EXMOOR National Park will be hosting one of the most physically and mentally demanding running races in the world for the first time.

The Red Bull Steeplechase is coming to the South West and will feature 500 competitors taking on the gruelling knockout race along Exmoor stunning coastline.

The course that tests the limits of human endurance will follow a difficult and treacherous route across 22.8 miles of the National Park.

Red Bull Steeplechase is a unique knockout format race where velocity is not the only key to cross the finish line. All participants will have to pace themselves not only to cover the distance and challenging terrain, but to ensure they stay in a race position that prevents them from being eliminated.

The 500 competitors are split into two categories, male and female. All runners in each category set off together making it a head to head race against the rest of the field where race position is important, not time.

Along the course there are four steeples to reach, and at each of the first three the slowest section of the competitor field will be eliminated. Only 40 runners will reach the final steeple in Lynmouth.

This will be the fourth Red Bull Steeplechase with previous races taking place in the Peak District.

Previous Red Bull Steeplechase winner Andy Greenleaf said: "I was shattered afterwards but the Red Bull Steeplechase was really, really good fun and the whole way through there was a competition going on.

"It was a cracking course, absolutely stunning scenery and a perfect day for it!"

Registration will open on July 5th, pre-register your interest go to http://www.redbull.com/uk/en/adventure/events

The event is on Sunday, October 9. Onsite registration will open at 8am and the race will start at 9.30am for men and 9.35am for women.