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