Minster Challenge
29th March 2026
After its successful relaunch in 2025, Ruby Red Running in association with Axe Valley Academy are proud to bring you the Minster Challenge 2026! With 2 main distances to choose from, plus a shorter route suitable for all ages, there is something suitable for the whole family. Medals for all finishers and prizes for winners. Amazing homemade refreshments will be on offer thanks to the Axe Valley Academy pupils, parents and teachers.
Entries close 26th March 2026
Event Details
Returning to Axminster on 29th March 2026, Ruby Red Running is proud to partner with Axe Valley Academy to bring you the Minster Challenge. Like all of our events, we can promise hills, mud and fun!
3 courses to choose from
* 12km
* 5km
* 3km
Medals for all finishers and refreshments will be available for runners and spectators.
Axe Valley Academy
Chard Street, Axminster EX13 5EA
There will be limited parking available at the school, but there are plenty of parking options in the town. Please car share where possible.
Sunday 29th March 2026
Start times from 10am
The Minster Challenge 12k is a physical course open to anyone 17 or over. It is hilly, muddy and the weather on the day can have a huge impact. It really is a course to get your teeth in to!
The Minster Challenge 5km will promise hills and probably a lot of mud - a full bodied mini version of the 12km route. Minimum age 12 on the day.
The Minster Challenge 3km will have a short section of marshaled road before using near by fields and is suitable for any age.
To ensure the well being of all participants we follow the age/distance guidance of England Athletics and the Trail Running Association.
Minster 12k - 17 or over on the day
Minster 5k - 12 or over on the day
Minster 3k - any age
Minster 12k: affiliated entry £12, non affiliated £14
Minster 5k: affiliated entry £5, non affiliated £7
Minster 3k: - affiliated £1, non affiliated £3
There is limited parking on site, accessed via the Lyme Road entrance. This will be on a first come, first served basis and a donation may be requested by the owners. There will also be members of the public using the parking facilities. There are multiple public car parks in Axminster.
Axe Valley Academy will be providing hot drinks and cakes for sale for runners and spectators - please support them.
LED Leisure have kindly offered the use of their showers and changing rooms for a donation to Hospice Care. These will be available until 1pm. LED Leisure have also donated the use of an area of their sports hall for a bag drop.
The event will be licenced by the Trail Running Association Licence number TBC.
The event will be held under UK Athletics rules.
Helpers and Marshals Zone
Like most running events we couldn't put on quality events without the help of volunteers, so are always great full for people who offer to volunteer.
If you are interested in volunteering, then please contact us at hello@rubyredrunning.com. There are many different types of volunteer roles so please let us know if there is a particular role you would like to help on and we will do our best to match this.
Marshal headquarters will be at:
Axe Valley Academy
Chard Street, Axminster EX13 5EA
There will be limited parking available at the school, but there are plenty of parking options in the town. Please car share where possible.
We will provide timings to each marshal nearer to the event
Many runners will have experienced a race where a marshal has accidentally directed runners in the wrong direction or given incorrect advice. At Ruby Red Running, we know that the responsibility sits with us to ensure that marshals are correctly briefed and have the support they need to do a great job.
We do this in 3 ways:
- All marshals will attend a short briefing explaining the route and any specific instructions, during this briefing they will be provided with an information pack specific to their marshal point
- All marshal points are signed and numbered, so as a marshal you can be confident that you are at the correct location
- We provide a short video guide for each marshal point showing what you should expect to see and which direction the runners will be coming from/going to
The marshal video guide for the Minster Challenge can be found here: Marshal point guide Minster Challenge