Flat grade share
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 60.0% Favoured
The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon vs Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofThe Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon or Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?
The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon and Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.1% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 44.6%
- lower ascent
- 260 m
- climbing density
- 12.3 m/km
- net elevation
- -61 m
- maximum grade
- 12.1%
Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.9%
- flat grade share
- 60.0% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 209 m
- climbing density
- 9.9 m/km
- net elevation
- 1 m
- maximum grade
- 11.4%
| Metric | The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon | Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 44.6% | 60.0% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.1% ✓ | 0.9% |
| Uphill share | 23.4% | 19.6% |
| Steep-up share | 4.3% | 1.6% |
| Downhill share | 31.9% | 20.4% |
| Total ascent (m) | 260 m | 209 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 12.3 m/km | 9.9 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 940 m | 420 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 42 m | 19 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Total descent (m) | 322 m | 208 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -61 m | 1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 12.1% | 11.4% |
| Start elevation (m) | 672 m | 108 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 611 m | 109 m |
| Scenic score | 95/100 ✓ | 30/100 |
| Conditions | 87/100 | 88/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 0.1% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
Longest climb length (m)
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Scenic score
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 95/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 88/100 Favoured
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
| Fact | The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon | Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-20 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-14 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Asheville, North Carolina | Cary, North Carolina |
| Actual distance | 21.1 km | 21.1 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Out And Back |
| Surface | Road | Mixed: paved road start (Morrisville Parkway) plus crushed Granite American Tobacco Trail; the half marathon includes about 8 miles on the ATT |
| Terrain | Road | Road, Trail |
| Scenery | City, Mountain, Riverside, Historic, Parkland | Parkland, Forest |
| Atmosphere | Destination, Festival, Community | Competitive, Community |
| Total ascent | 260 m | 209 m |
| Climbing density | 12.3 m/km | 9.9 m/km |
| Total descent | 322 m | 208 m |
| Net elevation | -61 m | 1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 12.1% | 11.4% |
| Flat grade share | 44.6% | 60.0% |
| GAP factor | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 7:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-20 (legacy event-level date).
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-14 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- Cary, North Carolina
Actual distance
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- Held
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- Held
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- Held
Course type
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- Point To Point
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- Out And Back
Surface
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- Road
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- Mixed: paved road start (Morrisville Parkway) plus crushed Granite American Tobacco Trail; the half marathon includes about 8 miles on the ATT
Terrain
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- Road
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- Road, Trail
Scenery
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- City, Mountain, Riverside, Historic, Parkland
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- Parkland, Forest
Atmosphere
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- Destination, Festival, Community
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- Competitive, Community
Total ascent
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 260 m
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 209 m
Climbing density
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 12.3 m/km
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 9.9 m/km
Total descent
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 322 m
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 208 m
Net elevation
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- -61 m
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 1 m
Max absolute grade
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 12.1%
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 11.4%
Flat grade share
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 44.6%
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 60.0%
GAP factor
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 0.1%
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 0.9%
Cutoff
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- 6:30:00
- Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
- 7:00:00
Entry model
- The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon
- Open
- Tobacco Road Marathon and 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, The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon or Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon?
The Asheville Marathon & Half Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.