Antlers at the Ready – The Otterton Reindeer Run is Back!

Saturday 5th December 2026

Dust off those antlers, dig out your Christmas jumper and lace up your running shoes – Otterton’s most festive event of the year is back!

Join us on Saturday 5th December 2026 for the Otterton Reindeer Run, a wonderfully festive cross-country race and fun run through the beautiful Otter Valley.

And this year, there’s something new.

Our main race has a brand-new 10km course, well it's actually 10.3kms! We’ve added a fresh twist to the route, giving returning runners a new challenge while keeping everything that makes the Reindeer Run such a great December event – beautiful countryside, off-road running, plenty of mud and a fantastic festive atmosphere.

Whether you're chasing a PB, jogging with friends, running with the family or simply looking for an excellent excuse to dress up as a reindeer, we'd love to see you.

Best of all, the Reindeer Run raises money for fantastic community projects here in Otterton, so every muddy mile helps support our village.

Choose Your Challenge

There are two distances to choose from:

3km Festive Fun Run – perfect for families, younger runners and anyone who fancies a shorter dash through the countryside.

NEW 10km Multi-Terrain Race – our main event has a new course for 2026. It’s very slightly longer, with a fresh and exciting route through the beautiful Otter Valley and along the south west coast path, giving returning runners something new to tackle and newcomers a fantastic multi-terrain challenge.

Download/View the route on Strava

The courses are mainly off-road, with some sections along quiet country lanes that are largely traffic-free. December conditions can, of course, add a little extra character to the course – so come prepared for some mud!

The 10km race is open to runners aged 16 and over.

Fancy Dress Very Much Encouraged!

This is the Reindeer Run, after all.

There will be prizes for the best adult and junior fancy dress, so don't hold back. Antlers, elves, Santas, Christmas trees, reindeer onesies, tinsel and anything else suitably ridiculous are all very welcome.

Come along for a morning of festive cheer, friendly competition and a brilliant community atmosphere. Whether you're running, cheering or simply jingling all the way, we can't wait to see you.

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Race Day Information

Race HQ

Once again, St Michael's Church, Otterton will be our Race HQ.

The church will be open from 8:30am, with race registration and number collection taking place inside.

Number Collection

Running numbers are collected on the morning of the race.

Please arrive in plenty of time and collect your number between 8:30am and 9:45am.

Signs inside Race HQ will show you which queue to join, and our race officials will be there to point any confused-looking reindeer in the right direction.

Please bring ID or your entry confirmation email.

Baggage

A baggage area will be available inside the church.

Please remember that this is an unsecured area, so all bags and belongings are left entirely at the owner's risk. We'd recommend leaving valuables at home where possible.

Facilities

There are limited toilet facilities at the church, with additional toilets available at Otterton Village Hall.

Changing facilities are limited, so it's best to arrive ready to run.

Refreshments and Prize Giving

After you've conquered the course, head to Otterton Village Hall, a short walk from the finish, for refreshments and the prize presentations.

Finishers can warm up with complimentary tea, coffee or mulled wine for adults, squash for juniors, and a mince pie for everyone.

Additional refreshments, including bacon rolls, will also be available to buy for a small charge.

Muddy legs, rosy cheeks and questionable Christmas outfits are all welcome.

Start and Finish

The races start outside St Michael's Church.

Please make your way to the start area in plenty of time for your race, with starts at 10:00am and 10:15am, depending on which event you have entered.

Race officials will give a short briefing before each start.

When finishing, please make sure you run through the clearly signposted finish area so that your race number can be recorded.

There will be plenty of friendly marshals around the course to keep you heading in the right direction, as well as water stations at regular intervals.

We'll also have paramedics on standby should anyone get into difficulty.

Parking

There is no parking at Race HQ, although limited on-road parking is available around the village.

Please do not, under any circumstances, park in the Otterton Mill car park.

Vehicles and their contents are left entirely at the owner's risk.

Cancellation or Postponement

We all know December weather can occasionally have ideas of its own.

If the Reindeer Run has to be postponed because of adverse weather, entrants will automatically be transferred to the rearranged date.

If circumstances mean that the event has to be cancelled completely, unfortunately we will not be able to offer refunds or transfer entries to the following year's event.

Results

Race results will be published online after the event.

Then it's time to see whether you were flying like Rudolph or perhaps spent a little too long admiring the Otter Valley scenery.

A Few Important Race Rules

The race will be held under Association of Running Clubs (ARC) rules, and entrants must be of amateur status.

Online entry constitutes acceptance of the governing body's rules and a declaration that you will compete on foot and entirely at your own risk. The organisers and race sponsors cannot accept responsibility for participants who fail to observe these requirements.

The minimum age for the 10km main race is 16.

Please make sure that details of any current medical conditions, medication or allergies are written clearly on the back of your race number.

2026 ARC Permit Number: ARC/26/0889

Description supplied by the event organiser.