Compiled and fact-checked by Tommo, Verus founder · Last verified August 2026 · Spot an error?
Triathlon · Full Distance (140.6)
The Brutal Extreme Triathlon 2026
- Race day
- Saturday, 19 September 2026
- Location
- Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales
- Distance
- 226.06 km total
3.86km swim 180km bike 42.2km run
The Brutal Extreme Triathlon 2026: a Llyn Padarn swim, Eryri mountain roads and a run up Snowdon — voted the world's toughest triathlon. Dates, all five distances and entry.
9 days to go
Key Race Metrics & Overview
- Date
- Saturday, 19 September 2026
- Venue
- Llanberis Event Field, Caernarfon LL55 4UR
- Distance
- Full Distance (140.6) — 226.06km total
- Start Time
- 07:00
- Draft-Legal Bike
- No — non-drafting
- Cut-Off
- Per the organiser: Half — 1 hour swim, 6 hours bike, 12 hours total; Full (the distance covered on this page) — 2 hours swim, 12 hours bike, 21 hours total; Double — 4 hours swim, 26 hours bike, 42 hours total.
Also this weekend
Five distances, named in Welsh: Bach (standard), Canol (half), Mawr (full — the distance covered on this page), Cawr (double) and Goron (triple). The double and triple run over the same weekend, 19-21 September 2026.
Leg 1 of 3
Swim — 3.86km
A full-distance 3.86km swim in Llyn Padarn, the glacial lake at Llanberis. Cold, clear and deep, under the Eryri skyline.
- Venue
- Llyn Padarn, Llanberis
- Elevation gain
- No official figure published — see notes above
- Surface
- Lake — open water, cold.
Wetsuit: Not published in the sources checked. A September swim of this length in a Snowdonian lake makes a wetsuit essential in practice — confirm the current rule with the organiser.
Leg 2 of 3
Bike — 180km
A 180km ride on the mountain roads of Eryri, with sustained climbing throughout. The organiser describes it plainly as demanding hills and tough ascents — there is no flat section to hide in.
- Venue
- The mountain roads of Eryri
- Elevation gain
- No official figure published — see notes above
- Surface
- Road — mountain, sustained climbing.
Non-drafting
Leg 3 of 3
Run — 42.2km
A marathon that begins with a rolling trail circuit of Llyn Padarn and then climbs the steep slopes of Snowdon. Finishing a full-distance triathlon by summiting the highest mountain in Wales is what earned this race its reputation.
- Venue
- Llyn Padarn and the summit of Snowdon
- Elevation gain
- No official figure published — see notes above
- Surface
- Trail and mountain — lakeside path, then the Snowdon ascent.
Transitions
Transition is at the Llanberis Event Field, serving the Llyn Padarn swim and the Snowdon run.
The Brutal Extreme Triathlon Split Calculator
The Brutal Extreme Triathlon Split-Time Calculator
Enter your own swim, bike and run pace to project a real finish time.
Projected Finish Time
11:13:18
Racing a different distance? Try the generic split calculator or the swim pace calculator.
Where The Brutal Extreme Triathlon starts and finishes
These are the start and finish points, not the route. Verus doesn't hold course files for this race, and drawing a line between two pins would be a guess you might end up training on. The official course map is the one to use: view it on the organiser's site .
Entry & Ballot
Direct entry summary
Entry is through Brutal Events directly or via British Triathlon. Around 350 competitors take part across all five distances. Pricing was not published in the sources checked.
Ballot policy
No ballot — entry is direct.
Age requirement
Not published in the sources checked — confirm with the organiser.
Charity Places
No formal charity-place scheme is published.
Race Day Info & Checklist
On the day
- The event runs across three days, 19-21 September 2026, to accommodate the double and triple distances.
- A 07:00 start from the Llanberis Event Field.
- Voted the world's toughest triathlon by 220 Triathlon in 2017, but run as a deliberately low-key, friendly event rather than a mass-participation one.
