Will of iron: Mal's peak performance

Mal Law takes on the ''24 Hours on Iron'' challenge  in Wanaka on Saturday. Photo by Will Lascelles.
Mal Law takes on the ''24 Hours on Iron'' challenge in Wanaka on Saturday. Photo by Will Lascelles.
Blistered, battered and sleep-deprived, Wanaka ultra-runner Mal Law had just four things on his mind after completing his latest charity stunt yesterday.

''In no particular order, shower, beer and sleep and food,'' he said, just minutes after crossing the finish line of his ''24 Hours on Iron'' challenge.

From noon on Saturday to noon yesterday, Mr Law (54) managed 31 summits of Wanaka's Mt Iron, achieved a 7011m vertical gain - the equivalent of South America's highest mountain, Aconcagua - and covered 105.7km, all while raising an estimated $3500 for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

He set off at a gentle jog, but soon slowed to a walk for each ascent to conserve energy.

''I was running all the downhills at first and then little by little it just got too painful.''

A team of supporters took turns completing laps with him for the entire 24 hours. During daylight, he was joined by up to a dozen others, but numbers fell to as few as three for the nightshift.

Mr Law's lowest point lasted ''quite a long time'' after the heat on Saturday took its toll and dehydration set in.

''Hours of nausea. From about four o'clock in the afternoon until one o'clock this morning [Sunday] ... I just wasn't able to absorb, so I was piling in the fluid and it was just pooling in my stomach.''

He was hooked up to an IV drip around midnight which ''turned it all around'', while a bacon butty delivered to him halfway up the hill by a friend about 8am yesterday further lifted his spirits.

Mr Law's Mt Iron mission was a mere training run for his ''High Five-O Challenge'' starting on February 7, in which he aims to complete 50 off-road mountain marathons in 50 days.

''I'm not looking beyond that. Everything's been geared around that, so I'll get that one out of the way and then have a chat with [wife] Sal.''

Mr Law thanked his many supporters at the base of Mt Iron yesterday.

''It makes it pretty special having a great bunch of people out here pitching in.''

-lucy.ibbotson@odt.co.nz

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