Black Beacons FAQs
The Black Beacons Trail Races- FAQs
1)-Do I need to carry all the compulsory kit?
YES. On both all race courses you must carry all the compulsory kit.
For the compulsory kit list click here.
2)-I am in a team, do all team members need to carry all the compulsory kit?
YES all team members must carry the whole kit. This includes all of it... first aid kit, map, compass…all of it!
3)-Will there be a kit check?
Yes. You will be required to show a number of random items from your kit before you are allowed to register and receive your race number.
No kit = No number. You have been warned!
All podium finishers will also be kit checked at the end.
4)-How hard is the navigation?
The Black Beacon routes are relatively simple to follow using gps device, map and any additional route marking that have been added along the way. The route follows a logical path traversing the Black mountains and Brecon Beacons. Ultimately it is the participants responsibility to follow the route using a combination of the gps, and map.
To enter you should be a competent mountain runner , and if you have any doubts you should recce the route and practise your route finding and navigation in your training.
5)- When will entries close?
Two weeks before race date or before if the event sells out.
6)- What are the entry limits?
Entries are limited for 2023 to
100 entrants for each event
7)- Is there a reserve list?
NO - There is no reserve list for the event. Once the entry limits have been reached there are no extra spaces available.
8)- Can I enter & pay on the day?
No, you must register using the online registration system at sientries system.
9)-I can’t do the event, can I have a refund or transfer to a different race?
As per our terms and conditions 'If competitors withdraw prior to the event, the following costs are incurred'
5 months before the event, 75% of entry fee will be refunded OR you can transfer the remaining cost (75% of entry fee) off a different event.
2 months before the event, 50% of entry fee will be refunded OR you can transfer the remaining cost (50% of entry fee) to a different race.
1 month before the event, no Refunds or Transfers to another race are available .
You can transfer your place to another participant until two weeks prior to the race day.
Please not if you require refund or transfer you must e-mail us at info@runwalkcrawl.co.uk. Your transfer/refund will be processed within 30 days of the e-mail.
10)- I can’t race can I transfer my entry to a friend?
As per our terms and conditions. You can transfer your place up until 2 weeks before the event. After this date there is strictly no transfers available.
11)-Will I receive a medal for completing the event?
Yes you will receive a medal when you finish the challenge?
For the avoidance of doubt you will not receive a medal if you do not complete the relevant course in the given time frame. If you complete 21 miles of the ultra course, but drop out or are timed out you will not receive an trail race medal.
12)- Can I walk the challenge? Time limits
Yes the race is open to runners and walkers that can maintain the pace to reach the cut off times.
The Black Beacon 100 mile race has a time limit or 38 hours - Saturday at 2300.
The Black Beacon 50 mile race time limit is 24 hours - Saturday at 2300.
The Black Beacon Ultra Bach race time limit is 13 hours. Saturday at 2300.
The Black Beacon Trail race time limit is 9 hours Saturday at 2300.
13)- Are there cut off times and what happens if I miss the cut off times?
There are strict cut off times at various checkpoints.
If you miss the cut off times, then you will be retired from the event. If you are doubtful of weather, you can reach the cut off times for an event you should enter a shorter course- or recce the first sections toc check!
14)- What is the terrain like and what type of trainers should I wear?
The terrain is mountain trail. This means it combines grassy trails, hard rock trails, with some muddy sections.
The best type of trainer for the Brecon Beacons route would be a trail trainer which is comfortable on hard trail but with good - excellent grip for the downhills depending on the forecast.
If there is a lot of rain in the preceding days then a more aggressive trail trainer with better grip would be best.
A full fellrunning shoe would be ideal or a trail trainer with very good grip. A road shoe would be unsuitable for most of the more technical and muddy sections especially on the descents near cliffs and therefore you would not be allowed to race in them.
15)-What times do the buses leave and how do they work?
You park at the finish and the bus takes you to the start. You then run back to the finish. This is so that when you have finished your car is their ready for you.
The Black Beacon 50 bus leaves at 2100 on Friday.
The Black Beacon Ultra Bach bus leaves at 0800 on Saturday.
The Trail race bus leaves at 1200 on Saturday.
16)- When will final event details be sent out?
