Belfast City Half Marathon or Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and value score.

Route comparison snapshot

Belfast City Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.2%
flat grade share
89.0%
lower ascent
88 m
climbing density
4.2 m/km
net elevation
-0 m
maximum grade
8.6%

Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.2% Favoured
flat grade share
90.1% Favoured
lower ascent
75 m
climbing density
3.6 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
5.9%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricBelfast City Half MarathonBelfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Flat grade share89.0%90.1%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)0.2%0.2%
Uphill share5.8%4.6%
Steep-up share0.0%0.0%
Downhill share5.2%5.2%
Total ascent (m)88 m75 m
Climbing density (m/km)4.2 m/km3.6 m/km
Longest climb length (m)1,160 m1,020 m
Longest climb gain (m)13 m14 m
Longest climb average grade1.1%1.4%
Total descent (m)89 m75 m
Net elevation (m)-0 m0 m
Max absolute grade8.6%5.9%
Start elevation (m)4 m2 m
Finish elevation (m)4 m2 m
Value81/10082/100
Scenic score76/10043/100
Conditions81/10086/100
Entry fee (GBP)£50£42
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)£180£172

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

Race facts comparison
FactBelfast City Half MarathonBelfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-20 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date).

LocationBelfast, Northern IrelandBelfast, Northern Ireland
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeLoopUnavailable
Elevation characterFlatUnavailable
TerrainRoadUnavailable
SceneryCity, Parkland, Waterfront, Riverside, HistoricCity, Riverside, Parkland, Waterfront
AtmosphereBig City, Community, Scenic TourBig City, Community
TechnicalityNon TechnicalUnavailable
Total ascent88 m75 m
Climbing density4.2 m/km3.6 m/km
Total descent89 m75 m
Net elevation-0 m0 m
Max absolute grade8.6%5.9%
Flat grade share89.0%90.1%
GAP factor0.2%0.2%
Cutoff3:00:003:00:00
Entry modelOpenOpen
Entry fee£50£42
Lowest modelled true cost£180£172
Cost model originNational AverageNational Average

Schedule

Belfast City Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-20 (legacy event-level date).

Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Belfast City Half Marathon
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Actual distance

Belfast City Half Marathon
21.1 km
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Belfast City Half Marathon
Held
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Belfast City Half Marathon
Held
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Held

Course type

Belfast City Half Marathon
Loop
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable

Elevation character

Belfast City Half Marathon
Flat
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable

Terrain

Belfast City Half Marathon
Road
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable

Scenery

Belfast City Half Marathon
City, Parkland, Waterfront, Riverside, Historic
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
City, Riverside, Parkland, Waterfront

Atmosphere

Belfast City Half Marathon
Big City, Community, Scenic Tour
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Big City, Community

Technicality

Belfast City Half Marathon
Non Technical
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable

Total ascent

Belfast City Half Marathon
88 m
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
75 m

Climbing density

Belfast City Half Marathon
4.2 m/km
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
3.6 m/km

Total descent

Belfast City Half Marathon
89 m
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
75 m

Net elevation

Belfast City Half Marathon
-0 m
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
0 m

Max absolute grade

Belfast City Half Marathon
8.6%
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
5.9%

Flat grade share

Belfast City Half Marathon
89.0%
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
90.1%

GAP factor

Belfast City Half Marathon
0.2%
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
0.2%

Cutoff

Belfast City Half Marathon
3:00:00
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
3:00:00

Entry model

Belfast City Half Marathon
Open
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
Open

Entry fee

Belfast City Half Marathon
£50
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
£42

Lowest modelled true cost

Belfast City Half Marathon
£180
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
£172

Cost model origin

Belfast City Half Marathon
National Average
Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon
National Average

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, Belfast City Half Marathon or Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon?

Belfast City Marathon Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.

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