Man prepares for Arctic Circle charity run

A man from Leicestershire has joked he is questioning his own sanity after deciding to take on a charity run in the Arctic Circle just after new year.

Ted Winterton, from Bitteswell, Lutterworth, is due to take part in the Polar Night Marathon on 3 January, which takes place 700 miles inside the Arctic Circle in Norway.

The 50-year-old will be running in sub-zero temperatures and complete darkness.

To prepare, Ted has been training in Bittesby Country Park at Magna Park, usually during the early hours of the morning or late at night.

Mr Winterton is the managing director of Cynergy Business Finance and often works across the country, so he fits his training in before or after travelling to places like London and Manchester.

He will be raising money for the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust and Charity, which Ted said was "truly unbelievable" when they saved the life of a colleague's wife, who had a brain tumour.

Describing why he decided to take on the marathon, he told thhe BBC: "I was looking for my next challenge and for something that really would challenge me.

"I also wanted to do something quite different to usual and felt this seemed different."

Having completed other marathons like London, Sydney and Boston in the past, he wanted to do something different to those and to try to build on his experience.

"As we get closer to the challenge, I am questioning my own sanity," he joked.

"The closer I get to the date, there's more and more trepidation, as due to the sub-zero temperatures it's hard to train for that here.

"I hope the training I've done and clothes I've bought will see me through."

Mr Winterton is due to set off to Norway on New Year's Day.

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.