All final event details will be sent out to the e-mail address you registered with 1 week before the event date.
All other information is found on the event webpage or in the FAQs above.
If you have not received the details please check your junk e-mail folders, and check your e-mail address you registered with is correct. If you still haven't received then then please e-mail or contact us.
We will also post the event details on the website, and facebook page one week before the event.
17)- Where are the Checkpoints and what is available?
The provisional Ultra Race Checkpoint Locations are as follows.
There are 13 checkpoints on the 100mile race, 6 on the 50mile race, 3 on the Ultra Bach and 3 on the 21mile trail race.
100 mile race checkpoints
1- Ystradfellte -9k / 400m
2- A470 – 21.5k / 1050m
3- Blaen Y Glyn (Drop bag 1) - 36K / 2000m
4- Llangynidir – 48k / 2400m
5- Crocket Hill - 59k / 2850m
6- Gospel Pass - 71k / 3680m
7- Hay-on-wye (Drop bag 2) - 81k / 3850m
8- Gospel Pass - 91k / 4480m
9- Crocket Hill - 104k / 5150m
10- Llangynidir - 115k / 5350m
11- Blaen Y Glyn (Drop bag 3) - 127k / 6000m
12- A470 - 141k / 7000m
13 Ystradfellte - 154k / 7500m
14 Finish 163k / 7550m
50 mile race checkpoints
1- Gospel Pass 9.5k/600m
2- Crocit Hill- 22.5k/1250m
3- Llangynidir- 33k/ 1500m
4- Blaen y Glyn (Drop Bag 1) 46k/2200m
5- Storey Arms 60k/3200m
6- Ystradfellte 72k/3650m
Ultra Bach 50k race checkpoints
1- Blaen y Glyn 14k/730m
2 - Storey Arms 28k/1700m
3 -Ystradfellte 41k/2170m
Trail Race checkpoints
1-Cwmcynwyn 5k/200m
2-Storey Arms 13k/ 925m
3-Ystradfellte 25.5k/1400m
Water will be at each checkpoint. As is standard in Ultras and as per your compulsory kit you will be required to fill up your water bottle. There will not be plastic cups for water.
You can expect a mixture of coke, red bull, squash, sweets, biscuits, energy bars, fruit, crisps, cake, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and more solid food suitable for longer race runners in particular including soup, veg and meat stew, pasta, sandwiches, noodles, cereals and toast. In addition for 50 mile and 100 miles runners you have access to your drop bag approximately every 25 miles (see question 20 below for more details).
18)- Where are the best places for my friends and family to support?
One of the best aspects of the Brecon Beacons are the great opportunities for friends and family to support you around the course. The following is a list of the best and most accessible places.
The ultra starts – Hay on wye and Llangynidir.
Blaen Llia Car Park
Pen Y Fan summit -if you fancy a walk.
Brecon for the Trail race start Ystradfellte and the four waterfalls walk-
A more detailed description of the above places will be sent out with the event details one week before the event.
19)- The GPS file does not open?
To access a gps file you will first need to save the relevant file to your computer. To do this right click on the download and choose 'save as' and save it to your computer. In order to view / use the file it will have to be imported onto a device that allows you to view & use it. Please Note-If you open the file on your computer it will appear blank / full of gibberish! It can only be viewed by importing it onto a gps device (eg Garmin Fenix, Suunto Ambit etc) or by viewing it using a computer program that will access the information.
20)- Is there a drop bag facility?
We will transfer one drop bag from the start of each course to the finish. You will not be able to access this bag during the race. This should be a maximum size of 10 litres, waterproof and should not contain any valuable or breakable items.
For the Black Beacon 100 mile ultra you access to drop bags at 3 locations. One will be available at half way in Hay on Wye and the other will be available at Blaen Y Glyn CP (CP3 = 36K / 2000m) then the same bag will be available again at Blaen Y Glyn (CP11 = 127k / 6000m).
To clarify... at registration you will hand in 2 drop bags, one for the Hay on wye CP at half way and one for Blaen y Glyn CP. You will have access to the Blaen y Glyn CP drop bag on the way out (CP3) and the way back (CP11).
For the Black Beacon 50 mile Ultra one drop bag will be taken to Blaen Y Glyn CP at approximately 46k.