Extreme runner Glenn Sutton starts running the 301km Alps 2 Ocean trail at about 8am yesterday.
The 42-year-old endurance runner hopes to complete the non-stop run by early tomorrow morning.
He said things were going well at the beginning of the run.
"I like this part of the country and as far as I'm aware no-one has done [this run] continuously so I thought I'd give it a crack.''
He described the autumn scenery he was running through as "perfect''.
"It's just perfect running weather''.
Support crew member Bruce Adams, also a long-distance runner, said he understood the challenges faced by his friend.
He said there would come a time during the race where the support crew would have to take over Mr Sutton's food and liquid intake.
"When it gets into the latter parts of the race we'll take over parts of that for him.
"He's calling the shots at the moment but when he gets further we'll start feeding him.
"It's easier for us to realise that he's falling apart and that's when we'll take over. We need to feed the beast.''
