Newburn closes in on LA and masters record

Perry Newburn's trek across the US is gaining plenty of attention as he approaches the end of the 52-day run. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Just over 300km is a substantial run in itself - but for Perry Newburn it's just the home stretch.

Newburn has made it to California, the last state on his run across the United States.

At the end of day 49 yesterday, he had made it nearly 100km into the state as he heads to Los Angeles.

The former Wanganui man, now living in Feilding, left the New York town hall on September 1, and is expected to reach the Los Angeles town hall by the end of the week. If he gets there before the end of day 53, the 60-year-old will claim the masters world record for the trans-America run.

The past week, Newburn has battled through the Mojave Desert and its high temperatures.

"Days like this are for you (his supporters) when it's really hard to get the miles in," he said via video on his Facebook page.

"First day in California, we're going to go for a big day," he said.

"It is extremely hot, it's one mile at a time at the moment ... plenty of ice in the hat just to keep me relatively cool and, when I get back, it's in the car for a bit of air-conditioned coolness."

The endurance runner has only been in the sport for a decade but the American run has been a long-held dream. Newburn made an appearance on the local Fox News channel as he passed through Arizona earlier in the week.