Natasha King did not own a pair of trainers until this week – but now she is in training for the British 10k London Run 2010.

She drops her six-year-old daughter at school, and then runs laps of the local park, before starting work at St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre in north-west London. She teaches music and movement and arts and crafts and fine arts to adults with learning disabilities.

“Running in a marathon, even a mini one, is something I have never done,” Mrs King said. “I feel it is more achievable now than later. As the years tick by I feel a need to expand on my range of life experiences, and of course my levels of health and vitality.