Beacons Ultra
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Beacons Ultra, Marathon and Half 2026
The event on 7 November 2026 comprises three trail race distances that start and finish in Talybont-on-Usk at the foothills of the Brecon Beacons. The courses combine trail, mountain, canal and road terrain and take place in mid-November, when weather can vary widely from sunshine to minus 8 degrees, often with rain and mist.
Races offered:
- 49 mile Ultra (approximately 50 miles)
- 26 mile Marathon
- 13 mile Half Marathon
The Ultra uses two loops of a roughly 23-mile course with an additional out-and-back section up to Pen y Fan on the first loop. Total elevation gains are provided for each distance: Ultra 2,258 metres (7,408 feet), Marathon 1,319 metres (4,327 feet), Half Marathon 543 metres (1,781 feet). The Marathon follows a single loop of the classic Ultra route and also includes a brief trip up Pen y Fan. The Half Marathon runs east of Talybont-on-Usk, passing Tor Y Foel (551 m) and the Talybont reservoir.
The races are listed with ITRA and registered as UTMB Index races, so eligible results can contribute to an ITRA Performance Index and a UTMB Index. These UTMB Index registrations are not the same as UTMB World Series events. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
