Statto's (revised) Hill-ranking Table

Now based on SportTracks and using its elevation correction plug-in. I think the average metres gained/mile are now more realistic, but the relationship between the values of respective races remains similar however, as do the ranking positions. This is just road-races.

See notes at foot of table if you're interested in some background info.

Rank		Race	Av Gain (m/mile)
1		Keswick HM	32.50
2		Goring & Woodcote 10k	21.68
3		Hampstead Midsummer 10k	21.52
4		Great Langdale 10k	21.40
5		Croydon 10k	15.48
6		Roding Valley HM	14.45
7		St Albans HM 2008	14.38
8		Watford HM	14.27
9		Flitwick 10k 09	14.18
10		Stamford 30k	13.53
11		St Albans MWL 7M	13.30
12		Doug Anderson Mem' 5k (Bedford)	13.29
13		Serpentine LFOTM 5k	13.28
14		Regents Park 10k	13.18
15		Bury 20	13.03
16		NHRR MWL 10k Stev	12.29
17		Buntingford 10 07	12.29
18		Bish MWL 10k	11.81
19		Oakley 20	11.44
20		Barnes Green HM	10.93
21		Woburn 10k	10.77
22		Whipsnade 10k	10.72
23		FVS 3k Relays	10.08
24		Stevenage 5k (2008)	9.88
25		Bracknell HM	9.53
26		Sandy 10 09	9.37
27		WGC 10M	9.09
28		Stev HM 2008	9.06
29		Bedford HM	8.94
30		Springfield Striders 5M	8.74
31		Horndon 10k	8.67
32		Billericay 10k	8.46
33		NVH Ferry Meadows 5k	8.43
34		FVS MWL 10k	8.05
35		Harlow 10	7.71
36		WGC MWL 10k	7.61
37		Swineshead 10.29	7.47
38		Chelmsford 10k	7.21
39		Breckland 10k	7.10
40		Standalone 10k	6.98
41		Leicester HM 07	6.83
42		Reading HM	6.67
43		Chessington 10k	6.44
44		Stevenage 5k (2007)	6.24
45		WGC MWL 5	6.14
46		Shinfield 10k (nr Reading)	5.89
47		Bearbrook 10k	5.66
48		Milton Keynes (Caldecott Lake) 5k	5.66
49		St Neot's HM	5.50
50		Wokingham HM	5.27
51		Cranfield 5	5.08
52		Leighton 10	4.96
53		Wolverton 5	4.76
54		NSPCC Milton Keynes HM	4.37
55		Nike+ Milton Keynes HM	4.33
56		Nene Valley Harriers 10	4.25
57		Felsted 10k (nr Braintree)	4.06
58		Silverstone HM	3.53
59		Fred Hughes 10 (09)	3.43
60		Silverstone 10k	2.80
61		Hatfield Broadoak 10k 06	2.77
62		Lea Valley 10k	2.43
63		Grunty Fen HM	1.83
64		Langtoft 10k (Market Deeping)	1.00
65		Andy Reading 10k	0.97
66		Staines 10k	0.90

Note 1: I should state at the outset that it is generally accepted that you lose more time going up a slope of a given distance/gradient than you make up going down it. This applies to runners of all abilities, but the faster/better hill-trained you are, the less the effect (but an effect nonetheless). That is the basis of my ranking table and why it measures average metres gained per mile. Most courses start and finish at about the same height (net elevation change = about zero), but my formula makes allowance for courses where this is not the case too. A very undulating course with a significant net elevation loss between start>finish will get a lower score for example.

Note 2: The jury' s still out (in my head!), but it may be that those courses that are gently undulating (say score between 3-8) are faster than dead-flat ones. This may just be that the brain prefers a little variation or perhaps that the leg muscles do too?

Note 3: another possible factor (but difficult to measure) is where the up-hill sections are as well as how often and how steep on average (the latter being what my table reflects) . One seemingly counter-intuitive POV is that hills near the start are worse because, being fresh, you may apply too much effort and not notice the effects until later in the race. A long (in context of race-distance) downhill section to the finish can also play a part.

Note 4: Most feedback I've had is that this table is a fairly accurate guide to how races 'feel'. You could also use it to make more sensible comparisons between race times. For example, a time of 41:30 at Flitwick 10k would almost certainly be a 'better' performance than 41:15 at Hatfield Broadoak.