Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon or Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?

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

Route comparison snapshot

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.3% Favoured
flat grade share
85.7% Favoured
lower ascent
91 m
climbing density
4.3 m/km
net elevation
-1 m
maximum grade
9.1%

Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.0%
flat grade share
65.0%
lower ascent
196 m
climbing density
9.3 m/km
net elevation
-0 m
maximum grade
11.8%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricPaavo Nurmi Marathon Half MarathonArctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Flat grade share85.7%65.0%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)0.3%1.0%
Uphill share7.2%17.5%
Steep-up share0.0%2.8%
Downhill share7.1%17.6%
Total ascent (m)91 m196 m
Climbing density (m/km)4.3 m/km9.3 m/km
Longest climb length (m)300 m1,120 m
Longest climb gain (m)11 m59 m
Longest climb average grade3.7%5.3%
Total descent (m)92 m196 m
Net elevation (m)-1 m-0 m
Max absolute grade9.1%11.8%
Start elevation (m)9 m163 m
Finish elevation (m)8 m163 m
Scenic score100/10065/100
Conditions64/10063/100

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
FactPaavo Nurmi Marathon Half MarathonArctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-14 (legacy event-level date).

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

LocationTurku, FinlandRovaniemi, Finland
Actual distance21.1 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeLoopLoop
SurfaceUnavailableApproximately 90% snow Covered dirt roads and 10% forest single track; spiked trail shoes recommended for icy sections.
SceneryCity, Coastal, Historic, Riverside, Island, Parkland, Waterfront, ForestCountryside, Forest, Riverside, City
AtmosphereCommunity, Festival, Scenic TourDestination, Wilderness, Community
Total ascent91 m196 m
Climbing density4.3 m/km9.3 m/km
Total descent92 m196 m
Net elevation-1 m-0 m
Max absolute grade9.1%11.8%
Flat grade share85.7%65.0%
GAP factor0.3%1.0%
Cutoff2:00:00Unavailable
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-14 (legacy event-level date).

Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon

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

Location

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Turku, Finland
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Rovaniemi, Finland

Actual distance

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
21.1 km
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Held

Course type

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Loop
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Loop

Surface

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Approximately 90% snow Covered dirt roads and 10% forest single track; spiked trail shoes recommended for icy sections.

Scenery

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
City, Coastal, Historic, Riverside, Island, Parkland, Waterfront, Forest
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Countryside, Forest, Riverside, City

Atmosphere

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Community, Festival, Scenic Tour
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Destination, Wilderness, Community

Total ascent

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
91 m
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
196 m

Climbing density

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
4.3 m/km
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
9.3 m/km

Total descent

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
92 m
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
196 m

Net elevation

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
-1 m
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
-0 m

Max absolute grade

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
9.1%
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
11.8%

Flat grade share

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
85.7%
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
65.0%

GAP factor

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
0.3%
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
1.0%

Cutoff

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
2:00:00
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon
Unavailable

Entry model

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Open
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) 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, Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon or Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) Half Marathon?

Paavo Nurmi 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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