Nearly four months after setting out on foot from the west coast of the United States, Wanaka charity runner Jup Brown will complete his nearly 5600km cross-country journey in Boston this weekend.
Since leaving Huntington Beach, California, on January 16, Mr Brown (41) has jogged his way through 13 states in 112 days, the latest in a series of extreme ultra-distance fundraising feats which began with running the length of New Zealand in 2011 to raise more than $15,000 for the Stroke Foundation.
This time, he has been promoting and raising money for children's fitness charity the 100 Mile Club.
He was originally running in a team of 12 as part of the Race Across the USA challenge, but after becoming unhappy with the way the event was being managed, he left the group to run separately with fellow team member Patrick Sweeney, of California.
Then towards the end of March, Mr Brown decided to go it alone.
''I was having trouble in my mind keeping up. I just felt slow and wanted to go my pace. Pat didn't want me to and wanted to stay together.''
Mr Sweeney eventually went on ahead with two friends who had been travelling in a camper van as support crew for the pair, but he and Mr Brown will reunite and finish the run together today.
''About three to four weeks ago, Pat set a finish date and I was maybe 200 miles behind but I worked it out if I went for it and didn't have days off I could maybe make it ... it was the hardest thing I have ever done, but the best thing.''
The men will end their odyssey with the Boston Marathon, followed by a further 8km to the ocean at Marine Park.
Mr Brown said his body was exhausted from ''pushing my limits to the max'' and battling blisters and pain for two weeks, but he had pushed through and was excited the finish line was in sight.
''[It] has been a long run this one. I did it the hard way, silly me, but [I've] learnt so much which has been great.''
In 2012, Mr Brown ran the length of Japan, raising $25,000 for tsunami-devastated regions.
He has twice run an ultra-marathon in the Himalayas and a fundraising marathon on a treadmill.
