Flat grade share
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 29.8% Favoured
Three Forts Challenge Marathon vs Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofThree Forts Challenge Marathon or Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Three Forts Challenge Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 3.5%
- flat grade share
- 29.8% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 922 m
- climbing density
- 21.1 m/km
- net elevation
- -0 m
- maximum grade
- 13.5%
Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 3.3% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 29.5%
- lower ascent
- 463 m
- climbing density
- 21.9 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 16.4%
| Metric | Three Forts Challenge Marathon | Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 29.8% ✓ | 29.5% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 3.5% | 3.3% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 35.8% | 35.1% |
| Steep-up share | 12.3% | 11.9% |
| Downhill share | 34.4% | 35.5% |
| Total ascent (m) | 922 m | 463 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 21.1 m/km | 21.9 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 3,550 m | 1,690 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 201 m | 99 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 5.7% | 5.9% |
| Total descent (m) | 922 m | 463 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -0 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 13.5% | 16.4% |
| Start elevation (m) | 8 m | 7 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 8 m | 7 m |
| Scenic score | 93/100 ✓ | 68/100 |
| Conditions | 65/100 | 65/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 3.3% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 21.1 m/km
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 21.9 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)
Scenic score
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 93/100 Favoured
Conditions
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.
Same-distance comparisons are most meaningful; cross-distance metrics are contextual.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Three Forts Challenge Marathon | Three Forts Challenge Half 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 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Lancing, South East | Lancing, South East |
| Actual distance | 43.8 km | 21.1 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Unavailable |
| Surface | Hilly and challenging over chalk, flint and grass paths with stiles and rough tracks underfoot; minimal road sections. | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Hilly | Hilly |
| Terrain | Trail | Trail |
| Scenery | Countryside, Historic, Coastal, Riverside | Countryside, Historic, Coastal, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Community, Charity, Scenic Tour | Community, Charity, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Moderate | Unavailable |
| Total ascent | 922 m | 463 m |
| Climbing density | 21.1 m/km | 21.9 m/km |
| Total descent | 922 m | 463 m |
| Net elevation | -0 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 13.5% | 16.4% |
| Flat grade share | 29.8% | 29.5% |
| GAP factor | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| Cutoff | 6:00:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date).
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-02 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Lancing, South East
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Lancing, South East
Actual distance
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 43.8 km
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Held
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Held
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Loop
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Surface
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Hilly and challenging over chalk, flint and grass paths with stiles and rough tracks underfoot; minimal road sections.
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Hilly
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Hilly
Terrain
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Trail
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Trail
Scenery
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Countryside, Historic, Coastal, Riverside
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Countryside, Historic, Coastal, Riverside
Atmosphere
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Community, Charity, Scenic Tour
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Community, Charity, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Moderate
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Total ascent
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 922 m
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 463 m
Climbing density
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 21.1 m/km
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 21.9 m/km
Total descent
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 922 m
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 463 m
Net elevation
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- -0 m
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 13.5%
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 16.4%
Flat grade share
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 29.8%
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 29.5%
GAP factor
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 3.5%
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- 3.3%
Cutoff
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- 6:00:00
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Three Forts Challenge Marathon
- Open
- Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon
- Open
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, Three Forts Challenge Marathon or Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon?
Three Forts Challenge Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.