Yes, you read it right. One thousand metres of burpees.

That's the challenge being taken on tomorrow morning at Mount Maunganui, as fitness fanatics see whether they have the mettle to complete the gruelling event.

It's for a good cause, with money raised from registrations and donations going towards charities dealing with domestic violence and youth homelessness.

SPEE Training at the Mount is hosting the event, which starts at the Mount Maunganui Surf Club and carries on 500 metres down to Leisure Island, before competitors turn around and head back up the beach.

Vanita Spee, who owns SPEE Training with husband Reece, says they've had about 50 people register so far.

'Burpees are one of those things people don't like, and a kilometre of burpees is even more daunting,” says Vanita.

'But we've encouraged people to break it down and do it as a team.”

A kilometre roughly equates to 750 burpees for one person, so most will be tackling it as teams.

Among them will be Pronto owner Fee Brando and staff members Tarsh Takao and Emma Flynn. They're doing about 250 burpees each, but plan on doing rotations of 15 each at a time, like a relay.

'We've only just started doing burpees last week. We'll be winging it a bit on the day,” laughs Fee. 'But lots of people at the gym have been training very hard.”

People who haven't signed up can still come down on the day and tackle the challenge, and donations are welcome even from those not competing.

The one kilometre burpee challenge starts at 8am, Saturday, May 20, at the Mount Maunganui Surf Club.