The race is on as entries are set to open for Te Anau's 35th Kepler Challenge, and the slightly shorter Luxmore Grunt, at 6.30am next Saturday (July 1st).

Traditionally entries have sold out within the first 4 minutes of going on sale, although the event does offer a waitlist for those who initially miss out.

One of New Zealand's premier mountain running events, the Kepler Challenge will see a maximum 450 competitors race over the 60km Kepler Track, one of the Department of Conservation's Great Walks.

Starting at 6am on Saturday 2nd December from Lake Te Anau's hydro control gates, runners follow the lake edge of Te Anau before ascending Mount Luxmore.

From there they hug the mountain tops before descending into the Iris Burn for their return leg via Lake Manapouri and the Upper Waiau River.

The first Kepler Challenge runners will be expected to finish between four and five hours later.

For those seeking a shorter challenge, event organisers also offer up to 200 places in the 27km Luxmore Grunt.

Luxmore Grunt runners start slightly later at 7am and follow in the footsteps of the Kepler Challenge runners to Mount Luxmore before retracing their steps to the finish line.

CLICK HERE for more information

Kepler Challenge course record

Men 4:33:37, Women 5:23:34

Luxmore Grunt course record

Men 1:52:30, Women 2:04:18