The affable American is not your typical teenager. She is aiming to be the youngest person to run seven marathons on the seven continents in her "quest to chase down a cure for prostate cancer".
Vinecki's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer when she was 9 years old in 2008. He died 10 months later, just before his 41st birthday.
Throughout her running sojourn around the globe he has remained Vinecki's inspiration.
"Dad is always on my mind. He is there with me with every run I go on. Every time it is tough and I think about giving up I think about him and his chemo treatment and the awful times he had and that he never gave in so I never give in."
She is running the Wharf to Wharf because "it was the only event in the Oceania region that would allow me to run a marathon as a 14-year-old".
Vinecki, who is travelling with her mother, Dr Dawn Estelle, is looking forward to the challenge of the Wharf to Wharf.
"I have heard that it is half trail and half road running and that the terrain is pretty tough. I have been told that it is really beautiful on Great Barrier so I am looking forward to seeing it and running my first marathon in New Zealand."
Her journey has taken her all over the world and attracted international interest. Highlights include being the youngest person to complete a marathon in Antarctica, back in April, and winning the Inca Trail Marathon to Machu Picchu in Peru in June in a course record.
Vinecki has completed five continents and has Oceania and Europe left on the list. Her running adventure will finish in Greece in the Athens Classic Marathon.
"It has been pretty crazy," she said. "The travel has been the hardest thing and that makes the whole thing pretty tiring and hard to keep up with the training but I can't complain, it has been an incredible journey. It will be a surreal feeling when it is all over with my last marathon in Athens."
The most satisfying part of her running mission has been the incredible support along the way.
"It has been great to meet people all around the world who have told me how I have inspired them to do their own fundraising for causes that they are passionate about. That has been really rewarding.
"I know that I am trying to achieve something big and special and it is cool to have people sharing in that journey from all walks of life."
Every place she visits is a new race, a new challenge and a new culture to experience.
Vinecki, who runs about 56km a week - fitted around the training for her other pursuit of trying to make the 2018 Winter Olympics as a freestyle skier - loves the freedom running offers. "I love the sense of accomplishment and the accountability that comes with running. You only get out what you put in and the feeling of relief and achievement when it is over is always so great.
"Running is a real challenge and every time you go out it is a new day."
She has simple advice for other young people her age looking to achieve or overcome adversity.
"Dream and dream big," she said. "Have a goal and work towards it. Don't listen to all the people who tell you can't do it and surround yourself with people who believe in you and you will get there if you want it enough. Find your passion and be inspired to see it through."
Vinecki is only a few months from writing her name in the record books of running.
When people look back on the running feats of Winter Vinecki, the youngest runner to complete seven marathons on the seven continents, her record will read: Oregon, Kenya, Antarctica, Peru, Mongolia, Greece and New Zealand - or more specifically Great Barrier Island, which is a nice way to put the Wharf to Wharf on the map.
Roll of honour
North America: The Eugene Marathon; Eugene, Oregon. April, 2012 - 3:45:04; 3rd place age group female
Africa: The Amazing Maasai Marathon; Kenya, Africa. September, 2012 - 4:04:00; 3rd place overall female
Antarctica: Marathon Tours Antarctica Marathon; King George Island, Antarctica. April, 2013 - 4:49:45; 3rd place overall female, new world record - youngest person ever to complete a marathon in Antarctica
South America: The Inca Trail Marathon to Machu Picchu; Cuzco, Peru. June 5, 2013 - 9:18:44; women's overall winner and course record
Asia: Sunrise to Sunset Marathon; Mongolia 5:55:00
Oceania: The Great Barrier Island Wharf to Wharf Marathon; New Zealand. Today
Europe: Athens Classic Marathon Athens, Greece
Help support Winter Vinecki in her quest to chase down a cure for prostate cancer by donating at: https://teamwinter.org/
