RUN

The O’Keefe Challenge has five different individual events to run or walk to cater for all levels of fitness and experience.

So, no matter what level you are at, we have a challenge for you on the trails between Bendigo and Heathcote.

Jump to view an event:

O’Keefe Marathon (42.195 km)

Mandalay Resources logo
Presented by Mandalay Resources
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Event Details
DATE Sunday 21st April 2024
DISTANCE 42.195 km
START LOCATION Camp St, Heathcote
FINISH LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote (Google Map)
AGE RESTRICTIONS Participants must be 18 years and older on event day
BIB COLLECTION OPENS 6:00 AM from Barrack Reserve, Heathcote
BRIEFING 7:45 am
START TIME 8:00 am
CUT OFF TIME 6 hours (2pm)
WATER / AID STATIONS LOCATIONS DISTANCE FROM START (Distance from last station)
1. Mia-Mia Derrinal Rd - Outbound 6.4km (6.4km from last station)
2. Derrinal Station - Outbound 9.1km (2.7km from last station)
3. Moorabee-Foreshore Rd - Outbound 13.5km (4.4km)
4. Knowsley - Outbound 16.9km (3.4km)
5. Knowsley Forest (Turnaround) 21km (4.1km)
6. Knowsley - Inbound 25km (4km)
7. Moorabee-Foreshore Rd - Inbound 28.5km (3.5km)
8. Derrinal Station - Inbound 33.5km (5km)
9. Mia-Mia Derrinal Rd - Inbound 36.3km (2.8km)
10. Speed Street - Inbound 39.3km (3km)
FINISH 42.2km - Finish (2.9km)
WATER / AID STATIONS DETAILS There will be drink and aid stations, manned by local volunteer groups, along all course routes and at the start and finish locations. There are TOILETS at each of these aid stations. We will have lollies and water at ALL aid stations this year. Each entrant will be given a 'PURE' energy gel at bib collection that they can carry with them. All Aid Stations are accessible by support crew, so if an athlete has specific dietary or electrolyte requirements we encourage you to self-cater.
TRANSPORT There is no transport available for this event.
ENTRY FEES* Early Bird: $100.00 (Until midnight Thursday 29 February 2024)
Standard: $125.00 (Until midnight Saturday 20 Apr)
Late / On The Day: $150.00
RUNNER REWARDS Finisher Medal!
COURSE MAP New Course Map, see here >
THE FINE PRINT Please review our Terms and Conditions here >
*Entries include GST and Registration Fees.
COURSE RECORDS Male: Jamie Cook 02:32:38 - (2022) Female: Virginia McCormick - 2:48:14 (2019)
Event Map

Half Marathon (21.1 km)

Fosterville Gold Mine logo
Presented by Fosterville Gold Mine

From Knowsley to the heart of Heathcote, this run follows the historic O’Keefe Rail Trail passing Lake Eppalock, open fields and dense bushland. It is a mostly flat route, so is accessible to everyone.

As the trail approaches Heathcote, runners will enjoy a sealed walking track and a fast road section before their final dash across the grass into the finishing chute on Barrack Reserve oval.

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Event Details

Half Marathon

DATE Sunday 21st April 2024
DISTANCE 21.1 km
START LOCATION Knowsley, 20 Knowsley-Eppalock Road, Knowsley, VIC 3523
FINISH LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote
AGE RESTRICTIONS Participants must be 16 years and older on event day
BIB COLLECTION OPENS 7:30 am (at Knowsley start line only) Bibs are NOT posted out prior to the event.
BRIEFING 8:50 am
START TIME 9:00 am
CUT OFF TIME 4 hours
WATER / AID STATIONS DISTANCE FROM START (Distance from last station)
1. Knowsley 4.2 km (4.2km from last station)
2. Moorabee-Foreshore Rd 7.8km (3.5km from last station)
3. Derrinal Station 11.7km (3.9km)
4. Mia-Mia Derrinal Rd 15km (3.3km)
5. Speed Street 18.1km (3.1km)
FINISH 21.1km (2.9km)
There will be drink and aid stations, manned by local volunteer groups, along all course routes and at the start and finish locations. There are TOILETS at each of these aid stations. We will have lollies and water at ALL aid stations this year. Each entrant will be given a 'PURE' energy gel at bib collection that they can carry with them. All Aid Stations are accessible by support crew, so if an athlete has specific dietary or electrolyte requirements we encourage you to self-cater.
TRANSPORT You can ‘Opt In’ for bus service during registration. Transfer for participants from Barrack Reserve, Heathcote to the start line in Knowsley. Departing Heathcote at 8:00am.
ENTRY FEES* Early Bird: $72.00 (Until midnight Thursday 29 February 2024)
Standard: $90.00 (Until midnight Saturday 20 Apr)
Late / On The Day: $110.00
RUNNER REWARDS Finisher Medal!
THE FINE PRINT Please review our Terms and Conditions here >
Event Map

10km Fun Run

The O’Keefe Challenge 10km offers those that enjoy runs of this classic distance a satisfying challenge on a cross country course that will take in part of the McIvor Ranges and run along the beautiful McIvor Creek Trail.

For the novice runner who has not competed off the bitumen in an event, it is a perfect event to become more accustomed to running away from the bitumen without it being too rough. We expect it will attract a few who enjoy ‘light trail running’ or find bitumen boring, too.

