Greenbrier River Trail Marathon or Marshall University Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon and Marshall University Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.

Route comparison snapshot

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon

Mapped route
Not held
Elevation profile
Not held
course flatness
Unavailable
flat grade share
Unavailable
lower ascent
Unavailable
climbing density
Unavailable
net elevation
Unavailable
maximum grade
Unavailable

Marshall University Marathon

Mapped route
Held Favoured
Elevation profile
Held Favoured
course flatness
1.2%
flat grade share
75.8%
lower ascent
330 m
climbing density
7.8 m/km
net elevation
-2 m
maximum grade
18.7%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricGreenbrier River Trail MarathonMarshall University Marathon
Flat grade shareUnavailable75.8%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)Unavailable1.2%
Uphill shareUnavailable12.1%
Steep-up shareUnavailable3.7%
Downhill shareUnavailable12.1%
Total ascent (m)Unavailable330 m
Climbing density (m/km)Unavailable7.8 m/km
Longest climb length (m)Unavailable330 m
Longest climb gain (m)Unavailable22 m
Longest climb average gradeUnavailable6.8%
Total descent (m)Unavailable332 m
Net elevation (m)Unavailable-2 m
Max absolute gradeUnavailable18.7%
Start elevation (m)Unavailable171 m
Finish elevation (m)Unavailable169 m
Scenic score100/10077/100
Conditions80/10094/100

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
FactGreenbrier River Trail MarathonMarshall University Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-04 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-01 (legacy event-level date).

LocationCass, West VirginiaHuntington, West Virginia
Actual distance42.2 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldNot heldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldNot heldHeld
Course typeUnavailableLaps
SurfaceMostly packed gravel with softer sections through the middle and flat wooden bridge crossings; last ~2 miles paved with a gravel Road finish for the final 1/2 mileMostly paved roads with a crushed Limestone path section through Ritter Park.
Elevation characterNet DownhillFlat
TerrainTrail, Mixed, GravelRoad, Gravel
SceneryRiverside, Mountain, Countryside, Waterfront, Forest, HistoricRiverside, City, Countryside, Waterfront, Parkland
AtmosphereScenic Tour, Destination, CommunityCommunity, Scenic Tour
TechnicalityNon TechnicalNon Technical
Total ascent8 m330 m
Climbing densityUnavailable7.8 m/km
Total descent111 m332 m
Net elevation-103 m-2 m
Max absolute gradeUnavailable18.7%
Flat grade shareUnavailable75.8%
GAP factorUnavailable1.2%
Cutoff8:00:006:00:00
Latest finishers166Unavailable
Entry modelOpenOpen
Qualifying statusBoston_equivalentBoston_equivalent

Schedule

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-04 (legacy event-level date).

Marshall University Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-11-01 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Cass, West Virginia
Marshall University Marathon
Huntington, West Virginia

Actual distance

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
42.2 km
Marshall University Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Not held
Marshall University Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Not held
Marshall University Marathon
Held

Course type

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Unavailable
Marshall University Marathon
Laps

Surface

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Mostly packed gravel with softer sections through the middle and flat wooden bridge crossings; last ~2 miles paved with a gravel Road finish for the final 1/2 mile
Marshall University Marathon
Mostly paved roads with a crushed Limestone path section through Ritter Park.

Elevation character

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Net Downhill
Marshall University Marathon
Flat

Terrain

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Trail, Mixed, Gravel
Marshall University Marathon
Road, Gravel

Scenery

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Riverside, Mountain, Countryside, Waterfront, Forest, Historic
Marshall University Marathon
Riverside, City, Countryside, Waterfront, Parkland

Atmosphere

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination, Community
Marshall University Marathon
Community, Scenic Tour

Technicality

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Non Technical
Marshall University Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
8 m
Marshall University Marathon
330 m

Climbing density

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Unavailable
Marshall University Marathon
7.8 m/km

Total descent

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
111 m
Marshall University Marathon
332 m

Net elevation

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
-103 m
Marshall University Marathon
-2 m

Max absolute grade

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Unavailable
Marshall University Marathon
18.7%

Flat grade share

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Unavailable
Marshall University Marathon
75.8%

GAP factor

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Unavailable
Marshall University Marathon
1.2%

Cutoff

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
8:00:00
Marshall University Marathon
6:00:00

Latest finishers

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
166
Marshall University Marathon
Unavailable

Entry model

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Open
Marshall University Marathon
Open

Qualifying status

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Boston_equivalent
Marshall University 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.

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