Athens Marathon. The Authentic vs The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofAthens Marathon. The Authentic or The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk) — which comes out ahead?
The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk) has the stronger available profile on scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held Favoured
- course flatness
- 1.3%
- flat grade share
- 73.8%
- lower ascent
- 333 m
- climbing density
- 7.9 m/km
- net elevation
- 59 m
- maximum grade
- 7.6%
The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Mapped route
- 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 | Athens Marathon. The Authentic | The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 73.8% | Unavailable |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 1.3% | Unavailable |
| Uphill share | 15.7% | Unavailable |
| Steep-up share | 0.3% | Unavailable |
| Downhill share | 10.5% | Unavailable |
| Total ascent (m) | 333 m | Unavailable |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 7.9 m/km | Unavailable |
| Longest climb length (m) | 3,490 m | Unavailable |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 71 m | Unavailable |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.0% | Unavailable |
| Total descent (m) | 274 m | Unavailable |
| Net elevation (m) | 59 m | Unavailable |
| Max absolute grade | 7.6% | Unavailable |
| Start elevation (m) | 37 m | Unavailable |
| Finish elevation (m) | 96 m | Unavailable |
| Value | Unavailable | 79/100 |
| Scenic score | 61/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 80/100 | Unavailable |
| Entry fee (GBP) | Unavailable | £60 |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | Unavailable | £190 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 7.9 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
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
Scenic score
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
Entry fee (GBP)
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
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 | Athens Marathon. The Authentic | The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-07 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-07 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Athens, Greece | Talybont-on-Usk, Wales |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.3 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Not held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Loop |
| Surface | Road; final 170m on stadium tartan | Mixed trail, mountain, canal towpath and road terrain |
| Elevation character | Hilly | Hilly |
| Terrain | Road | Trail, Mixed, Road |
| Scenery | City, Historic, Coastal, Countryside | Countryside, Mountain, Riverside, Parkland, Moorland, Forest, Lakeside |
| Atmosphere | Destination, Big City, Competitive | Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Technical |
| Total ascent | 333 m | 1,319 m |
| Climbing density | 7.9 m/km | Unavailable |
| Total descent | 274 m | Unavailable |
| Net elevation | 59 m | Unavailable |
| Max absolute grade | 7.6% | Unavailable |
| Flat grade share | 73.8% | Unavailable |
| GAP factor | 1.3% | Unavailable |
| Cutoff | 8:00:00 | 10:00:00 |
| Field cap | Unavailable | 150 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Entry fee | Unavailable | £60 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | Unavailable | £190 |
| Cost model origin | Unavailable | National Average |
Schedule
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-07 (legacy event-level date).
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-07 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Athens, Greece
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Talybont-on-Usk, Wales
Actual distance
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 42.2 km
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 42.3 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Held
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Held
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Not held
Course type
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Point To Point
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Loop
Surface
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Road; final 170m on stadium tartan
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Mixed trail, mountain, canal towpath and road terrain
Elevation character
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Hilly
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Hilly
Terrain
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Road
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Trail, Mixed, Road
Scenery
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- City, Historic, Coastal, Countryside
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Countryside, Mountain, Riverside, Parkland, Moorland, Forest, Lakeside
Atmosphere
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Destination, Big City, Competitive
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination
Technicality
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Non Technical
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Technical
Total ascent
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 333 m
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 1,319 m
Climbing density
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 7.9 m/km
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
Total descent
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 274 m
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
Net elevation
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 59 m
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
Max absolute grade
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 7.6%
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
Flat grade share
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 73.8%
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
GAP factor
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 1.3%
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
Cutoff
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 8:00:00
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 10:00:00
Field cap
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 150
Entry model
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Open
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Open
Entry fee
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- £60
Lowest modelled true cost
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- £190
Cost model origin
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- National Average
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.