Ultra Running Hub Talybont on Usk, United Kingdom · Saturday, April 18, 2026
Beast of the Beacons 40mi
What the course asks
DUV results for the 2025 edition (40mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Typical conditions, April
Regional 2001-2020 average for April — NASA POWER, grid elevation 256 m. Not a forecast.
Results history
| Year | Race | Finishers | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40mi | 52 | Jon Shield · 06:14:05 | Ursula Sullivan · 07:39:41 |
| 2023 | 40mi | 26 | Paul Fernandez · 07:06:51 | Melissa Venables · 08:28:20 |
| 2022 | 40mi | 24 | Matthew Tomlinson · 07:44:14 | Magdalena Cass · 09:32:31 |
The field grew 100% between 2023 (26) and 2025 (52). 21% of the 2025 field were women.
DUV results for the 2025 edition (40mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
The Aid Station
Course-specific beta from the community
This is a vertical course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.
With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 64 km of trail with 8,430 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes 132 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
- Race Nutrition 64 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
- Trekking Poles 8,430 m of ascent to walk up.
- Headlamps A 16 h limit puts you out there after dark.
Overview
The Beast of the Beacons 40mi is a trail race in Talybont on Usk, United Kingdom, with 8430m of elevation gain over 64km. This gives it 131.7m of climb per kilometre, making it a very steep course.
Its 16-hour time limit means a cutoff pace of 15 minutes per kilometre. This is a tighter cutoff than 11% of 50-mile races. The race has seen up to 52 finishers in its 3 editions since 2022, placing it in the larger half of 50-mile races, with a bigger field than 53% of its 654 peers.
Similar races
Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.