TEACHER Jan Read is learning new lessons – about running.

Her pupils have challenged her to take part in this year’s OX5 Run and she is determined to pass the finishing post in style.

Mrs Read, 51, from Tackley, who taught at schools in Oxfordshire for 20 years, now works at Beachborough School, near Brackley, and took up running last summer.

She said: “The kids didn’t believe me when I said I was running. To prove a point, I said that I would enter a race and get a certificate to prove it.”

The mother-of-two chose the OX5 Run because staff and pupils at Beachborough School had picked the Oxford Children’s Hospital as their chosen charity for the year.

The five-mile race takes place at Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, on Sunday, April 19.

Mrs Read said she had been training by tackling the hills around Tackley, including the one leading to her front door.

She said: “Being a teacher, I bought a book on running. I can do 5km and I am working towards being able to run 10km.

“According to the book, you need to be able to run further than the race, so you can do it comfortably.

“I’m not an athletic person, but I’m getting a little bit faster.

“It’s good to be on the other side of the desk. It’s easy to forget how scary it is not to know if you’re doing it right or if you will succeed. It’s a learning curve.”

The OX5 Run is organised by the Oxford Mail and sponsored by Alan Associates and Motorworld.

It’s hoped more than 1,000 people will take part and help raise £50,000 for Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Sarah Vaccari, a spokesman for the hospital, thanked Beachborough School for its “great commitment to the Children’s Hospital” and Mrs Read in particular.

She said: “We’re delighted to see Jan and the rest of the staff and pupils getting behind the run.

“It would be lovely to see other local organisations joining in as well, so that we can make this year’s event the most successful yet.”

Mrs Read, who previously taught at primary schools in Kidlington and Kirtlington, said both her children and many pupils she had taught over the years had needed treatment at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, so she felt happy to be giving something back.

Entry for the run costs £10 per person, with each runner asked to raise at least £100 in sponsorship.

With two months to go, 145 people have signed up.

To take part, fill in and return the form on this page or download it from our website and find out about some of the other runners who have already signed up at oxfordmail.co.uk/ox5run tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk