Flat grade share
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 70.7% Favoured
Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon vs Catalina Island Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofAlbany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon or Catalina Island Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon and Catalina Island Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.6% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 70.7% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 333 m
- climbing density
- 7.9 m/km
- net elevation
- -4 m
- maximum grade
- 13.0%
Catalina Island Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 11.8%
- flat grade share
- 19.7%
- lower ascent
- 1,530 m
- climbing density
- 36.3 m/km
- net elevation
- 4 m
- maximum grade
- 44.6%
| Metric | Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon | Catalina Island Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 70.7% ✓ | 19.7% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.6% ✓ | 11.8% |
| Uphill share | 13.7% | 41.5% |
| Steep-up share | 0.6% | 25.8% |
| Downhill share | 15.6% | 38.8% |
| Total ascent (m) | 333 m | 1,530 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 7.9 m/km | 36.3 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 280 m | 810 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 12 m | 83 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 4.4% | 10.2% |
| Total descent (m) | 337 m | 1,526 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -4 m | 4 m |
| Max absolute grade | 13.0% | 44.6% |
| Start elevation (m) | 59 m | 6 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 55 m | 10 m |
| Scenic score | 52/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 65/100 | 75/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 0.6% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 1,530 m
Climbing density (m/km)
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 36.3 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 1,526 m
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Scenic score
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 75/100 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 | Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon | Catalina Island Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-06 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-13 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Albany, Georgia | Avalon, California |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Unavailable | Point To Point |
| Surface | Unavailable | Trail |
| Elevation character | Flat | Hilly |
| Terrain | Road | Trail, Road, Gravel |
| Scenery | City, Riverside, Parkland, Waterfront | Coastal, Island, Waterfront, Mountain, Countryside |
| Atmosphere | Community, Competitive, Festival | Wilderness, Destination, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 333 m | 1,530 m |
| Climbing density | 7.9 m/km | 36.3 m/km |
| Total descent | 337 m | 1,526 m |
| Net elevation | -4 m | 4 m |
| Max absolute grade | 13.0% | 44.6% |
| Flat grade share | 70.7% | 19.7% |
| GAP factor | 0.6% | 11.8% |
| Cutoff | 7:00:00 | 8:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Unavailable |
Schedule
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-06 (legacy event-level date).
- Catalina Island Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-13 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Albany, Georgia
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Avalon, California
Actual distance
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Held
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Held
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Trail
Elevation character
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Flat
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Hilly
Terrain
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Road
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Trail, Road, Gravel
Scenery
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- City, Riverside, Parkland, Waterfront
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Coastal, Island, Waterfront, Mountain, Countryside
Atmosphere
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Community, Competitive, Festival
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Wilderness, Destination, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Non Technical
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Moderate
Total ascent
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 333 m
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 1,530 m
Climbing density
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 7.9 m/km
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 36.3 m/km
Total descent
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 337 m
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 1,526 m
Net elevation
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- -4 m
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 4 m
Max absolute grade
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 13.0%
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 44.6%
Flat grade share
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 70.7%
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 19.7%
GAP factor
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 0.6%
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 11.8%
Cutoff
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- 7:00:00
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 8:00:00
Entry model
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Open
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Unavailable
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, Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon or Catalina Island Marathon?
Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.