Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon or University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon and University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.

Route comparison snapshot

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.3%
flat grade share
73.8%
lower ascent
187 m
climbing density
8.9 m/km
net elevation
-2 m
maximum grade
18.8%

University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.2% Favoured
flat grade share
91.1% Favoured
lower ascent
74 m
climbing density
3.5 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
7.0%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricMarshall University Marathon Half MarathonUniversity of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
Flat grade share73.8%91.1%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)1.3%0.2%
Uphill share12.8%4.7%
Steep-up share3.8%0.0%
Downhill share13.4%4.2%
Total ascent (m)187 m74 m
Climbing density (m/km)8.9 m/km3.5 m/km
Longest climb length (m)310 m760 m
Longest climb gain (m)23 m12 m
Longest climb average grade7.4%1.6%
Total descent (m)189 m74 m
Net elevation (m)-2 m0 m
Max absolute grade18.8%7.0%
Start elevation (m)171 m182 m
Finish elevation (m)169 m183 m
Scenic score55/10048/100
Conditions94/10053/100

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
FactMarshall University Marathon Half MarathonUniversity of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-01 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-10 (legacy event-level date).

LocationHuntington, West VirginiaCharleston, West Virginia
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeLoopUnavailable
SceneryCity, Countryside, Riverside, Waterfront, ParklandCity, Waterfront, Riverside, Historic
AtmosphereCommunity, Scenic TourFestival, Community, Competitive
Total ascent187 m74 m
Climbing density8.9 m/km3.5 m/km
Total descent189 m74 m
Net elevation-2 m0 m
Max absolute grade18.8%7.0%
Flat grade share73.8%91.1%
GAP factor1.3%0.2%
Cutoff6:00:00Unavailable
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-01 (legacy event-level date).

University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-10 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
Huntington, West Virginia
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
Charleston, West Virginia

Actual distance

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
21.1 km
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
Held
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
Held
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
Held

Course type

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
Loop
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
Unavailable

Scenery

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
City, Countryside, Riverside, Waterfront, Parkland
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
City, Waterfront, Riverside, Historic

Atmosphere

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
Community, Scenic Tour
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
Festival, Community, Competitive

Total ascent

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
187 m
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
74 m

Climbing density

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
8.9 m/km
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
3.5 m/km

Total descent

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
189 m
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
74 m

Net elevation

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
-2 m
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
0 m

Max absolute grade

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
18.8%
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
7.0%

Flat grade share

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
73.8%
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
91.1%

GAP factor

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
1.3%
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
0.2%

Cutoff

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
6:00:00
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon
Unavailable

Entry model

Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon
Open
University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) 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, Marshall University Marathon Half Marathon or University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) Half Marathon?

University of Charleston Marathon (Charleston, WV) 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 →