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