Flat grade share
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 88.2% Favoured
- Cleveland Marathon
- 85.6%
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon vs Cleveland Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofMercy Health Glass City Marathon or Cleveland Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and scenery score.
Route comparison snapshot
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.2% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 88.2% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 177 m
- climbing density
- 4.2 m/km
- net elevation
- 1 m
- maximum grade
- 6.7%
Cleveland Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.8%
- flat grade share
- 85.6%
- lower ascent
- 232 m
- climbing density
- 5.5 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 31.4%
| Metric | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon | Cleveland Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 88.2% ✓ | 85.6% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.2% ✓ | 0.8% |
| Uphill share | 6.3% | 8.0% |
| Steep-up share | 0.2% | 1.5% |
| Downhill share | 5.5% | 6.4% |
| Total ascent (m) | 177 m | 232 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 4.2 m/km | 5.5 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 960 m | 940 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 14 m | 28 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.4% | 2.9% |
| Total descent (m) | 176 m | 233 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 1 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 6.7% | 31.4% |
| Start elevation (m) | 185 m | 198 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 186 m | 198 m |
| Scenic score | 87/100 ✓ | 77/100 |
| Conditions | 77/100 ✓ | 69/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 0.2% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 232 m
Climbing density (m/km)
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
- Cleveland Marathon
- 5.5 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 940 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 233 m
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
- Cleveland Marathon
- 31.4%
Start elevation (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 198 m
Finish elevation (m)
- Cleveland Marathon
- 198 m
Scenic score
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 87/100 Favoured
- Cleveland Marathon
- 77/100
Conditions
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 77/100 Favoured
- Cleveland Marathon
- 69/100
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 | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon | Cleveland Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-25 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-16 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Toledo, Ohio | Cleveland, Ohio |
| 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 | Smooth paved roads and paved trail | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Flat | Flat |
| Terrain | Trail, Road, Mixed | Road |
| Scenery | Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside | City, Waterfront, Lakeside, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Community, Competitive | Big City, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 177 m | 232 m |
| Climbing density | 4.2 m/km | 5.5 m/km |
| Total descent | 176 m | 233 m |
| Net elevation | 1 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 6.7% | 31.4% |
| Flat grade share | 88.2% | 85.6% |
| GAP factor | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 7:00:00 |
| Field cap | 1,800 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-25 (legacy event-level date).
- Cleveland Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-16 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Toledo, Ohio
- Cleveland Marathon
- Cleveland, Ohio
Actual distance
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Cleveland Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
- Cleveland Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
- Cleveland Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Loop
- Cleveland Marathon
- Loop
Surface
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Smooth paved roads and paved trail
- Cleveland Marathon
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Flat
- Cleveland Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Trail, Road, Mixed
- Cleveland Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside
- Cleveland Marathon
- City, Waterfront, Lakeside, Riverside
Atmosphere
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Community, Competitive
- Cleveland Marathon
- Big City, Community
Technicality
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Non Technical
- Cleveland Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 177 m
- Cleveland Marathon
- 232 m
Climbing density
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
- Cleveland Marathon
- 5.5 m/km
Total descent
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 176 m
- Cleveland Marathon
- 233 m
Net elevation
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1 m
- Cleveland Marathon
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6.7%
- Cleveland Marathon
- 31.4%
Flat grade share
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 88.2%
- Cleveland Marathon
- 85.6%
GAP factor
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 0.2%
- Cleveland Marathon
- 0.8%
Cutoff
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6:30:00
- Cleveland Marathon
- 7:00:00
Field cap
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1,800
- Cleveland Marathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Open
- Cleveland Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- Cleveland 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.
Common questions
Which is flatter, Mercy Health Glass City Marathon or Cleveland Marathon?
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.