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