Former Wanganui man Perry Newburn is taking five pairs of running shoes with him on his 5000km run around New Zealand, but he expects to wear out more than that.
He ran 68km from Feilding to Wanganui on Saturday, pausing at Cooks Gardens half-way through the Wanganui versus Kapiti-Horowhenua Heartland Championship game for a couple of laps around the track.
Mr Newburn is on a 71-day run around New Zealand, raising money for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Saturday was day two, and when the Chronicle rang on day three he was lunching at the Waitotara Hotel en route to Patea, and feeling good.
He said the five pairs of running shoes in his support van would not be enough for all of his journey.
"I know full well I'm going to need another two or three. Normally a shoe will do 1000km, if you are careful, and I'm spelling mine by not wearing them two days in a row."
He hopes his journey will raise $30,000 for the mental health cause. He had a good start on Saturday. The rugby crowd gave $544, which he said was brilliant.
After his stop at the game he continued to Virginia Lake for a fun run with several members of Wanganui Harriers Club - which he joined when he lived in Wanganui and after completing his first marathon at the age of 49.
Mr Newburn has worked in mental health for a long time, most recently as an alcohol and drug counsellor for MASH Trust in Palmerston North.
He said a diagnosis of mental illness - either for themselves or someone close to them - would affect one in four New Zealanders during their lifetime.