A long-serving language teacher is preparing to mark his retirement by completing a unique running challenge that has taken him across the UK and Europe, an ‘A to Z’ of marathons.
Jon Strong, 60, will retire from Dame Allan’s Schools, in Newcastle, this summer after nearly three decades and will turn his attention to his 26th and final race: the Jersey Marathon on October 4.
The Channel Island event has remained out of reach for years as it falls during term time, and Mr Strong, from Fenham, is a committed environmental campaigner who avoids flying wherever possible.
“I’ve known about the Jersey Marathon for ages, but because of the ferry schedules there was no way to get there and back for Monday morning school,” he said.
“Retirement finally gives me my big chance to cross the finish line!”
Mr Strong began the alphabetical marathon challenge in 2014 as a way of combining his love of running and travel, choosing races based on location and curiosity as much as competition.
His journey has taken him from major city marathons in Venice and Rotterdam to smaller, more unusual events, including the X-ray Marathon in Germany and the Quijote Marathon in Spain — named after Don Quixote, the famous fictional knight in Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel. He has completed 25 races in total so far, most in sub-3:30 times, with a personal best of 2:58.
He is well known among staff and pupils for his regular training sessions on the school’s playing fields.
“I must have done thousands and thousands of laps of the school field over the years,” he said.
“Eight laps make up 5k, so it’s been my main training ground around my teaching schedule.”
Mr Strong joined the school in 1998 to teach French and German. In 2002, he introduced Spanish to the curriculum, later becoming Head of Modern Languages and helping grow the subject at a time when language uptake had declined nationally.
He also taught both of his children during their time at the school — Maria, who studied Spanish GCSE, and Alex, who studied French A Level.
“Teaching my own children was a massive personal highlight,” he said.
“Not many parents get to see their teenagers beyond the school gates. They found my sense of dress and my jokes a bit embarrassing, but they were happy to let me teach them.”
Reflecting on changes in education, Mr Strong said languages had to evolve to stay relevant.
“Languages are no longer compulsory nationally, so we’ve had to make them attractive and accessible,” he said.
“They need to be fun. If you can engage them, teenagers are highly appreciative and wonderful company.”
Principal of Dame Allan’s Schools, Will Scott, paid tribute to Mr Strong’s long service and contribution to school life.
“Jon has been part of the fabric of Dame Allan’s for nearly 30 years. He has helped shape the modern languages offer, brought real energy to his teaching and inspired generations of pupils to engage with languages in a way that is lively, relevant and enjoyable,” he said.
“He is as well known for his brilliant classroom teaching as he is for those countless twilight laps of the school field. We are hugely grateful for his dedication, and the entire Allanian community wishes him the very best of luck as he completes his final milestone in Jersey.”
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