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

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

Route comparison snapshot

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%

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
Head-to-head comparison
MetricMarshall University MarathonGreenbrier River Trail Marathon
Flat grade share75.8%Unavailable
GAP factor (% slower than flat)1.2%Unavailable
Uphill share12.1%Unavailable
Steep-up share3.7%Unavailable
Downhill share12.1%Unavailable
Total ascent (m)330 mUnavailable
Climbing density (m/km)7.8 m/kmUnavailable
Longest climb length (m)330 mUnavailable
Longest climb gain (m)22 mUnavailable
Longest climb average grade6.8%Unavailable
Total descent (m)332 mUnavailable
Net elevation (m)-2 mUnavailable
Max absolute grade18.7%Unavailable
Start elevation (m)171 mUnavailable
Finish elevation (m)169 mUnavailable
Scenic score77/100100/100
Conditions94/10080/100

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
FactMarshall University MarathonGreenbrier River Trail Marathon
Schedule

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

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

LocationHuntington, West VirginiaCass, West Virginia
Actual distance42.2 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldNot held
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldNot held
Course typeLapsUnavailable
SurfaceMostly paved roads with a crushed Limestone path section through Ritter Park.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
Elevation characterFlatNet Downhill
TerrainRoad, GravelTrail, Mixed, Gravel
SceneryRiverside, City, Countryside, Waterfront, ParklandRiverside, Mountain, Countryside, Waterfront, Forest, Historic
AtmosphereCommunity, Scenic TourScenic Tour, Destination, Community
TechnicalityNon TechnicalNon Technical
Total ascent330 m8 m
Climbing density7.8 m/kmUnavailable
Total descent332 m111 m
Net elevation-2 m-103 m
Max absolute grade18.7%Unavailable
Flat grade share75.8%Unavailable
GAP factor1.2%Unavailable
Cutoff6:00:008:00:00
Latest finishersUnavailable166
Entry modelOpenOpen
Qualifying statusBoston_equivalentBoston_equivalent

Schedule

Marshall University Marathon

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

Greenbrier River Trail Marathon

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

Location

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

Actual distance

Marshall University Marathon
42.2 km
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Marshall University Marathon
Held
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Not held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Marshall University Marathon
Held
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Not held

Course type

Marshall University Marathon
Laps
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Unavailable

Surface

Marshall University Marathon
Mostly paved roads with a crushed Limestone path section through Ritter Park.
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

Elevation character

Marshall University Marathon
Flat
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Net Downhill

Terrain

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

Scenery

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

Atmosphere

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

Technicality

Marshall University Marathon
Non Technical
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Marshall University Marathon
330 m
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
8 m

Climbing density

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

Total descent

Marshall University Marathon
332 m
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
111 m

Net elevation

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

Max absolute grade

Marshall University Marathon
18.7%
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Unavailable

Flat grade share

Marshall University Marathon
75.8%
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Unavailable

GAP factor

Marshall University Marathon
1.2%
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Unavailable

Cutoff

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

Latest finishers

Marshall University Marathon
Unavailable
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
166

Entry model

Marshall University Marathon
Open
Greenbrier River Trail Marathon
Open

Qualifying status

Marshall University Marathon
Boston_equivalent
Greenbrier River Trail 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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