Flat grade share
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 88.2% Favoured
FirstEnergy Akron 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 ofFirstEnergy Akron 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 conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.7%
- flat grade share
- 73.4%
- lower ascent
- 350 m
- climbing density
- 8.3 m/km
- net elevation
- -6 m
- maximum grade
- 13.8%
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 | FirstEnergy Akron Marathon | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 73.4% | 88.2% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.7% | 0.2% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 13.3% | 6.3% |
| Steep-up share | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| Downhill share | 13.3% | 5.5% |
| Total ascent (m) | 350 m | 177 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 8.3 m/km | 4.2 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 2,970 m | 960 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 70 m | 14 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.4% | 1.4% |
| Total descent (m) | 355 m | 176 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -6 m | 1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 13.8% | 6.7% |
| Start elevation (m) | 297 m | 185 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 291 m | 186 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 87/100 |
| Conditions | 66/100 | 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)
Climbing density (m/km)
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 8.3 m/km
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 2,970 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
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- 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 | FirstEnergy Akron Marathon | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-26 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-25 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Akron, 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 | Point To Point | Loop |
| Surface | Paved roads and trail (the course incorporates sections of the Towpath Trail through Summit Metro Parks) | Smooth paved roads and paved trail |
| Elevation character | Hilly | Flat |
| Terrain | Trail, Towpath, Beach, Road, Mixed | Trail, Road, Mixed |
| Scenery | City, Parkland, Mountain, Historic, Desert, Riverside | Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Community, Big City, Festival | Community, Competitive |
| Technicality | Moderate | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 350 m | 177 m |
| Climbing density | 8.3 m/km | 4.2 m/km |
| Total descent | 355 m | 176 m |
| Net elevation | -6 m | 1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 13.8% | 6.7% |
| Flat grade share | 73.4% | 88.2% |
| GAP factor | 0.7% | 0.2% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 6:30:00 |
| Field cap | Unavailable | 1,800 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-26 (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
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Akron, Ohio
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Toledo, Ohio
Actual distance
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
Course type
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Point To Point
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Loop
Surface
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Paved roads and trail (the course incorporates sections of the Towpath Trail through Summit Metro Parks)
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Smooth paved roads and paved trail
Elevation character
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Hilly
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Trail, Towpath, Beach, Road, Mixed
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Trail, Road, Mixed
Scenery
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- City, Parkland, Mountain, Historic, Desert, Riverside
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside
Atmosphere
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Community, Big City, Festival
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Community, Competitive
Technicality
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Moderate
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 350 m
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 177 m
Climbing density
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 8.3 m/km
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
Total descent
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 355 m
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 176 m
Net elevation
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- -6 m
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1 m
Max absolute grade
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 13.8%
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6.7%
Flat grade share
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 73.4%
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 88.2%
GAP factor
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 0.7%
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 0.2%
Cutoff
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 6:30:00
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6:30:00
Field cap
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1,800
Entry model
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Open
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- FirstEnergy Akron 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, FirstEnergy Akron 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.