A young Queenstown man begins running the entire 206km around Lake Wakatipu in 48 hours today to raise funds for families in need in the community.
In what is believed to be the first attempt to traverse the whole distance within such a short time, Brad Schimanski (21) will set off on his epic journey, called "The Wakamishu", from his home on Sawmill Rd, about 5am.
Mr Schimanski will run north from Queenstown to Glenorchy.
The outdoor sports enthusiast will traverse the braided branches of the Dart River then head south towards Kinloch, the Greenstone Valley and Walter Peak Station, then around the foot of Cecil Peak.
He intends to leave the lakefront and run up Collins Creek, down the Lochy River to Halfway Bay, then climb to the 1805m peak of Mt Dick, the most challenging section, before reaching Kingston.
He will follow the lake edge to Jack's Point, run around Kelvin Heights, past Frankton and return to his home in Queenstown.
Mr Schimanski said on Saturday he was "super excited and super nervous at the same time. I know what a challenge it will be".
The idea for the marathon came while he and a friend were driving along the lakefront in November.
"It was a case of seeing if it was possible and how long it would take ... I initially thought it would take four days, but was eventually convinced I could do it in two."
Donations can be made online at www.salvationarmy.org.nz by clicking the "Donate Online" boxes.
Type "The Wakamishu Queenstown" in the specific use box, so funds can be directed to Salvation Army services in the resort.
