Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA) or Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA) and Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.

Route comparison snapshot

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%

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%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricCambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Flat grade share58.3%55.1%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)2.4%2.2%
Uphill share21.0%23.2%
Steep-up share5.7%5.0%
Downhill share20.8%21.7%
Total ascent (m)273 m269 m
Climbing density (m/km)12.9 m/km12.8 m/km
Longest climb length (m)390 m910 m
Longest climb gain (m)22 m42 m
Longest climb average grade5.5%4.6%
Total descent (m)270 m270 m
Net elevation (m)3 m-1 m
Max absolute grade26.7%26.2%
Start elevation (m)15 m11 m
Finish elevation (m)18 m10 m
Scenic score66/100100/100
Conditions84/10060/100

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
FactCambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-31 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-30 (legacy event-level date).

LocationCambridge, MassachusettsBoston, Massachusetts
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
SurfacePaved city roads and riverfront paths, including Memorial Drive.Road
Elevation characterFlatGently Rolling
TerrainRoadRoad, Fell
SceneryRiverside, City, Waterfront, HistoricMountain, Riverside, City, Historic, Waterfront, Parkland
AtmosphereCharity, Big City, CommunityBig City, Charity, Community
TechnicalityNon TechnicalNon Technical
Total ascent273 m269 m
Climbing density12.9 m/km12.8 m/km
Total descent270 m270 m
Net elevation3 m-1 m
Max absolute grade26.7%26.2%
Flat grade share58.3%55.1%
GAP factor2.4%2.2%
CutoffUnavailable3:00:00
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-31 (legacy event-level date).

Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-30 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Boston, Massachusetts

Actual distance

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
21.1 km
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Held
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Held
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Held

Surface

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Paved city roads and riverfront paths, including Memorial Drive.
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Road

Elevation character

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Flat
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Gently Rolling

Terrain

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Road
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Road, Fell

Scenery

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Riverside, City, Waterfront, Historic
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Mountain, Riverside, City, Historic, Waterfront, Parkland

Atmosphere

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Charity, Big City, Community
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Big City, Charity, Community

Technicality

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Non Technical
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
273 m
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
269 m

Climbing density

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
12.9 m/km
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
12.8 m/km

Total descent

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
270 m
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
270 m

Net elevation

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
3 m
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
-1 m

Max absolute grade

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
26.7%
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
26.2%

Flat grade share

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
58.3%
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
55.1%

GAP factor

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
2.4%
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
2.2%

Cutoff

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Unavailable
Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon
3:00:00

Entry model

Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA)
Open
Boston's Run to Remember 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, Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA) or Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon?

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.

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How figures are calculated →