Upcoming 1 Jul – 31 Jul 2026

VERTUAL July

Could you climb 49,600 m in July?

Enter the challenge 123 signed up

This is the hub for the Trail Running NZ VERTUAL July Challenge. It kicks off on Wednesday the 1st of July.

It's so easy that anyone can start … I'm just not sure anyone can finish it.

Day one you climb 100 m of vert. Day two, 200 m. Day three, 300 m. You keep adding another 100 m every single day for the rest of the month. Miss a day and you're out — no catch-ups, no banking, no IOUs.

Simple enough, right? Invite your mates and see who can last the longest. Last one standing takes the glory (and a stupid trophy for the pool room).

What you're racing for

Not just glory.

Overall winner

$2,235 prize pack

$500 cash from TRNZ, the That's It Primo Pack ($539), Leki Ultra Trail poles from Kinisi Running ($430), any Merrell trail shoes (up to $379), Huntaway Run Co Foster 01 shorts ($119), a $100 Creepers voucher, two Mountain Skag tees ($158), and free entry to the Crush the Cargill 200 miler.

Make it to Day 7

Mere-mortal rewards

That's It Anti-Chafe ($23.90), a $70 Merrell NZ voucher, 10% codes from Kinisi Running and Huntaway Run Co, and free entry to the Crush the Cargill 24hr Challenge.

Make it to Day 14

Everything upgrades

A $140 Merrell NZ voucher, 15% Kinisi and 20% Huntaway codes, a 20% Mountain Skag code, and free entry to the Crush the Cargill 100 Miler.

Make it to Day 21

Top-tier rewards

A 20% Kinisi code, a free pair of Creepers socks, and a Mountain Skag Speed Lid.

Top female finisher

Girls only

A free training consult with Nic Ayson of Singletrack Collective.

Who's In

123 signed up — the climbing starts Wednesday 1 July.

Al S.

Alex C.

Alex W.

Allira H.

Amir K.

Andy C.

Andy T.

Angus W.

Arne V.

Aster M.

Ben G.

Ben W.

Boyd S.

Bradley H.

Brendan J.

Brendan V.

Bridie M.

Cain S.

Caitlin K.

Callum M.

Cameron S.

Celia J.

Charlotte M.

Chris N.

Chris T.

christophe P.

Corinne F.

Crystal B.

Dani K.

Daniel B.

Dave M.

Dean S.

Debbie B.

Diana O.

Dom E.

Dougal S.

Elspeth K.

Emma B.

erin G.

Geno M.

Geoff W.

Grace C.

Grant P.

grep F.

Hunter W.

Isaac M.

Isaac T.

Jack M.

James B.

Jason W.

Jennie D.

Jessca A.

Jessica R.

Joe B.

Jonas B.

Jonathan A.

Jonathan N.

Jono A.

Jub ..

Katerina M.

Katie P.

Katie T.

Kendall P.

Kerry A.

Kerryn S.

Kieran R.

Kirsty H.

Liam G.

Luke W.

Maria S.

MŠ

Martin Š.

Matt D.

Megan B.

Mike K.

Mike L.

Mike R.

Mike T.

Monique K.

Nic A.

Nikki G.

Olivia H.

Olivia L.

Oscar O.

Patrick Kalin

Otago

Pete R.

Rachel M.

Red R.

Richard Clemo

Canterbury

Richard S.

Rob L.

Robert S.

Rocky A.

Rory H.

Rowan C.

Runningbeast (.

Ryan T.

Sam A.

Sam E.

Sam M.

Samantha B.

Sara M.

Sarah C.

Sarah M.

SCOTT BOUGEN X REP ENDURANCE ..

Sean G.

Sean M.

Shannon R.

Shayne J.

Simon A.

Sophie B.

steve T.

Storm S.

Stuart M.

Teodora G.

Thomas E.

Tim S.

Toby O.

Tom P.

Tori W.

Trevor R.

Wendy D.

Will J.

🌶

🌶 Nick P.

An unofficial community tally for a bit of fun — vert is pulled from the VERTUAL Strava club. Watch died? Flag it and we'll sort it.