Flat grade share
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 65.1% Favoured
Columbia Gorge Marathon vs Bend Marathon and Half
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofColumbia Gorge Marathon or Bend Marathon and Half — which comes out ahead?
Bend Marathon and Half has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.
Route comparison snapshot
Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 2.1%
- flat grade share
- 39.8%
- lower ascent
- 696 m
- climbing density
- 16.5 m/km
- net elevation
- -82 m
- maximum grade
- 25.5%
Bend Marathon and Half
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.9% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 65.1% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 388 m
- climbing density
- 9.2 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 16.6%
| Metric | Columbia Gorge Marathon | Bend Marathon and Half |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 39.8% | 65.1% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 2.1% | 0.9% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 29.3% | 18.0% |
| Steep-up share | 7.2% | 0.8% |
| Downhill share | 30.9% | 16.9% |
| Total ascent (m) | 696 m | 388 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 16.5 m/km | 9.2 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,940 m | 1,580 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 70 m | 36 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 3.6% | 2.3% |
| Total descent (m) | 778 m | 388 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -82 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 25.5% | 16.6% |
| Start elevation (m) | 108 m | 1,101 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 26 m | 1,101 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 | Unavailable |
| Conditions | 87/100 | Unavailable |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 0.9% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 16.5 m/km
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 9.2 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 1,940 m
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 1,580 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 1,101 m
Finish elevation (m)
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 1,101 m
Scenic score
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 100/100
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Unavailable
Conditions
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 87/100
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Unavailable
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 | Columbia Gorge Marathon | Bend Marathon and Half |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-17 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. |
| Location | Hood River, Oregon | Bend, Oregon |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Out And Back | Start and finish at the Old Mill District with an out And Back section toward the Forest Service Welcome Center turnaround; finishes with a long, net Downhill return. |
| Surface | 100% paved | Mostly paved roads with some trail sections, including the quieter Haul Road Trail. |
| Elevation character | Hilly | Hilly |
| Terrain | Road, Trail | Mixed |
| Scenery | Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest | Mountain, City, Desert, Lakeside, Riverside, Forest, Parkland |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour, Destination | Scenic Tour, Destination, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 696 m | 388 m |
| Climbing density | 16.5 m/km | 9.2 m/km |
| Total descent | 778 m | 388 m |
| Net elevation | -82 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 25.5% | 16.6% |
| Flat grade share | 39.8% | 65.1% |
| GAP factor | 2.1% | 0.9% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-17 (legacy event-level date).
- Bend Marathon and Half
Exact race date not confirmed.
Location
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Hood River, Oregon
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Bend, Oregon
Actual distance
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Held
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Held
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Held
Course type
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Out And Back
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Start and finish at the Old Mill District with an out And Back section toward the Forest Service Welcome Center turnaround; finishes with a long, net Downhill return.
Surface
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 100% paved
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Mostly paved roads with some trail sections, including the quieter Haul Road Trail.
Elevation character
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Hilly
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Hilly
Terrain
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Road, Trail
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Mixed
Scenery
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Mountain, City, Desert, Lakeside, Riverside, Forest, Parkland
Atmosphere
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Destination
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Scenic Tour, Destination, Community
Technicality
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Non Technical
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Moderate
Total ascent
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 696 m
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 388 m
Climbing density
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 16.5 m/km
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 9.2 m/km
Total descent
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 778 m
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 388 m
Net elevation
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- -82 m
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 25.5%
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 16.6%
Flat grade share
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 39.8%
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 65.1%
GAP factor
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 2.1%
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 0.9%
Cutoff
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 6:30:00
- Bend Marathon and Half
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Open
- Bend Marathon and Half
- 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, Columbia Gorge Marathon or Bend Marathon and Half?
Bend Marathon and Half has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.