Flat grade share
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 82.8% Favoured
Richmond Park Marathon (London) 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 ofRichmond Park Marathon (London) or Thames Meander Marathon (London) — which comes out ahead?
Thames Meander Marathon (London) has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 1.2%
- flat grade share
- 63.0%
- lower ascent
- 423 m
- climbing density
- 10.0 m/km
- net elevation
- 6 m
- maximum grade
- 15.3%
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 | Richmond Park Marathon (London) | Thames Meander Marathon (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 63.0% | 82.8% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 1.2% | 0.4% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 17.0% | 9.4% |
| Steep-up share | 2.7% | 0.1% |
| Downhill share | 19.9% | 7.8% |
| Total ascent (m) | 423 m | 274 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 10.0 m/km | 6.5 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,600 m | 160 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 45 m | 7 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.8% | 4.1% |
| Total descent (m) | 417 m | 274 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 6 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 15.3% | 6.1% |
| Start elevation (m) | 19 m | 11 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 25 m | 12 m |
| Value | Unavailable | 80/100 |
| Scenic score | 70/100 | 89/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 65/100 ✓ | 36/100 |
| Entry fee (GBP) | Unavailable | £55 |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | Unavailable | £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)
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 10.0 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
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Unavailable
Scenic score
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 89/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 65/100 Favoured
Entry fee (GBP)
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 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 | Richmond Park Marathon (London) | Thames Meander Marathon (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-23 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-09 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | London, London | 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 | Mixed terrain on grass paths and the Tamsin Trail with some sealed sections. | Thames Path towpath, described as a runnable riverside route. |
| Elevation character | Gently Rolling | Flat |
| Terrain | Trail, Mixed | Trail, Towpath, Mixed, Road |
| Scenery | Parkland, Forest, Historic | Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Riverside, City |
| Atmosphere | Community, Scenic Tour | Scenic Tour, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 423 m | 274 m |
| Climbing density | 10.0 m/km | 6.5 m/km |
| Total descent | 417 m | 274 m |
| Net elevation | 6 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 15.3% | 6.1% |
| Flat grade share | 63.0% | 82.8% |
| GAP factor | 1.2% | 0.4% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 6:30:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Entry fee | Unavailable | £55 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | Unavailable | £185 |
| Cost model origin | Unavailable | National Average |
| Measured course | Unavailable | Yes |
Schedule
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-23 (legacy event-level date).
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-09 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- London, London
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Barnes, London
Actual distance
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 42.2 km
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Held
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Held
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Held
Course type
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Laps
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Out And Back
Surface
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Mixed terrain on grass paths and the Tamsin Trail with some sealed sections.
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Thames Path towpath, described as a runnable riverside route.
Elevation character
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Gently Rolling
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Flat
Terrain
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Trail, Mixed
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Trail, Towpath, Mixed, Road
Scenery
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Parkland, Forest, Historic
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Riverside, City
Atmosphere
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Community, Scenic Tour
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Scenic Tour, Community
Technicality
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Non Technical
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 423 m
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 274 m
Climbing density
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 10.0 m/km
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 6.5 m/km
Total descent
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 417 m
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 274 m
Net elevation
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 6 m
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 15.3%
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 6.1%
Flat grade share
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 63.0%
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 82.8%
GAP factor
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 1.2%
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 0.4%
Cutoff
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 6:30:00
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- 6:30:00
Entry model
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Open
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- Open
Entry fee
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Unavailable
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- £55
Lowest modelled true cost
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Unavailable
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- £185
Cost model origin
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- Unavailable
- Thames Meander Marathon (London)
- National Average
Measured course
- Richmond Park Marathon (London)
- 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, Richmond Park Marathon (London) 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.