A LONG-DISTANCE running club for teens on an Oxford estate has proved a surprise hit, with two members now set to tackle a marathon in Italy.

The twice-weekly sessions at Rose Hill Youth Club in The Oval only began under a month ago, but two lads – one 16, the other 15 – have already put their names down for the Rome Marathon in March next year.

Youth worker Adam French said: “The idea came about because I was looking into doing a marathon myself.

“I mentioned the Rome Marathon to the lads and they surprised me with how interested they were.

“There’s two of them that are really serious about it and I’m sorting out entries for the marathon in Rome next March. It’s a small group, but it has got people involved.

“If we can get two lads from the estate doing a marathon at their age, it’s a hell of an achievement.”

“At the moment we are running twice a week. We go round the city, around the river. Last week we did a nine-mile run up the cyclepaths to Headington Roundabout and back.

“Already — three weeks into it — they are showing progress. “We started off with a 4.5-mile run and that was a bit of a push, but now that’s a light route. We’re moving onwards and upwards.”

Youth club member Daniel Johnson, of Radford Close, Rose Hill, said: “I do football training twice a week so I’ve done this to get fitter and for something to do because there’s nothing else to do around here.

“I’ve done a couple of running things with school, but nothing as big as a marathon or half-marathon.

“Not many people can say they did a marathon in Rome at the age of 17.”

Running with Daniel and Mr French in Rome will be 15-year-old Jack Hastings, also from Rose Hill.

Area youth worker Maggie O’Sullivan: “We started the running club about three weeks ago as part of our programme focusing on sports, healthy eating and healthy lifestyle choices.

“It has been going really well. The group’s only about three or four young people, but two of them have really taken to it and are doing more than the weekly sessions and are planning for the marathon in Rome.

“It’s very unusual for young people to embrace a new activity so readily. It’s not the usual football or basketball, so it’s been a pleasant surprise.”

tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk