Flat grade share
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- 93.6% Favoured
Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon vs Run Leicester Half Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofCheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon or Run Leicester Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Run Leicester Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on value score, scenery score and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.0% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 93.6% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 70 m
- climbing density
- 3.3 m/km
- net elevation
- -5 m
- maximum grade
- 4.4%
Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.3%
- flat grade share
- 83.0%
- lower ascent
- 114 m
- climbing density
- 5.4 m/km
- net elevation
- -0 m
- maximum grade
- 7.9%
| Metric | Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon | Run Leicester Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 93.6% ✓ | 83.0% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.0% ✓ | 0.3% |
| Uphill share | 3.3% | 8.6% |
| Steep-up share | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Downhill share | 3.1% | 8.5% |
| Total ascent (m) | 70 m | 114 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 3.3 m/km | 5.4 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,480 m | 960 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 15 m | 22 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.0% | 2.3% |
| Total descent (m) | 75 m | 114 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -5 m | -0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Start elevation (m) | 74 m | 91 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 69 m | 91 m |
| Value | 83/100 | 84/100 ✓ |
| Scenic score | 50/100 | 71/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 71/100 | 80/100 ✓ |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £38 | £33 ✓ |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £168 | £163 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- 0.0% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 5.4 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)
Value
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 84/100 Favoured
Scenic score
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 71/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 80/100 Favoured
Entry fee (GBP)
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- £33 Favoured
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- £163 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 | Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon | Run Leicester Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-14 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-11 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Cheltenham, South West | Leicester, East Midlands |
| Actual distance | 21.1 km | 21.1 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Laps | Loop |
| Surface | Mostly tarmac with some sections of gravel and soft surface; a mixture of multi Terrain and concrete paths | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Flat | Flat |
| Terrain | Road, Mixed | Road, Towpath |
| Scenery | Parkland, Countryside, Historic | City, Parkland, Historic, Riverside, Lakeside |
| Atmosphere | Festival, Community | Community, Festival, Charity |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 70 m | 114 m |
| Climbing density | 3.3 m/km | 5.4 m/km |
| Total descent | 75 m | 114 m |
| Net elevation | -5 m | -0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Flat grade share | 93.6% | 83.0% |
| GAP factor | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 3:15:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Entry fee | £38 | £33 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £168 | £163 |
| Cost model origin | National Average | National Average |
| Measured course | Unavailable | Yes |
Schedule
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-14 (legacy event-level date).
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-11 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Cheltenham, South West
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Leicester, East Midlands
Actual distance
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Held
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Held
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Laps
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Loop
Surface
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Mostly tarmac with some sections of gravel and soft surface; a mixture of multi Terrain and concrete paths
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Flat
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Road, Mixed
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Road, Towpath
Scenery
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Parkland, Countryside, Historic
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- City, Parkland, Historic, Riverside, Lakeside
Atmosphere
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Festival, Community
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Community, Festival, Charity
Technicality
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Non Technical
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- 70 m
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 114 m
Climbing density
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- 3.3 m/km
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 5.4 m/km
Total descent
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- 75 m
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 114 m
Net elevation
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- -5 m
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- -0 m
Max absolute grade
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- 4.4%
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 7.9%
Flat grade share
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- 93.6%
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 83.0%
GAP factor
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- 0.0%
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 0.3%
Cutoff
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- 3:15:00
Entry model
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Open
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Open
Entry fee
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- £38
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- £33
Lowest modelled true cost
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- £168
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- £163
Cost model origin
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- National Average
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- National Average
Measured course
- Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Run Leicester Half Marathon
- Yes
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, Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon or Run Leicester Half Marathon?
Cheltenham Running Festival Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.