Runner Profile – Chris Green

I would firstly like to thank Ben for the nomination. I must say, including Ben‘s there are some really inspiring running profiles here. I therefore hope mine isn’t too dull!

The Early Years:

I have always been an outdoors person from a very young age often playing in the garden for many hours. I suppose like most people I have been running from a young age without realising. Starting off going to the playground.

As I got older this progressed to the playground at Primary School. My best memories were playing games like: stuck in the mud, IT and block 40-40 (manhunt) during break times.

During the summer holidays myself and a few other mates (along with our Mums) would often go to Rendlesham Forest for a good run around and walk, including the big bird, for those that remember it!

I would say I was a pretty quick runner although not for long distances!

During the later years of Primary School we would all go swimming once a week at Deben Pool.  I would also go once a week with Dad. Like now, I was never that quick but got the job done.

Apart from PE lessons which I would often enjoy, I was never really that competitive or interested in other sports, both in or out of school. I was often put off by others who were a lot better and more confident.

At the very end of Primary School in summer 2007, I have memories of winning the 100m race. I put it down to being quite tall at this point and no one else wanting to take part in that event!

High School Years: 2007-2012

September 2007 was when I started at Kesgrave High School. For the first few months a few of us would carry on playing our Primary School playground games but this fizzled out due to a number of factors including age, school work and the fact we could stay in our form rooms during lunch times.

I continued to cycle to and from school each day and go for a walk each sunday morning. I did, however, stop swimming.

The only other physical activity I would get was from PE lessons 1-2 times a week.  We covered a variety of sports modules including gymnastics, football and rugby, which was my least favourite. I have memories of standing in a cold field about to be flattened like a pancake! This was around the same time as the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Apart from this the other sport modules were a bit easier, these included rounders, badminton and dodge ball. During our later years of high school we would be allowed in the woods to play games of tag, which involved quite a bit of running!

From 2008-2011 the whole school, (years 7-10) would take part in sports day. The sports activities available would all be divided up between year groups and families to gain points throughout the year, a little like Harry Potter. However the best sports activities would often get taken pretty quickly. This could potentially allow for a good portion of the day to sit on the field not doing anything.

There was one activity we would all have to take part in. This was the millennium mile! Like our track sessions we would have to run round the sprayed on sports track 4 times to make up a mile.

By sports day 2011 I was at my most unfit. I wasn’t doing enough to get my heart rate up. I remember feeling quite sick for a long time after finishing.

I remember going home and mentioning this to my Dad who said you could benefit from doing some more exercise. I then started to go swimming again once a week at Deben Pool. As the weeks went on I gradually got faster. My fitness was improving once again.

Leaving School: 2012 Onwards:

Also the year London 2012 Olympics! After High School I went on to study Horticulture at Otley College 3 days a week. Along with class work we did a fair share of practical work outside which helped with fitness and made up for no longer cycling to school and regular PE lessons. I still kept up with swimming once a week along with a good Sunday walk.

The Start of my Running Journey:

2014 was the year I was introduced into the world of running! This was thanks to my Aunt who came round quite soon after New Year’s Day to drop something off. I overheard her saying that she and my Cousin were going to take part in Jaffa’s couch to 5k programme over 10 weeks. I asked if I could join. My main reason being I wanted to meet more people my age. I had often struggled to make new friends. The few I had at School I lost touch with and at this point in the year I only had a couple that I got on with at College.

One chilly Monday evening in January I put on my trainers that I hadn’t worn for over 3 years! For 10 weeks I went along and ran round the track in all weathers starting off slowly and then getting quicker as the weeks went on.

At 17 I was the youngest there.  I didn’t make any friends but I enjoyed going and felt good after each session. I had passed my driving test during those 10 weeks and would take myself there independently which also felt good.

At the end of the 10 weeks we were all given a certificate and the option to join Jaffa on a permanent basis. I almost did, however I didn’t have enough confidence to do so and my running future with Jaffa wasn’t meant to be. Phew I hear some of you say!

