Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon or Stavanger Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon and Stavanger Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.

Route comparison snapshot

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
flat grade share
35.2%
lower ascent
1,523 m
climbing density
36.1 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
92.0%

Stavanger Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
flat grade share
45.1% Favoured
lower ascent
862 m
climbing density
20.4 m/km
net elevation
-25 m
maximum grade
87.3%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricFoot Levelers Blue Ridge MarathonStavanger Marathon
Flat grade share35.2%45.1%
Uphill share34.8%26.7%
Steep-up share18.1%9.9%
Downhill share30.0%28.2%
Total ascent (m)1,523 m862 m
Climbing density (m/km)36.1 m/km20.4 m/km
Longest climb length (m)760 m200 m
Longest climb gain (m)90 m100 m
Longest climb average grade11.9%50.0%
Total descent (m)1,523 m887 m
Net elevation (m)0 m-25 m
Max absolute grade92.0%87.3%
Start elevation (m)294 m33 m
Finish elevation (m)294 m9 m
Scenic score100/100100/100
Conditions77/10062/100

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

Race facts comparison
FactFoot Levelers Blue Ridge MarathonStavanger Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date awaiting a fresh source check.

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-29 (legacy event-level date).

LocationRoanoke, VirginiaStavanger, Norway
Actual distance42.2 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typePoint To PointLoop
SurfacePaved roads (road marathon over mountain and city roadways)Slightly more than 50% asphalt, remainder on runnable gravel paths.
Elevation characterMountainousGently Rolling
TerrainRoadMixed
SceneryMountain, Forest, City, Riverside, Historic, ParklandLakeside, Coastal, Waterfront, City, Historic
AtmosphereCommunity, Destination, FestivalScenic Tour, Destination, Community
TechnicalityNon TechnicalNon Technical
Total ascent1,523 m862 m
Climbing density36.1 m/km20.4 m/km
Total descent1,523 m887 m
Net elevation0 m-25 m
Max absolute grade92.0%87.3%
Flat grade share35.2%45.1%
Cutoff7:30:00Unavailable
Field cap750Unavailable
Entry modelOpenOpen
Qualifying statusBoston_equivalentUnavailable

Schedule

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon

Exact race date awaiting a fresh source check.

Stavanger Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-29 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Roanoke, Virginia
Stavanger Marathon
Stavanger, Norway

Actual distance

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
42.2 km
Stavanger Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Held
Stavanger Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Held
Stavanger Marathon
Held

Course type

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Point To Point
Stavanger Marathon
Loop

Surface

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Paved roads (road marathon over mountain and city roadways)
Stavanger Marathon
Slightly more than 50% asphalt, remainder on runnable gravel paths.

Elevation character

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Mountainous
Stavanger Marathon
Gently Rolling

Terrain

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Road
Stavanger Marathon
Mixed

Scenery

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Mountain, Forest, City, Riverside, Historic, Parkland
Stavanger Marathon
Lakeside, Coastal, Waterfront, City, Historic

Atmosphere

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Community, Destination, Festival
Stavanger Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination, Community

Technicality

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Non Technical
Stavanger Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
1,523 m
Stavanger Marathon
862 m

Climbing density

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
36.1 m/km
Stavanger Marathon
20.4 m/km

Total descent

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
1,523 m
Stavanger Marathon
887 m

Net elevation

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
0 m
Stavanger Marathon
-25 m

Max absolute grade

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
92.0%
Stavanger Marathon
87.3%

Flat grade share

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
35.2%
Stavanger Marathon
45.1%

Cutoff

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
7:30:00
Stavanger Marathon
Unavailable

Field cap

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
750
Stavanger Marathon
Unavailable

Entry model

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Open
Stavanger Marathon
Open

Qualifying status

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon
Boston_equivalent
Stavanger Marathon
Unavailable

Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.

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