J is for Jersey! Island to host finale of teacher’s unique marathon challenge

Retirement begins where the alphabet ends for one long-serving UK teacher… who will be lacing up his trainers to complete the final leg of a mega running challenge in Jersey later this year.

The 26^th and final race of Jon Strong’s A-Z Marathon Challenge will mark his retirement from Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle this summer after nearly three decades of teaching. 

With the Jersey Marathon falling during term-time, the former language teacher said the race had always felt out of reach for him – and, as a committed environmental campaigner, Mr Strong avoids flying wherever possible.

“Much to my surprise, I did quite well”

He told Express his alphabetical challenge began in 2014 and has been a way for him to combine his love of running and traveling.  

“In my 40s, I entered a race and, much to my surprise, I did quite well and realised I could run quite speedily,” he said. 

“I discovered I like running and I really like travelling. I’ve always done a lot of travelling from a young age and then subsequently with my wife, we’ve done a lot of travelling so it really combines the two because it means I have something to try to achieve, but the beauty of this is it makes you go to lots of interesting places.” 

“I obviously didn’t read the instructions properly”

With some unusual destinations – like the X-Ray Marathon in Remscheid, Germany – Mr Strong has had his fair share of tough moments along the way. 

“I’ve got some German, but I obviously didn’t read the instructions properly – it turned out to be a hilly trail marathon, including some bits where you had no choice but to walk up 45-degree hills, and had to do quite a lot of orienteering,” he recalled.

When he was around just two miles away from the finish, he found himself completely lost and some very friendly Germans redirected him, meaning he got to the finish line “eventually”.

The most loyal supporter

Mr Strong said he has never found himself alone during these races, with his wife – a “very, very loyal supporter” – always cheering him on from the sidelines.

“She’ super well organised and she likes to try and pop up all over the course by using public transport or sometimes she’s done it by bike,” Mr Strong said.

“Her record is in Spain, the Quijote Marathon. She turned up in 15 different places, which is quite something.” 

“It looks like a brilliant last couple of miles”

As someone who has visited the Island before, Jersey’s sights are what the runner is looking most forward to on October 4. 

“I think the scenery and the fact that there’s the countryside, I loved all the green lanes. I’m looking forward to running along the big bay before you get to St Helier,” Mr Strong explained.

“That should be amazing, and it looks like quite challenging undulations, but it looks like a brilliant last couple of miles.” 

An unusual ritual

Asked about his pre-race top tips, the language teacher said that there is little anyone can do to help with a marathon other than training.

However, one ritual which may be unusual for some that he does admit to is drinking beetroot juice three hours before a race.

Mr Strong said: “That’s apparently supposed to help with oxygenating your blood cells, something to do with nitrogen. I don’t know whether it works, but I’ve done it for so long now I wouldn’t dare not to do it!”

With the race getting closer, Mr Strong will be building up his distances as he takes part in the Great North Run on 30 September, only weeks before he takes on his grand finale. 

Both his students and the entire Allanian community have wished him the very best of luck as he completes his alphabetical running challenge in Jersey… and we’re sure there will be some Islanders cheering him over the finish line too.