MEET OUR RECORD-BREAKING RHINO-ENTHUSIAST CHRIS

Chris Green, also known as ‘Rhino Boy Chris’, will stir up a stampede of excitement at the adidas Manchester Marathon, as he takes on the event for a third time in 2024.

Having developed a passion for rhinos during a family trip to Kenya at the age of five, the 48-year-old from Dorset is running for conservation efforts to protect the threatened species.

Man running marathon dressed as a rhino.

Chris will stir up a stampede of excitement at this year’s event.

Growing up, Chris had cuddly, soft rhino toys and posters decorating his bedroom, but he soon learnt that his favourite animals were one of the most endangered in the world. Currently, three of the five species of rhinos are critically endangered; Sumatran rhinos are particularly threatened, with an estimated 34-47 left in the wild.

As Chris learnt more about dangers posed to the creatures he cherished, he made the decision to take measures and spread awareness. The committed conservationist now combines his love of both running and rhinos by taking on endurance challenges to raise money to protect the animals he loves. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, Chris runs the majority of these challenges dressed in a rhino suit, weighing a whopping 10kg!

 Since 2009, the 48-year-old removals operative and budding children’s author has completed 150 marathons and ultra-marathons, including the adidas Manchester Marathon four times.

 The most common question Chris gets asked is about his eye-catching attire: “One of the things I love about the costume is that it brings out the big kid in everyone. I want to spread that natural joy everywhere I run and it’s the greatest pleasure of my life to spend a marathon being surrounded by so many smiles.

 “Everybody seems to love the rhino and running in the costume is the very best way I can think of to get people to take notice. I want to inspire children and adults to love rhinos and rally everyone behind them.”

 Incredibly, Chris has held three separate Guinness World Records: the fastest marathon time by someone dressed as a mammal, completed in an astounding 4 hours and 6 minutes; the fastest marathon time by someone dressed as a three-dimensional mammal; as well as until recently, the fastest half-marathon achieved by someone dressed as a mammal.

 The 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon will mark Chris’ 99th event dressed as a mammal. He will join a herd of 32,000 participants set to take on the 26.2-mile route on Sunday 14th April 2024, with more than 125,000 enthusiastic supporters cheering him on through the streets of Greater Manchester.

 “The adidas Manchester Marathon has a special place in my heart because it is one of those cities that is always so warm and welcoming for me and the rhino costume. The atmosphere is always electric! You can’t buy or replicate that feeling anywhere and you never want it to end.

 “I always say that it would be nice to beat my record time, but I also think that sometimes the best time is having a great time with people.

“The more time that I’m interacting with people, the more time that hopefully we’re giving people a chance to fall in love with rhinos.”

Chris is taking part to support Save the Rhino International – a charity which runs rhino conservation programmes across Africa and Asia. Chris’ fundraising efforts have raised over £22,000 for since the start of his running journey.

Chris has also authored a children’s book called MATUMAINI: The Rhinos’ Hope which is the Swahili translation for ‘hope’, with proceedings supporting Save the Rhino.

 “Save the Rhino works tirelessly to save my favourite animal and I know that without them, we would’ve lost many more rhinos.

 “That’s been a major spur for me. I always say I will not stop running as long as there are rhinos that need saving because I am so inspired by the work of the charity.”

To help Chris save the rhinos, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rhinoboychrisgreen