Flat grade share
- Cleveland Marathon
- 85.6%
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 88.2% Favoured
Cleveland Marathon vs Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofCleveland Marathon or Mercy Health Glass City Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
Cleveland Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.8%
- flat grade share
- 85.6%
- lower ascent
- 232 m
- climbing density
- 5.5 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 31.4%
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.2% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 88.2% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 177 m
- climbing density
- 4.2 m/km
- net elevation
- 1 m
- maximum grade
- 6.7%
| Metric | Cleveland Marathon | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 85.6% | 88.2% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.8% | 0.2% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 8.0% | 6.3% |
| Steep-up share | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| Downhill share | 6.4% | 5.5% |
| Total ascent (m) | 232 m | 177 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 5.5 m/km | 4.2 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 940 m | 960 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 28 m | 14 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.9% | 1.4% |
| Total descent (m) | 233 m | 176 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 0 m | 1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 31.4% | 6.7% |
| Start elevation (m) | 198 m | 185 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 198 m | 186 m |
| Scenic score | 77/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 69/100 | 77/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 0.2% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 232 m
Climbing density (m/km)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 5.5 m/km
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 940 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 233 m
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
- Cleveland Marathon
- 31.4%
Start elevation (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 198 m
Finish elevation (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 198 m
Scenic score
- Cleveland Marathon
- 77/100
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 87/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Cleveland Marathon
- 69/100
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 77/100 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 | Cleveland Marathon | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-16 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-25 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio | Toledo, Ohio |
| 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 | Unavailable | Smooth paved roads and paved trail |
| Elevation character | Flat | Flat |
| Terrain | Road | Trail, Road, Mixed |
| Scenery | City, Waterfront, Lakeside, Riverside | Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Big City, Community | Community, Competitive |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 232 m | 177 m |
| Climbing density | 5.5 m/km | 4.2 m/km |
| Total descent | 233 m | 176 m |
| Net elevation | 0 m | 1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 31.4% | 6.7% |
| Flat grade share | 85.6% | 88.2% |
| GAP factor | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Cutoff | 7:00:00 | 6:30:00 |
| Field cap | Unavailable | 1,800 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- Cleveland Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-16 (legacy event-level date).
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-25 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Cleveland Marathon
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Toledo, Ohio
Actual distance
- Cleveland Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Cleveland Marathon
- Held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Cleveland Marathon
- Held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Cleveland Marathon
- Loop
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Loop
Surface
- Cleveland Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Smooth paved roads and paved trail
Elevation character
- Cleveland Marathon
- Flat
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- Cleveland Marathon
- Road
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Trail, Road, Mixed
Scenery
- Cleveland Marathon
- City, Waterfront, Lakeside, Riverside
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside
Atmosphere
- Cleveland Marathon
- Big City, Community
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Community, Competitive
Technicality
- Cleveland Marathon
- Non Technical
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Cleveland Marathon
- 232 m
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 177 m
Climbing density
- Cleveland Marathon
- 5.5 m/km
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
Total descent
- Cleveland Marathon
- 233 m
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 176 m
Net elevation
- Cleveland Marathon
- 0 m
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1 m
Max absolute grade
- Cleveland Marathon
- 31.4%
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6.7%
Flat grade share
- Cleveland Marathon
- 85.6%
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 88.2%
GAP factor
- Cleveland Marathon
- 0.8%
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 0.2%
Cutoff
- Cleveland Marathon
- 7:00:00
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6:30:00
Field cap
- Cleveland Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1,800
Entry model
- Cleveland Marathon
- Open
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- Cleveland Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- Mercy Health Glass City 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, Cleveland Marathon or Mercy Health Glass City Marathon?
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.