Flat grade share
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- 95.6% Favoured
Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon vs Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofGreat Smoky Mountains Half Marathon or Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K — which comes out ahead?
Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon and Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 1.8%
- flat grade share
- 95.6% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 99 m
- climbing density
- 4.7 m/km
- net elevation
- 65 m
- maximum grade
- 7.4%
Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 1.7% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 70.8%
- lower ascent
- 41 m
- climbing density
- 8.2 m/km
- net elevation
- 11 m
- maximum grade
- 6.8%
| Metric | Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon | Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 95.6% ✓ | 70.8% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 1.8% | 1.7% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 3.3% | 19.0% |
| Steep-up share | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| Downhill share | 1.1% | 10.2% |
| Total ascent (m) | 99 m | 41 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 4.7 m/km | 8.2 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 2,970 m | 220 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 19 m | 7 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| Total descent (m) | 35 m | 30 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 65 m | 11 m |
| Max absolute grade | 7.4% | 6.8% |
| Start elevation (m) | 271 m | 330 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 336 m | 341 m |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 1.7% 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)
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.
Same-distance comparisons are most meaningful; cross-distance metrics are contextual.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon | Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. | Exact race date not confirmed. |
| Location | Townsend, Tennessee | Townsend, Tennessee |
| Actual distance | 21.1 km | 5 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Unavailable |
| Surface | Road, running mostly along Old Walland Highway, Cameron Road and Webb Road, finishing on the Townsend Historical Trail. | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Gently Rolling | Unavailable |
| Terrain | Road, Mixed | Unavailable |
| Scenery | Mountain, Countryside, Riverside, Parkland, Forest, Historic | Countryside, Mountain, Parkland, Forest, Riverside, Historic |
| Atmosphere | Destination, Scenic Tour, Community | Destination, Scenic Tour, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Unavailable |
| Total ascent | 99 m | 41 m |
| Climbing density | 4.7 m/km | 8.2 m/km |
| Total descent | 35 m | 30 m |
| Net elevation | 65 m | 11 m |
| Max absolute grade | 7.4% | 6.8% |
| Flat grade share | 95.6% | 70.8% |
| GAP factor | 1.8% | 1.7% |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed.
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
Exact race date not confirmed.
Location
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Townsend, Tennessee
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Townsend, Tennessee
Actual distance
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 5 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Held
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Held
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Held
Course type
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Point To Point
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Unavailable
Surface
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Road, running mostly along Old Walland Highway, Cameron Road and Webb Road, finishing on the Townsend Historical Trail.
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Gently Rolling
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Unavailable
Terrain
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Road, Mixed
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Unavailable
Scenery
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Mountain, Countryside, Riverside, Parkland, Forest, Historic
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Countryside, Mountain, Parkland, Forest, Riverside, Historic
Atmosphere
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Destination, Scenic Tour, Community
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Destination, Scenic Tour, Community
Technicality
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Non Technical
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- Unavailable
Total ascent
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- 99 m
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 41 m
Climbing density
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- 4.7 m/km
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 8.2 m/km
Total descent
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- 35 m
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 30 m
Net elevation
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- 65 m
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 11 m
Max absolute grade
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- 7.4%
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 6.8%
Flat grade share
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- 95.6%
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 70.8%
GAP factor
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- 1.8%
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 1.7%
Entry model
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
- Open
- Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K
- 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, Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon or Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K?
Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon 5K has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.