Dan Winter

Once again, it’s time for our monthly Meet the Green Team feature, and as April is World Autism Awareness Month, we thought it highly appropriate that we present to you Sinfin’s much loveable Dan Winter, who is diagnosed with autism.

Dan, a gardener at Elvaston Castle, started running during that awful time a few years ago, when the government decided to lock us all away in our homes, and made it difficult for us to get out and do the things we like doing. He quickly gained confidence at the shorter distances, and then started to progress to the more lengthier stuff – he impressed everybody that much with his enthusiasm for the sport that he grabbed Sinfin’s Best Newcomer award for 2021.

His passion for racing is now insatiable and his progress has been ridiculously impressive, already running in the New York Marathon and The Great North Run as well as numerous 10ks, with times improving seemingly constantly! He also is a regular at parkrun often finishing 1st in his age category.

A big Derby County fan, Dan is an expert at reeling off various facts and figures of Rams matches since he started watching them at the age of 12 – it really is quite impressive if you ever want to test him out! I know personally I’ve had many a conversation with him discussing who scored in “that” match vs “whoever” eight years ago, and he’s usually bang on. Also, if you need a guide around London, you’ll find the London Underground map is firmly ingrained on his mind!

Dan is a fantastic asset to Sinfin Running Club, a bubbly character and regular to the weekly club nights where he’s sure to give you a lovely hug too (if you ask him nicely!). So without further comment, let’s hand you over to that boy Dan, and see what he has to say!