Flat grade share
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 88.2% Favoured
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon vs FirstEnergy Akron 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 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and conditions.
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%
FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.7%
- flat grade share
- 73.4%
- lower ascent
- 350 m
- climbing density
- 8.3 m/km
- net elevation
- -6 m
- maximum grade
- 13.8%
| Metric | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon | FirstEnergy Akron Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 88.2% ✓ | 73.4% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.2% ✓ | 0.7% |
| Uphill share | 6.3% | 13.3% |
| Steep-up share | 0.2% | 1.5% |
| Downhill share | 5.5% | 13.3% |
| Total ascent (m) | 177 m | 350 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 4.2 m/km | 8.3 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 960 m | 2,970 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 14 m | 70 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.4% | 2.4% |
| Total descent (m) | 176 m | 355 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 1 m | -6 m |
| Max absolute grade | 6.7% | 13.8% |
| Start elevation (m) | 185 m | 297 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 186 m | 291 m |
| Scenic score | 87/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 77/100 ✓ | 66/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 0.2% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 8.3 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 2,970 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
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 77/100 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 | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon | FirstEnergy Akron 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 2026-09-26 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Toledo, Ohio | Akron, 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 | Point To Point |
| Surface | Smooth paved roads and paved trail | Paved roads and trail (the course incorporates sections of the Towpath Trail through Summit Metro Parks) |
| Elevation character | Flat | Hilly |
| Terrain | Trail, Road, Mixed | Trail, Towpath, Beach, Road, Mixed |
| Scenery | Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside | City, Parkland, Mountain, Historic, Desert, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Community, Competitive | Community, Big City, Festival |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 177 m | 350 m |
| Climbing density | 4.2 m/km | 8.3 m/km |
| Total descent | 176 m | 355 m |
| Net elevation | 1 m | -6 m |
| Max absolute grade | 6.7% | 13.8% |
| Flat grade share | 88.2% | 73.4% |
| GAP factor | 0.2% | 0.7% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 6:30:00 |
| 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).
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-26 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Toledo, Ohio
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Akron, Ohio
Actual distance
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 42.2 km
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Loop
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Smooth paved roads and paved trail
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Paved roads and trail (the course incorporates sections of the Towpath Trail through Summit Metro Parks)
Elevation character
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Flat
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Hilly
Terrain
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Trail, Road, Mixed
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Trail, Towpath, Beach, Road, Mixed
Scenery
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- City, Parkland, Mountain, Historic, Desert, Riverside
Atmosphere
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Community, Competitive
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Community, Big City, Festival
Technicality
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Non Technical
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Moderate
Total ascent
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 177 m
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 350 m
Climbing density
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 8.3 m/km
Total descent
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 176 m
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 355 m
Net elevation
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1 m
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- -6 m
Max absolute grade
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6.7%
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 13.8%
Flat grade share
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 88.2%
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 73.4%
GAP factor
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 0.2%
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 0.7%
Cutoff
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6:30:00
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- 6:30:00
Field cap
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1,800
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Open
- FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- FirstEnergy Akron 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 FirstEnergy Akron 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.