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Photo: Theo Felten

Blacks to the Beacons Ultra 50 mi, 32 mi, Marathon & Half Marathon: current race status

Crickhowell, United KingdomDate to be confirmed

The organizer’s Blacks to the Beacons page still refers to a May 2025 date to be confirmed. It describes a 42 km mountain-marathon option, but does not confirm a new 2027 edition or race day.

Updated and verified Oct 14, 2026

The race at a glance

Route and elevation

The organizer’s Blacks to the Beacons page still refers to a May 2025 date to be confirmed. It describes a 42 km mountain-marathon option, but does not confirm a new 2027 edition or race day.

  • The marathon description gives approximately 5,869 feet of climbing.
  • The listed route is point-to-point from Perth y Pia near Llanbedr toward Llangynidr.
  • Navigation and tracking are part of the event format.

Race guide

Blacks to the Beacons: an older point-to-point mountain marathon

The old event title combines several distances, while the detail page contains a mixture of ultra and marathon information. Do not use the headline 24-hour ultra limit as a marathon allowance. Ask for the current marathon-specific rules, course and cutoff sequence before deciding that a particular finish time will be accepted.

The point-to-point layout makes transport essential. Confirm the actual start, finish and any shuttle reservation directly with the organizer. The page contains older location references, so a saved image should not override a newer written participant guide. Arrange a clear post-race pickup that does not rely on driving through closed or restricted course access.

The published climbing makes this materially different from a flat 42 km road race. Practice on terrain and gradients similar to the final route, including controlled descending and walking where appropriate. Plan by expected effort and time between support points rather than trying to hold a road-marathon pace across every climb.

The organizer promotes reduced disposable waste, so confirm whether a personal cup and carrying system are required. Test that setup before the event and review the complete mandatory-kit list once the next edition is announced. Navigation requirements also need preparation: know how to use the permitted map or device, and do not assume another runner will always be available to follow. Share the final tracking and emergency information with your support person. Separate announcements for the organizer’s other trail races do not establish that this marathon is returning. Keep the older course description as historical context only, and wait for a dated, distance-specific entry page before fixing travel or a final taper around Blacks to the Beacons.

Last-known race profile

DetailPrevious edition
LocationCrickhowell, United Kingdom
Published distance profileMarathon, Half Marathon, 50K, 80K
Surfacetrail

These details identify the race page; they do not establish the next edition's operations. The previous race date does not establish the next edition. Wait for the organizer’s announcement before committing to a race-day schedule.

Training plan and timing

The official date is not confirmed. Choose a plan that fits your current training and available time, then set the race date when the organiser confirms it.

Confirm the next race date with the organiser before choosing a training start date.

  1. StartDate pending
  2. Build20 weeks
  3. Taper3 weeks
  4. Race dayTo be confirmed

20-week plan option

Compare 3 other plan lengths
  • 14-week plan
    Confirm the race date before choosing a start date.
  • 16-week plan
    Confirm the race date before choosing a start date.
  • 24-week plan
    Confirm the race date before choosing a start date.

Need a printable plan? Download the Marathon training plan PDF.

Race-day strategy

  • Start conservatively and use effort when terrain, wind, or crowding changes.
  • Rehearse the same pacing cues during key sessions.
Open race calculators and tools
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Race-week logistics

Use the current organiser guide for schedules, transport, cutoffs, equipment, and other time-sensitive instructions.

Current details to confirm: start schedule, expo, bib pickup, transport, cutoffs, equipment rules, entry price.

Start logistics

Confirm the exact distance day, start time and venue in the current participant guide.

Confirm waves, check-in, transport and access after the organizer publishes current instructions.

Adaptive AI coach for iPhone

Your race deserves more than a static plan.

Your adaptive AI coach builds around this finish line, follows the training you complete, and adjusts upcoming work around recovery, travel, missed sessions, and race week.

FAQs

Is the next full-distance race confirmed?

The organizer’s Blacks to the Beacons page still refers to a May 2025 date to be confirmed. It describes a 42 km mountain-marathon option, but does not confirm a new 2027 edition or race day.

Can I use the previous edition’s date for travel planning?

No. The next edition can move or be discontinued. Use an exact date announced by the organizer for this race and distance before booking non-refundable travel.

How should athletes train while the race date is pending?

Build repeatable general marathon training, then anchor the specific block after an exact date is published.

How many weeks until this race 2027?

The next exact race date is not confirmed in this guide. Check the linked organizer page before anchoring a countdown, taper or travel booking.

What changes preparation for this race?

The organizer’s Blacks to the Beacons page still refers to a May 2025 date to be confirmed. It describes a 42 km mountain-marathon option, but does not confirm a new 2027 edition or race day.

Keep going

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