Digger attachments salesman Simon Patton, of Invercargill, could barely run 5km in March, but on Monday he finished 250km and an elevation gain nearly the height of Mt Everest after five days.
Mr Patton completed the Rakiura, Humpridge, Keplar, Milford and Routeburn tracks, starting on Thursday last week and ending on Monday.
On Tuesday, instead of giving his weary legs a rest, he went for a round of golf with his mates and was planning on playing a game of social cricket yesterday.
"I’m supposed to be playing social cricket tonight but I might need a runner."
Mr Patton said the method to his madness was big-effort training and a lot of self-discipline.
"If you set your mind to goals and really drive towards them and get serious about them, anything is achievable."
However, he said there were times his mental fortitude was tested during the adventure.
About halfway through the Milford Track - his fourth Great Walk in a row - he could feel shin splints kicking in, and he still had 20km to go with only three and a-half hours of daylight left.
"I think that was the moment where we really just turned it up a notch and tried to get a mental mindset and put the shin splints behind me, and I literally ran 20km without stopping."
He said all the supportive messages and donations kept him wanting to finish his journey.
Initially, he wanted to raise $5000 for Bowel Cancer New Zealand - $1000 per day.
However, he had raised more than $10,000 before he began and was close to raising $25,000 yesterday.
He encouraged Southlanders to take advantage of the back country and try a day walk or two.
"Nature’s a pretty incredible thing and helps you unwind from the daily stresses of life.
"It’s a natural prescription for a healthier and happier you."