September 2014 rolled round and I had decided to stay on at Otley College. During the Summer me and my Dad climbed to the top of Mount Snowdon in Wales. This was great fun, although my legs felt it the next day!

I had decided to complete another 1-2 year Diploma in Horticulture at Otley College. By this time a few of us on our course were getting on quite well. Some new people also joined which was also good.

However as we returned to College we were told some sad news. One of our class mates, Jack, had been re-diagnosed with Leukemia. This was a bit of a shock as a couple of us would often sit with him during break times.

As a group along with some of our Tutors, we decided to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma research. One of our class mates and Tutors were keen runners. They suggested we take part in the upcoming London Winter 10k race. A few of us agreed to this and once again my school trainers were on!

I would go out for a run 1-2 times a week under the cover of darkness around Grange Farm in Kesgrave. My main focus was Jack. Whenever I felt tired, I would repeat in my head ‘doing it for Jack, doing it for Jack’. After 3 months of running the day was here! 1st February 2015, It was a freezing cold morning! I remember driving to Otley College in the early hours on freshly gritted roads, to get the mini bus with everyone else to Stratford in London.

I can confirm we all made it round! We all had varying times but we were just happy to get around. I got the time 57:07 for my first ever race I was extremely pleased with. We all travelled back to College feeling pleased about what we had just completed to help raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma research.

Unfortunately just under 2 weeks after we found out that Jack had sadly passed away. This hit us all hard. I remember going out for a run shortly after but it didn’t feel the same as before. I once again put the running shoes away.

My Running Journey: Take:2:

By March 2017 I had left college around 18 months earlier and was now working at Kiln Farm Nursery in Kesgrave. I was therefore on my feet for most of the day and still keeping up my weekly Swimming and Walk. I was once again on the look out for some new mates as I was no longer regularly seeing the ones I had made at College.

I remember seeing some people walk past the front of the house in running gear. I mentioned this to mum who said, ‘They are likely heading to Kesgrave Parkrun’.

The next week I was once again reunited with my old school trainers! I went along to my first ever Parkrun, I was almost late and got told off by the funnel manager! But despite this it didn’t put me off. I went back every week from then on. As the weeks went on my running times came down and I was feeling good.

From March to October 2018 I joined Rushmere Community Runners. I believe I was persuaded to go along by one of my Mum’s friends who had joined a few months earlier. I eventually got chatting to a couple of people there and got on well with one of the run leaders Richard. However this wasn’t every week and as the months went on the people I would talk to stopped coming to club nights. I was the youngest there and I ultimately started to lose interest and stopped going.

In early 2019 I started going along to Ipswich Parkrun for a change of course. This was one of the better choices I had made. At this point in the year it was at Christchurch Park. As we arrived into April, parkrun moved back to Chantry park. For a few weeks as I was going round I remember seeing a friendly person marshalling. This turned out to be Stuart Ward who most of you know very well and is now a very good friend of mine. As the weeks went on I was introduced to the parkrun crew who a few of you will know and recognise, mainly for having picnics throughout the year at Chantry Park. 

From late 2019 I started running once a week with Liam who I had met at Parkrun. We would do a steady 10k. This run also helped my parkrun times to come down even further.

In early 2020 I was persuaded to enter my second ever race. This was the Twilight 10k around Ipswich. However we all know what happened next.

Despite working throughout the pandemic at Kiln Farm Nursery, I still went out for 2 runs a week. Often a 10k run on a Monday and a 5k run on a Friday to make up for no parkrun on the Saturday. These runs were mainly round Kesgrave, Rushmere and Martlesham.

Once restrictions began to be eased I started going out for more social runs with Stuart and Liam. These would be between 6 to sometimes 10 miles plus!

During 2020 when the rule of 6 was in force a few of us from the parkrun crew would meet up for a run and picnic round Chantry Park. It was different being distanced from each other but nice to safely see and run with friends once again.

In 2021 once restrictions had begun to be eased, I took part in the Kesgrave 5k fun run. It felt odd running with people again but was nice to take part in an event.

