229:
178:
203:. A number of competitors should complete the course in less than 5 hours. Others may take up to 11 hours. As of 2006, Murray Thomas, an engineer from Alexandra has run in and completed all 19 Kepler Challenges, while Alan Reid, a school teacher from Greymouth at the time (now Lumsden), and Peter Dunne, who works for Badminton NZ, have each run 18.
241:
Such an event requires a large support team to operate the checkpoints, provide communications, first aid and other services. Nearly 200 local people contribute in some way to ensure that the event runs smoothly. Thousands of voluntary hours go into organising the race but it is worth all the effort
165:
the route follows an easy first 6 km before it takes a steady climb to the
Luxmore Hut. The next 12 km offer wonderful views of the South Fiord along the undulating tops before a spectacular descent to the Iris Burn Hut. A gradual 17 km journey down the Iris Burn brings competitors to
262:
is held on the same race day as the Kepler
Challenge but is much shorter being only 27 km in distance. Competitors follow the same route starting at the control gates but then turn around at Luxmore Hut and head back down to the start/finish line. This event was limited to 150 runners annually
198:
surpassing the record of 4h37m41s was which held by Phil
Costley, who in December 2005 beat Russell Hurring's previous record of 4h41m32s (set in 1993). Zelah Morrall smashed the women's race record repeatedly, last in 2003 by a further 10 minutes her best time being
224:
Also in 2009, Murray Thomas returned from overseas to complete his 21st challenge, Ray
Willett (Te Anau) completed his 21st challenge and Alan Reid completed his 21st event from 22 starts (Alan withdrew during the 2006 event due to injury/knee surgery issues).
153:. It has been held annually since 1988, and draws competitors from throughout New Zealand and around the world. Around 450 runners enter the event with nearly all completing the demanding course.
28:
217:
In 2009, one of the competitors, Malcolm Law, completed the run as the last stage in a "7-in-7 challenge", in which he became the first person to run all of New
Zealand's 7
361:
900:
895:
428:
915:
317:
406:
910:
905:
1618:
890:
885:
1644:
1659:
1649:
880:
474:
292:
525:
875:
870:
1639:
941:
936:
824:
758:
293:"Ruby Muir Pre-2018 Tarawera Ultramarathon Interview â iRunFar: Your Trail Running & Ultramarathon Resource"
221:
in 7 days (a total of 360 km, or 9 marathons), in aid of the
Leukemia and Blood Foundation of New Zealand.
170:
and from there a 6 km run to the last checkpoint at
Rainbow Reach. The home straight follows alongside the
1461:
1323:
1268:
733:
1123:
626:
369:
1002:
601:
1613:
1078:
982:
743:
728:
718:
698:
228:
436:
1338:
1318:
1313:
1273:
1033:
738:
678:
652:
1471:
1183:
1163:
1048:
723:
343:
1228:
1213:
1133:
1088:
1063:
1038:
977:
1557:
1446:
1415:
1293:
748:
713:
554:
518:
218:
150:
49:
1263:
1258:
1168:
1083:
799:
784:
549:
171:
561:
1456:
1451:
1043:
642:
596:
581:
566:
414:
1303:
250:. The Trust is a charitable entity and uses any surplus to fund local community projects.
8:
956:
1466:
1328:
511:
1529:
1654:
1567:
1502:
1394:
1389:
1103:
951:
946:
931:
763:
693:
606:
138:
63:
1298:
1582:
1524:
1497:
1476:
1158:
1138:
1128:
1068:
839:
708:
207:
177:
1288:
1012:
1587:
1577:
1562:
1384:
1374:
1343:
1253:
1243:
1153:
1118:
1113:
961:
814:
779:
616:
571:
167:
461:
1633:
1572:
1519:
1308:
1283:
1223:
1218:
1203:
1073:
1058:
1053:
1007:
997:
992:
854:
753:
673:
657:
591:
586:
576:
489:
476:
272:
263:
but since 2013 has been increased to 200 because of its growing popularity.
1552:
1507:
1441:
1379:
1369:
1333:
1278:
1248:
849:
834:
829:
804:
683:
611:
162:
146:
1597:
1547:
1492:
1364:
1348:
1198:
1188:
1178:
1148:
1108:
1093:
987:
819:
789:
647:
503:
191:
142:
81:
53:
27:
1420:
1233:
1208:
1193:
1173:
1143:
1098:
844:
809:
621:
383:
1592:
1410:
1238:
1028:
794:
703:
534:
243:
211:
125:
688:
466:
1425:
318:"Jones and Muir bank Kepler Challenge titles in tough conditions"
248:
Kepler
Challenge Mountain Run Trust and its Organising Committee
232:
Finish line of the Kepler
Challenge and Luxmore Grunt events.
347:
297:
iRunFar: Your Trail
Running & Ultramarathon Resource
346:. © 2013 by The 7 in 7 Challenge 2010. Archived from
1631:
386:. ©2014 Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand
214:has been the first female finisher six times.
519:
429:"Of tough men, long skirts and bronze shoes"
413:. Allied Press Limited 2007. Archived from
533:
526:
512:
26:
1619:New Zealand American Fiordland Expedition
227:
176:
190:In 2013 the men's record was beaten by
1632:
507:
246:Calendar. The event organised by the
210:finished first three years in a row.
242:to make it a major highlight on the
236:
181:Alpine running section of the track
13:
1588:Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site
404:
14:
1671:
455:
161:Starting at the Control Gates of
901:Taumoana (Five Finger Peninsula)
825:Lake McKerrow / Whakatipu Waitai
253:
341:
174:and back to the Control Gates.
896:Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island)
421:
398:
376:
354:
335:
310:
285:
1:
1645:Mountain running competitions
916:Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound)
627:Rakituma / Preservation Inlet
368:. 7in7.org.nz. Archived from
362:"Day 7: The Kepler Challenge"
278:
1660:Summer events in New Zealand
1650:Running races in New Zealand
137:Mountain Run is the premier
7:
1614:Fiordland Islands programme
911:Te Hapua (Sutherland Sound)
906:Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut)
435:. SPORTZHUB. Archived from
266:
145:and follows the 60 km
10:
1676:
1607:Programmes and expeditions
891:Piopiotahi (Milford Sound)
886:Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm)
185:
1606:
1540:
1485:
1472:Puysegur Point Lighthouse
1434:
1403:
1357:
1021:
970:
924:
863:
772:
666:
635:
542:
366:The 7 in 7 Challenge 2010
121:
95:
87:
77:
73:60km (Luxmore Grunt 27km)
69:
59:
45:
37:
25:
20:
490:45.440456°S 167.686254°E
156:
1640:Fiordland National Park
1558:Fiordland National Park
1447:Manapouri Power Station
151:Fiordland National Park
50:Fiordland National Park
881:Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm)
550:Doubtful Sound / Patea
495:-45.440456; 167.686254
233:
182:
1457:Monowai Power Station
1452:Milford Sound Airport
597:Tamatea / Dusky Sound
582:Taiari / Chalky Inlet
567:Hinenui / Nancy Sound
467:Official Race Website
384:"7in7 Challenge 2010"
231:
180:
126:keplerchallenge.co.nz
32:Kepler Challenge Logo
462:Youtube archive item
115:Luxmore Grunt Women:
1169:John o'Groats River
957:Murchison Mountains
876:Kahukura (Gold Arm)
562:HÄwea / Bligh Sound
486: /
166:the Moturau Hut on
1467:Port Craig tramway
1329:Wild Natives River
1304:WairaurÄhiri River
942:Humboldt Mountains
937:Franklin Mountains
871:Hawea (Clio Rocks)
439:on 7 December 2014
234:
183:
110:Luxmore Grunt Men:
1627:
1626:
1530:Routeburn Classic
759:Resolution Island
237:Community support
131:
130:
1667:
1568:Hollyford Valley
1513:Kepler Challenge
1503:Hump Ridge Track
1395:Sutherland Falls
1390:Lady Alice Falls
1324:Whitewater River
1269:Stillwater River
1104:Dry Awarua River
1003:Mount Richardson
952:Kepler Mountains
947:Hunter Mountains
932:Darran Mountains
764:Secretary Island
734:Elizabeth Island
694:Belle Vue Island
607:Sutherland Sound
528:
521:
514:
505:
504:
501:
500:
498:
497:
496:
491:
487:
484:
483:
482:
479:
449:
448:
446:
444:
425:
419:
418:
402:
396:
395:
393:
391:
380:
374:
373:
358:
352:
351:
344:"The 7in7 Story"
339:
333:
332:
330:
329:
314:
308:
307:
305:
304:
289:
139:mountain running
135:Kepler Challenge
30:
21:Kepler Challenge
18:
17:
1675:
1674:
1670:
1669:
1668:
1666:
1665:
1664:
1630:
1629:
1628:
1623:
1602:
1583:Te Ana-au Caves
1536:
1525:Routeburn Track
1498:Hollyford Track
1481:
1477:Te Anau Airport
1430:
1399:
1353:
1159:Hollyford River
1139:Glaisnock River
1129:Forgotten River
1124:Elizabeth River
1069:Cavendish River
1017:
983:Mount Edgecumbe
966:
925:Mountain ranges
920:
864:Marine reserves
859:
840:Lake Poteriteri
768:
709:Buncrana Island
699:Breaksea Island
662:
631:
538:
532:
494:
492:
488:
485:
480:
477:
475:
473:
472:
458:
453:
452:
442:
440:
427:
426:
422:
407:"Luxmore Grunt"
403:
399:
389:
387:
382:
381:
377:
360:
359:
355:
340:
336:
327:
325:
316:
315:
311:
302:
300:
291:
290:
286:
281:
269:
256:
239:
208:Vajin Armstrong
206:From 2010â2012
194:with a time of
188:
159:
113:
108:
103:
78:Primary sponsor
33:
12:
11:
5:
1673:
1663:
1662:
1657:
1652:
1647:
1642:
1625:
1624:
1622:
1621:
1616:
1610:
1608:
1604:
1603:
1601:
1600:
1595:
1590:
1585:
1580:
1578:Puysegur Point
1575:
1570:
1565:
1563:Foveaux Strait
1560:
1555:
1550:
1544:
1542:
1541:Other features
1538:
1537:
1535:
1534:
1533:
1532:
1522:
1517:
1516:
1515:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1489:
1487:
1486:Walking tracks
1483:
1482:
1480:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1444:
1438:
1436:
1432:
1431:
1429:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1407:
1405:
1401:
1400:
1398:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1385:Humboldt Falls
1382:
1377:
1375:Grainger Falls
1372:
1367:
1361:
1359:
1355:
1354:
1352:
1351:
1346:
1344:Windward River
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1254:Seaforth River
1251:
1246:
1244:Red Pyke River
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1154:Gulliver River
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1119:Electric River
1116:
1114:Eglinton River
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1031:
1025:
1023:
1019:
1018:
1016:
1015:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
974:
972:
968:
967:
965:
964:
962:Wick Mountains
959:
954:
949:
944:
939:
934:
928:
926:
922:
921:
919:
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
878:
873:
867:
865:
861:
860:
858:
857:
852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
827:
822:
817:
815:Lake Manapouri
812:
807:
802:
797:
792:
787:
782:
780:Lake Alabaster
776:
774:
770:
769:
767:
766:
761:
756:
751:
746:
741:
736:
731:
726:
721:
716:
711:
706:
701:
696:
691:
686:
681:
676:
670:
668:
664:
663:
661:
660:
655:
650:
645:
639:
637:
633:
632:
630:
629:
624:
619:
617:Breaksea Sound
614:
609:
604:
602:Thompson Sound
599:
594:
589:
584:
579:
574:
572:Bradshaw Sound
569:
564:
559:
558:
557:
546:
544:
540:
539:
531:
530:
523:
516:
508:
470:
469:
464:
457:
456:External links
454:
451:
450:
420:
417:on 2010-11-21.
397:
375:
372:on 2013-02-08.
353:
350:on 2013-03-04.
334:
309:
283:
282:
280:
277:
276:
275:
268:
265:
255:
252:
238:
235:
187:
184:
168:Lake Manapouri
158:
155:
129:
128:
123:
119:
118:
97:
96:Course records
93:
92:
89:
85:
84:
79:
75:
74:
71:
67:
66:
61:
57:
56:
47:
43:
42:
41:Early December
39:
35:
34:
31:
23:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1672:
1661:
1658:
1656:
1653:
1651:
1648:
1646:
1643:
1641:
1638:
1637:
1635:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1611:
1609:
1605:
1599:
1596:
1594:
1591:
1589:
1586:
1584:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1573:McKinnon Pass
1571:
1569:
1566:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1545:
1543:
1539:
1531:
1528:
1527:
1526:
1523:
1521:
1520:Milford Track
1518:
1514:
1511:
1510:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1490:
1488:
1484:
1478:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1439:
1437:
1433:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1416:Milford Sound
1414:
1412:
1409:
1408:
1406:
1402:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1383:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1371:
1368:
1366:
1363:
1362:
1360:
1356:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1309:Waitutu River
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1299:WaikÅau River
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1284:Transit River
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1224:Pandora River
1222:
1220:
1219:Olivine River
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1204:Monowai River
1202:
1200:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1079:Clinton River
1077:
1075:
1074:Cleddau River
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1059:Carrick River
1057:
1055:
1054:Camelot River
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1026:
1024:
1020:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1008:Mount Titiroa
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
998:Mount Moturau
996:
994:
993:Mount Luxmore
991:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
975:
973:
969:
963:
960:
958:
955:
953:
950:
948:
945:
943:
940:
938:
935:
933:
930:
929:
927:
923:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
868:
866:
862:
856:
855:Waiuna Lagoon
853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
801:
798:
796:
793:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
777:
775:
771:
765:
762:
760:
757:
755:
754:Pomona Island
752:
750:
747:
745:
744:Indian Island
742:
740:
737:
735:
732:
730:
729:Cooper Island
727:
725:
722:
720:
719:Chalky Island
717:
715:
714:Centre Island
712:
710:
707:
705:
702:
700:
697:
695:
692:
690:
687:
685:
682:
680:
677:
675:
674:Anchor Island
672:
671:
669:
665:
659:
658:Te Waewae Bay
656:
654:
653:Pearl Harbour
651:
649:
646:
644:
641:
640:
638:
634:
628:
625:
623:
620:
618:
615:
613:
610:
608:
605:
603:
600:
598:
595:
593:
592:Caswell Sound
590:
588:
587:Charles Sound
585:
583:
580:
578:
577:Milford Sound
575:
573:
570:
568:
565:
563:
560:
556:
553:
552:
551:
548:
547:
545:
541:
537:, New Zealand
536:
529:
524:
522:
517:
515:
510:
509:
506:
502:
499:
468:
465:
463:
460:
459:
438:
434:
433:sportzhub.com
430:
424:
416:
412:
408:
405:Fuller, Sue.
