In preparation for running the Kentucky Derby Festival Half Marathon in April, Phil enrolled in two Indianapolis training races. The first of these was held on Saturday March 4th 2006 at the Indiana State Museum. The course was flat and fast, but the temperature on the start line had only managed to climb to 20 degrees F (-7 C). Phil was one of the few runners to attempt the 6.2 mile course in shorts, with many of the other 20,000 runners adopting more suitable attire.

The starter's pistol fired at 08.15 and the throng of

runners departed from the Indiana State Museum entrance

to the tune of Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" blasting

out of the PA. Thanks to the cooperation of the police

department, the majority of the race was run on the wide

three lane roads that had been closed for the morning.

The route followed Washington Street for a while, before

cutting through the grounds of the Indianapolis Zoo, then

turned to follow the banks of the White River. After

crossing the river, the route meandered back towards the

downtown area, with the finish line at the Museum.

Spurred on by the desire to keep warm and the enthusiasm of the pretty girls at the feeding stations, Phil ran into the record books with a personal best time of 44:42, around 7 mins 12 seconds per mile, and more than 2 minutes ahead of his previous fastest time at this distance in England.