Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon or Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay — which comes out ahead?

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.

Route comparison snapshot

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.5% Favoured
flat grade share
56.6% Favoured
lower ascent
253 m
climbing density
12.0 m/km
net elevation
4 m
maximum grade
14.3%

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.5%
flat grade share
55.5%
lower ascent
526 m
climbing density
12.5 m/km
net elevation
-1 m
maximum grade
18.7%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricMount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half MarathonMount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Flat grade share56.6%55.5%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)1.5%1.5%
Uphill share20.3%23.8%
Steep-up share3.6%2.7%
Downhill share23.1%20.7%
Total ascent (m)253 m526 m
Climbing density (m/km)12.0 m/km12.5 m/km
Longest climb length (m)2,000 m1,840 m
Longest climb gain (m)27 m47 m
Longest climb average grade1.4%2.6%
Total descent (m)250 m527 m
Net elevation (m)4 m-1 m
Max absolute grade14.3%18.7%
Start elevation (m)11 m15 m
Finish elevation (m)14 m15 m
Scenic score100/100100/100
Conditions79/10079/100

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.

Same-distance comparisons are most meaningful; cross-distance metrics are contextual.

Race facts that change the decision

Race facts comparison
FactMount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half MarathonMount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date).

LocationBar Harbor, MaineBar Harbor, Maine
Actual distance21.1 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typePoint To PointPoint To Point
SurfaceUnavailablePaved roads
Elevation characterHillyHilly
TerrainRoadRoad
SceneryCoastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, LakesideCoastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside
AtmosphereScenic Tour, Destination, CommunityScenic Tour, Destination, Community
TechnicalityUnavailableNon Technical
Total ascent253 m526 m
Climbing density12.0 m/km12.5 m/km
Total descent250 m527 m
Net elevation4 m-1 m
Max absolute grade14.3%18.7%
Flat grade share56.6%55.5%
GAP factor1.5%1.5%
Cutoff4:00:006:30:00
Entry modelOpenOpen
Qualifying statusUnavailableBoston_equivalent

Schedule

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date).

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Bar Harbor, Maine
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Bar Harbor, Maine

Actual distance

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
21.1 km
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Held
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Held
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Held

Course type

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Point To Point
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Point To Point

Surface

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Unavailable
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Paved roads

Elevation character

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Hilly
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Hilly

Terrain

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Road
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Road

Scenery

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Coastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Coastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside

Atmosphere

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination, Community
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Scenic Tour, Destination, Community

Technicality

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Unavailable
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Non Technical

Total ascent

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
253 m
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
526 m

Climbing density

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
12.0 m/km
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
12.5 m/km

Total descent

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
250 m
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
527 m

Net elevation

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
4 m
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
-1 m

Max absolute grade

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
14.3%
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
18.7%

Flat grade share

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
56.6%
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
55.5%

GAP factor

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
1.5%
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
1.5%

Cutoff

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
4:00:00
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
6:30:00

Entry model

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Open
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Open

Qualifying status

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon
Unavailable
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Boston_equivalent

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, Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay Half Marathon or Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay?

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay 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 →