By July 2021 Parkrun was officially back on. It was great to see a lot of familiar faces together once again. As the weeks went on I felt my Parkrun times improve. This was made better by running with other people once again.

From 2022 onwards due to persuasion and catching the running bug well and truly! I began entering more races. I will mention the ones that stood out the most.

The first one being Southampton 10k race in April 2022. This was my first 10k since the London Winter run several years earlier. A few of us from the parkrun crew travelled down to Southampton to make a weekend of it, including Southampton parkrun. Race day came around, it was a sunny but slightly breezy day. However compared to my previous 10k race my time had improved massively. I got around in: 37:51.

In July 2022 I finally got to do the Ipswich Twilight 10k race which many of us were originally meant to run 2 years earlier. Apart from the very sharp turns this race also went generally well.

In September 2022 I took part in the Felixstowe Coastal 10 mile race for the first time. This would be the furthest race I had taken part in. I enjoyed the course and the support on the way round. A few of us then went to the beach afterwards and had a well needed slushy!

Later in the year I took part in the Ipswich Half Marathon. My very first Half Marathon. However, I had nothing to worry about! Although it was very wet at the beginning I was still happy with the time of: 1:24:13. What helped me round the most was the support of the crowds that lined the course.

The next run that stood out for me was the Royal Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon in February 2023. Now compared to Ipswich, those of you who have ever been to that part of Kent will know how hilly it is! Nevertheless I still got a time of: 1:26:43 and felt good most of the way round. I put this down to the cold and settled weather and just being happy with getting round.

Later on in 2023, I once again took part in the Felixstowe Coastal 10 mile race. It was a warm September day and parts of the course felt quite hard. I remember talking to fellow club member Ryan Davidson at the end of the event, before either of us had joined Felixstowe Road Runners.

Earlier in the year Stuart had mentioned that he was planning to join Felixstowe Road Runners. After some persuasion and with a few other members of the parkrun crew.

In October 2023 I finally became a red! I’m not going to lie, there was a time where I didn’t feel that club life was for me, the same feelings I was getting at Rushmere. However I gave myself a goal, to get to February and see how I feel then. Thankfully by February 2024 I was beginning to enjoy club life and therefore decided to stay. The rest is history, I have since taken part in many club events and plenty more races. In late 2024 thanks to Felixstowe Road Runners I was introduced to the Cross Country events. These as a few of you will know are my favourites, mainly due to the time of year, the concentration needed and different technique of running, compared to on the road.

The ones that stand out most for me at the Horseheath Course near Haverhill, mainly for the freezing cold water we have to go through twice!! And the National Cross Country Championships on Hampstead Heath in London for its thick, knee deep mud!

My Biggest Achievements:

Although as I am typing this we are only half way through the year. I would say my best running moments have come during 2026.

Being selected to take part in the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in Nottingham to represent Suffolk was an honour. The support before, during and after the event from fellow Road Runners was amazing.

After a couple of years of trying I finally got into the Woodbridge 10k. Although this wasn’t a flat course I somehow managed to get a new 10k PB of: 36:11! I put this down to the support most of the way round and the weather conditions on the day.

Under 2 weeks later my next and biggest achievement came taking part in the Mid Cheshire 5k. One of the fastest and busiest road races I have ever taken part in! However this allowed me to get a new 5k PB of: 16:36!

As I write this we are still in the Friday 5 Series season which is also going well. At this point in time I am really happy with how my running is going. I have got to put this down to running alongside great people both at and outside of club.

Although I class myself as a part-time runner as I rarely run several days in a row due to being on my feet for work. I really enjoy it for many of the reasons above.

I am really grateful for the friendships that I have formed through Parkrun and joining Felixstowe Road runners.

Going Forward:

I am yet to tackle a Marathon! I feel this is something I need to tick off in the next few years just to say I’ve done it.

If you have made it to the end I would like to thank you for reading my profile.

For August I would like to nominate: Ryan Davidson