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