Helvetia Half Marathon or Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Helvetia Half Marathon and Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.

Route comparison snapshot

Helvetia Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.4%
flat grade share
63.6% Favoured
lower ascent
228 m
climbing density
10.8 m/km
net elevation
1 m
maximum grade
14.9%

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.2% Favoured
flat grade share
59.4%
lower ascent
224 m
climbing density
10.6 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
18.8%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricHelvetia Half MarathonBend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Flat grade share63.6%59.4%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)1.4%1.2%
Uphill share19.2%22.3%
Steep-up share3.3%2.3%
Downhill share17.2%18.3%
Total ascent (m)228 m224 m
Climbing density (m/km)10.8 m/km10.6 m/km
Longest climb length (m)670 m740 m
Longest climb gain (m)27 m27 m
Longest climb average grade4.1%3.6%
Total descent (m)227 m225 m
Net elevation (m)1 m0 m
Max absolute grade14.9%18.8%
Start elevation (m)66 m1,101 m
Finish elevation (m)66 m1,101 m
Scenic score50/100Unavailable
Conditions78/100Unavailable

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
FactHelvetia Half MarathonBend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed.

LocationHillsboro, OregonBend, Oregon
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeOut And BackUnavailable
SurfaceUnavailableMostly paved roads with some trail sections, including the quieter Haul Road Trail.
Elevation characterRollingHilly
TerrainRoadMixed
SceneryCountryside, Historic, ParklandMountain, City, Desert, Lakeside, Riverside, Forest, Parkland
AtmosphereCommunity, Festival, DestinationScenic Tour, Destination, Community
TechnicalityNon TechnicalUnavailable
Total ascent228 m224 m
Climbing density10.8 m/km10.6 m/km
Total descent227 m225 m
Net elevation1 m0 m
Max absolute grade14.9%18.8%
Flat grade share63.6%59.4%
GAP factor1.4%1.2%
Cutoff4:00:00Unavailable
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Helvetia Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date).

Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed.

Location

Helvetia Half Marathon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Bend, Oregon

Actual distance

Helvetia Half Marathon
21.1 km
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Helvetia Half Marathon
Held
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Helvetia Half Marathon
Held
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Held

Course type

Helvetia Half Marathon
Out And Back
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Unavailable

Surface

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

Elevation character

Helvetia Half Marathon
Rolling
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Hilly

Terrain

Helvetia Half Marathon
Road
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Mixed

Scenery

Helvetia Half Marathon
Countryside, Historic, Parkland
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Mountain, City, Desert, Lakeside, Riverside, Forest, Parkland

Atmosphere

Helvetia Half Marathon
Community, Festival, Destination
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination, Community

Technicality

Helvetia Half Marathon
Non Technical
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Unavailable

Total ascent

Helvetia Half Marathon
228 m
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
224 m

Climbing density

Helvetia Half Marathon
10.8 m/km
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
10.6 m/km

Total descent

Helvetia Half Marathon
227 m
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
225 m

Net elevation

Helvetia Half Marathon
1 m
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
0 m

Max absolute grade

Helvetia Half Marathon
14.9%
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
18.8%

Flat grade share

Helvetia Half Marathon
63.6%
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
59.4%

GAP factor

Helvetia Half Marathon
1.4%
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
1.2%

Cutoff

Helvetia Half Marathon
4:00:00
Bend Marathon and Half Half Marathon
Unavailable

Entry model

Helvetia Half Marathon
Open
Bend Marathon and Half 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, Helvetia Half Marathon or Bend Marathon and Half 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 →