WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Powered by hash browns and chocolate milkshakes, a 64-year-old New Zealander has run the length of his country in a record time of 18 days and eight hours.

A former drug addict, Perry Newburn, is not your typical endurance athlete.

His nutrition plan included plenty of stops at McDonald's restaurants. He kept his pace in his head rather than using a fancy GPS watch. And his support crew for half the distance consisted of his mate Graeme driving ahead in Perry's Toyota Corolla wagon.

But Newburn ran and ran and ran, averaging close to three full marathons each day along the 2,100 kilometer (1,300 mile) journey, which he finished Wednesday. About 50 people ran alongside him at various points and he raised several thousand dollars for an autism charity.