Rasus y Bannau (The Beacon Races) are 3 epic, long distance running races starting and finishing in Brecon and following a circular route around the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.
There are 3 race distances to choose from: 100 km (63miles / 102km) with +5100m ascent. Ultra Trail (45miles / 72.5km) with +3500m ascent. Marathon (26.5 miles / 43km) with +2000m ascent. All 3 routes start in Brecon town centre with a direct ascent up the iconic North ridge of Cribyn. From here runners head east to Fan Y Big then follow a fast ridgeline traverse towards Carn Pica, where the marathon heads to Blaen Y Glyn and Torpantu and the Ultra runners follow the long descent down to Tal y Bont reservoir. After crossing over the old dam, the ultra runners head up to the summit of Tor y Foil, followed by a short and runnable (if you have the legs) section towards Blaen-y-glyn, waterfalls, and onto Craig y Fan du on the Cambrian and Beacons Way. From Torpantu all routes head through Taf Fechen Forest, cross the damm over the Taff Fechen valley, and climb up to the ridge line of Cefn Cul and Craig-Gwaun Taf, before dropping down to Pont-ar-Daf car park and CP3. The marathon route and ultra routes split here, with the marathon runners climbing to Corn du then Pen Y Fan and a descent into Brecon, and the Ultra runners heading west to Fan Fawr. Both ultra routes then follow the classic routes over Fan Fawr and Fan Llia, then drop down on the SW Traverse line to CP4. Here the 100km and Ultra races split with the Ultra heading towards the Graig Cerrig Gleisiad Nature reserve and the 100km runners heading further West on the Beacons Way towards the Black Mountain. The 100km runners follow the Beacons Way footpath eventually topping out on Fan Brycheiniog on the Carmarthen Fan (the Black Mountain). Then the journey heads back east with a dramatic rollercoaster ride across mountain tops as it follows the South Wales Traverse line to Fan Gyhirych and Fan Nedd. The 100km runners then re-join the Ultra route shortly after, with a long climb above the Graig Cerrig Gleisiad Nature reserve and a fast (if you have the legs) descent along the Beacons Way to recross the A470 and CP8 (100km) / CP5 (ultra). The final leg takes you up to the summit of Pen Y Fan and a fast enjoyable descent down the North ridge to Brecon and the finish.