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