A full field of 450 runners are expected to line up next weekend at 6am for what is considered New Zealand's premier mountain running race, the Kepler Challenge.

LISTEN TO RACE ORGANISER

STEVE NORRIS

Starting at Te Anau's Merdian Control Gates the 60km course follows the Kepler Track, a 3-day circular Department of Conservation Great Walk, and offers amazing alpine views to runners as they approach its 1390 meters apex, before decending beneath the forest canopy and the final stretch back to Te Anau.

And an hour later 200 runners will set off for the shorter 27km Luxmore Grunt, a race to the Luxmore Hut and back again.

The first Luxmore Grunt runners are expected to cross the finish line by 8.45am, while the leading Kepler Challenge runners will start appearing from 10.40am.

Runners will be supported throughout the race by up to 200 race-day volunteers.

Kepler Challenge organising committee chair, Steve Norris said only about half a dozen runners do it for the prize money, with most doing it for the personal challenge and the sense of achievement they get from it.

The race has its origins with a group of Fiordland College teachers, who in 1986 decided to organise a one-off race to celebrate 100 years of people walking the Milford Track.

Originally to be run over the Milford Track, they discovered the logistics to be just too hard, so instead decided to hold the race on the newly formed Kepler Track.

A second shorter 27km race, the Luxmore Grunt, was also added in 1989.

Such has been the popularity and success of the event, that 37 years later the now annual race now boosts more race hopefuls than positions available.

Going on online sale on the first Saturday in July, both races regularly sell out within minutes, which prompted organisers to also offer up to 20 $1000 entries, with proceeds going to charity.

However these are now snapped up almost as quickly as the regular entries, which has been a real boon for local Fiordland community groups.

Kepler Challenge

Starts: 6am

Where: Te Anau Meridian Control Gates

First runners expected: 10.40am

Luxmore Grunt

Starts: 7am

Where: Te Anau Meridian Control Gates

First runners expected: 8.45am

An app is also available to track friends around the course.

CLICK HERE for more information.