Flat grade share
- Cleveland Marathon
- 85.6%
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Cleveland Marathon vs The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofCleveland Marathon or The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland) — which comes out ahead?
Cleveland Marathon and The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland) split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Cleveland Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held Favoured
- 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%
The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Not held
- course flatness
- Unavailable
- flat grade share
- Unavailable
- lower ascent
- Unavailable
- climbing density
- Unavailable
- net elevation
- Unavailable
- maximum grade
- Unavailable
| Metric | Cleveland Marathon | The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 85.6% | Unavailable |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.8% | Unavailable |
| Uphill share | 8.0% | Unavailable |
| Steep-up share | 1.5% | Unavailable |
| Downhill share | 6.4% | Unavailable |
| Total ascent (m) | 232 m | Unavailable |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 5.5 m/km | Unavailable |
| Longest climb length (m) | 940 m | Unavailable |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 28 m | Unavailable |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.9% | Unavailable |
| Total descent (m) | 233 m | Unavailable |
| Net elevation (m) | 0 m | Unavailable |
| Max absolute grade | 31.4% | Unavailable |
| Start elevation (m) | 198 m | Unavailable |
| Finish elevation (m) | 198 m | Unavailable |
| Scenic score | 77/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 69/100 ✓ | 64/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Uphill share
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Steep-up share
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Downhill share
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Total ascent (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 232 m
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Climbing density (m/km)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 5.5 m/km
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Longest climb length (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 940 m
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Longest climb gain (m)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Longest climb average grade
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Total descent (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 233 m
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Net elevation (m)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Max absolute grade
- Cleveland Marathon
- 31.4%
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Start elevation (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 198 m
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Finish elevation (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 198 m
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Scenic score
- Cleveland Marathon
- 77/100
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Cleveland Marathon
- 69/100 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 | The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-16 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-03 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Not held |
| Course type | Loop | Out And Back |
| Surface | Unavailable | Paved trail surface throughout, except the section within Cuyahoga Valley National Park (full marathon only), which is crushed limestone. |
| Elevation character | Flat | Flat |
| Terrain | Road | Trail, Towpath, Mixed |
| Scenery | City, Waterfront, Lakeside, Riverside | Riverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Waterfront, Forest |
| Atmosphere | Big City, Community | Scenic Tour, Charity |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 232 m | 181 m |
| Climbing density | 5.5 m/km | Unavailable |
| Total descent | 233 m | 181 m |
| Net elevation | 0 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 31.4% | Unavailable |
| Flat grade share | 85.6% | Unavailable |
| GAP factor | 0.8% | Unavailable |
| Cutoff | 7:00:00 | 6:30:00 |
| 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).
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-03 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Cleveland Marathon
- Cleveland, Ohio
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Cleveland, Ohio
Actual distance
- Cleveland Marathon
- 42.2 km
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Cleveland Marathon
- Held
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Cleveland Marathon
- Held
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Not held
Course type
- Cleveland Marathon
- Loop
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Out And Back
Surface
- Cleveland Marathon
- Unavailable
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Paved trail surface throughout, except the section within Cuyahoga Valley National Park (full marathon only), which is crushed limestone.
Elevation character
- Cleveland Marathon
- Flat
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Flat
Terrain
- Cleveland Marathon
- Road
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Trail, Towpath, Mixed
Scenery
- Cleveland Marathon
- City, Waterfront, Lakeside, Riverside
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Riverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Waterfront, Forest
Atmosphere
- Cleveland Marathon
- Big City, Community
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Scenic Tour, Charity
Technicality
- Cleveland Marathon
- Non Technical
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Cleveland Marathon
- 232 m
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 181 m
Climbing density
- Cleveland Marathon
- 5.5 m/km
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Total descent
- Cleveland Marathon
- 233 m
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 181 m
Net elevation
- Cleveland Marathon
- 0 m
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Cleveland Marathon
- 31.4%
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Flat grade share
- Cleveland Marathon
- 85.6%
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
GAP factor
- Cleveland Marathon
- 0.8%
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Cutoff
- Cleveland Marathon
- 7:00:00
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 6:30:00
Entry model
- Cleveland Marathon
- Open
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Open
Qualifying status
- Cleveland Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 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.