Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon or Portland Coastal Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Portland Coastal Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.

Route comparison snapshot

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
4.3%
flat grade share
52.2%
lower ascent
364 m
climbing density
17.3 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
33.5%

Portland Coastal Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
4.0% Favoured
flat grade share
53.2% Favoured
lower ascent
715 m
climbing density
16.9 m/km
net elevation
-0 m
maximum grade
33.0%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricPortland Coastal Marathon Half MarathonPortland Coastal Marathon
Flat grade share52.2%53.2%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)4.3%4.0%
Uphill share25.0%23.4%
Steep-up share9.2%8.6%
Downhill share22.7%23.5%
Total ascent (m)364 m715 m
Climbing density (m/km)17.3 m/km16.9 m/km
Longest climb length (m)1,160 m680 m
Longest climb gain (m)94 m99 m
Longest climb average grade8.1%14.6%
Total descent (m)363 m715 m
Net elevation (m)0 m-0 m
Max absolute grade33.5%33.0%
Start elevation (m)0 m-0 m
Finish elevation (m)0 m-0 m
Scenic score87/10087/100
Conditions78/10078/100

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
FactPortland Coastal Marathon Half MarathonPortland Coastal Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-14 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-14 (legacy event-level date).

LocationPortland, South WestPortland, South West
Actual distance21.1 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeLapsLaps
SurfaceCoastal trail on the South West Coast Path (exposed limestone peninsula terrain).Coastal trail on the South West Coast Path (exposed limestone peninsula terrain).
Elevation characterUnavailableHilly
TerrainTrailTrail
SceneryIsland, Coastal, Waterfront, City, HistoricIsland, Coastal, Waterfront, City, Historic
AtmosphereScenic Tour, WildernessScenic Tour, Wilderness
TechnicalityUnavailableModerate
Total ascent364 m715 m
Climbing density17.3 m/km16.9 m/km
Total descent363 m715 m
Net elevation0 m-0 m
Max absolute grade33.5%33.0%
Flat grade share52.2%53.2%
GAP factor4.3%4.0%
Entry modelOpenOpen
Measured courseNoNo

Schedule

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-14 (legacy event-level date).

Portland Coastal Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-14 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Portland, South West
Portland Coastal Marathon
Portland, South West

Actual distance

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
21.1 km
Portland Coastal Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Portland Coastal Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Held
Portland Coastal Marathon
Held

Course type

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Laps
Portland Coastal Marathon
Laps

Surface

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Coastal trail on the South West Coast Path (exposed limestone peninsula terrain).
Portland Coastal Marathon
Coastal trail on the South West Coast Path (exposed limestone peninsula terrain).

Elevation character

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable
Portland Coastal Marathon
Hilly

Terrain

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Trail
Portland Coastal Marathon
Trail

Scenery

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Island, Coastal, Waterfront, City, Historic
Portland Coastal Marathon
Island, Coastal, Waterfront, City, Historic

Atmosphere

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Wilderness
Portland Coastal Marathon
Scenic Tour, Wilderness

Technicality

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Unavailable
Portland Coastal Marathon
Moderate

Total ascent

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
364 m
Portland Coastal Marathon
715 m

Climbing density

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
17.3 m/km
Portland Coastal Marathon
16.9 m/km

Total descent

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
363 m
Portland Coastal Marathon
715 m

Net elevation

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
0 m
Portland Coastal Marathon
-0 m

Max absolute grade

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
33.5%
Portland Coastal Marathon
33.0%

Flat grade share

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
52.2%
Portland Coastal Marathon
53.2%

GAP factor

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
4.3%
Portland Coastal Marathon
4.0%

Entry model

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
Open
Portland Coastal Marathon
Open

Measured course

Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon
No
Portland Coastal Marathon
No

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, Portland Coastal Marathon Half Marathon or Portland Coastal Marathon?

Portland Coastal 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 →