Flat grade share
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 67.3% Favoured
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay vs Maine Marathon (Portland)
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofMount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay or Maine Marathon (Portland) — which comes out ahead?
Maine Marathon (Portland) has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 1.5%
- flat grade share
- 55.5%
- lower ascent
- 526 m
- climbing density
- 12.5 m/km
- net elevation
- -1 m
- maximum grade
- 18.7%
Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.9% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 67.3% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 357 m
- climbing density
- 8.5 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 15.5%
| Metric | Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay | Maine Marathon (Portland) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 55.5% | 67.3% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 1.5% | 0.9% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 23.8% | 16.5% |
| Steep-up share | 2.7% | 1.7% |
| Downhill share | 20.7% | 16.2% |
| Total ascent (m) | 526 m | 357 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 12.5 m/km | 8.5 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,840 m | 670 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 47 m | 39 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.6% | 5.9% |
| Total descent (m) | 527 m | 358 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -1 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 18.7% | 15.5% |
| Start elevation (m) | 15 m | 4 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 15 m | 4 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Conditions | 79/100 | 84/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 0.9% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 8.5 m/km
Longest climb length (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
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 100/100
Conditions
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 84/100 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 | Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay | Maine Marathon (Portland) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-04 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Bar Harbor, Maine | Portland, Maine |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Out And Back |
| Surface | Paved roads | Road |
| Elevation character | Hilly | Rolling |
| Terrain | Road | Road, Trail |
| Scenery | Coastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside | Coastal, Mountain, Waterfront, Forest, City, Countryside |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour, Destination, Community | Community, Charity, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 526 m | 357 m |
| Climbing density | 12.5 m/km | 8.5 m/km |
| Total descent | 527 m | 358 m |
| Net elevation | -1 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 18.7% | 15.5% |
| Flat grade share | 55.5% | 67.3% |
| GAP factor | 1.5% | 0.9% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 6:15:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date).
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-04 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Portland, Maine
Actual distance
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- 42.2 km
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Held
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Held
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Held
Course type
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Point To Point
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Out And Back
Surface
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Paved roads
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Road
Elevation character
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Hilly
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Rolling
Terrain
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Road
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Road, Trail
Scenery
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Coastal, Mountain, Parkland, Desert, Island, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Coastal, Mountain, Waterfront, Forest, City, Countryside
Atmosphere
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Scenic Tour, Destination, Community
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Community, Charity, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Non Technical
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- 526 m
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 357 m
Climbing density
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- 12.5 m/km
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 8.5 m/km
Total descent
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- 527 m
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 358 m
Net elevation
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- -1 m
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- 18.7%
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 15.5%
Flat grade share
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- 55.5%
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 67.3%
GAP factor
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- 1.5%
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 0.9%
Cutoff
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- 6:30:00
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 6:15:00
Entry model
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Open
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- Open
Qualifying status
- Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay
- Boston_equivalent
- Maine Marathon (Portland)
- 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, Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay or Maine Marathon (Portland)?
Maine Marathon (Portland) has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.