Flat grade share
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 81.7% Favoured
- Southampton Marathon
- 78.4%
Garmin New Forest Marathon vs Southampton Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofGarmin New Forest Marathon or Southampton Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Garmin New Forest Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.3% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 81.7% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 246 m
- climbing density
- 5.8 m/km
- net elevation
- -1 m
- maximum grade
- 5.5%
Southampton Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.7%
- flat grade share
- 78.4%
- lower ascent
- 279 m
- climbing density
- 6.6 m/km
- net elevation
- 14 m
- maximum grade
- 9.7%
| Metric | Garmin New Forest Marathon | Southampton Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 81.7% ✓ | 78.4% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.3% ✓ | 0.7% |
| Uphill share | 9.2% | 10.9% |
| Steep-up share | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Downhill share | 9.1% | 10.7% |
| Total ascent (m) | 246 m | 279 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 5.8 m/km | 6.6 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,270 m | 1,610 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 27 m | 42 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.1% | 2.6% |
| Total descent (m) | 247 m | 265 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -1 m | 14 m |
| Max absolute grade | 5.5% | 9.7% |
| Start elevation (m) | 22 m | 3 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 21 m | 17 m |
| Value | 77/100 | Unavailable |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 86/100 |
| Conditions | 67/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £69 | Unavailable |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £199 | Unavailable |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 0.3% Favoured
Uphill share
- Southampton Marathon
- 10.9%
Steep-up share
Downhill share
- Southampton Marathon
- 10.7%
Total ascent (m)
- Southampton Marathon
- 279 m
Climbing density (m/km)
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 5.8 m/km
- Southampton Marathon
- 6.6 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 1,270 m
- Southampton Marathon
- 1,610 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
- Southampton Marathon
- 265 m
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Value
- Southampton Marathon
- Unavailable
Scenic score
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
- Southampton Marathon
- 86/100
Conditions
- Southampton Marathon
- 87/100 Favoured
Entry fee (GBP)
- Southampton Marathon
- Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Southampton 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 | Garmin New Forest Marathon | Southampton Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-13 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Brockenhurst, South East | Southampton, South East |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Unavailable | Road |
| Surface | Multi Terrain: compact gravel forest tracks, trail sections and tarmac roads. | Road |
| Elevation character | Flat | Gently Rolling |
| Terrain | Mixed, Gravel | Road |
| Scenery | Coastal, Forest, Historic, Countryside, Moorland, Parkland | Waterfront, City, Historic, Coastal, Parkland, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour, Festival | Big City, Festival, Community |
| Technicality | Moderate | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 246 m | 279 m |
| Climbing density | 5.8 m/km | 6.6 m/km |
| Total descent | 247 m | 265 m |
| Net elevation | -1 m | 14 m |
| Max absolute grade | 5.5% | 9.7% |
| Flat grade share | 81.7% | 78.4% |
| GAP factor | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 6:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Entry fee | £69 | Unavailable |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £199 | Unavailable |
| Cost model origin | National Average | Unavailable |
| Measured course | Unavailable | Yes |
Schedule
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-13 (legacy event-level date).
- Southampton Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Brockenhurst, South East
- Southampton Marathon
- Southampton, South East
Actual distance
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Southampton Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Held
- Southampton Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Held
- Southampton Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Unavailable
- Southampton Marathon
- Road
Surface
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Multi Terrain: compact gravel forest tracks, trail sections and tarmac roads.
- Southampton Marathon
- Road
Elevation character
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Flat
- Southampton Marathon
- Gently Rolling
Terrain
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Mixed, Gravel
- Southampton Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Coastal, Forest, Historic, Countryside, Moorland, Parkland
- Southampton Marathon
- Waterfront, City, Historic, Coastal, Parkland, Riverside
Atmosphere
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Festival
- Southampton Marathon
- Big City, Festival, Community
Technicality
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Moderate
- Southampton Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 246 m
- Southampton Marathon
- 279 m
Climbing density
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 5.8 m/km
- Southampton Marathon
- 6.6 m/km
Total descent
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 247 m
- Southampton Marathon
- 265 m
Net elevation
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- -1 m
- Southampton Marathon
- 14 m
Max absolute grade
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 5.5%
- Southampton Marathon
- 9.7%
Flat grade share
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 81.7%
- Southampton Marathon
- 78.4%
GAP factor
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- 0.3%
- Southampton Marathon
- 0.7%
Cutoff
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Unavailable
- Southampton Marathon
- 6:00:00
Entry model
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Open
- Southampton Marathon
- Open
Entry fee
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- £69
- Southampton Marathon
- Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- £199
- Southampton Marathon
- Unavailable
Cost model origin
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- National Average
- Southampton Marathon
- Unavailable
Measured course
- Garmin New Forest Marathon
- Unavailable
- Southampton 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, Garmin New Forest Marathon or Southampton Marathon?
Garmin New Forest Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.