Flat grade share
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 90.8% Favoured
Belfast City Half Marathon vs Great North Run Half Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofBelfast City Half Marathon or Great North Run Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Belfast City Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on value score, scenery score and conditions.
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%
Great North Run Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- -0.6% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 90.8% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 80 m
- climbing density
- 3.8 m/km
- net elevation
- -32 m
- maximum grade
- 6.7%
| Metric | Belfast City Half Marathon | Great North Run Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 89.0% | 90.8% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.2% | -0.6% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 5.8% | 4.6% |
| Steep-up share | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Downhill share | 5.2% | 4.6% |
| Total ascent (m) | 88 m | 80 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 4.2 m/km | 3.8 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,160 m | 3,100 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 13 m | 34 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Total descent (m) | 89 m | 111 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -0 m | -32 m |
| Max absolute grade | 8.6% | 6.7% |
| Start elevation (m) | 4 m | 59 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 4 m | 28 m |
| Value | 81/100 ✓ | 77/100 |
| Scenic score | 76/100 ✓ | 76/100 |
| Conditions | 81/100 ✓ | 79/100 |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £50 ✓ | £68 |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £180 ✓ | £198 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- -0.6% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 3.8 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 1,160 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Value
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 81/100 Favoured
Scenic score
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 76/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 81/100 Favoured
Entry fee (GBP)
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- £50 Favoured
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- £180 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 | Belfast City Half Marathon | Great North Run 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 2026-09-13 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Newcastle upon Tyne, North East |
| Actual distance | 21.1 km | 21.1 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Point To Point |
| Surface | Unavailable | Road |
| Laps | Unavailable | 1 |
| Elevation character | Flat | Gently Rolling |
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Scenery | City, Parkland, Waterfront, Riverside, Historic | Coastal, Riverside, City, Historic, Waterfront |
| Atmosphere | Big City, Community, Scenic Tour | Big City, Festival, Charity |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 88 m | 80 m |
| Climbing density | 4.2 m/km | 3.8 m/km |
| Total descent | 89 m | 111 m |
| Net elevation | -0 m | -32 m |
| Max absolute grade | 8.6% | 6.7% |
| Flat grade share | 89.0% | 90.8% |
| GAP factor | 0.2% | -0.6% |
| Cutoff | 3:00:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Ballot |
| Entry fee | £50 | £68 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £180 | £198 |
| Cost model origin | National Average | National Average |
Schedule
- Belfast City Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-20 (legacy event-level date).
- Great North Run Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-13 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Newcastle upon Tyne, North East
Actual distance
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Held
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Held
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Loop
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Road
Laps
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 1
Elevation character
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Flat
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Gently Rolling
Terrain
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Road
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- City, Parkland, Waterfront, Riverside, Historic
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Coastal, Riverside, City, Historic, Waterfront
Atmosphere
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Big City, Community, Scenic Tour
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Big City, Festival, Charity
Technicality
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Non Technical
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 88 m
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 80 m
Climbing density
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 3.8 m/km
Total descent
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 89 m
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 111 m
Net elevation
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- -0 m
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- -32 m
Max absolute grade
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 8.6%
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 6.7%
Flat grade share
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 89.0%
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 90.8%
GAP factor
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 0.2%
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- -0.6%
Cutoff
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- 3:00:00
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- Open
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Ballot
Entry fee
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- £50
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- £68
Lowest modelled true cost
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- £180
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- £198
Cost model origin
- Belfast City Half Marathon
- National Average
- Great North Run 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 Great North Run Half Marathon?
Great North Run Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.