Flat grade share
- Southampton Marathon
- 78.4% Favoured
Milton Keynes 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 ofMilton Keynes Marathon or Southampton Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Southampton Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, scenery score and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
Milton Keynes Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.6% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 70.5%
- lower ascent
- 318 m
- climbing density
- 7.5 m/km
- net elevation
- -2 m
- maximum grade
- 7.8%
Southampton Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.7%
- flat grade share
- 78.4% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 279 m
- climbing density
- 6.6 m/km
- net elevation
- 14 m
- maximum grade
- 9.7%
| Metric | Milton Keynes Marathon | Southampton Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 70.5% | 78.4% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.6% ✓ | 0.7% |
| Uphill share | 15.5% | 10.9% |
| Steep-up share | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Downhill share | 14.0% | 10.7% |
| Total ascent (m) | 318 m | 279 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 7.5 m/km | 6.6 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 940 m | 1,610 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 18 m | 42 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.9% | 2.6% |
| Total descent (m) | 320 m | 265 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -2 m | 14 m |
| Max absolute grade | 7.8% | 9.7% |
| Start elevation (m) | 78 m | 3 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 76 m | 17 m |
| Scenic score | 85/100 | 86/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 86/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 0.6% 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)
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 7.5 m/km
- Southampton Marathon
- 6.6 m/km
Longest climb length (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)
Scenic score
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 85/100
- Southampton Marathon
- 86/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 86/100
- Southampton Marathon
- 87/100 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 | Milton Keynes Marathon | Southampton Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-05-03 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, 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 | Road | Road |
| Surface | Unavailable | Road |
| Laps | 2 | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Gently Rolling | Gently Rolling |
| Terrain | Road, Towpath | Road |
| Scenery | Lakeside, Parkland, Riverside, City, Forest, Countryside | Waterfront, City, Historic, Coastal, Parkland, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Community, Destination | Big City, Festival, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 318 m | 279 m |
| Climbing density | 7.5 m/km | 6.6 m/km |
| Total descent | 320 m | 265 m |
| Net elevation | -2 m | 14 m |
| Max absolute grade | 7.8% | 9.7% |
| Flat grade share | 70.5% | 78.4% |
| GAP factor | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 6:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Measured course | Yes | Yes |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Unavailable |
Schedule
- Milton Keynes Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-05-03 (legacy event-level date).
- Southampton Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, South East
- Southampton Marathon
- Southampton, South East
Actual distance
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Southampton Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Held
- Southampton Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Held
- Southampton Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Road
- Southampton Marathon
- Road
Surface
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Unavailable
- Southampton Marathon
- Road
Laps
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 2
- Southampton Marathon
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Gently Rolling
- Southampton Marathon
- Gently Rolling
Terrain
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Road, Towpath
- Southampton Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Lakeside, Parkland, Riverside, City, Forest, Countryside
- Southampton Marathon
- Waterfront, City, Historic, Coastal, Parkland, Riverside
Atmosphere
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Community, Destination
- Southampton Marathon
- Big City, Festival, Community
Technicality
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Non Technical
- Southampton Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 318 m
- Southampton Marathon
- 279 m
Climbing density
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 7.5 m/km
- Southampton Marathon
- 6.6 m/km
Total descent
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 320 m
- Southampton Marathon
- 265 m
Net elevation
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- -2 m
- Southampton Marathon
- 14 m
Max absolute grade
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 7.8%
- Southampton Marathon
- 9.7%
Flat grade share
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 70.5%
- Southampton Marathon
- 78.4%
GAP factor
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 0.6%
- Southampton Marathon
- 0.7%
Cutoff
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- 6:30:00
- Southampton Marathon
- 6:00:00
Entry model
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Open
- Southampton Marathon
- Open
Measured course
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Yes
- Southampton Marathon
- Yes
Qualifying status
- Milton Keynes Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- Southampton 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, Milton Keynes Marathon or Southampton Marathon?
Milton Keynes Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.