JUDO fighters will swap their high kicks and throws for running strides in this month’s Town and Gown charity run.

Ten members of the Oxford Judo Club will pound the streets of Oxford during the 10km run on Sunday for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Club coach Emma Burnett said: “We have been looking for something to do as a team for a while. I’m really excited. Most of us are competitive and run a little bit in general. It is very different from what most of us have done in the past.

“I’ve done a lot of training. It’s been bonkers.”

She will join head coach Chris Doherty and club members Chris Kennell, Abbie Clayton and Isobel Routledge and five others in the annual charity race.

The Town and Gown Run is in its 33rd year and has so far raised nearly £1.5m for the charity, which researches into treatments for muscle-wasting conditions.

Miss Burnett, 29, who works with the food cooperative Cultivate Oxford, said: “Until I signed up for this event, I had never run more than three kilometres. I’ve been increasing the distance every week I run through the streets of Oxford and do between five and 10 kilometres each time.”

Hannah Coleman, of Virgin Active’s Oxfordshire Health and Racquet Club, shared her tips for healthy eating ahead of the big day.

The personal trainer urged runners to eat regular small meals and snacks every three to four hours to keep up their energy levels.

She said: “To run for an hour takes endurance – at least 50 per cent of each meal should be carbohydrate. Don’t get fooled into thinking that means loading up on rice, bread and pasta. Carrots and sweet potatoes are your best carbohydrate friends. Protein is absolutely vital for muscle repair, chicken and turkey are great, but eggs are the superstar.”

The team from Virgin Active will offer a warm-up at the start of the race.

More than 70,000 children and adults in the UK have muscular dystrophy or a related neuromuscular condition.

A further 350,000 people are affected indirectly as family, friends or carers.

People can still enter for the race at www.townandgown10k.com/oxford