Flat grade share
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 39.8% Favoured
Columbia Gorge Marathon vs Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
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 Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay — which comes out ahead?
Columbia Gorge Marathon 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% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 39.8% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 696 m
- climbing density
- 16.5 m/km
- net elevation
- -82 m
- maximum grade
- 25.5%
Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 4.4%
- flat grade share
- 35.6%
- lower ascent
- 434 m
- climbing density
- 20.6 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 25.6%
| Metric | Columbia Gorge Marathon | Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 39.8% ✓ | 35.6% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 2.1% ✓ | 4.4% |
| Uphill share | 29.3% | 32.0% |
| Steep-up share | 7.2% | 11.5% |
| Downhill share | 30.9% | 32.4% |
| Total ascent (m) | 696 m | 434 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 16.5 m/km | 20.6 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,940 m | 480 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 70 m | 39 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 3.6% | 8.2% |
| Total descent (m) | 778 m | 434 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -82 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 25.5% | 25.6% |
| Start elevation (m) | 108 m | 26 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 26 m | 26 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Conditions | 87/100 | 87/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 2.1% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 16.5 m/km
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 20.6 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 1,940 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Scenic score
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 100/100
Conditions
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 87/100
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.
Same-distance comparisons are most meaningful; cross-distance metrics are contextual.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Columbia Gorge Marathon | Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-17 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-17 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Hood River, Oregon | Hood River, Oregon |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 21.1 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Out And Back | Unavailable |
| Surface | 100% paved | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Hilly | Unavailable |
| Terrain | Road, Trail | Trail |
| Scenery | Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest | Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour, Destination | Scenic Tour, Destination |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Unavailable |
| Total ascent | 696 m | 434 m |
| Climbing density | 16.5 m/km | 20.6 m/km |
| Total descent | 778 m | 434 m |
| Net elevation | -82 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 25.5% | 25.6% |
| Flat grade share | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| GAP factor | 2.1% | 4.4% |
| 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).
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-17 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Hood River, Oregon
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Hood River, Oregon
Actual distance
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Held
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Held
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Held
Course type
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Out And Back
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Unavailable
Surface
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 100% paved
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Hilly
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Unavailable
Terrain
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Road, Trail
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Trail
Scenery
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Countryside, Riverside, Historic, Canyon, Vineyard, Forest
Atmosphere
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Destination
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Scenic Tour, Destination
Technicality
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Non Technical
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Unavailable
Total ascent
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 696 m
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 434 m
Climbing density
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 16.5 m/km
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 20.6 m/km
Total descent
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 778 m
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 434 m
Net elevation
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- -82 m
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 25.5%
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 25.6%
Flat grade share
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 39.8%
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 35.6%
GAP factor
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 2.1%
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 4.4%
Cutoff
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- 6:30:00
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Columbia Gorge Marathon
- Open
- Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay
- 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 Columbia Gorge Marathon Relay?
Columbia Gorge Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.