Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon or Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.

Route comparison snapshot

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.1%
flat grade share
56.3%
lower ascent
226 m
climbing density
10.7 m/km
net elevation
-0 m
maximum grade
8.9%

Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.9% Favoured
flat grade share
60.6% Favoured
lower ascent
407 m
climbing density
9.7 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
10.6%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricRun the Rainbow for Children's Half MarathonRun the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Flat grade share56.3%60.6%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)1.1%0.9%
Uphill share22.3%19.7%
Steep-up share1.6%1.2%
Downhill share21.4%19.7%
Total ascent (m)226 m407 m
Climbing density (m/km)10.7 m/km9.7 m/km
Longest climb length (m)740 m730 m
Longest climb gain (m)24 m24 m
Longest climb average grade3.2%3.3%
Total descent (m)226 m407 m
Net elevation (m)-0 m0 m
Max absolute grade8.9%10.6%
Start elevation (m)89 m89 m
Finish elevation (m)89 m89 m
Scenic score69/10069/100
Conditions68/10068/100

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
FactRun the Rainbow for Children's Half MarathonRun the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-03-21 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-03-21 (legacy event-level date).

LocationJackson, MississippiJackson, Mississippi
Actual distance21.1 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
SurfacePaved city streets through downtown Jackson and surrounding neighborhoods.Paved city streets through downtown Jackson and surrounding neighborhoods.
Elevation characterUnavailableRolling
TerrainBeachRoad, Beach
SceneryCity, Waterfront, Historic, DesertCity, Waterfront, Historic, Desert
AtmosphereCharity, CommunityCharity, Community
TechnicalityUnavailableNon Technical
Total ascent226 m407 m
Climbing density10.7 m/km9.7 m/km
Total descent226 m407 m
Net elevation-0 m0 m
Max absolute grade8.9%10.6%
Flat grade share56.3%60.6%
GAP factor1.1%0.9%
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-03-21 (legacy event-level date).

Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-03-21 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
Jackson, Mississippi
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Jackson, Mississippi

Actual distance

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
21.1 km
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
Held
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
Held
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Held

Surface

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
Paved city streets through downtown Jackson and surrounding neighborhoods.
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Paved city streets through downtown Jackson and surrounding neighborhoods.

Elevation character

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
Unavailable
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Rolling

Terrain

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
Beach
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Road, Beach

Scenery

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
City, Waterfront, Historic, Desert
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
City, Waterfront, Historic, Desert

Atmosphere

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
Charity, Community
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Charity, Community

Technicality

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
Unavailable
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
226 m
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
407 m

Climbing density

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
10.7 m/km
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
9.7 m/km

Total descent

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
226 m
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
407 m

Net elevation

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
-0 m
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
0 m

Max absolute grade

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
8.9%
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
10.6%

Flat grade share

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
56.3%
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
60.6%

GAP factor

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
1.1%
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
0.9%

Entry model

Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon
Open
Run the Rainbow for Children's 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, Run the Rainbow for Children's Half Marathon or Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon?

Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.

Read the full pages

How figures are calculated →