FAQS
Excalibur is an off-road event in the Clwydian Range of North Wales incorporating the summit of Moel Famau (the highest point of the Clwydian range), rolling hills, fantastic views, ancient (iron age) hill forts in the land where King Arthur himself pushed back the Saxon hordes (maybe). The Summer event comprises of a full marathon route, a half marathon route and a 10k route. The Winter event comprises of a 17km and a 10km. There will be hills! You have been warned.
In the Summer, the marathon starts at 9am, the half marathon at 10am, and the 10k race will start at 11am. Dogs and harnesses (and their owners!) running canicross will start 10 minutes earlier – NOTE this is change from previous years after consulting the Canicross community
In the Winter event the 17km will start at 10am and the 10km will start at 10.30am.
The only way to enter is online. You can do so by clicking Sign Up & Enter in our website’s main navigation.
All entrants into Excalibur at any distance will get a small memento or medal.
You also have option to purchase a T-Shirt when you enter the race.
Prizes will be awarded to the overall winners of the Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k distances (summer) or the 17km or 10km (winter).
ON THE DAY
To get to Excalibur Trail Races, leave the A494 between Mold and Ruthin for Tafarn Y Gelyn and follow the signs for Moel Famau. The car park and race HQ, Start/Finish is situated at ‘Coed Moel Famau Car Park’
There will be secure baggage area at Race HQ, along with a food and drink vendor and a bar selling locally brewed beers (including an exclusive Excalibur Ale) in the summer and for the winter event a stand giving all competitors delicious hot soup at the end.
Parking is payable locally on the day from local payment machines. We politely request that you car share where possible, due to limited parking spaces available at the event.
There is also an overflow car park a short walk away (1/2 mile)
The start/finish area is at Coed Moel Famau Car Park:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/
We have a race village with catering facilities to refuel you after your endeavours and a bar set up by local brewers Hafod Brewery to replenish you including selling our own specially brewed Excalibur Beer (just like Arthur used to drink – probably)
There will also be a secure bag drop should you need it.
The three race starts are phased so that many of you are arriving back at the race village – Camelot – together so increasing the atmosphere and occasion. So sit back and relax those aching muscles, have a burger, have a beer and relish in your achievement.
On the summer marathon route there will be a cut off at Aifft (just before the very top loop on the marathon route) at 2pm which is about 13 miles in. So, 5 hours to make it 13 miles. We put this in so that marshal have a defined latest time to be out. It is designed to be generous to runners. Runners after 2pm will be asked to make their way back to the finish. There will be sweepers at the tail end on all routes.
There are no cut offs on the other routes or on the Winter Excalibur
At the end of the day we want you to finish. And to enjoy it. We’ll be waiting at the finish. There will be food and beer available to buy in summer and free soup in Winter. The sun will be shining (probably) and you will have conquered.
The routes for all races are mainly on trails and footpaths although some are more ‘technical’ than others. You will get beautiful views across the Vale of Clwyd, summit the famous Jubilee Tower at Moel Famau on all routes), encounter iron age hillforts en route on the marathon route) in a land with a rich historical heritage infused with tales of King Arthur. All courses are, of course, hilly and we advise you get plenty of hills in your training.
RULES & KIT CHECK
Yes – you will need to allow time for a kit check before starting Excalibur. Everyone who enters may be kit checked.
The kit requirements may change slightly depending on the weather. A list of the required items will be displayed at the registration tent on the morning of the event but our recommendation is that you bring all of the items listed below, just in case!
All runners will need full waterproofs (whole body), a whistle, compass, and a map of the area from which you can navigate (OS 265 Clwydian Range, 1:25,000 cover the area). Please note: We supply you with a map at registration so, please don’t buy one! Runners will also need to carry a hat, gloves, water bottle (you must bring your own) and (marathon, half marathon(summer) and 17k (winter) only) emergency food.
To minimise litter, participants can re-fill their water bottles at checkpoints on the route. If you don’t have your own water bottle, you won’t have a drink on the route.
There will be a cut off at Aifft (just before the very top loop on the marathon route) at 2pm. Runners after 2pm will be asked to make their way back to the finish. There will be sweepers at the tail end on all routes.
The North East Wales Search & Rescue Team will be in attendance on the day. They will be based at both the finish line and on the route.
