support to current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (and their families) who have been wounded, injured or ill as a result of their service.

Mates4Mates was initiated by RSL QLD Branch in late 2012 and officially opened in March 2013.  “We started with one Family Recovery Centre (FRC) in Albion in Brisbane in March 2013, and then opened an FRC in Townsville and Hobart in 2014.”

This April, Simon is walking the Kokoda Trail with his 15 year old son, Aidan, and a team who were initially inspired by the Mates4Mates initiative.

RUNNING FACTS ABOUT SIMON

“Prior to commencing with intraining my running was limited to 5km bursts with the very odd 10km.  Interestingly, now I am very reluctant to get out of bed for anything under 10 to 15 km.”

Favourite Race / Distance

• Half and Full Marathons
• Melbourne Marathon is my favourite course (PB 3 hr 49 Min 30 Sec)
• Great Ocean Road is up there, running socially with a fantastic bunch of intraining people in 2015.

What inspired you to start running

I have always been physically active and played Rugby League and Surf Life Saving.  When I joined the Military, running was the basis for most fitness training.  I got to a position in the Military that meant it became harder to train and thus I needed more goals, to help me remain motivated.  Physical training has always been my “out”- stress relief, coping mechanism.  In 2006, I thought I would give Linda Watson’s group a go, and I am still there.

What is it that you enjoy about the intraining community?

The people – intraining attracts quality people and a range of abilities.  This means that no matter how fast or slow you are, or what your goal race is, you will always be able to find somebody to train with.  The people are easy going, normal people. It is all about running for enjoyment and helping each other.  We may focus on PBs from time to time, but the vast majority of us are not elite – so the PB is about goal setting as opposed to a life fixation.  I can honestly say that some of my best friends are my intraining running buddies.

What other interests do you have outside work & running?

Like most parents my primary focus away from work and running is my family, wife Nicole and children Aiden and Grace.  Both kids are in High School and active with sport – so that keeps Nicole and I busy. I try and do a couple of Hot Yoga classes each week, which helps me to keep running as I have had some lower back issues in the past. I am also a rugby tragic, so whilst I am too old and broken to play anymore, I like to watch as much rugby as I can.

Keen to meet other intraining club members?

Click here to meet more members.

Ready to join the club or want to find out more?

Meet KEIRAN GILMORE

About me

• Registered Nurse at The Wesley Hospital
• intraining Club Committee Member
• Netball Coach Rangers Netball Club, Graceville
• intraining Club Member since 2009

intraining Running Groups

• Tuesday Speed:  Indooroopilly
• Thursday Threshold:  Indooroopilly

In 2016, Keiran was awarded the intraining Running & Triathlon Club’s President Trophy and also the Encouragement Award for the Indooroopilly Tuesday morning speed group.  Keiran contributes an enormous amount of time and energy into club activities and she has been instrumental in securing grants from a highly competitive pool of applicants for the intraining club to purchase much needed tents for 2017.
The encouragement award was given largely due to her tenacity and commitment to her and her daughter’s running.

In 2016, Keiran and her daughter Emily encouraged and challenged each other to set new goal

s over distances new to them both.  Keiran raced from 1500m on the track to the marathon. She has also gained her Level 1 Middle distance running coach qualification and helps at times at both the intraining kids training and Tuesday speed training.

“I joined intraining in 2009 and started with the Marathon School in order to complete my first half Marathon. I heard the people say that they were training for the marathon and thought I would never do that. The following year I found myself at the launch of Marathon School to do it all again for my first marathon.

My favourite days are race days when you try and achieve your goal but more importantly share in the successes of our friends. I call Gold Coast Marathon day ‘Runner’s Christmas’.”

Running Facts about Keiran

Favourite Race?

The marathon but I do like half marathons as well. I am not a fan of 10k races!!

What inspired you to start running?

Young children can be very stressful. One night after a long day with a baby and a toddler, I decided to get out of the house when my husband came home.

He asked where I was going and I said I was going for a walk. I ended up doing a run/walk and decided it was a good way to deal with the stresses of a young family. Soon after I decided I wanted to see what I could achieve. It is now something I enjoy doing with my children. I love watching them trying to achieve their goals.

What is it that you enjoy about the intraining community?

The people and the team spirit is what I enjoy with the club. For an individual sport, I very much rely on the team. I don’t know if I would do the training without all those people to talk to and get me through long runs.  These people who started as with a common interest have become great friends and a part of my running family.

What other interests do you have outside work & running?

I have two daughters who enjoy sport. They are both into netball so I help coach their teams and we support The Queensland Firebirds.

What do you do to relax?

I like to hang out with the family and the dog.

Personal Bests (PB’s)

• 5km: 22.10
• 10km: 44.44
• Half Marathon: 1.39.53
• Marathon: 3.34.30 (Melbourne)

Keen to meet other intraining club members?

Click here to meet more members.

Ready to join the club or want to find out more?