Flat grade share
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 86.9% Favoured
Helsinki City Marathon vs Paavo Nurmi Marathon
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 Paavo Nurmi Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Paavo Nurmi Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.
Route comparison snapshot
Helsinki City Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.4%
- flat grade share
- 82.4%
- lower ascent
- 226 m
- climbing density
- 5.4 m/km
- net elevation
- 6 m
- maximum grade
- 8.3%
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.3% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 86.9% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 179 m
- climbing density
- 4.2 m/km
- net elevation
- -2 m
- maximum grade
- 10.9%
| Metric | Helsinki City Marathon | Paavo Nurmi Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 82.4% | 86.9% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.4% | 0.3% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 8.7% | 6.3% |
| Steep-up share | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Downhill share | 9.0% | 6.8% |
| Total ascent (m) | 226 m | 179 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 5.4 m/km | 4.2 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,580 m | 310 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 19 m | 11 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.2% | 3.7% |
| Total descent (m) | 220 m | 181 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 6 m | -2 m |
| Max absolute grade | 8.3% | 10.9% |
| Start elevation (m) | 4 m | 10 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 9 m | 8 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Conditions | 87/100 ✓ | 64/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 0.3% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 179 m
Climbing density (m/km)
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 5.4 m/km
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 1,580 m
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 310 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 181 m
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 10.9%
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Scenic score
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 100/100
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 100/100
Conditions
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 87/100 Favoured
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 64/100
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 | Helsinki City Marathon | Paavo Nurmi Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-07 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-14 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Helsinki, Finland | Turku, 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 | Laps |
| Surface | Road | Road / paved streets and park roads |
| Elevation character | Flat | Flat |
| Terrain | Road, Trail | Road |
| Scenery | City, Historic, Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Island | Riverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Island, Coastal, Waterfront, Forest |
| Atmosphere | Big City, Scenic Tour | Community, Festival, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 226 m | 179 m |
| Climbing density | 5.4 m/km | 4.2 m/km |
| Total descent | 220 m | 181 m |
| Net elevation | 6 m | -2 m |
| Max absolute grade | 8.3% | 10.9% |
| Flat grade share | 82.4% | 86.9% |
| GAP factor | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Cutoff | 6:00:00 | 6:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Helsinki City Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-07 (legacy event-level date).
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-14 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Helsinki, Finland
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Turku, Finland
Actual distance
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Held
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Held
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Loop
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Laps
Surface
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Road
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Road / paved streets and park roads
Elevation character
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Flat
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Road, Trail
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- Helsinki City Marathon
- City, Historic, Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Island
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Riverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Island, Coastal, Waterfront, Forest
Atmosphere
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Big City, Scenic Tour
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Community, Festival, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Non Technical
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 226 m
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 179 m
Climbing density
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 5.4 m/km
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
Total descent
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 220 m
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 181 m
Net elevation
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 6 m
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- -2 m
Max absolute grade
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 8.3%
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 10.9%
Flat grade share
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 82.4%
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 86.9%
GAP factor
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 0.4%
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 0.3%
Cutoff
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 6:00:00
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 6:00:00
Entry model
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Open
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 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 Paavo Nurmi Marathon?
Paavo Nurmi Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.