Flat grade share
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 23.2% Favoured
Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards) vs Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofArrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards) or Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen) — which comes out ahead?
Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen) has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 14.1%
- flat grade share
- 10.8%
- lower ascent
- 939 m
- climbing density
- 44.5 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 32.8%
Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 2.0% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 23.2% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 533 m
- climbing density
- 24.9 m/km
- net elevation
- -226 m
- maximum grade
- 25.2%
| Metric | Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards) | Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 10.8% | 23.2% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 14.1% | 2.0% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 45.1% | 30.8% |
| Steep-up share | 30.9% | 18.6% |
| Downhill share | 44.1% | 46.0% |
| Total ascent (m) | 939 m | 533 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 44.5 m/km | 24.9 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 2,630 m | 2,590 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 289 m | 257 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 11.0% | 9.9% |
| Total descent (m) | 939 m | 759 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 0 m | -226 m |
| Max absolute grade | 32.8% | 25.2% |
| Start elevation (m) | 2,265 m | 2,639 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 2,266 m | 2,413 m |
| Scenic score | 70/100 | 76/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 76/100 | 97/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 2.0% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 24.9 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
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 76/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 97/100 Favoured
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 | Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards) | Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-22 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-26 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Edwards, Colorado | Aspen, Colorado |
| Actual distance | 21.1 km | 21.4 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Point To Point |
| Surface | 78% single track, 22% dirt/gravel roads | Mixed mountain single Track trail and road; dirt with rocks and roots. |
| Elevation character | Mountainous | Net Downhill |
| Terrain | Trail, Gravel, Road | Trail, Mixed |
| Scenery | Mountain, Forest | Mountain, Countryside, Forest |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour, Destination, Wilderness | Scenic Tour, Wilderness, Destination |
| Technicality | Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 939 m | 533 m |
| Climbing density | 44.5 m/km | 24.9 m/km |
| Total descent | 939 m | 759 m |
| Net elevation | 0 m | -226 m |
| Max absolute grade | 32.8% | 25.2% |
| Flat grade share | 10.8% | 23.2% |
| GAP factor | 14.1% | 2.0% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 3:30:00 |
| Field cap | Unavailable | 750 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-22 (legacy event-level date).
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-26 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Edwards, Colorado
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Aspen, Colorado
Actual distance
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- 21.1 km
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 21.4 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Held
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Held
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Held
Course type
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Loop
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Point To Point
Surface
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- 78% single track, 22% dirt/gravel roads
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Mixed mountain single Track trail and road; dirt with rocks and roots.
Elevation character
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Mountainous
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Net Downhill
Terrain
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Trail, Gravel, Road
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Trail, Mixed
Scenery
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Mountain, Forest
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Mountain, Countryside, Forest
Atmosphere
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Scenic Tour, Destination, Wilderness
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Scenic Tour, Wilderness, Destination
Technicality
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Technical
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- Moderate
Total ascent
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- 939 m
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 533 m
Climbing density
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- 44.5 m/km
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 24.9 m/km
Total descent
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- 939 m
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 759 m
Net elevation
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- 0 m
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- -226 m
Max absolute grade
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- 32.8%
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 25.2%
Flat grade share
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- 10.8%
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 23.2%
GAP factor
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- 14.1%
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 2.0%
Cutoff
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Unavailable
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 3:30:00
Field cap
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Unavailable
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 750
Entry model
- Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards)
- Open
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)
- 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, Arrowhead Half Marathon & 5K (Vail/Edwards) or Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen)?
Golden Leaf Half Marathon (Aspen) has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.