Flat grade share
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 82.4% Favoured
Helsinki City Marathon vs Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofHelsinki City Marathon or Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) — which comes out ahead?
Helsinki City Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
Helsinki City Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.4% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 82.4% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 226 m
- climbing density
- 5.4 m/km
- net elevation
- 6 m
- maximum grade
- 8.3%
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 1.1%
- flat grade share
- 65.3%
- lower ascent
- 392 m
- climbing density
- 9.3 m/km
- net elevation
- -0 m
- maximum grade
- 11.9%
| Metric | Helsinki City Marathon | Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 82.4% ✓ | 65.3% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.4% ✓ | 1.1% |
| Uphill share | 8.7% | 17.4% |
| Steep-up share | 0.2% | 2.8% |
| Downhill share | 9.0% | 17.3% |
| Total ascent (m) | 226 m | 392 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 5.4 m/km | 9.3 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,580 m | 1,120 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 19 m | 59 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.2% | 5.3% |
| Total descent (m) | 220 m | 391 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 6 m | -0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 8.3% | 11.9% |
| Start elevation (m) | 4 m | 163 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 9 m | 162 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 65/100 |
| Conditions | 87/100 ✓ | 63/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 0.4% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 5.4 m/km
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 9.3 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 1,580 m
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 1,120 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
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 87/100 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 | Helsinki City Marathon | Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-07 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-04 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Helsinki, Finland | Rovaniemi, Finland |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Loop |
| Surface | Road | Approximately 90% snow Covered dirt roads and 10% forest single track; spiked trail shoes recommended for icy sections. |
| Elevation character | Flat | Gently Rolling |
| Terrain | Road, Trail | Mixed, Trail |
| Scenery | City, Historic, Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Island | Countryside, Forest, Riverside, City |
| Atmosphere | Big City, Scenic Tour | Destination, Wilderness, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 226 m | 392 m |
| Climbing density | 5.4 m/km | 9.3 m/km |
| Total descent | 220 m | 391 m |
| Net elevation | 6 m | -0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 8.3% | 11.9% |
| Flat grade share | 82.4% | 65.3% |
| GAP factor | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Cutoff | 6:00:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Helsinki City Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-07 (legacy event-level date).
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-04 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Helsinki, Finland
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Rovaniemi, Finland
Actual distance
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Held
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Held
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Held
Course type
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Loop
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Loop
Surface
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Road
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Approximately 90% snow Covered dirt roads and 10% forest single track; spiked trail shoes recommended for icy sections.
Elevation character
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Flat
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Gently Rolling
Terrain
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Road, Trail
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Mixed, Trail
Scenery
- Helsinki City Marathon
- City, Historic, Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Island
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Countryside, Forest, Riverside, City
Atmosphere
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Big City, Scenic Tour
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Destination, Wilderness, Community
Technicality
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Non Technical
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Moderate
Total ascent
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 226 m
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 392 m
Climbing density
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 5.4 m/km
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 9.3 m/km
Total descent
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 220 m
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 391 m
Net elevation
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 6 m
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- -0 m
Max absolute grade
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 8.3%
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 11.9%
Flat grade share
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 82.4%
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 65.3%
GAP factor
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 0.4%
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 1.1%
Cutoff
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 6:00:00
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Open
- Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)
- 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, Helsinki City Marathon or Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)?
Helsinki City Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.