Why don't you do a lap of honour, asks Tom Deniss's wife after record-breaking circumnavigation

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

He's just run more than 26,000 kms and is set to be declared the fastest man to circumnavigate the earth on foot, but Sydney man Dr Tom Denniss is taking it in his stride.

"In hindsight it doesn't really [seem] that difficult," he mused, hours before crossing the finish line at Sydney Opera House on Friday. "Ahead of attempting it, it did look pretty daunting."

Denniss ran solo through the Grand Canyon, traversed the Andes and crossed the Nullarbor Plain here in Australia. Now he'll be running under police escort during part of his final leg, which will take him from Arncliffe in south Sydney to the CBD and then on towards Circular Quay.

Along the way he believes he'll reach $50,000 in funds raised for Oxfam. At least $44,000 in charity donations have already flowed in.

Denniss said he's in no hurry to kick back, and is already planning to join in a cycling trip in Victoria in a fortnight. But he says his wife, Carmel, who spent two years on the road with him, is even more keen to get back on the road.

"She loved it, probably more than me, because she didn't have to do the running," he laughed.

"She wants me to do it again – she keeps saying `Why don't you do a lap of honour?'"

Denniss is due to complete his world-record bid at 1pm (AEST) on Friday.

Donations can be made to http://www.tomsnextstep.com.