Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon or Paavo Nurmi Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon and Paavo Nurmi Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.

Route comparison snapshot

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon

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

Paavo Nurmi Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.3%
flat grade share
86.9% Favoured
lower ascent
179 m
climbing density
4.2 m/km
net elevation
-2 m
maximum grade
10.9%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricPaavo Nurmi Marathon Half MarathonPaavo Nurmi Marathon
Flat grade share85.7%86.9%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)0.3%0.3%
Uphill share7.2%6.3%
Steep-up share0.0%0.2%
Downhill share7.1%6.8%
Total ascent (m)91 m179 m
Climbing density (m/km)4.3 m/km4.2 m/km
Longest climb length (m)300 m310 m
Longest climb gain (m)11 m11 m
Longest climb average grade3.7%3.7%
Total descent (m)92 m181 m
Net elevation (m)-1 m-2 m
Max absolute grade9.1%10.9%
Start elevation (m)9 m10 m
Finish elevation (m)8 m8 m
Scenic score100/100100/100
Conditions64/10064/100

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
FactPaavo Nurmi Marathon Half MarathonPaavo Nurmi 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 2026-08-14 (legacy event-level date).

LocationTurku, FinlandTurku, Finland
Actual distance21.1 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeLoopLaps
SurfaceUnavailableRoad / paved streets and park roads
Elevation characterUnavailableFlat
TerrainUnavailableRoad
SceneryCity, Coastal, Historic, Riverside, Island, Parkland, Waterfront, ForestRiverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Island, Coastal, Waterfront, Forest
AtmosphereCommunity, Festival, Scenic TourCommunity, Festival, Scenic Tour
TechnicalityUnavailableNon Technical
Total ascent91 m179 m
Climbing density4.3 m/km4.2 m/km
Total descent92 m181 m
Net elevation-1 m-2 m
Max absolute grade9.1%10.9%
Flat grade share85.7%86.9%
GAP factor0.3%0.3%
Cutoff2:00:006:00:00
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon

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

Paavo Nurmi Marathon

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

Location

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Turku, Finland
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Turku, Finland

Actual distance

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
21.1 km
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Held

Course type

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Loop
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Laps

Surface

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Road / paved streets and park roads

Elevation character

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Flat

Terrain

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Road

Scenery

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
City, Coastal, Historic, Riverside, Island, Parkland, Waterfront, Forest
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Riverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Island, Coastal, Waterfront, Forest

Atmosphere

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Community, Festival, Scenic Tour
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Community, Festival, Scenic Tour

Technicality

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
91 m
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
179 m

Climbing density

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
4.3 m/km
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
4.2 m/km

Total descent

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
92 m
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
181 m

Net elevation

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
-1 m
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
-2 m

Max absolute grade

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
9.1%
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
10.9%

Flat grade share

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
85.7%
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
86.9%

GAP factor

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
0.3%
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
0.3%

Cutoff

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
2:00:00
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
6:00:00

Entry model

Paavo Nurmi Marathon Half Marathon
Open
Paavo Nurmi 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 Paavo Nurmi 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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How figures are calculated →