Pizza to go and go and go...

Dave Walker. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Pies and pizza are the fuel of choice for Dave Walker as he runs up to two marathons a day for 11 days.

The Murrays Bay Intermediate School teacher will be loading on carbohydrates and salt as he continues the 716km, 11-day journey which began in New Plymouth on Wednesday, had taken him to Turangi yesterday, and is due to end at East Cape on Saturday. "Give me carbs basically. It's pizza and the odd pie - stuff to sustain you," he said.

Walker is asking for donations as he runs the width of the country to raise $30,000 for Middlemore Hospital's National Burn Centre.

Knocking off up to two marathons a day in the Cape2Cape run would be a huge challenge said the experienced ultra marathon runner.

"It's a big ask."

As a 1-year-old Walker was badly burned when he accidently poured a jug of boiling water over himself.

Forty-six years later he wants to repay the burns unit for the treatment he received.

"I wanted to help them in some way and give back."

The money will be used to buy a microscope for the burns centre to help specialists do fine skin work.