Flat grade share
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 77.3% Favoured
Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon vs Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofMaine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon or Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.6% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 77.3% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 133 m
- climbing density
- 6.3 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 9.8%
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 1.5%
- flat grade share
- 56.6%
- lower ascent
- 253 m
- climbing density
- 12.0 m/km
- net elevation
- 4 m
- maximum grade
- 14.3%
| Metric | Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon | Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 77.3% ✓ | 56.6% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.6% ✓ | 1.5% |
| Uphill share | 10.7% | 20.3% |
| Steep-up share | 1.5% | 3.6% |
| Downhill share | 12.0% | 23.1% |
| Total ascent (m) | 133 m | 253 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 6.3 m/km | 12.0 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 530 m | 2,000 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 18 m | 27 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 3.4% | 1.4% |
| Total descent (m) | 133 m | 250 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 0 m | 4 m |
| Max absolute grade | 9.8% | 14.3% |
| Start elevation (m) | 4 m | 11 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 4 m | 14 m |
| Scenic score | 94/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 84/100 ✓ | 79/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 0.6% 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)
Scenic score
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 84/100 Favoured
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
| Fact | Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon | Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay 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 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Portland, Maine | Bar Harbor, Maine |
| Actual distance | 21.1 km | 21.1 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Unavailable | Point To Point |
| Surface | Road | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Unavailable | Hilly |
| Terrain | Trail, Road | Road |
| Scenery | Coastal, Forest, Waterfront, City, Countryside | Coastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside |
| Atmosphere | Community, Charity, Scenic Tour | Scenic Tour, Destination, Community |
| Total ascent | 133 m | 253 m |
| Climbing density | 6.3 m/km | 12.0 m/km |
| Total descent | 133 m | 250 m |
| Net elevation | 0 m | 4 m |
| Max absolute grade | 9.8% | 14.3% |
| Flat grade share | 77.3% | 56.6% |
| GAP factor | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 4:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-04 (legacy event-level date).
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Portland, Maine
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Bar Harbor, Maine
Actual distance
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Held
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Held
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Road
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Hilly
Terrain
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Trail, Road
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Coastal, Forest, Waterfront, City, Countryside
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Coastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside
Atmosphere
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Community, Charity, Scenic Tour
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Destination, Community
Total ascent
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 133 m
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 253 m
Climbing density
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 6.3 m/km
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 12.0 m/km
Total descent
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 133 m
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 250 m
Net elevation
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 0 m
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 4 m
Max absolute grade
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 9.8%
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 14.3%
Flat grade share
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 77.3%
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 56.6%
GAP factor
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- 0.6%
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 1.5%
Cutoff
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
- 4:00:00
Entry model
- Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon
- Open
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay 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 Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon?
Maine Marathon (Portland) Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.