Blue Lake 24hr Challenge

10/09/2026

THE NAUTICAL MILER 🏴‍☠️

Someone worked out that 31 laps of Blue Lake is roughly 100 nautical miles.

That information should probably have been ignored.

Instead, we made a category.

31 laps.
100 nautical miles.
One shot of rum.

Finish it and your reward is exactly what any elite endurance achievement deserves:

🥃 One shot of rum.

DNF = ☠️ Walk the plank.

And because standards matter, the Nautical Miler also comes with a few highly important rules:

* All competitors must address the Race Directors as “Captain”
* All other event staff are to be referred to as “Scallywags”
* Failure to observe proper nautical etiquette will result in walking the plank before your next lap
* Your final lap must be completed wearing a nautical-themed hat
* No hat = the lap does not count

We’re not saying these rules are necessary.

We’re saying they exist.

As far as we can tell, this could also be a world first.

Which sounds impressive until you realise there is probably a very good reason nobody else has done it.

THE NAUTICAL MILER
Because apparently running 100 miles wasn’t ridiculous enough.

10/09/2026

Well when someone comes to us with a crazy idea sometimes we just have to run with it……. Even if we are only 2.5 weeks out from the event.. (Be careful who you listen to)

Stand by for an offical announcement this afternoon

09/09/2026

Who remembers Fireman Paul? 👨🏻‍🚒 Out there doing big things for all the right reasons. ❤️ Looking forward to seeing people at Blue Lake this year tacking their own goals….

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/09/2026

Righto, here’s the official menu of poor decisions for the Blue Lake 24 Hour Challenge — 26/27 September 2026

Whether you’re chasing The Mug, The Buckle, The Claw, one lap an hour or simply doing Whatever You Want, there’s something for every level of questionable judgement.

A few important bits:

📣 Main race briefing is at 7:30 am
🏁 Running begins from 8:00 am
💯 The Miler Qualifier is 10 laps by 7:00 pm Saturday
🔦 Lights are compulsory from 6:00 pm
👧 Kids briefing is at 10:15 am, with their race starting at 10:30 am
🌙 Midnight marathon and 4am half briefings are 15 mins before the start

Can’t make the main briefing? Don’t panic. All the important information will be displayed on a board for you to read.

This is a self-supported event, so bring the food, equipment and supplies you need. You’re big kids now.

Pick your category. Pack your gear. Prepare to make excellent decisions badly.

See you at the lake

- Team Blue Lake

08/09/2026

Allan from Photos4sale will be back again this year, taking photos of your mugs with your mugs. 🍺📸

So when you see the camera, try to look like you’re enjoying yourself.

Even if you’re 14 laps deep and making peace with several poor life choices.

08/09/2026

Blue Lake 24hr started as a small group of mates trying something a bit dumb way back in 2014!

The idea was pretty simple: keep moving for 24 hours and, wherever possible, make it harder than it probably needed to be.

Back then HQ was the ski club. The heat pump was cranked, the spa was hot and there was usually a lamb roast going on the BBQ while people headed back out for another lap in the dark. It made absolutely no sense, which was probably why it worked.

A lot has changed since then, but the thinking hasn’t really.

Sometimes people question why we do things the way we do at Blue Lake. Why we don’t make it easier. Why there aren’t more comforts, shortcuts or ways to soften the edges.

And sometimes there just isn’t a clever answer.

Why make it easy?

It was never really meant to be easy.

That’s kind of the point.

Blue Lake 24hr is still as group of mates trying something a bit dumb, the group has just gotten a little larger!

07/09/2026

A huge shout out and massive thank you to Davy Engravers (1987) Ltd for their amazing work once again on our medals, mugs and flasks.
Please get in touch with them if you ever have any engraving needs, they do amazing work!

Come do some laps to get yours!

04/09/2026

Double thumbs up. 3 weeks until we all pretend this was a good idea

04/09/2026

Well its official we have had the tick in the box from the team at Tarawera Ultra-Trail By UTMB you can use Blue Lake 24hr as an official qualifying event for TMiler (100 miler)
See the link for info and entry in comments