Runner Profile: Chris Boyt
Firstly, I’d like to thank Sarah for the nomination. I think I remember talking to Sarah about her nomination at the awards night, maybe I should have kept quiet!
Early Years:
As a child I was very sporty, I enjoyed taking part and watching all types of sport. But from an early age my main passion was football. I started playing for Trimley Red Devils at under 8’s I think. Back then I was actually playing in a team the year above I should have been as it was run by a family friend. This meant a lot of the time I was substitute but I still occasionally got on the pitch, although most of the other boys were bigger than me. By under 11’s I had moved to the correct age group and was playing more regularly. I was a bit of a utility player, never really excelling in one position, sort of James Milner like.
I must admit that when I was thinking about what to write for my profile, I thought that it would solely be about football for my school days. But while looking though my album of childhood certificates I realised that I also took part in quite a lot of athletics events too. At Primary school age that included doing the AAA pentathlete award and representing my school, Langer primary in Felixstowe, at the Suffolk Schools Southern Area athletics meet. I also went to Cub Scouts from age 8 to 11 which included some athletics inter-pack events. Although the events could often be a bit different to the norm such as obstacle race, potato race and cricket ball throwing. I have certificates for all of these!?!
Secondary School:
Moving up to Deben High school it was still mainly football that filled my time. During the summer term I would play for the school cricket team. As much as anything this was for the occasional afternoon off school when we used to go and play games at Woolverstone or Royal Hospital school. We weren’t that good though so would normally get smashed by the boarding schools. Also, in the summer holidays I would normally attend football fun weeks at the other high school in Felixstowe. But on one occasion I actually won a 2-day Bobby Charlton coaching course on Anglia TV. I remember it was for naming goal scorers from the recent Mexico ’86 World Cup. I was obviously thrilled to be one of the winners, but it was slightly tempered by the fact that my name came up on screen as Chris Boy! I had to travel to Norwich as well.
During my 2nd year at Deben I remember taking part in the school cross country championships, which involved running round the outside of Eastwood Hoe, though the Grove wood and up the slope back on to the sports pitches. I came 3rd which I was very pleased with. This actually led on to representing the school at a couple of cross-country races. I think one was at Chantry Park and the other possibly out of county. My memory is a bit vague though, but I know I didn’t win any medals.
In the 3rd year I represented the school in my first marathon, a race held on the track at Northgate sports centre. Ok, it was a marathon relay and I don’t remember how many were in the team or how we did but I competed.
Moving through my teens I started to have some issues with my right knee. The knee would lock at an angle of say 30 to 45 degrees. It sometimes just happened if I’d twitched, moved it quickly or if I twisted it. I remember going to Felixstowe General and a doctor saying that it was possibly growing pains, gristle under the kneecap or such and that physio would help. As always you start physio with the best intentions but don’t always carry on when you should. The knee was feeling better, so I carried on as usual, playing football for Trimley and taking part in sports at school. The knee still occasionally locked but I had discovered a way of unlocking it. I would lay down on my back and roll over sideways and all was then fine. I could carry on what I was doing without any problems. This actually happened on 4th year sports day (year 10 to our younger members). My knee locked, I rolled out of it then went on to win the 1500m, all in the space of an hour or so.
By 5th year I had changed football teams and was now playing for Walton Wasps. I remember a cup game we played out in Welwyn Garden City when the knee locked during the match. I did the usual roll out technique and was fine afterwards, but I do remember the referee saying that it sounded like cartilage problems to him. We’ll come back to this later!
During A-levels sport took a backward step. I wasn’t playing football anymore and PE wasn’t on the curriculum.
Adult Life:
Into my adulthood my sporting activity changed. It was more about parlour games such as darts, pool and snooker. i.e. ‘sports’ that you could do while having a pint.
But after a few years I was missing the regular sports competition. So, at the age of 23 I started playing football again. A friend was playing Sunday morning football for a Felixstowe Customs team, so I joined as well. Fast forward 5 years to early 2002 and out of the blue my right knee played up again. While training at Rushmere sports centre it locked and rolling out of it didn’t work this time. I gingerly drove home and went up to A&E the next morning. The hospital sent me home to see if it would straighten in time and asked me to return in 2 weeks I think. When I went back it was a little straighter, but I still couldn’t do much with it. The doctor I saw was going to send me away again but fortunately the consultant then said they’d have me in and do keyhole surgery on the knee. What they found was a bucket handle tear of my cartilage and they had to remove some cartilage, it couldn’t be fused back. After the operation I had a lot of physio at the hospital and by September I was ready to re-join the football team.
I then continued playing football on Sunday mornings. Over the next few years my knee would still occasionally lock and I would have to forcibly straighten it as the roll technique didn’t work anymore. Once I reached the age of 35 I decided every week playing football was too much so I joined a Vets team. This meant a game every 2 or 3 weeks. Much better for recovering from aching limbs and knocks.
