The answer for Jup Brown (42), of Wanaka, was to get a bike and head back to Los Angeles, where he started his run.
In an email to the Otago Daily Times this week, Mr Brown said a friend had suggested he run back across the continent.
''I said, 'No', but then said, 'I'll ride a bike'.''
Mr Brown had six to seven weeks off after his 5510km run but was now on his bike, taking ''the long way back'' through Canada - a distance of 13,000km.
He started out with a friend who then changed his plans.
''I was a bit shocked and really didn't want to do this huge ride alone, but I had made a promise and it's for the kids, so I headed off alone.''
Mr Brown, a plumber, raises money for children's fitness charity the 100 Mile Club.
Mr Brown said he had been riding in ''crazy weather'' with headwinds, rain and some daytime temperatures reaching only 8degC.
He had passed through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and has just arrived in Toronto, Ontario, after completing 5200km.
He hopes to have reached Vancouver by the first week of October and to finish the whole trip by mid-November.
