Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon or RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville) — which comes out ahead?

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on course flatness, scenery score and conditions.

Route comparison snapshot

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
-9.9% Favoured
flat grade share
54.1%
lower ascent
61 m
climbing density
2.9 m/km
net elevation
-477 m
maximum grade
21.5%

RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
-0.9%
flat grade share
71.7% Favoured
lower ascent
135 m
climbing density
6.4 m/km
net elevation
-71 m
maximum grade
11.9%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricEstes Park Marathon and Half MarathonRAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Flat grade share54.1%71.7%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)-9.9%-0.9%
Uphill share4.6%11.1%
Steep-up share0.0%1.9%
Downhill share41.3%17.1%
Total ascent (m)61 m135 m
Climbing density (m/km)2.9 m/km6.4 m/km
Longest climb length (m)870 m460 m
Longest climb gain (m)16 m23 m
Longest climb average grade1.9%5.1%
Total descent (m)539 m206 m
Net elevation (m)-477 m-71 m
Max absolute grade21.5%11.9%
Start elevation (m)2,768 m672 m
Finish elevation (m)2,290 m601 m
Scenic score90/10061/100
Conditions77/10057/100

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
FactEstes Park Marathon and Half MarathonRAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-14 (legacy event-level date).

LocationEstes Park, ColoradoAsheville, North Carolina
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeUnavailablePoint To Point
SurfaceUnavailableMix of downtown city streets and paved greenway along the French Broad River.
Elevation characterNet DownhillNet Downhill
TerrainMixed, Trail, RoadRoad, Mixed
SceneryMountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, WaterfrontCity, Riverside, Waterfront, Parkland
AtmosphereScenic Tour, DestinationFestival, Community, Competitive
TechnicalityModerateNon Technical
Total ascent61 m135 m
Climbing density2.9 m/km6.4 m/km
Total descent539 m206 m
Net elevation-477 m-71 m
Max absolute grade21.5%11.9%
Flat grade share54.1%71.7%
GAP factor-9.9%-0.9%
CutoffUnavailable3:30:00
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).

RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-14 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Estes Park, Colorado
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Asheville, North Carolina

Actual distance

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
21.1 km
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Held
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Held
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Held

Course type

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Unavailable
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Point To Point

Surface

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Unavailable
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Mix of downtown city streets and paved greenway along the French Broad River.

Elevation character

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Net Downhill
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Net Downhill

Terrain

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Mixed, Trail, Road
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Road, Mixed

Scenery

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Mountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, Waterfront
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
City, Riverside, Waterfront, Parkland

Atmosphere

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Festival, Community, Competitive

Technicality

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Moderate
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
Non Technical

Total ascent

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
61 m
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
135 m

Climbing density

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
2.9 m/km
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
6.4 m/km

Total descent

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
539 m
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
206 m

Net elevation

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
-477 m
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
-71 m

Max absolute grade

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
21.5%
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
11.9%

Flat grade share

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
54.1%
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
71.7%

GAP factor

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
-9.9%
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
-0.9%

Cutoff

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Unavailable
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
3:30:00

Entry model

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Open
RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)
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, Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon or RAD Half Marathon & 10K (Asheville)?

Estes Park Marathon and 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 →