Bay of Fundy International Marathon or Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay — which comes out ahead?

Bay of Fundy International Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.

Route comparison snapshot

Bay of Fundy International Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.9% Favoured
flat grade share
57.1% Favoured
lower ascent
456 m
climbing density
10.8 m/km
net elevation
-27 m
maximum grade
12.5%

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.5%
flat grade share
55.5%
lower ascent
526 m
climbing density
12.5 m/km
net elevation
-1 m
maximum grade
18.7%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricBay of Fundy International MarathonMount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
PB potential81/100Unavailable
Flat grade share57.1%55.5%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)0.9%1.5%
Uphill share21.1%23.8%
Steep-up share3.5%2.7%
Downhill share21.8%20.7%
Total ascent (m)456 m526 m
Climbing density (m/km)10.8 m/km12.5 m/km
Longest climb length (m)730 m1,840 m
Longest climb gain (m)26 m47 m
Longest climb average grade3.6%2.6%
Total descent (m)484 m527 m
Net elevation (m)-27 m-1 m
Max absolute grade12.5%18.7%
Start elevation (m)33 m15 m
Finish elevation (m)6 m15 m
Median finish context (s)4:30:40Unavailable
Beginner-friendliness77/100Unavailable
Scenic score100/100100/100
Conditions64/10079/100

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.

Race facts that change the decision

Race facts comparison
FactBay of Fundy International MarathonMount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-21 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date).

LocationLubec, MaineBar Harbor, Maine
Actual distance42.2 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typePoint To PointPoint To Point
SurfaceUnavailablePaved roads
Elevation characterRollingHilly
TerrainRoadRoad
SceneryCoastal, Waterfront, Island, Forest, CountrysideCoastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside
AtmosphereScenic Tour, Destination, CommunityScenic Tour, Destination, Community
TechnicalityModerateNon Technical
Total ascent456 m526 m
Climbing density10.8 m/km12.5 m/km
Total descent484 m527 m
Net elevation-27 m-1 m
Max absolute grade12.5%18.7%
Flat grade share57.1%55.5%
GAP factor0.9%1.5%
Cutoff7:00:006:30:00
Latest finishers160Unavailable
Entry modelOpenOpen
Qualifying statusBoston_equivalentBoston_equivalent

Schedule

Bay of Fundy International Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-21 (legacy event-level date).

Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Lubec, Maine
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Bar Harbor, Maine

Actual distance

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
42.2 km
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Held
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Held
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Held

Course type

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Point To Point
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Point To Point

Surface

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Unavailable
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Paved roads

Elevation character

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Rolling
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Hilly

Terrain

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Road
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Road

Scenery

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Coastal, Waterfront, Island, Forest, Countryside
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Coastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside

Atmosphere

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination, Community
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Scenic Tour, Destination, Community

Technicality

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Moderate
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Non Technical

Total ascent

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
456 m
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
526 m

Climbing density

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
10.8 m/km
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
12.5 m/km

Total descent

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
484 m
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
527 m

Net elevation

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
-27 m
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
-1 m

Max absolute grade

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
12.5%
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
18.7%

Flat grade share

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
57.1%
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
55.5%

GAP factor

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
0.9%
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
1.5%

Cutoff

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
7:00:00
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
6:30:00

Latest finishers

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
160
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Unavailable

Entry model

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Open
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Open

Qualifying status

Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Boston_equivalent
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Boston_equivalent

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, Bay of Fundy International Marathon or Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay?

Bay of Fundy International Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.

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