Mississippi River Marathon or Naturosa Catania Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Naturosa Catania Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.

Route comparison snapshot

Mississippi River Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.1%
flat grade share
97.5%
lower ascent
59 m
climbing density
1.4 m/km
net elevation
2 m
maximum grade
6.1%

Naturosa Catania Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
0.0% Favoured
flat grade share
100.0% Favoured
lower ascent
12 m
climbing density
0.3 m/km
net elevation
0 m
maximum grade
2.0%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricMississippi River MarathonNaturosa Catania Marathon
Flat grade share97.5%100.0%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)0.1%0.0%
Uphill share0.9%0.0%
Steep-up share0.0%0.0%
Downhill share1.6%0.0%
Total ascent (m)59 m12 m
Climbing density (m/km)1.4 m/km0.3 m/km
Longest climb length (m)2,300 m1,800 m
Longest climb gain (m)13 m1 m
Longest climb average grade0.6%0.1%
Total descent (m)57 m12 m
Net elevation (m)2 m0 m
Max absolute grade6.1%2.0%
Start elevation (m)37 m4 m
Finish elevation (m)39 m4 m
Scenic scoreUnavailable83/100
ConditionsUnavailable88/100

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
FactMississippi River MarathonNaturosa Catania Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed.

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-12-13 (legacy event-level date).

LocationGreenville, MississippiCatania, Italy
Actual distance42.2 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typePoint To PointLaps
SurfaceRoadRoad / asphalt throughout the city circuit and the Kennedy seafront.
Elevation characterPancake FlatPancake Flat
TerrainRoadRoad
SceneryRiverside, Countryside, Lakeside, City, Historic, WaterfrontCoastal, City, Historic, Waterfront
AtmosphereCommunity, DestinationScenic Tour, Festival, Big City
TechnicalityNon TechnicalNon Technical
Total ascent59 m12 m
Climbing density1.4 m/km0.3 m/km
Total descent57 m12 m
Net elevation2 m0 m
Max absolute grade6.1%2.0%
Flat grade share97.5%100.0%
GAP factor0.1%0.0%
Cutoff7:00:00Unavailable
Entry modelOpenOpen
Qualifying statusBoston_equivalentUnavailable

Schedule

Mississippi River Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed.

Naturosa Catania Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-12-13 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Mississippi River Marathon
Greenville, Mississippi
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Catania, Italy

Actual distance

Mississippi River Marathon
42.2 km
Naturosa Catania Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Mississippi River Marathon
Held
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Mississippi River Marathon
Held
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Held

Course type

Mississippi River Marathon
Point To Point
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Laps

Surface

Mississippi River Marathon
Road
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Road / asphalt throughout the city circuit and the Kennedy seafront.

Elevation character

Mississippi River Marathon
Pancake Flat
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Pancake Flat

Terrain

Mississippi River Marathon
Road
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Road

Scenery

Mississippi River Marathon
Riverside, Countryside, Lakeside, City, Historic, Waterfront
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Coastal, City, Historic, Waterfront

Atmosphere

Mississippi River Marathon
Community, Destination
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Scenic Tour, Festival, Big City

Technicality

Mississippi River Marathon
Non Technical
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Mississippi River Marathon
59 m
Naturosa Catania Marathon
12 m

Climbing density

Mississippi River Marathon
1.4 m/km
Naturosa Catania Marathon
0.3 m/km

Total descent

Mississippi River Marathon
57 m
Naturosa Catania Marathon
12 m

Net elevation

Mississippi River Marathon
2 m
Naturosa Catania Marathon
0 m

Max absolute grade

Mississippi River Marathon
6.1%
Naturosa Catania Marathon
2.0%

Flat grade share

Mississippi River Marathon
97.5%
Naturosa Catania Marathon
100.0%

GAP factor

Mississippi River Marathon
0.1%
Naturosa Catania Marathon
0.0%

Cutoff

Mississippi River Marathon
7:00:00
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Unavailable

Entry model

Mississippi River Marathon
Open
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Open

Qualifying status

Mississippi River Marathon
Boston_equivalent
Naturosa Catania Marathon
Unavailable

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, Mississippi River Marathon or Naturosa Catania Marathon?

Naturosa Catania Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.

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How figures are calculated →