Flat grade share
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 82.8% Favoured
Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon vs Thames Meander Marathon (London)
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofNorfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon or Thames Meander Marathon (London) — which comes out ahead?
Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon has the stronger available profile on value score, conditions and entry fee.
Route comparison snapshot
Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 1.6%
- flat grade share
- 45.4%
- lower ascent
- 558 m
- climbing density
- 13.2 m/km
- net elevation
- -0 m
- maximum grade
- 9.8%
Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.4% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 82.8% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 274 m
- climbing density
- 6.5 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 6.1%
| Metric | Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon | Thames Meander Marathon (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 45.4% | 82.8% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 1.6% | 0.4% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 27.3% | 9.4% |
| Steep-up share | 6.0% | 0.1% |
| Downhill share | 27.3% | 7.8% |
| Total ascent (m) | 558 m | 274 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 13.2 m/km | 6.5 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 140 m | 160 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 9 m | 7 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 6.3% | 4.1% |
| Total descent (m) | 558 m | 274 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -0 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 9.8% | 6.1% |
| Start elevation (m) | 18 m | 11 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 18 m | 12 m |
| Value | 83/100 ✓ | 80/100 |
| Scenic score | 65/100 | 89/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 61/100 ✓ | 36/100 |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £38 ✓ | £55 |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £168 ✓ | £185 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 0.4% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 6.5 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
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 83/100 Favoured
Scenic score
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 89/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 61/100 Favoured
Entry fee (GBP)
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- £168 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 | Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon | Thames Meander Marathon (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-07-12 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-09 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | King's Lynn, East Of England | Barnes, London |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Laps | Out And Back |
| Surface | Trail course over sand, gravel and grass | Thames Path towpath, described as a runnable riverside route. |
| Elevation character | Gently Rolling | Flat |
| Terrain | Trail, Gravel | Trail, Towpath, Mixed, Road |
| Scenery | Parkland, Countryside, Lakeside, Forest | Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Riverside, City |
| Atmosphere | Festival, Community | Scenic Tour, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 558 m | 274 m |
| Climbing density | 13.2 m/km | 6.5 m/km |
| Total descent | 558 m | 274 m |
| Net elevation | -0 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 9.8% | 6.1% |
| Flat grade share | 45.4% | 82.8% |
| GAP factor | 1.6% | 0.4% |
| Cutoff | 6:00:00 | 6:30:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Entry fee | £38 | £55 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £168 | £185 |
| Cost model origin | National Average | National Average |
| Measured course | Unavailable | Yes |
Schedule
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-07-12 (legacy event-level date).
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-09 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- King's Lynn, East Of England
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Barnes, London
Actual distance
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Held
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Held
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Held
Course type
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Laps
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Out And Back
Surface
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Trail course over sand, gravel and grass
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Thames Path towpath, described as a runnable riverside route.
Elevation character
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Gently Rolling
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Flat
Terrain
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Trail, Gravel
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Trail, Towpath, Mixed, Road
Scenery
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Parkland, Countryside, Lakeside, Forest
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Riverside, City
Atmosphere
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Festival, Community
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Scenic Tour, Community
Technicality
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Non Technical
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 558 m
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 274 m
Climbing density
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 13.2 m/km
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 6.5 m/km
Total descent
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 558 m
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 274 m
Net elevation
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- -0 m
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 9.8%
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 6.1%
Flat grade share
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 45.4%
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 82.8%
GAP factor
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 1.6%
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 0.4%
Cutoff
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- 6:00:00
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 6:30:00
Entry model
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Open
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Open
Entry fee
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- £38
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- £55
Lowest modelled true cost
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- £168
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- £185
Cost model origin
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- National Average
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- National Average
Measured course
- Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon
- Unavailable
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 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, Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon or Thames Meander Marathon (London)?
Thames Meander Marathon (London) has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.