Flat grade share
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 69.4% Favoured
Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon vs Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofRichmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon or Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon and Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 1.0%
- flat grade share
- 59.3%
- lower ascent
- 204 m
- climbing density
- 9.6 m/km
- net elevation
- 3 m
- maximum grade
- 13.2%
Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.5% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 69.4% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 159 m
- climbing density
- 7.6 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 6.5%
| Metric | Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon | Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 59.3% | 69.4% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 1.0% | 0.5% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 20.3% | 15.1% |
| Steep-up share | 3.3% | 0.2% |
| Downhill share | 20.4% | 15.4% |
| Total ascent (m) | 204 m | 159 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 9.6 m/km | 7.6 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,670 m | 360 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 42 m | 7 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.5% | 2.0% |
| Total descent (m) | 201 m | 159 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 3 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 13.2% | 6.5% |
| Start elevation (m) | 19 m | 12 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 22 m | 12 m |
| Scenic score | 70/100 ✓ | 64/100 |
| Conditions | 65/100 ✓ | 36/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 0.5% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (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
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 70/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 65/100 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 | Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon | Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-23 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-09 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | London, London | Barnes, London |
| 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 | Out And Back |
| Surface | Mixed grass paths and the Tamsin Trail. | Unavailable |
| Terrain | Unavailable | Road, Trail |
| Scenery | Parkland, Forest, Historic | Riverside, Waterfront, Parkland, City |
| Atmosphere | Community, Scenic Tour | Scenic Tour, Community |
| Total ascent | 204 m | 159 m |
| Climbing density | 9.6 m/km | 7.6 m/km |
| Total descent | 201 m | 159 m |
| Net elevation | 3 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 13.2% | 6.5% |
| Flat grade share | 59.3% | 69.4% |
| GAP factor | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 6:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Measured course | Unavailable | Yes |
Schedule
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-23 (legacy event-level date).
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-09 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- London, London
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Barnes, London
Actual distance
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Held
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Held
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Loop
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Out And Back
Surface
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Mixed grass paths and the Tamsin Trail.
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Terrain
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Road, Trail
Scenery
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Parkland, Forest, Historic
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Riverside, Waterfront, Parkland, City
Atmosphere
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Community, Scenic Tour
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Community
Total ascent
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 204 m
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 159 m
Climbing density
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 9.6 m/km
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 7.6 m/km
Total descent
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 201 m
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 159 m
Net elevation
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 3 m
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 13.2%
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 6.5%
Flat grade share
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 59.3%
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 69.4%
GAP factor
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 1.0%
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 0.5%
Cutoff
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- 6:00:00
Entry model
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Open
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Open
Measured course
- Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Thames Meander Marathon (London) 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, Richmond Park Marathon (London) Half Marathon or Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon?
Thames Meander Marathon (London) Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.