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

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

Route comparison snapshot

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%

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%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricSouth Downs Way 100 UltramarathonBeachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
PB potential83/100Unavailable
Flat grade share34.7%25.3%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)4.1%5.7%
Uphill share32.7%37.6%
Steep-up share13.3%16.1%
Downhill share32.6%37.1%
Total ascent (m)3,410 m1,308 m
Climbing density (m/km)21.2 m/km24.9 m/km
Longest climb length (m)2,970 m2,340 m
Longest climb gain (m)194 m146 m
Longest climb average grade6.5%6.3%
Total descent (m)3,504 m1,305 m
Net elevation (m)-94 m2 m
Max absolute grade31.8%31.2%
Start elevation (m)99 m49 m
Finish elevation (m)5 m51 m
Median finish context (s)24:53:35Unavailable
Value48/100Unavailable
Beginner-friendliness66/100Unavailable
Scenic score91/10095/100
Conditions49/10067/100
Entry fee (GBP)£220Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)£350Unavailable

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
FactSouth Downs Way 100 UltramarathonBeachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Schedule

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

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

LocationWinchester to Eastbourne, South EastEastbourne, South East
Actual distance160.9 km52.6 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typePoint To PointUnavailable
SurfaceMostly trail (about 85% trail, 15% road)Unavailable
Elevation characterRollingUnavailable
TerrainTrail, Road, TrackRoad
SceneryCountryside, Historic, Forest, Coastal, RiversideCoastal, Parkland, Countryside, Forest, Riverside, Waterfront
AtmosphereScenic Tour, Destination, CompetitiveScenic Tour, Destination
TechnicalityModerateUnavailable
Total ascent3,410 m1,308 m
Climbing density21.2 m/km24.9 m/km
Total descent3,504 m1,305 m
Net elevation-94 m2 m
Max absolute grade31.8%31.2%
Flat grade share34.7%25.3%
GAP factor4.1%5.7%
Cutoff30:00:009:00:00
Field cap600200
Latest finishers357Unavailable
Entry modelQualifierQualifier
Entry fee£220Unavailable
Lowest modelled true cost£350Unavailable
Cost model originNational AverageUnavailable

Schedule

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon

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

Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon

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

Location

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

Actual distance

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

raceindex.org mapped route held

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Held
Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Held
Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Held

Course type

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

Surface

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

Elevation character

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Rolling
Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable

Terrain

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

Scenery

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

Atmosphere

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

Technicality

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Moderate
Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable

Total ascent

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

Climbing density

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

Total descent

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

Net elevation

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

Max absolute grade

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

Flat grade share

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

GAP factor

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

Cutoff

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

Field cap

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
600
Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
200

Latest finishers

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
357
Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Unavailable

Entry model

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
Qualifier
Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
Qualifier

Entry fee

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

Lowest modelled true cost

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

Cost model origin

South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
National Average
Beachy Head Marathon Ultramarathon
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, South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon or Beachy Head Marathon 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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How figures are calculated →