Flat grade share
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 30.6% Favoured
Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon vs Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofBeachy Head Marathon Half Marathon or Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, scenery score and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 4.5%
- flat grade share
- 30.6% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 468 m
- climbing density
- 22.2 m/km
- net elevation
- -1 m
- maximum grade
- 24.2%
Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 3.3% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 29.5%
- lower ascent
- 463 m
- climbing density
- 21.9 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 16.4%
| Metric | Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon | Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 30.6% ✓ | 29.5% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 4.5% | 3.3% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 30.6% | 35.1% |
| Steep-up share | 15.3% | 11.9% |
| Downhill share | 38.8% | 35.5% |
| Total ascent (m) | 468 m | 463 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 22.2 m/km | 21.9 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 790 m | 1,690 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 95 m | 99 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 12.0% | 5.9% |
| Total descent (m) | 469 m | 463 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -1 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 24.2% | 16.4% |
| Start elevation (m) | 52 m | 7 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 51 m | 7 m |
| Scenic score | 95/100 ✓ | 68/100 |
| Conditions | 67/100 ✓ | 65/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 3.3% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 22.2 m/km
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 21.9 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Scenic score
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 95/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 67/100 Favoured
Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon | Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-24 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Eastbourne, South East | Lancing, South East |
| Actual distance | 21.1 km | 21.1 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Elevation character | Unavailable | Hilly |
| Terrain | Road | Trail |
| Scenery | Coastal, Parkland, Countryside, Forest, Riverside, Waterfront | Countryside, Historic, Coastal, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour, Destination | Community, Charity, Scenic Tour |
| Total ascent | 468 m | 463 m |
| Climbing density | 22.2 m/km | 21.9 m/km |
| Total descent | 469 m | 463 m |
| Net elevation | -1 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 24.2% | 16.4% |
| Flat grade share | 30.6% | 29.5% |
| GAP factor | 4.5% | 3.3% |
| Cutoff | 4:00:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-24 (legacy event-level date).
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- Eastbourne, South East
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Lancing, South East
Actual distance
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- Held
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- Held
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Held
Elevation character
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Hilly
Terrain
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- Road
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Trail
Scenery
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- Coastal, Parkland, Countryside, Forest, Riverside, Waterfront
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Countryside, Historic, Coastal, Riverside
Atmosphere
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Destination
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Community, Charity, Scenic Tour
Total ascent
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 468 m
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 463 m
Climbing density
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 22.2 m/km
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 21.9 m/km
Total descent
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 469 m
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 463 m
Net elevation
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- -1 m
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 24.2%
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 16.4%
Flat grade share
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 30.6%
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 29.5%
GAP factor
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 4.5%
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 3.3%
Cutoff
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- 4:00:00
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon
- Open
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Open
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.
Common questions
Which is flatter, Beachy Head Marathon Half Marathon or Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon?
Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.