Beacons Half Marathon
Talybont-on-Usk, Powys
7 Nov 2026
⚠ Start times change frequently. Always check with race organiser or their website for this year's confirmed start time before travelling.
Course map
Map adapted from official race's website
Elevation profile
About this race
The Beacons Half Marathon is a 13 mile mixed-terrain race starting and finishing at Henderson Hall in Talybont-on-Usk, in the Brecon Beacons. Unlike the longer marathon and ultra events, the half marathon stays closer to the village, running a route to the east of Talybont-on-Usk that takes in the 551 metre summit of Tor y Foel and the shores of the Talybont reservoir. The terrain is a genuine mix of canal towpath, mountain and hill paths, forest track and road, with around 543 metres of total ascent, giving a properly hilly profile without the extreme demands of the full-length routes. The course is fully marked, making it a great introduction for athletes new to trail and mountain running. Runners finish back at Race HQ, with manned checkpoints and hot food waiting at the end, alongside the marathon and ultra runners taking on the same iconic Brecon Beacons scenery.
Course profile & record eligibility
World Athletics record-eligibility rules cap net elevation loss at 1m per km of race distance, and require the start and finish to be no more than 50% of the race distance apart — both meant to stop a course gaining an unfair edge from downhill grade or a point-to-point tailwind. This is based on this course's recorded elevation and GPS data, not an official measurement or certification.