Flat grade share
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 97.6% Favoured
Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon vs Portland Coastal Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofBath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon or Portland Coastal Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.1% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 97.6% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 98 m
- climbing density
- 2.3 m/km
- net elevation
- 1 m
- maximum grade
- 6.7%
Portland Coastal Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 4.0%
- flat grade share
- 53.2%
- lower ascent
- 715 m
- climbing density
- 16.9 m/km
- net elevation
- -0 m
- maximum grade
- 33.0%
| Metric | Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon | Portland Coastal Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 97.6% ✓ | 53.2% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.1% ✓ | 4.0% |
| Uphill share | 1.2% | 23.4% |
| Steep-up share | 0.1% | 8.6% |
| Downhill share | 1.1% | 23.5% |
| Total ascent (m) | 98 m | 715 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 2.3 m/km | 16.9 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,050 m | 680 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 18 m | 99 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.7% | 14.6% |
| Total descent (m) | 97 m | 715 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 1 m | -0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 6.7% | 33.0% |
| Start elevation (m) | 18 m | -0 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 19 m | -0 m |
| Value | 79/100 | Unavailable |
| Scenic score | 83/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 81/100 ✓ | 78/100 |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £60 | Unavailable |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £190 | Unavailable |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 0.1% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 16.9 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
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Unavailable
Scenic score
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 87/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 81/100 Favoured
Entry fee (GBP)
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 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 | Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon | Portland Coastal 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 2027-02-14 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Bath, South West | Portland, South West |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Out And Back | Laps |
| Surface | Essentially 100% tarmac, aside from a small amount of grass at the start and finish | Coastal trail on the South West Coast Path (exposed limestone peninsula terrain). |
| Elevation character | Unavailable | Hilly |
| Terrain | Trail | Trail |
| Scenery | Riverside, Countryside, Historic, City, Parkland | Island, Coastal, Waterfront, City, Historic |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour | Scenic Tour, Wilderness |
| Technicality | Unavailable | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 98 m | 715 m |
| Climbing density | 2.3 m/km | 16.9 m/km |
| Total descent | 97 m | 715 m |
| Net elevation | 1 m | -0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 6.7% | 33.0% |
| Flat grade share | 97.6% | 53.2% |
| GAP factor | 0.1% | 4.0% |
| Cutoff | 7:30:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Entry fee | £60 | Unavailable |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £190 | Unavailable |
| Cost model origin | National Average | Unavailable |
| Measured course | Yes | No |
Schedule
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-11 (legacy event-level date).
- Portland Coastal Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-14 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Bath, South West
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Portland, South West
Actual distance
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Held
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Held
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Out And Back
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Laps
Surface
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Essentially 100% tarmac, aside from a small amount of grass at the start and finish
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Coastal trail on the South West Coast Path (exposed limestone peninsula terrain).
Elevation character
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Unavailable
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Hilly
Terrain
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Trail
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Trail
Scenery
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Riverside, Countryside, Historic, City, Parkland
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Island, Coastal, Waterfront, City, Historic
Atmosphere
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Scenic Tour
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Wilderness
Technicality
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Unavailable
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Moderate
Total ascent
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 98 m
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 715 m
Climbing density
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 2.3 m/km
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 16.9 m/km
Total descent
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 97 m
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 715 m
Net elevation
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 1 m
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- -0 m
Max absolute grade
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 6.7%
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 33.0%
Flat grade share
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 97.6%
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 53.2%
GAP factor
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 0.1%
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- 4.0%
Cutoff
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- 7:30:00
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Open
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Open
Entry fee
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- £60
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- £190
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Unavailable
Cost model origin
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- National Average
- Portland Coastal Marathon
- Unavailable
Measured course
- Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon
- Yes
- Portland Coastal 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.
Common questions
Which is flatter, Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon or Portland Coastal Marathon?
Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.