Tauranga's Nicola Wearne has literally been to the ends of the earth to overcome her chronic illness - and now she's going to great heights as well.
The mum-of-two, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 38, has her sights set on the Everest Marathon, the world's highest and probably most adventurous trail running marathon.
Held annually on May 29, in honour of the first successful ascent of Mt Everest by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary, the marathon is a tribute to the adventurers.
"I have always wanted to visit Everest," says Nicola of her desire to compete. "I feel that visiting it is part of being a New Zealander.
"It's also important to me to experience places, such as this, where the world environment is changing so quickly. I want to see these beautiful parts of the planet before they maybe don't exist."
Like the famous climbing pair, Nicola will be inspiring fellow Kiwis with stories of her struggles and successes, at Lyon O'Neale Arnold's Wonder Women speaker series on Tuesday.
Conceived by the Tauranga law firm's co-director, Denise Arnold, the free quarterly event seeks to connect aspirational women in the community, to empower and inspire, educate and excite through thought-provoking conversation.
"Nicola has achieved amazing physical feats despite the challenges presented by her health. I think we can all draw inspiration from her determination and positive outlook on life and apply this to our own goals - big or small," says Denise.
I always feel humbled when I get told that my goals are inspiring and get asked to talk about them.
"It's a privilege to be asked to speak and share my experiences in the hope that it helps another who is either struggling with a chronic disease or the struggles that we get thrown at us on a daily basis."
While Nicola's upcoming exploration will be a topic of conversation, she will also share details about her first foray into challenging marathons - in October 2015, she made headlines for becoming the first Kiwi woman to compete in the Polar Circle Marathon, a gruelling trek through the ice caps of Greenland.
"I think experiences like these big marathons are cool, not just for the extreme locations but simply because of the volume of people who are all there to do one thing: run. The atmosphere is like going to a rock concert!
"I'm excited, and nervous, for the Everest Marathon. It's a true feat of endurance, with 16 days of compulsory acclimatisation before we even get to the start line. With the gear required and the sheer logistics of taking on a run of this nature, it will certainly be a challenge!"
Most think Nicola mad for taking on such death-defying adventures while living with a chronic disease, but her answer is always, "Why not?"
"People say, 'Why go all the way there and do that?', but it's like, why wouldn't I?' You only get one shot at life and I think you need that challenge to the routine, no matter what that challenge is. You have to have something you are passionate about, and for me, it's running."
The great outdoors were a large part of Nicola's life growing up in the King Country.
Fishing, skiing, running - with an active father and younger brother Leif, the family were always exploring new places and adventures. But it was trail running that Nicola found she had a real connection with.
"I love it because you are out and about in environment, in places that people don't usually go. It's about seeing the countryside, it's about the running, but it's more about being out and seeing life in different ways."
To be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis was the last thing Nicola expected. Her symptoms began in her late 20s and became prominent after she gave birth to her second child, Adam, at age 30.
"I went back to work not long after I had my son, and the fatigue just took a toll on me. I found random stuff would happen, like a shoulder would ache or then it was my knee, and I'd think, 'What's happening here'?"
"When I was stressed, the pain would pick up big time and I would just become extremely tired, I'd lose strength - sometimes picking up a cup was hard, and then the next minute it would be fine."
Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic progressive disease causing inflammation in the joints, is notoriously hard to diagnose and as a fit, healthy, active young woman, Nicola never expected to be hit with the bad news at age 38.
"That's what upset me the most. I'm careful about what I eat, I don't smoke, don't drink, so then being told to have medication the rest of my life, I was like, 'I'm not sick, why do I have to have that?' That's what I struggled with - knowing it's something I'll have to manage forever."
But determined not to let the disease rule her life, Nicola set her sights on the Polar Circle Marathon and with her anti-inflammatory medication packed, which she has taken fortnightly for the past four years, she set to achieve what once seemed impossible.
I love it because you are out and about in environment, in places that people don't usually go
Now, with her arthritis in remission, Nicola's next challenge is the Everest Marathon. Beginning at the Everest Base Camp, at an altitude of 5380m, the race navigates the terrain for 42km to Namche Bazaar.
Training has included regular running with weight training and body balance classes at the local gym, with diet an equally important part of the programme. "I've had to be very strict - lots of iron, protein, and coffee ... can't run without coffee."
Heath is a priority not just for Nicola, but all the competitors, as many fall ill during the acclimatisation trek to Base Camp prior to the event's start.
"Most people lose approximately 5kg before the run even begins and I don't have that to lose! I think this will be the biggest challenge. And, of course, running at high altitude and sleeping in a tent for 18 days with no shower," she adds with a laugh.
Challenges aside, that hasn't stopped Nicola from setting her sights on the next big adventure: "What's next? A 260km run in Africa - but that's a few years away."
*If you would like to find out more about Lyon O'Neale Arnold's Wonder Women events, email www@loalaw.nz.