TWO men are gearing up for one of the world’s most “brutal” marathons.

When Philip Blazdell lost his father Frank last year he completed a 10km run for the hospice that helped care for him at home.

But when he was asked what he planned to do next, it got him thinking.

So father-of-one Mr Blazdell, 40, decided to do something “exceptional” and raise £10,000.

Now next March, he and personal trainer Trevor Rackley will travel to freezing Siberia to take part in the 2012 Lake Baikal Ice Marathon.

Runners swap pavements for slippery, uneven ice, or even up to 25cm of fresh snow, and have six hours to complete a 26-mile run.

Engineer Mr Blazdell, of Ambrosden, near Bicester, said: “It’s one of the most difficult marathons in the world and I hate running.

“To run a marathon is physically demanding, and we can try to prepare for the cold, but I think we are going to have a brutal experience.”

Last year Mr Blazdell lost about three stone and is now super fit, running miles each week as well as lifting heavy weights and doing yoga.

Cash raised from the challenge will go to the Iain Rennie Hospice At Home, which is based in Aylesbury, but works across Oxfordshire.

As part of the fundraising effort the pair recently rowed non-stop for 16 hours, 20 minutes on a rowing machine and 20 minutes off, at the Fitness Company, Station Approach, Bicester. They hoped to raise £1,000.

To sponsor the pair view justgiving.com/Philip-Blazdell