Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon vs Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofNationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon or Mercy Health Glass City Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon and Mercy Health Glass City Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus 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
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held Favoured
- Elevation profile
- Held Favoured
- course flatness
- 0.2%
- flat grade share
- 88.2%
- lower ascent
- 177 m
- climbing density
- 4.2 m/km
- net elevation
- 1 m
- maximum grade
- 6.7%
| Metric | Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | Unavailable | 88.2% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | Unavailable | 0.2% |
| Uphill share | Unavailable | 6.3% |
| Steep-up share | Unavailable | 0.2% |
| Downhill share | Unavailable | 5.5% |
| Total ascent (m) | Unavailable | 177 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | Unavailable | 4.2 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | Unavailable | 960 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | Unavailable | 14 m |
| Longest climb average grade | Unavailable | 1.4% |
| Total descent (m) | Unavailable | 176 m |
| Net elevation (m) | Unavailable | 1 m |
| Max absolute grade | Unavailable | 6.7% |
| Start elevation (m) | Unavailable | 185 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | Unavailable | 186 m |
| Scenic score | 55/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 84/100 ✓ | 77/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 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
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 87/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- 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 | Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon | Mercy Health Glass City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-25 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Columbus, Ohio | Toledo, Ohio |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Not held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Not held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Loop |
| Surface | Paved city streets (closed roads) | Smooth paved roads and paved trail |
| Elevation character | Flat | Flat |
| Terrain | Unavailable | Trail, Road, Mixed |
| Scenery | City, Historic, Parkland | Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Unavailable | Community, Competitive |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 159 m | 177 m |
| Climbing density | Unavailable | 4.2 m/km |
| Total descent | 159 m | 176 m |
| Net elevation | 0 m | 1 m |
| Max absolute grade | Unavailable | 6.7% |
| Flat grade share | Unavailable | 88.2% |
| GAP factor | Unavailable | 0.2% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 6:30:00 |
| Field cap | Unavailable | 1,800 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-18 (legacy event-level date).
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-25 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Columbus, Ohio
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Toledo, Ohio
Actual distance
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Not held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Not held
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Loop
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Loop
Surface
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Paved city streets (closed roads)
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Smooth paved roads and paved trail
Elevation character
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Flat
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Trail, Road, Mixed
Scenery
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- City, Historic, Parkland
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Parkland, Forest, Historic, City, Riverside
Atmosphere
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Community, Competitive
Technicality
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Non Technical
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- 159 m
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 177 m
Climbing density
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
Total descent
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- 159 m
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 176 m
Net elevation
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- 0 m
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1 m
Max absolute grade
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6.7%
Flat grade share
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 88.2%
GAP factor
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 0.2%
Cutoff
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 6:30:00
Field cap
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Unavailable
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- 1,800
Entry model
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Open
- Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- Mercy Health Glass City 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.