Scenic score
- The Bismarck Marathon
- 79/100 Favoured
Essentia Health Fargo Marathon vs The Bismarck Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofEssentia Health Fargo Marathon or The Bismarck Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Essentia Health Fargo Marathon and The Bismarck Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held Favoured
- Elevation profile
- Not held
The Bismarck Marathon
- Mapped route
- Not held
- Elevation profile
- Not held
| Metric | Essentia Health Fargo Marathon | The Bismarck Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Scenic score | 71/100 | 79/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 67/100 ✓ | 66/100 |
Conditions
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- 67/100 Favoured
- The Bismarck Marathon
- 66/100
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.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Essentia Health Fargo Marathon | The Bismarck Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-21 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-19 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Fargo, North Dakota | Bismarck, North Dakota |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Not held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Not held | Not held |
| Course type | Loop | Out And Back |
| Surface | Paved roads and paths | Fully paved roads and bike paths; not a closed course, with limited traffic control provided along the route. |
| Elevation character | Flat | Flat |
| Terrain | Road | Unavailable |
| Scenery | Riverside, City, Moorland, Historic | Riverside, Waterfront, City, Historic, Parkland |
| Atmosphere | Community, Festival | Unavailable |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | Unavailable | 146 m |
| Total descent | Unavailable | 146 m |
| Net elevation | Unavailable | 0 m |
| Cutoff | 7:00:00 | 6:30:00 |
| Field cap | 2,000 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-21 (legacy event-level date).
- The Bismarck Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-19 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Fargo, North Dakota
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Bismarck, North Dakota
Actual distance
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- 42.2 km
- The Bismarck Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Held
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Not held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Not held
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Not held
Course type
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Loop
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Out And Back
Surface
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Paved roads and paths
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Fully paved roads and bike paths; not a closed course, with limited traffic control provided along the route.
Elevation character
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Flat
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Road
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Unavailable
Scenery
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Riverside, City, Moorland, Historic
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Riverside, Waterfront, City, Historic, Parkland
Atmosphere
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Community, Festival
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Unavailable
Technicality
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Non Technical
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Unavailable
- The Bismarck Marathon
- 146 m
Total descent
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Unavailable
- The Bismarck Marathon
- 146 m
Net elevation
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Unavailable
- The Bismarck Marathon
- 0 m
Cutoff
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- 7:00:00
- The Bismarck Marathon
- 6:30:00
Field cap
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- 2,000
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Open
- The Bismarck Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- The Bismarck 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.