Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon vs Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofBoston's Run to Remember Half Marathon or Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA) — which comes out ahead?
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon and Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA) split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 2.2% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 55.1%
- lower ascent
- 269 m
- climbing density
- 12.8 m/km
- net elevation
- -1 m
- maximum grade
- 26.2%
Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 2.4%
- flat grade share
- 58.3% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 273 m
- climbing density
- 12.9 m/km
- net elevation
- 3 m
- maximum grade
- 26.7%
| Metric | Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon | Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 55.1% | 58.3% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 2.2% ✓ | 2.4% |
| Uphill share | 23.2% | 21.0% |
| Steep-up share | 5.0% | 5.7% |
| Downhill share | 21.7% | 20.8% |
| Total ascent (m) | 269 m | 273 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 12.8 m/km | 12.9 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 910 m | 390 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 42 m | 22 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 4.6% | 5.5% |
| Total descent (m) | 270 m | 270 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -1 m | 3 m |
| Max absolute grade | 26.2% | 26.7% |
| Start elevation (m) | 11 m | 15 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 10 m | 18 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 66/100 |
| Conditions | 60/100 | 84/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 2.2% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (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
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
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 | Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon | Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-30 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-31 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Boston, Massachusetts | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Actual distance | 21.1 km | 21.1 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Surface | Road | Paved city roads and riverfront paths, including Memorial Drive. |
| Elevation character | Gently Rolling | Flat |
| Terrain | Road, Fell | Road |
| Scenery | Mountain, Riverside, City, Historic, Waterfront, Parkland | Riverside, City, Waterfront, Historic |
| Atmosphere | Big City, Charity, Community | Charity, Big City, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 269 m | 273 m |
| Climbing density | 12.8 m/km | 12.9 m/km |
| Total descent | 270 m | 270 m |
| Net elevation | -1 m | 3 m |
| Max absolute grade | 26.2% | 26.7% |
| Flat grade share | 55.1% | 58.3% |
| GAP factor | 2.2% | 2.4% |
| Cutoff | 3:00:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-30 (legacy event-level date).
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-31 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
Actual distance
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Held
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Held
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Held
Surface
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Road
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Paved city roads and riverfront paths, including Memorial Drive.
Elevation character
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Gently Rolling
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Flat
Terrain
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Road, Fell
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Road
Scenery
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Mountain, Riverside, City, Historic, Waterfront, Parkland
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Riverside, City, Waterfront, Historic
Atmosphere
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Big City, Charity, Community
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Charity, Big City, Community
Technicality
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Non Technical
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 269 m
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- 273 m
Climbing density
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 12.8 m/km
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- 12.9 m/km
Total descent
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 270 m
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- 270 m
Net elevation
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- -1 m
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- 3 m
Max absolute grade
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 26.2%
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- 26.7%
Flat grade share
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 55.1%
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- 58.3%
GAP factor
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 2.2%
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- 2.4%
Cutoff
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- 3:00:00
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
- Open
- Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
- 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, Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon or Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)?
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.