Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon or Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and scenery score.

Route comparison snapshot

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.6%
flat grade share
77.3%
lower ascent
133 m
climbing density
6.3 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
9.8%

Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.2% Favoured
flat grade share
92.1% Favoured
lower ascent
68 m
climbing density
3.2 m/km
net elevation
1 m
maximum grade
8.0%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricMaine Marathon (Portland) Half MarathonMaine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Flat grade share77.3%92.1%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)0.6%0.2%
Uphill share10.7%3.8%
Steep-up share1.5%0.2%
Downhill share12.0%4.1%
Total ascent (m)133 m68 m
Climbing density (m/km)6.3 m/km3.2 m/km
Longest climb length (m)530 m1,250 m
Longest climb gain (m)18 m19 m
Longest climb average grade3.4%1.5%
Total descent (m)133 m67 m
Net elevation (m)0 m1 m
Max absolute grade9.8%8.0%
Start elevation (m)4 m4 m
Finish elevation (m)4 m5 m
Scenic score94/100100/100
Conditions84/10074/100

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
FactMaine Marathon (Portland) Half MarathonMaine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-04 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-01 (legacy event-level date).

LocationPortland, MaineWells, Maine
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeUnavailablePoint To Point
SurfaceRoadUnavailable
Elevation characterUnavailableFlat
TerrainTrail, RoadRoad, Beach
SceneryCoastal, Forest, Waterfront, City, CountrysideCoastal, Desert, Waterfront, Countryside, Forest, Historic
AtmosphereCommunity, Charity, Scenic TourScenic Tour, Destination, Community
Total ascent133 m68 m
Climbing density6.3 m/km3.2 m/km
Total descent133 m67 m
Net elevation0 m1 m
Max absolute grade9.8%8.0%
Flat grade share77.3%92.1%
GAP factor0.6%0.2%
CutoffUnavailable3:15:00
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-04 (legacy event-level date).

Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-01 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Portland, Maine
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Wells, Maine

Actual distance

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
21.1 km
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Held
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Held
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Held

Course type

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Unavailable
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Point To Point

Surface

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Road
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable

Elevation character

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Unavailable
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Flat

Terrain

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Trail, Road
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Road, Beach

Scenery

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Coastal, Forest, Waterfront, City, Countryside
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Coastal, Desert, Waterfront, Countryside, Forest, Historic

Atmosphere

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Community, Charity, Scenic Tour
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination, Community

Total ascent

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
133 m
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
68 m

Climbing density

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
6.3 m/km
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
3.2 m/km

Total descent

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
133 m
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
67 m

Net elevation

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
0 m
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
1 m

Max absolute grade

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
9.8%
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
8.0%

Flat grade share

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
77.3%
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
92.1%

GAP factor

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
0.6%
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
0.2%

Cutoff

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Unavailable
Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon
3:15:00

Entry model

Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Open
Maine Coast Marathon 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, Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon or Maine Coast Marathon Half Marathon?

Maine Coast Marathon 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 →