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