Christopher Greenwood (September 2017)
Chris was 44 on September 29th 2017.
We talked, after he ran 14:52.60 in the Hercules Wimbledon Festival 5k on 23/8/17.
Looking back to his start in athletics
“I have only been doing it since I was 35. I had been playing football in Sunday league in Manchester and, I did a little bit of fell running but no real training. I should have started when I was younger ’
He now works at a publisher, as operations Manager and, doing that in the city means he can run to work.
KEN PIKE IS GOOD FOR HIM
‘To begin with I just enjoyed running. At Lewisham (Ladywell) I train on the track as I had moved to the area. (A coach at Kent AC) Ken Pike puts a lot of energy into it and helps you with your sessions. It is just basically, that he turns up every week which, gives you the motivation to turn up because of his commitment’
Going through all the running years to date he had some notable Personal Best times. As a Vet 35 in 2014, he ran 8:41.96 for 3000m (For his club Kent AC, in the British League on the 9/8/14) 14:47.0 for 5000 (Ladywell 5000 at Catford, behind Nick Torry of Kent/Serpentine) who did 14:40.0 and ‘Up and coming Star’ Alex Yee 14:40.4).
He did 9:12.36 for 3000 steeplechase (Winning at Lee valley in the British League Division 1 meet on the 9/8/15, as an M40, with Ryan McKinlay 2nd in 9:26.19 (Woodford Green & EL/Highgate) and Michael Deacon, a Shettlestone Harrier 3rd in 9:27.19.)
In 2014, as an M40, Chris ran a PB of 30:36.83 for 10,000 at the British Milers club 10,000 Track Festival on 5/9/15.
CHRIS LOOKS TO HIS PERSONAL FAVOURITES
“Coming 11th in the South of England cross country Championship (at Parliament Hill on 30/1/16) I was very pleased with that and, helping the club team winning six stage relays plus, being selected for England for the British and Irish International cross countries and winning for three years on the trot.’
1. Dublin 2015, as an M40 he won in 25:33 from Declan Reed (City of Dublin) 26.00 & Michael Hardy (Ireland 26.03).
2. Nottingham, as the 1st M40 in 25:03 behind M35 runner Michael Barnes.
3. At Cardiff, a win in the M40 category win in 24:22 but, 3rd place overall, behind outstanding cross country vet, at the time from Notts AC Tim Hartley 24:12 and M35 runner, James Thie 24:12
An interesting result outside of his favourite results was that Chris Greenwood, was 4th but 2nd over 40 in the World Master Mountain International over 10.6k at Betws Y Coed on the 12th of September 2015.
THE MARATHON
Chris Greenwood ran 2:27.59 for the Virgin London Marathon on 13/4/14.
Then in Manchester in the Greater Manchester Marathon, in April 2015, he ran 2:23.38
“That was when it was a short course so, for me; it was more like a 2:24,’.
‘I need to do something properly for the marathon. I am 45 September next year so, hope to go for the Berlin Marathon, where the top 45’s run around 2:19 to 2:23.’
HIS TAKE ON THOSE HE HAS MET IN HIS ATHLETICS CIRCLES
“A great bunch of people, from all walks of life."
‘You get something out of it, just working hard”