Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon or South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon — which comes out ahead?

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon and South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.

Route comparison snapshot

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
5.7%
flat grade share
25.3%
lower ascent
1,308 m
climbing density
24.9 m/km
net elevation
2 m
maximum grade
31.2%

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
4.1% Favoured
flat grade share
34.7% Favoured
lower ascent
3,410 m
climbing density
21.2 m/km
net elevation
-94 m
maximum grade
31.8%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricBeachy Head Marathon UltramarathonSouth Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
PB potentialUnavailable83/100
Flat grade share25.3%34.7%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)5.7%4.1%
Uphill share37.6%32.7%
Steep-up share16.1%13.3%
Downhill share37.1%32.6%
Total ascent (m)1,308 m3,410 m
Climbing density (m/km)24.9 m/km21.2 m/km
Longest climb length (m)2,340 m2,970 m
Longest climb gain (m)146 m194 m
Longest climb average grade6.3%6.5%
Total descent (m)1,305 m3,504 m
Net elevation (m)2 m-94 m
Max absolute grade31.2%31.8%
Start elevation (m)49 m99 m
Finish elevation (m)51 m5 m
Median finish context (s)Unavailable24:53:35
ValueUnavailable48/100
Beginner-friendlinessUnavailable66/100
Scenic score95/10091/100
Conditions67/10049/100
Entry fee (GBP)Unavailable£220
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)Unavailable£350

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

Race facts comparison
FactBeachy Head Marathon UltramarathonSouth Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-24 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date).

LocationEastbourne, South EastWinchester to Eastbourne, South East
Actual distance52.6 km160.9 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeUnavailablePoint To Point
SurfaceUnavailableMostly trail (about 85% trail, 15% road)
Elevation characterUnavailableRolling
TerrainRoadTrail, Road, Track
SceneryCoastal, Parkland, Countryside, Forest, Riverside, WaterfrontCountryside, Historic, Forest, Coastal, Riverside
AtmosphereScenic Tour, DestinationScenic Tour, Destination, Competitive
TechnicalityUnavailableModerate
Total ascent1,308 m3,410 m
Climbing density24.9 m/km21.2 m/km
Total descent1,305 m3,504 m
Net elevation2 m-94 m
Max absolute grade31.2%31.8%
Flat grade share25.3%34.7%
GAP factor5.7%4.1%
Cutoff9:00:0030:00:00
Field cap200600
Latest finishersUnavailable357
Entry modelQualifierQualifier
Entry feeUnavailable£220
Lowest modelled true costUnavailable£350
Cost model originUnavailableNational Average

Schedule

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-24 (legacy event-level date).

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Eastbourne, South East
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Winchester to Eastbourne, South East

Actual distance

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
52.6 km
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
160.9 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Held
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Held
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Held

Course type

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Point To Point

Surface

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Mostly trail (about 85% trail, 15% road)

Elevation character

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Rolling

Terrain

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Road
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Trail, Road, Track

Scenery

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Coastal, Parkland, Countryside, Forest, Riverside, Waterfront
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Countryside, Historic, Forest, Coastal, Riverside

Atmosphere

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Scenic Tour, Destination
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Scenic Tour, Destination, Competitive

Technicality

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Moderate

Total ascent

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
1,308 m
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
3,410 m

Climbing density

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
24.9 m/km
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
21.2 m/km

Total descent

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
1,305 m
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
3,504 m

Net elevation

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
2 m
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
-94 m

Max absolute grade

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
31.2%
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
31.8%

Flat grade share

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
25.3%
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
34.7%

GAP factor

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
5.7%
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
4.1%

Cutoff

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
9:00:00
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
30:00:00

Field cap

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
200
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
600

Latest finishers

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
357

Entry model

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Qualifier
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Qualifier

Entry fee

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
£220

Lowest modelled true cost

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
£350

Cost model origin

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
National Average

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, Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon or South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon?

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.

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