2026 Manchester DEKA IGNITION

Set in the heart of Manchester, DEKA FIT takes place at Manchester Central, a landmark venue in one of the UK’s most dynamic cities. With its rich history, buzzing atmosphere, and unbeatable accessibility, it’s the perfect stage for athletes from across Europe to come together.

Manchester Central combines historic architecture with modern facilities, offering a world-class space for the ultimate indoor fitness challenge. Here, competitors will experience the full DEKA FIT race environment all under one roof.

DEKA IGNITION is the our new playground and we are inviting our DEKA community to join forces to celebrate it. It’s the next evolution for DEKA, where community training meets the ultimate team-based performance standard.

DEKA IGNITION is a strategic race consisting of four-person teams (available in male, female, or co-ed divisions) each tackling 10 DEKA Zones connected by 500m intervals. A challenge to be completed within 90 minutes, teams must coordinate to maximise their collective strengths. Designed for all levels and abilities, this race offers an unparalleled opportunity for DEKA Affiliates and their members to be the first to test out the new format before opening to the general public. Whether your team members are seasoned racers, parkrun enthusiasts, or total beginners looking for a new high-energy challenge, this is the next big date for your calendar to earn your next DEKA Mark and move up the ranks in the Biggest Teams leaderboard.

Have some friends who are not quite ready to lace up their running shoes? They can come along and support for free, the atmosphere is just as electric for the spectators as it is for the athletes!

The DEKA FIT Challenge is 10 Zones of Functional Excellence.

Every DEKA FIT competitor will complete the following sequence. Each zone is preceded by a 500m run, totalling 5km of running across the entire course.

Zone 1: 60 RAM Alternating Reverse Lunges
Zone 2: 1000m Row
Zone 3: 40 Box Jump / Step Overs
Zone 4: 50 Med Ball Sit-up Throws
Zone 5: 1000m Ski Erg
Zone 6: 400m Farmer’s Carry
Zone 7: 50 Calorie Air Bike
Zone 8: 40 Dead Ball Wall Overs
Zone 9: 200m Sled Push / Pull
Zone 10: 40 RAM Burpees