Participants must be 18 years of age or over on the day of the race for marathon, half marathon and 17k. 16 for the 10k.
All participants will need to sign a disclaimer to say that they consider themselves physically fit enough to take part in such a demanding event. We strongly advise that all participants have some experience of running or walking on hilly terrain. Individuals must carry the essential kit on the day and it helps to be a competent map reader. Although the route will be clearly marked and supervised by marshals throughout the course it is YOUR responsibility to find the right way.
There are numerous places to stay locally and the best way to find somewhere is by clicking here.
EXCALIBUR TRAIL RACES INSTRUCTIONS
Getting there:
Summer: 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
Canicross entries will go 10 minutes before the main group.
Winter: Registration will open at 9am for the 17k and at 9.30am for the 10k race. Registration will CLOSE for the 17k at 9.50am and at 1020am for the 10k. 17k briefing will be at 9.50am and 1020am for the 10k.
Canicross entries will go 10 minutes before the main group.
To get to Excalibur Trail Races, leave the A494 between Mold and Ruthin for Tafarn Y Gelyn and follow the signs for Moel Famau. The car park and race HQ, Start/Finish is situated at ‘Coed Moel Famau Car Park’
There will be secure baggage area at Race HQ, along with a food and drink vendor, with a bar selling local beers in summer and hot soup available in the winter event.
Parking is payable locally on the day from local payment machines. We politely request that you car share where possible, due to limited parking spaces available at the event. An overflow car park just a short walk away is also available.
To get there leave the A494 between Mold and Ruthin for Tafarn Y Gelyn and follow the signs for Moel Famau. The event carpark and HQ is on the right. There will be secure baggage area at Race HQ. NOTE: The car park costs £6 (card only)
Registration and kit check: At the registration desk you will get your race number with chip, safety pins and waterproof map of the route. There will be a random 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.
n.b. Any pre-ordered T Shirts and Hoodies or other merchandise will also be able to be picked up at registration
The Summer 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 before the main race (8.50 am, 9.50 am and 10.50 am) – PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. 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!) The routes can be viewed at Marathon, Half Marathon & 10k Route Map | Excalibur Marathon
The Winter Race: The 17k will start at 10am. The 10k will start at 10.30am. Anybody entering with a dog and harness (canicross) or a dog on a lead will start 10 minutes before the main race (9.50 am and 10.20 am) – PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. 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!) The routes can be viewed on the routes page.
The routes take place through working farmland who have given their permission for us to be there. Please respect them. Please make sure that you take everything you brought with you back home. Do not litter. If you encounter sheep and lambs on the course, please do not run through them. Close all gates behind you. All signage you see is temporary and will be removed straight after the event.
Marathon checkpoints: Start GR173612 Coed Moel Famau 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 Coed Moel Famau CP
Half Marathon checkpoints: Start GR173612 Coed Moel Famau Car Park CP1 GR168647 T Junction Cilcain CP 2 GR 146641 Ridge junction CP 7 GR 146641 Ridge junction CP 8 GR 162627 Moel Famau Finish GR173612 Coed Moel Famau CP
10k checkpoints: Start GR173612 Coed Moel Famau Car Park CP 8 GR 162627 Moel Famau Finish GR172612 Coed Moel Famau CP
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.
Dress appropriately for the time of year and, remember, weather can change quickly in the hills. Please arrive hydrated and take plenty of water with you.
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 10 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 in the summer (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 are no cut off in the half marathon or 10k in summer and no cut off in either of the Winter races
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.
The start / finish area will have catering facilities selling a variety of hot foods – pizza, burgers etc, tea and coffee, a bar (local Hafod Brewery from Mold in summer. In winter we will have hot soup available. We are hoping that people will stay, relax, have something to eat, enjoy a beer and cheer on your fellow competitors at the finish. It will be a beautiful sunny day, so why not?
Run True (www.runtrue.org ) are supporting this year’s event.
Prizegiving will be at 2.00pm or sooner if all categories are complete for the summer event and at 12 noon for the winter event.
Accommodation: There are numerous places to stay locally and the best way to find somewhere is by going to www.visitclwydianrange.co.uk
Anything else? Please do not hesitate to contact me at chris@runningheadfirst.org