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