The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk) vs Athens Marathon. The Authentic
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofThe Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk) or Athens Marathon. The Authentic — which comes out ahead?
The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk) has the stronger available profile on scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Not held
- course flatness
- Unavailable
- flat grade share
- Unavailable
- lower ascent
- Unavailable
- climbing density
- Unavailable
- net elevation
- Unavailable
- maximum grade
- Unavailable
Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held Favoured
- course flatness
- 1.3%
- flat grade share
- 73.8%
- lower ascent
- 333 m
- climbing density
- 7.9 m/km
- net elevation
- 59 m
- maximum grade
- 7.6%
| Metric | The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk) | Athens Marathon. The Authentic |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | Unavailable | 73.8% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | Unavailable | 1.3% |
| Uphill share | Unavailable | 15.7% |
| Steep-up share | Unavailable | 0.3% |
| Downhill share | Unavailable | 10.5% |
| Total ascent (m) | Unavailable | 333 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | Unavailable | 7.9 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | Unavailable | 3,490 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | Unavailable | 71 m |
| Longest climb average grade | Unavailable | 2.0% |
| Total descent (m) | Unavailable | 274 m |
| Net elevation (m) | Unavailable | 59 m |
| Max absolute grade | Unavailable | 7.6% |
| Start elevation (m) | Unavailable | 37 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | Unavailable | 96 m |
| Value | 79/100 | Unavailable |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 61/100 |
| Conditions | Unavailable | 80/100 |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £60 | Unavailable |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £190 | Unavailable |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 7.9 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
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
Scenic score
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
Entry fee (GBP)
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 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 | The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk) | Athens Marathon. The Authentic |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-07 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-07 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Talybont-on-Usk, Wales | Athens, Greece |
| Actual distance | 42.3 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Not held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Point To Point |
| Surface | Mixed trail, mountain, canal towpath and road terrain | Road; final 170m on stadium tartan |
| Elevation character | Hilly | Hilly |
| Terrain | Trail, Mixed, Road | Road |
| Scenery | Countryside, Mountain, Riverside, Parkland, Moorland, Forest, Lakeside | City, Historic, Coastal, Countryside |
| Atmosphere | Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination | Destination, Big City, Competitive |
| Technicality | Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 1,319 m | 333 m |
| Climbing density | Unavailable | 7.9 m/km |
| Total descent | Unavailable | 274 m |
| Net elevation | Unavailable | 59 m |
| Max absolute grade | Unavailable | 7.6% |
| Flat grade share | Unavailable | 73.8% |
| GAP factor | Unavailable | 1.3% |
| Cutoff | 10:00:00 | 8:00:00 |
| Field cap | 150 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Entry fee | £60 | Unavailable |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £190 | Unavailable |
| Cost model origin | National Average | Unavailable |
Schedule
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-07 (legacy event-level date).
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-07 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Talybont-on-Usk, Wales
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Athens, Greece
Actual distance
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 42.3 km
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Held
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Not held
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Held
Course type
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Loop
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Point To Point
Surface
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Mixed trail, mountain, canal towpath and road terrain
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Road; final 170m on stadium tartan
Elevation character
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Hilly
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Hilly
Terrain
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Trail, Mixed, Road
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Road
Scenery
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Countryside, Mountain, Riverside, Parkland, Moorland, Forest, Lakeside
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- City, Historic, Coastal, Countryside
Atmosphere
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Destination, Big City, Competitive
Technicality
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Technical
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 1,319 m
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 333 m
Climbing density
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 7.9 m/km
Total descent
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 274 m
Net elevation
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 59 m
Max absolute grade
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 7.6%
Flat grade share
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 73.8%
GAP factor
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Unavailable
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 1.3%
Cutoff
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 10:00:00
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- 8:00:00
Field cap
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- 150
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
Entry model
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- Open
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Open
Entry fee
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- £60
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- £190
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
Cost model origin
- The Beacons Ultra, Marathon & Half (Talybont-on-Usk)
- National Average
- Athens Marathon. The Authentic
- Unavailable
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.