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Event Details

10KM

DATE Sunday 21st April 2024
DISTANCE 10 km
AGE RESTRICTIONS All children under the age of 13 years must be accompanied by an adult
START LOCATION Camp St, Heathcote (Google Map)
FINISH LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote (Google Map)
BIB COLLECTION OPENS 7 AM at Barrack Reserve
BRIEFING 9:40 am
START TIME 9:45 am
CUT OFF TIME 2 hours
ENTRY FEES* Early Bird: $30.00 (Until midnight Thursday 29 February 2024)
Standard: $40.00 (Until midnight Saturday 20 Apr)
Late / On The Day: $50.00
INCLUSIONS Finisher Medal, professional timing, first aid and medical suppor and on-course drink stations.
COURSE MAP Download Course Map as PDF here >
THE FINE PRINT Please review our Terms and Conditions here >
* Entries include GST and Registration Fees.
Course Map
5km and 10km Map for the O'Keefe Challenge

5 km Run / Walk against Dementia

Presented by Connallys Real Estate

The 5km Connally’s Real Estate Run / Walk Against Dementia is a picturesque course finishing at Barrack Reserve in the heart of Heathcote.

This event is similar in style to the popular parkrun phenomenon in that we encourage the local community to take part in improving their health, fitness and wellbeing.

Fast times are not as important: the aim is to support a great cause in the Heathcote Dementia Alliance, which promises to be game-changer in the way we look after and care for people living with dementia.

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Event Details

5KM

DATE Sunday 21st April 2024
DISTANCE 5 km
AGE RESTRICTIONS All children under the age of 13 years must be accompanied by an adult
INCLUSIONS Finisher Medal, professional timing, first aid and medical suppor and on-course drink stations.
START LOCATION Camp St, Heathcote (a short walk from Barrack Reserve) Google Map
FINISH LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote (Google Map)
BIB COLLECTION OPENS 7 AM at Barrack Reserve
BRIEFING 9:40 am in CAMP ST, Heathcote
START TIME 9:50 am (NEW TIME!)
CUT OFF TIME 1.5 hours
ENTRY FEES* Early Bird: $20.00 (Until midnight Thursday 29 February 2024)
Standard: $25.00 (Until midnight Saturday 20 Apr)
Late / On The Day: $30.00
Finisher Medal, professional timing, first aid and medical support and on-course drink stations.
COURSE MAP Download a Course Map PDF here >
THE FINE PRINT Please review our Terms and Conditions here >
* Entries include GST and Registration Fees.
Course Map
5km and 10km Map for the O'Keefe Challenge

Kids Dash (~1km)

Presented by Heathcote Lions Club

One for those with sheer speed on their minds – it’s an event for anyone who wants to give this race their best shot! The course will be based around the Main Event Site at Barrack Reserve in Heathcote and is for children aged 12 years and younger on event day. Participants may be accompanied by an adult.

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Event Details

1km

DATE Sunday 21st April 2024
DISTANCE Approx. 1km
AGE RESTRICTIONS Participants must be 12 years and younger on event day
REWARDS Finisher Ribbon
START LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote
(Google Map)
FINISH LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote
(Google Map)
BIB COLLECTION OPENS 7 AM at Barrack Reserve
BRIEFING 11:00 am
START TIME 11:00 am
CUT OFF TIME n/a
ENTRY FEES* Online: $10.00
On The Day: $15.00
THE FINE PRINT Please review our Terms and Conditions here >
* Entries include GST and Registration Fees.

Kids’ Superhero Dash

Presented by Heathcote Lions Club

An event for children 10 years and under to get dressed up as their favourite Superhero and complete a lap around the beautiful green oval at Barrack Reserve to be a part of the big day.

The whole course can be seen from the race start and finish, In this race parents are very welcome to run alongside them during the event to support them.

Each finisher will receive a participatory ribbon, however, no official times will be provided and there will be no prizes for placegetters.
(It’s a fun event, not a race!)

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Event Details

500m

DATE Sunday 21st April 2024
DISTANCE Approx. 500 m
AGE RESTRICTIONS Participants must be 10 years and younger on event day. Adults are welcome to accompany the participants at no cost.
REWARDS Finisher Ribbon
START LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote
(Google Map)
FINISH LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote
(Google Map)
BIB COLLECTION OPENS 7 AM at Barrack Reserve
BRIEFING 11:00 am
START TIME 11:00 am
CUT OFF TIME n/a
ENTRY FEES Online: $5.00
On The Day: $5.00
THE FINE PRINT Please review our Terms and Conditions here >
* Entries include GST and Registration Fees.

1.5km Quiz Walk

We have a NEW event, called the 1.5km Quiz Walk, which will be a scavenger style hunt around Heathcote.

Starting at 9:55am in Camp St just after the 5km Run and Walk.

Teams will have a series of clues to find by meandering around Heathcote township.

Each finisher will receive a participatory ribbon, however, no official times will be provided and there will be no prizes for placegetters.
(It’s a fun event, not a race!)

REGISTER NOW
Event Details

1-5km-Quiz-Walk

DATE Sunday 21st April 2024
DISTANCE Approx. 500 m
AGE RESTRICTIONS Participants must be 10 years and younger on event day. Adults must accompany participants under 12 years of age
REWARDS Finisher Ribbon
START LOCATION Camp St, Heathcote
(Google Map)
FINISH LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote
(Google Map)
CHECK IN OPENS 7 AM at Barrack Reserve
BRIEFING 9:50am
START TIME 9:55am
CUT OFF TIME 12:00noon
ENTRY FEES $10.00 per person
$25.00 per person
THE FINE PRINT Please review our Terms and Conditions here >
* Entries include GST and Registration Fees.