- Around 350 competitors across all five distances.
- The run leg finishes by climbing Snowdon — mountain kit and mountain weather apply.
- A hi-viz vest is compulsory on the bike leg, day or night. On-course aid is basic: hot/cold drinks, TORQ nutrition, bananas and snacks — this is not a race with Ironman-style aid-station density.
- Every finisher gets a medal and a Brutal-branded t-shirt.
- Mandatory kit for the run/mountain leg is extensive: a waterproof map pouch, compass, whistle, waterproof jacket and trousers, extra warm clothing, gloves, hat, nutrition, a charged and waterproofed phone with the emergency number saved, a foil survival blanket, 400ml+ water and a blister kit — plus glow sticks or a red tail light and a head torch for the Full and Double distances specifically.
Checklist
- A wetsuit for a 3.86km swim in a cold Snowdonian lake
- Climbing gears for 180km of Eryri mountain road
- Fell or trail shoes and full mountain kit for the Snowdon ascent, packed in T2
- Warm layers you can add on the mountain — the summit is a different climate to Llanberis
- A headtorch: a full-distance race starting at 07:00 in late September will finish in the dark for most of the field
- A support plan, since this is a small field on a big mountain
Transport, Spectating & Where to Stay
Transport
Bangor is the nearest mainline station, around 9 miles away, with bus or taxi onward to Llanberis.
Not published for this event. Llanberis parking is limited — check the athlete information.
The bike leg uses open mountain roads.
Spectator guide
The Llanberis Event Field covers the swim, transitions and finish. The Llanberis Path up Snowdon lets supporters walk up to meet runners on the climb, which is the memorable part of the day.
Llanberis is compact. The bike course covers a large area of Eryri on open roads and is difficult to follow.
Where to stay
Llanberis
+ At the event field, walkable to everything, and at the foot of the Snowdon path.
– Small village, limited rooms, and a busy September weekend in the national park.
Caernarfon
+ More choice and a short drive in, with somewhere proper to eat after a very long day.
– Not walkable to the venue.
Bangor
+ The mainline station and the widest accommodation choice in the area.
– Furthest from the venue of the three, and out of the mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Brutal Extreme Triathlon 2026?
19-21 September 2026, starting at 07:00 from the Llanberis Event Field. The three-day window exists because the double and triple distances run over the same weekend.
What distances does the Brutal Extreme Triathlon offer?
Five, named in Welsh: Bach (standard), Canol (half), Mawr (full), Cawr (double) and Goron (triple).
Does the Brutal Extreme Triathlon really go up Snowdon?
Yes. The run leg circuits Llyn Padarn on trail and then climbs the steep slopes of Snowdon — that is what the race is known for.
Why is the Brutal called the world's toughest triathlon?
It was voted so by 220 Triathlon in 2017 — a full-distance swim in a cold mountain lake, 180km on Eryri mountain roads, and a marathon that finishes by summiting the highest mountain in Wales.
What is the cut-off for the Brutal Extreme Triathlon (Full distance)?
2 hours for the swim, 12 hours for the bike, and 21 hours total.
What mandatory kit do you need for the Brutal Extreme Triathlon?
An extensive mountain-safety list: waterproof map pouch, compass, whistle, waterproof jacket and trousers, extra warm layers, gloves, hat, nutrition, a charged waterproofed phone, a foil survival blanket, water and a blister kit — plus a head torch and glow sticks or a red tail light for the Full and Double distances.
How big is the Brutal Extreme Triathlon field?
Around 350 competitors across all five distances. It is deliberately low-key rather than a mass-participation event.
Where is the Brutal Extreme Triathlon swim?
Llyn Padarn in Llanberis — the same lake used by the Slateman Triathlon in June.
When were Brutal Extreme Triathlon results published?
No results yet — they'll be added here once the race has actually happened, or check the official results source directly.