Excalibur Trail Races, 10km, half marathon and marathon

The courses are a mix between maintained trail, grassy trail and loose trail. All three of the Excalibur Trail Races courses are very hilly for the distances that they cover, and in parts, very technical.

But with elevation, comes stunning views of the Clywdian Range, with back drops of Snowdon in the far distance providing some of the best scenery in North Wales.

Zoom

Excalibur is the tough trail event that traverses the spectacular Clwydian Range in North Wales steeped in ancient Arthurian legend. With over 5,500 feet of ascent in the marathon route, 3200 in the half marathon and 1,750 in the 10k.

Excalibur is an off-road event in the Clwydian Range of North Wales. It comprises of a full marathon route, a half marathon route and a 10k route. There will be hills!

All entrants into Excalibur at any distance will get a memento or medal with the option to purchase a t-shirt when entering the race. Prizes will be awarded to the overall winners of the Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k distances.

There will also be category prizes for over 40, over 50 and over 60 for both men and women. Every member of the club that has the most entrants across all three events will get a bottle of specially brewed Excalibur Ale. The course is fully signed and marshalled and Nifty Timing are providing chip timing.

The routes for all three races are mainly on trails and footpaths although some are more ‘technical’ than others. All 3 courses are hilly and we advise you get plenty of hills in your training.

Although the routes are fully marked and suitably marshalled, you may be required to use a map to navigate some areas due to the public moving signs and course markers, so brush up on those map reading skills!

• Prizes
• Bespoke medal
• Unique courses
• Amazing views
• Challenging trails

This year Excalibur Trail Races will once again be supporting RUNNING HEAD FIRST who have been keen Excalibur enthusiasts for years, but their work is rather incredible.

When you take on Excalibur Marathon 2025, part of your entry fee will be actively contributing towards Running Head First programmes and initiatives within local communities.

Running Head First is a not-for-profit organisation helping people across the North-West and Wales to improve their physical and mental health.

Whether you’re suffering with; mental health problems, anxiety, depression, stress, isolation or issues with drugs and alcohol or something else – we’ve been in your position and that’s why our fitness club and range of programmes are judgement-free spaces where you can get back on track.

Let’s be clear – exercise is one of the most important things you can do to improve your physical and mental health.

So, we offer you all the encouragement and support you need to get your body and mind in shape.

We’re not here to make you muscle-bound, we’re here to create a community you’ll be proud to be part of. To introduce you to like-minded individuals who know what it’s like when life knocks you down.

We’re here to give you the support network you need to get back up feeling better than ever.

Some of our services include; mental health interventions, running club, exercise events, online classes and so much more.

Registration will open on the day for full marathoners at 8am, 9am for the half marathon 10 am for the 10k race.

Registration will CLOSE for marathon at 8.50am. 9.50am for the half and 10.50am for the 10k

Marathon briefing will be at 8.50am, 9.50 for the half and 10.50 for the 10k

Race HQ will be situated at Moel Famau Donkeys adjacent to the car park . There will be secure baggage area at Race HQ. At the registration desk you will get your race number with chip, safety pins and waterproof map of the route. You will then be directed to the kit check. All runners must carry all body waterproofs (jacket and trousers), hat (buff will suffice), gloves, map (supplied), compass and whistle plus a bottle that you can refill on the way. You are required to bring all this kit to the race. The Race Director may decide on the day that the minimum kit can be relaxed. No decision will be taken prior to the day.

The Race: The marathon will start at 9.00 am. The half marathon will start at 10.00 am and the 10k will start at 11.00 am. Anybody entering with a dog and harness (canicross) or a dog on a lead will start 10 minutes after the main race (9.10 am, 10.10 am and 11.10 am) This delay will be deducted from your overall time. Please note that we welcome dogs, but they MUST be on a harness or lead throughout the race. The races go over farmland and failure to comply with this could jeopardise the future of the race. The routes for all three events (marathon, half marathon and 10k) are mainly on trails and footpaths although some more 'technical' paths than others. All the routes are hilly. You are advised to do plenty of hills in your training (apologies if this advice is a little late!)

• Prizegiving will be at 2.00pm or sooner if all prizewinners have completed

Marathon checkpoints:

Start Moel Famau Donkeys
CP 1 GR168647 T Junction Cilcain
CP2 GR 146641 Ridge junction
CP 3 GR 148657 Cattle grid
CP 4 GR 121690 Aifft - 2.00pm cut off
CP 5 GR 121690 Aifft
CP 6 GR 148657 Cattle grid
CP 7 GR 146641 Ridge junction
CP 8 GR 162627 Moel Famau
Finish GR172612 Moel Famau Donkeys

Half Marathon checkpoints:
Start Moel Famau Donkeys
CP 1 GR168647 T Junction Cilcain
CP 2 GR 146641 Ridge junction
CP 7 GR 146641 Ridge junction
CP 8 GR 162627 Moel Famau
Finish GR172612 Moel Famau Donkeys

10k checkpoints:
Start GR172612 Moel Famau Donkeys
CP 8 GR 162627 Moel Famau
Finish GR172612 Moel Famau Donkeys

At each of the numbered checkpoints there will be water and snack food items. The water will be in water containers with taps. You need to carry your own bottle to refill at these points. There will NOT be cups. You are expected to carry A FULL WATER BOTTLE from the start. The route will be fully signed with signs marked with the Excalibur logo (please note there may be other events in the area this weekend which will also have signage). There will also be marshals not only at checkpoints but at other strategic points throughout the course. However, with the best will in the world marshals may get called away, signs may be tampered with or removed so …… you have a map and are asked to carry a compass, so responsibility is on you to find your way. In 5 years, we’ve only lost one person and we found them again pretty quickly!

If you feel at any point that you can’t continue, please alert a marshal. If you are unable to get to a checkpoint, then inform another competitor. Do not simply go home. We need to and will account for every competitor. Mountain Rescue will be available throughout the course. The only cut off will be 2.00pm at Aifft on the full marathon route (just before the most northerly loop). Competitors arriving at this point after 2.00pm will be asked not to undertake the top loop but to make their way back (a reduction of 3 miles in distance). There will be sweepers at the tail end on all routes.

There will not be plastic bottles of water given to each finisher this year but there will be drinks available at a table at the finish. We are reducing the amount of single use plastic. In the same spirit there will not be a medal but the memento has its own special sustainability story.

The start / finish area will have catering facilities from the Original Catering Company selling a variety of hot foods, tea and coffee, toilets and a bar (local Hafod Brewery from Mold. We are hoping that people will stay, relax, have something to eat (special Excalibur sausages for sale), enjoy a beer and cheer on your fellow competitors at the finish. It will be a beautiful sunny day, so why not? Remember to bring cash - there is no signal for card machines.

Remember, if you are one of the clubs with the greatest number of entries over all 3 events then you all get a free bottle of Excalibur Ale. Run True www.runtrue.org are supporting this year’s event and will be arranging recce days of the routes during the year.