Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon or Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.

Route comparison snapshot

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.2% Favoured
flat grade share
59.4% Favoured
lower ascent
224 m
climbing density
10.6 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
18.8%

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
4.4%
flat grade share
35.6%
lower ascent
434 m
climbing density
20.6 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
25.6%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricBend Marathon and Half Half MarathonColumbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Flat grade share59.4%35.6%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)1.2%4.4%
Uphill share22.3%32.0%
Steep-up share2.3%11.5%
Downhill share18.3%32.4%
Total ascent (m)224 m434 m
Climbing density (m/km)10.6 m/km20.6 m/km
Longest climb length (m)740 m480 m
Longest climb gain (m)27 m39 m
Longest climb average grade3.6%8.2%
Total descent (m)225 m434 m
Net elevation (m)0 m0 m
Max absolute grade18.8%25.6%
Start elevation (m)1,101 m26 m
Finish elevation (m)1,101 m26 m
Scenic scoreUnavailable100/100
ConditionsUnavailable87/100

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
FactBend Marathon and Half Half MarathonColumbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed.

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-17 (legacy event-level date).

LocationBend, OregonHood River, Oregon
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeUnavailableOut And Back
SurfaceMostly paved roads with some trail sections, including the quieter Haul Road Trail.Unavailable
Elevation characterHillyRolling
TerrainMixedRoad, Trail
SceneryMountain, City, Desert, Lakeside, Riverside, Forest, ParklandCountryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
AtmosphereScenic Tour, Destination, CommunityScenic Tour, Destination
TechnicalityUnavailableNon Technical
Total ascent224 m434 m
Climbing density10.6 m/km20.6 m/km
Total descent225 m434 m
Net elevation0 m0 m
Max absolute grade18.8%25.6%
Flat grade share59.4%35.6%
GAP factor1.2%4.4%
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed.

Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-17 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Bend, Oregon
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Hood River, Oregon

Actual distance

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
21.1 km
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Held
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Held
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Held

Course type

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Unavailable
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Out And Back

Surface

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Mostly paved roads with some trail sections, including the quieter Haul Road Trail.
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable

Elevation character

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Hilly
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Rolling

Terrain

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Mixed
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Road, Trail

Scenery

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Mountain, City, Desert, Lakeside, Riverside, Forest, Parkland
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest

Atmosphere

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination, Community
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination

Technicality

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Unavailable
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
224 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
434 m

Climbing density

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
10.6 m/km
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
20.6 m/km

Total descent

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
225 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
434 m

Net elevation

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
0 m
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
0 m

Max absolute grade

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
18.8%
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
25.6%

Flat grade share

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
59.4%
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
35.6%

GAP factor

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
1.2%
Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon
4.4%

Entry model

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Open
Columbia Gorge Marathon 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, Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon or Columbia Gorge Marathon Half Marathon?

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon 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 →