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In an effort to run the length of New Zealand in record time, Emma Timmis is damaging her body.
The 37-year-old, of North Canterbury, has been running for 19 days now and does not plan to stop yet.
She is attempting to run the length of the country in 21 days, covering 100km each day.
Timmis said she was "in a lot of pain" after her 14-hour run from Maheno to Dunedin yesterday, but she was still in high spirits.
Runners from small towns along the way joined her for stretches of the trip, cheering her on and providing support.
She set off from Cape Reinga on December 18 and hoped to reach Bluff on January 8.
The current record stands at 35 days and 27 minutes, a fortnight longer than her schedule.
Taking on that much exercise was taking its toll and would have long-lasting effects, she said.
She had lost significant muscle mass and weight, and her appetite had been affected.
"I am very, very injured."
In 2011 she ran the length of Africa and in 2014 ran South Africa, however took those challenges at half the pace of her New Zealand run.
In 2017 she unofficially broke a world record after cycling across Australia in 74 days.
Timmis said she planned to raise $21,000 each for two separate charities during the 2100km trek. The money would go to Youthline and Young Minds, which was based in the UK.
She had raised more than $10,000 so far.
She was inspired to support youth mental health charities after she suffered a leg injury four years ago.
She had planned to take the challenge back then, but was instead left unable to run and with deteriorating mental health.
She got through it with the help of a good support network, which made her realise how much help some people needed.
"I’m a full-grown adult with a support network around me and I still found that really tough."
Going through that as a young person without that support must be "horrendous", she said.
She would be off from Dunedin at 4am today on her way to Kuriwao.
With only days left in her mission, she was planning on resting for "a very long time" once she hit the finish line.