401:
385:
379:
371:
367:
363:
357:
349:
345:
338:
323:
319:
313:
298:
294:
288:
284:
274:
273:Trail running
271:
270:
264:
261:
260:Luxmore Grunt
254:Luxmore Grunt
251:
249:
245:
230:
226:
222:
220:
215:
213:
209:
204:
202:
197:
193:
179:
175:
173:
169:
164:
154:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
127:
124:
122:Official site
120:
116:
111:
106:
101:
98:
94:
90:
86:
83:
80:
76:
72:
68:
65:
62:
58:
55:
51:
48:
44:
40:
36:
29:
24:
19:
16:
1553:Awarua Point
1512:
1508:Kepler Track
1462:Milford Road
1442:Homer Tunnel
1380:Helena Falls
1370:Browne Falls
1339:Wilson River
1334:Wilmot River
1319:Wapiti River
1314:Walker River
1289:TÅ«toko River
1279:Thurso River
1274:Talbot River
1249:Rooney River
1214:Newton River
1134:George River
1064:Castle River
1039:Awarua River
1034:Arthur River
1013:Mount TÅ«toko
850:Lake Te Anau
835:Lake Monowai
830:Mirror Lakes
805:Lake Hauroko
739:Great Island
684:Bauza Island
679:Arran Island
612:George Sound
471:
441:. Retrieved
437:the original
432:
423:
415:the original
410:
400:
388:. Retrieved
378:
370:the original
365:
356:
348:the original
337:
326:. Retrieved
324:. 2019-12-08
321:
312:
301:. Retrieved
299:. 2018-02-08
296:
287:
259:
257:
247:
240:
223:
216:
205:
200:
195:
189:
163:Lake Te Anau
160:
149:through the
147:Kepler Track
134:
132:
114:
109:
104:
99:
82:Fresh Choice
15:
1598:Wilmot Pass
1548:Aurora Cave
1493:Dusky Track
1404:Settlements
1365:Bowen Falls
1349:Wolff River
1294:Waiau River
1199:Misty River
1189:Lyvia River
1184:Light River
1179:Kaipo River
1164:Irene River
1149:Grebe River
1109:Edith River
1094:Donne River
1049:Bowen River
988:Mount Grono
820:Lake Marian
790:Lake Fergus
749:Long Island
724:Coal Island
648:Martins Bay
493: /
481:167°41â²11â³E
390:16 February
219:Great Walks
192:Martin Dent
172:Waiau River
143:New Zealand
88:Established
54:New Zealand
1634:Categories
1435:Structures
1421:Port Craig
1358:Waterfalls
1264:Spey River
1259:Shag River
1234:Pyke River
1229:Pitt River
1209:Namu River
1194:Mike River
1174:Juno River
1144:Gray River
1099:Doon River
1089:Dark River
1084:Coal River
978:Mitre Peak
845:Lake Quill
810:Lake Innes
800:Green Lake
785:Lake Alice
622:Dagg Sound
478:45°26â²26â³S
443:7 December
342:Law, Mal.
328:2020-01-24
303:2018-02-25
279:References
60:Event type
1593:West Cape
1411:Manapouri
1239:Rea River
1044:Big River
1029:Aan River
971:Mountains
795:Lake Gunn
704:Brig Rock
555:Deep Cove
535:Fiordland
411:Your Town
244:Fiordland
212:Ruby Muir
141:event in
689:Bay Rock
267:See also
201:5h23m34s
196:4h33m37s
70:Distance
64:Mountain
46:Location
1655:Te Anau
1426:Te Anau
667:Islands
643:Big Bay
186:Records
117:2:04:18
112:1:52:30
107:5:23:34
102:4:33:37
1022:Rivers
543:Fiords
105:Women:
773:Lakes
322:Stuff
157:Route
636:Bays
445:2014
392:2014
258:The
133:The
100:Men:
91:1988
38:Date
1636::
431:.
409:.
364:.
320:.
295:.
52:,
527:e
520:t
513:v
447:.
394:.
331:.
306:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
.JPG)
