Black Beacon FAQs
The Black Beacons Trail Races- FAQs 2024
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. 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 2024 to
150 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 note 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.
As part of the sign up you are offered the option of taking out 3rd party race insurance for a small additional fee. This is a contract between you the participant and the insurance company and is processed with them direct. We highly recommend you take out the 3rd party event insurance so you can reclaim a refund if you are unable to race and fall outside our policy as explained above.
10)- I can’t race can I transfer my entry to a friend?
As per our terms and conditions as summarised in FAQ 9 (above). You can transfer your place to another runner 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.
For the Black Beacon 100mile race all finishers will receive a welsh slate trophy.
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 - Sunday at 0800.
The Black Beacon 50 mile race time limit is 24 hours - Sunday at 0800.
The Black Beacon Ultra Bach race time limit is 20.5 hours - Sunday at 0800.
The Black Beacon Trail race time limit is 17.5 hours - Sunday at 0800.
13)- Are there cut off times and what happens if I miss the cut off times?
There are 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 0600 on Saturday morning.
The Black Beacon Ultra Bach bus leaves at 0930 on Saturday morning
The Trail race bus leaves at 1230 on Saturday morning.
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?
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. The race checkpoint locations, distances and cut-off times (in brackets) are as follows.
100 mile race checkpoints
(Total Time = 38 hours – Sunday 0800)
1- Ystradfellte - 9k / 400m
2- A470 - 21.5k / 1050m (Fri 2300)
3- Blaen Y Glyn - 36K / 2000m (Sat 0300)
4- Llangynidir (Drop Bag) - 49k / 2400m (Sat 0600)
5- Crocket Hill - 59k / 2850m (Sat 0800)
6- Gospel Pass - 71k / 3680m (Sat 1030)
7- Hay-on-wye - 81k / 3850m (Sat 1200)
8- Gospel Pass - 91k / 4480m (Sat 1430)
9- Crocket Hill - 104k / 5150m (Sat 1800)
10- Llangynidir - (Drop bag) 115k / 5350m (Sat 2000)
11- Blaen Y Glyn - 127k / 6000m (Sat 2230)
12- A470 - 141k / 7000m (Sun 0300)
13 Ystradfellte - 154k / 7500m (Sun 0530)
14 Finish - 163k / 7550m (Sun 0800)
50 mile race checkpoints
(Total Time = 24 hours – Sunday 0800)
1- Gospel Pass - 9.5k/600m
2- Crocket Hill - 22.5k/1250m (Sat 1800)
3- Llangynidir - (Drop Bag) 33k/ 1500m (Sat 2000)
4- Blaen-y-Glyn - 46k/2200m (Sun 2230)
5- A470 - 60k/3200m (Sun 0300)
6- Ystradfellte - 72k/3650m (Sun 0530)
Ultra Bach 50k race checkpoints
(Total time aloud = 20.5 hours = Sunday 0800)
1- Blaen y Glyn - 14k/730m
2- A470 - 28k/1700m (Sun 0300)
3- Ystradfellte - 41k/2170m (Sun 0530)
Trail Race checkpoints
(Total time aloud = 17.5 hours = Sunday 0800)
1-Cwmcynwyn - 5k/200m
2- A470 - 13k/925m (Sun 0300)
3-Ystradfellte - 25.5k/1400m (Sun 0530)
Water will be at each checkpoint. As is standard in Ultras and as per your compulsory kit there will not be any plastic cups for water or hot drinks. A link to the race provisions can be found on the blog.
In addition for 50 mile and 100 miles runners you have access to your drop bag at Llangynidir village hall checkpoint (see question 20 below for more details on drop bags).
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.
Lower Blaen-y-Glyn Car Park - please park at the lower Blane-y-Glyn or taff trail car park as the Upper Blaen-y-Glyn car park is very small.
Pen Y Fan summit -if you fancy a walk.
Blaen Llia Forest car park
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?
For the Black Beacon 100 mile ultra you have access to a drop bags at checkpoint 4 and 10
which is at Llangynidir Village Hall CP
on the way out and way back. On the way out CP4 is at 49k / 2400m and on the return leg CP10 is at 115k / 5350m. The drop bag should be a maximum of 20litres, 10kg, waterproof and clearly marked with the competitors name and number. These will be collected at the start in Hay-on-Wye. Once the LLangynidir checkpoint has closed these will be moved onto the finish.
For the Black Beacon 50 mile ultra one drop bag will be taken to Llangynidir Village Hall CP3 CP at approximately 33k/ 1500m. The drop bag should be a maximum of 20litres, 10kg, waterproof and clearly marked with the competitors name and number. These will be collected at the start in Hay-on-Wye. Once the LLangynidir checkpoint has closed these will be moved onto the finish.
For the Black Beacon Ultra Bach and Trail race you can have a finish line bag transported 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 and 5kg, waterproof and should not contain any valuable or breakable items. This will be collected at the race starts.