Fast forward to summer 2018 and I had been playing Vets football for 9 years. The knee still occasionally played up and I had been back to the physio a couple of times. I remember them saying that I needed to strengthen the muscles around the knee to give it more support. I’ve never been someone who does gyms but they did say that running would help. So, to help the knee and keep fit during the summer I started running. I was the ripe old age of 44; you’re never too old to start. It was just a regular 5km loop near my house in Walton that included some farm track but I really started to enjoy it. I carried on running and increasing the distances while I also played Vets football as well the following season. This would end up being my last proper season playing football as the running started to take over. In May 2019 I did my first half marathon distance run. I think since then I’ve done at least one every month. Another friend had seen on Strava that I’d been doing these runs so she suggested I should enter a race. So, I entered the GER to be run in September.
The day of my first ever race was a glorious, hot and sunny day in September. Training had just been me doing my usual runs etc, nothing like intervals or anything. I went off too fast and got a stitch, then had the joys of Freston Hill. Coming back along Wherstead Road was a struggle. I had no idea when it comes to gels or particularly hydration so when I got back into town I remember seeing Katherine Aykroyd by Cardinal Park but once I went round by the court house I remember nothing. The next thing I remember was being walked down Portman Road by someone then a buggy coming and picking me up to take me to the recovery area under the stands next to the finish line. I got some congratulations on Strava as it looked like I had done the full distance, but I hadn’t actually done the loop round by the KFC. Anyhow, a friend saw this and said why didn’t I join him in running the Great Welsh Marathon in Llanelli in April 2020. So, to get over the disappointment of the GER I entered. I printed out a training plan to go by and started testing gels. As part of the training plan I also entered the Cambridge Half Marathon. March 8th saw me complete my first race in Cambridge with a time of 1:34:04. I think there were 12000 entrants even with what was about to happen. Obviously, two weeks later everything locked down and my marathon was postponed.
FRR:
During the summer of 2020 I continued running, going out and getting some fresh air after being couped up so much. Although we always went in where I worked. I knew Tom & Katherine Aykroyd as their son was in the same class as my son James. I knew that Tom was a runner and a member of FRR so asked him about joining up. He said as soon as I was allowed, he’d let me know.
October 6th 2020 was my first FRR session. I went along with some trepidation as I only knew a couple of members, Tom and Jonni G. But I needn’t have worried as everybody made me feel really welcome. Special thanks must go to Ian Duggan as I remember he was particularly helpful and encouraging on that first evening.
As COVID was still having an effect my Welsh marathon was postponed again in the October and subsequently postponed again in April 2021. Therefore, I decided to do it virtually as I didn’t want to continually keep starting training plans. From Walton I ran to Ipswich, on to Kesgrave and back the way I had come. Cramp set in at about mile 20 but I managed to complete it in a time of 3:38:16. I was wearing an FRR vest but I don’t class this as my first race with FRR. After this marathon I quickly entered the real Boston marathon to be raced on May 31st. This was my first true race in an FRR vest. I managed to go round on what was a hot, sunny day in a very pleasing 3:24:56. A PB that still stands after 2 more attempts.
Since that day I’ve entered a few races and been proud to wear my FRR vest. They include Tarpley 20, Cambridge HM again, Ipswich HM, Stowmarket 7, Stowmarket HM, Capel 5, Framlingham 10km, Stephen Williams 10km, Hadleigh 10, Ekiden, RNR, Great Bentley HM, Bungay marathon and recently Manchester marathon. I’ve also managed to do at least 2 XC each season.
Since I’ve been a member of FRR I’ve not raced any of our races yet but marshalled at both Coastal 10 and Martlesham 7 last year. I will enter at some stage but I enjoy helping out on these days. I’m due to be helping with the Kirton 5 too.
Favourite Races:
As my number of races is pretty small I’m still finding out which ones I like best.
I have a particular affection for Cambridge as James was born at Addenbrookes. I also used to go there regularly as had friends that lived there. The beer festival on Jesus Green was always good, although I would be drinking the proper ciders.
I’ve also really enjoyed Tarpley 20 and taking part in the Ekiden last year. Maybe that was because of the team aspect of it and my former life being a member of football teams. Saying that though, every race I’ve done in an FRR vest has felt like a team event. The encouragement and camaraderie have been brilliant.
I must say that one of my favourite races was one that I didn’t race in. I marshalled the Coastal 10 with the wonderful Linda Dorset; any nerves I had about doing it were soon gone.
Going forward:
My main goal going forward is to continue getting out running and enjoying it. Obviously being a competitive sort, I’d like to get PBs but I realise as time goes by and old father time knocks that might not be so easy. The one PB I would like to improve is my 10km time. I’d love to go sub 40 so hopefully another go at the Stephen Williams 10km on May 7th will come up trumps.
Closing words
Before I go, and I realise that this has been long, I’d like to thank all members of FRR for their help and encouragement since I joined in 2020. Everybody has been so friendly and welcoming. Thanks to Tom for letting me know when I could attend the training sessions. Thanks also go to my regular training partner Ozzy. We’ve managed to get each other out when maybe we didn’t want to and on many occasions put the world to rights during our LSR.
Next month’s nominee:
For next month I would like to nominate one of my fellow Manchester marathon runners…. The lovely Jane Moon.
