Marathon runner set to complete A-Z challenge

Jon Strong, a 60-year-old retired teacher, is preparing to finish his ambitious A-Z marathon challenge by participating in the Jersey Marathon on October 4th. Since 2014, Strong has completed 25 marathons, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet. However, he had been struggling to find a suitable race to finish his challenge, as he preferred traveling by boat over flying due to environmental concerns.

This limited his options, as the only other marathon beginning with "J" was the Jungfrau Marathon in Switzerland, which is known for its challenging uphill course.

Strong retired from teaching at Dame Allan's School in Newcastle at the end of the summer term after 28 years of service. During his time as an educator, he made it a point to train regularly on the school playing fields, completing thousands of laps around the course. The Jersey Marathon, which is expected to attract over 2,000 participants this year, offers Strong the perfect opportunity to complete his A-Z challenge.

The event will also include a relay race and a marathon mile run, providing a variety of options for participants. Jon Strong's participation in the Jersey Marathon will not only fulfill his lifelong goal but also promote the island's sporting events to a wider audience.