Flat grade share
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Great North Run Half Marathon vs Royal Parks Half Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofGreat North Run Half Marathon or Royal Parks Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Royal Parks Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on value score, conditions and entry fee.
Route comparison snapshot
Great North Run Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held Favoured
- Elevation profile
- Held Favoured
- course flatness
- -0.6%
- flat grade share
- 90.8%
- lower ascent
- 80 m
- climbing density
- 3.8 m/km
- net elevation
- -32 m
- maximum grade
- 6.7%
Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Not held
- Elevation profile
- Not held
- course flatness
- Unavailable
- flat grade share
- Unavailable
- lower ascent
- Unavailable
- climbing density
- Unavailable
- net elevation
- Unavailable
- maximum grade
- Unavailable
| Metric | Great North Run Half Marathon | Royal Parks Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 90.8% | Unavailable |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | -0.6% | Unavailable |
| Uphill share | 4.6% | Unavailable |
| Steep-up share | 0.1% | Unavailable |
| Downhill share | 4.6% | Unavailable |
| Total ascent (m) | 80 m | Unavailable |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 3.8 m/km | Unavailable |
| Longest climb length (m) | 3,100 m | Unavailable |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 34 m | Unavailable |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.1% | Unavailable |
| Total descent (m) | 111 m | Unavailable |
| Net elevation (m) | -32 m | Unavailable |
| Max absolute grade | 6.7% | Unavailable |
| Start elevation (m) | 59 m | Unavailable |
| Finish elevation (m) | 28 m | Unavailable |
| Value | 77/100 | 79/100 ✓ |
| Scenic score | 76/100 ✓ | 48/100 |
| Conditions | 79/100 | 81/100 ✓ |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £68 | £59 ✓ |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £198 | £189 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Uphill share
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Steep-up share
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Downhill share
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Total ascent (m)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Climbing density (m/km)
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 3.8 m/km
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Longest climb length (m)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Longest climb gain (m)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Longest climb average grade
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Total descent (m)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Net elevation (m)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Max absolute grade
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Start elevation (m)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Finish elevation (m)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Value
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- 79/100 Favoured
Scenic score
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 76/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- 81/100 Favoured
Entry fee (GBP)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- £59 Favoured
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- £189 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 | Great North Run Half Marathon | Royal Parks Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-13 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-11 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Newcastle upon Tyne, North East | London, London |
| Actual distance | 21.1 km | 21.1 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Not held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Not held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Loop |
| Surface | Road | Unavailable |
| Laps | 1 | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Gently Rolling | Flat |
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Scenery | Coastal, Riverside, City, Historic, Waterfront | Historic, Parkland, City, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Big City, Festival, Charity | Big City, Charity, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 80 m | Unavailable |
| Climbing density | 3.8 m/km | Unavailable |
| Total descent | 111 m | Unavailable |
| Net elevation | -32 m | Unavailable |
| Max absolute grade | 6.7% | Unavailable |
| Flat grade share | 90.8% | Unavailable |
| GAP factor | -0.6% | Unavailable |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 4:00:00 |
| Field cap | Unavailable | 16,000 |
| Entry model | Ballot | Ballot |
| Entry fee | £68 | £59 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £198 | £189 |
| Cost model origin | National Average | National Average |
| Measured course | Unavailable | No |
Schedule
- Great North Run Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-13 (legacy event-level date).
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-11 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Newcastle upon Tyne, North East
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- London, London
Actual distance
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Held
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Not held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Held
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Not held
Course type
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Point To Point
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Loop
Surface
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Road
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Laps
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 1
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Gently Rolling
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Road
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Coastal, Riverside, City, Historic, Waterfront
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Historic, Parkland, City, Riverside
Atmosphere
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Big City, Festival, Charity
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Big City, Charity, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Non Technical
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 80 m
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Climbing density
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 3.8 m/km
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Total descent
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 111 m
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Net elevation
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- -32 m
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Max absolute grade
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 6.7%
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Flat grade share
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- 90.8%
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
GAP factor
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- -0.6%
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Cutoff
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- 4:00:00
Field cap
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- 16,000
Entry model
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Ballot
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- Ballot
Entry fee
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- £68
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- £59
Lowest modelled true cost
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- £198
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- £189
Cost model origin
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- National Average
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- National Average
Measured course
- Great North Run Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Royal Parks Half Marathon
- No
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.