TWO top teachers are putting one foot in front of the other as they set an example to their 1,250 pupils.
Sue Wardlow, head teacher at Reigate School, and assistant head Richie Emerson, will both take on their debut London Marathons in a month's time.
They, and their charges, are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the Anthony Nolan charity as the school embraces a running theme this term.
"The marathon is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things I have always wanted to do and now just seemed like the right time to do it," said Mrs Wardlow, 43, whose training runs have now topped 18 miles.
"Training hurts, but it's going fine. Now, we are trying to get the whole school running."
On March 21, students at the Pendleton Road school will run all day as part of a relay, and staff will be encouraged to take part during the lunch break.
"We are doing a staff mile, trying to encourage as many staff as possible to run, or walk," said Mrs Wardlow.
"We are also trying to get students to do a relay so that there is constant running all day. There will always be someone running for four-and-a-half hours, which is roughly how long I think the marathon is going to take me."
Cake sales and mufti days are also planned to help boost the fundraising.
"The school raises quite a lot of money for a quite a lot of difference charities," added Mrs Wardlow, "As the head I am quite high profile with the students, so that is just an extra hook to get them involved and also prove to them they can achieve all sorts of things if they really want to.
"We have tried to use us running the marathon as a way of encouraging others to give and also to run in school to get people active.
"Lots of the students will ask me how the training is going and have shown a real interest so it doesn't feel like an added pressure, it's just more supportive."
Anthony Nolan is the UK's blood cancer charity and bone marrow register.
