Flat grade share
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 82.4% Favoured
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) vs Helsinki City Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofArctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) or Helsinki City Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Helsinki City Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 1.1%
- flat grade share
- 65.3%
- lower ascent
- 392 m
- climbing density
- 9.3 m/km
- net elevation
- -0 m
- maximum grade
- 11.9%
Helsinki City Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.4% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 82.4% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 226 m
- climbing density
- 5.4 m/km
- net elevation
- 6 m
- maximum grade
- 8.3%
| Metric | Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) | Helsinki City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 65.3% | 82.4% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 1.1% | 0.4% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 17.4% | 8.7% |
| Steep-up share | 2.8% | 0.2% |
| Downhill share | 17.3% | 9.0% |
| Total ascent (m) | 392 m | 226 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 9.3 m/km | 5.4 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,120 m | 1,580 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 59 m | 19 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 5.3% | 1.2% |
| Total descent (m) | 391 m | 220 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -0 m | 6 m |
| Max absolute grade | 11.9% | 8.3% |
| Start elevation (m) | 163 m | 4 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 162 m | 9 m |
| Scenic score | 65/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 63/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 0.4% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 9.3 m/km
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 5.4 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 1,120 m
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 1,580 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
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 87/100 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 | Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) | Helsinki City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-04 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-07 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Rovaniemi, Finland | Helsinki, Finland |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Loop |
| Surface | Approximately 90% snow Covered dirt roads and 10% forest single track; spiked trail shoes recommended for icy sections. | Road |
| Elevation character | Gently Rolling | Flat |
| Terrain | Mixed, Trail | Road, Trail |
| Scenery | Countryside, Forest, Riverside, City | City, Historic, Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Island |
| Atmosphere | Destination, Wilderness, Community | Big City, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Moderate | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 392 m | 226 m |
| Climbing density | 9.3 m/km | 5.4 m/km |
| Total descent | 391 m | 220 m |
| Net elevation | -0 m | 6 m |
| Max absolute grade | 11.9% | 8.3% |
| Flat grade share | 65.3% | 82.4% |
| GAP factor | 1.1% | 0.4% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 6:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-04 (legacy event-level date).
- Helsinki City Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-07 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Rovaniemi, Finland
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Helsinki, Finland
Actual distance
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 42.2 km
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Held
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Held
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Loop
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Loop
Surface
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Approximately 90% snow Covered dirt roads and 10% forest single track; spiked trail shoes recommended for icy sections.
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Road
Elevation character
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Gently Rolling
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Mixed, Trail
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Road, Trail
Scenery
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Countryside, Forest, Riverside, City
- Helsinki City Marathon
- City, Historic, Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Island
Atmosphere
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Destination, Wilderness, Community
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Big City, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Moderate
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 392 m
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 226 m
Climbing density
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 9.3 m/km
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 5.4 m/km
Total descent
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 391 m
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 220 m
Net elevation
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- -0 m
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 6 m
Max absolute grade
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 11.9%
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 8.3%
Flat grade share
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 65.3%
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 82.4%
GAP factor
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 1.1%
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 0.4%
Cutoff
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Unavailable
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 6:00:00
Entry model
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Open
- Helsinki City 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, Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) or Helsinki City Marathon?
Helsinki City Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.