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