THERE is, it seems, no expedition too challenging for Dr Andrew Murray. Having already taken part in the North Pole marathon, which he won, seven ultra marathons in seven continents in under a week, and run from the north of Scotland to the Sahara desert, the 35-year-old Aberdonian is now taking on what could potentially be his toughest challenge yet. This week, Murray will race in the inaugural Genghis Khan ice marathon in Outer Mongolia, and then set off on a 100-mile run from Genghis Khan’s birthplace to the country’s capital, Ulan Bator.

So first, the marathon. This is no ordinary 26.2-mile race; it will be run along the frozen Tuul Gol river in temperatures of -40C, While the freezing temperatures will be a significant test, there are other factors that Murray and the other dozen or so runners competing will have to worry about.

“There’s a population of wolves and bears who apparently can get over-friendly at times,” he says. “So we have an army of 60 husky dogs supporting us. It’s very unlikely that the wolves will be interested in us because they tend to go for smaller prey than humans, but having the huskies on patrol should keep any unwanted encounters from happening.”

The marathon alone is not enough to sate Murray’s appetite for adventure, though, and so there is the small matter of that solo 100-mile run in order to test himself further. This is his first winter-time race in Outer Mongolia but, perhaps surprisingly, it is not the physical challenge that is the primary attraction for Murray, rather, it is the cultural experience.

“As with many of the trips I’ve done, I’m just going out there and exploring,” he says. “Outer Mongolia is an absolutely ludicrous but amazing place. Once you get out into the sticks, it’s like a completely different world but it’s picture perfect.”

Running is just one string to Murray’s bow. He is a sports and exercise medicine doctor, a GP, he works with the European and Challenge Tour Golf, the sportscotland Institute of Sport, Scottish Rugby and is the Scottish Government’s “physical activity champion”, as well as doing research with the University of Edinburgh. So, with so many things going on in his life, why does Murray do these extraordinary expeditions?

“There’s not one single answer; part of it is for pub chat but it’s also to see the world, to challenge myself and try to be the best that I can be because I think the human body functions best when it’s got a sense of purpose,” he says. “These things are once in a lifetime opportunities, whether it’s racing at the North Pole or going to Outer Mongolia.

“This longer run that I’m doing in the hoof prints of Genghis Khan is just to hear more about his fascinating story and to explore.

“I have the chance to run 100 miles along an ice river and over mountains with the support of huskies and then arrive at this golden statue of Genghis Khan in Ulan Bator. Who wouldn’t want to do that?”

Murray is an old hand at running marathons but racing in the UK and racing in Outer Mongolia are, clearly, two very different things. So how does one prepare to run a marathon in such a remote and demanding environment?

“Scotland is actually quite a good place to prepare for these kind of races,” Murray says. “The first challenge in Outer Mongolia will be the extreme cold and while Scotland isn’t as cold as -40C, when you run in the high mountains here the wind chill makes it feel about -20C or -25C. But in Mongolia, you can’t leave a single inch of skin uncovered because if you do, it’s a one-way ticket to frostbite.

“The second challenge is that it might be thick snow we’re running through, so running through bogs in the hills of Scotland is pretty good preparation for that because it gets your leg muscles used to having to chew through terrain rather than gliding over the top as you would in a standard race.”

There is more to Murray’s trip than just the race, with the group aiding the local community. “I’m really looking forward to seeing a completely different way of life on this expedition but it’s also a way we can contribute,” he says. “We’re really pleased to be contributing to some social enterprises in Mongolia, we’re doing fundraising and we’re looking to establish scholarships with some universities, which is exciting.”

So, with one of his toughest tests just days away, will this be the last? Not a chance. “My favourite expedition is usually the last one and you come away with these incredible memories,” Murray says.

“Everyone does things for different reasons but I’m not a performance athlete so I do these races for the experience more than the physical test and I’d never have had these opportunities if it wasn’t for the fact that I like running.

“I just love doing this and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”