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

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

Route comparison snapshot

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%

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%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricNaturosa Catania MarathonMississippi River Marathon
Flat grade share100.0%97.5%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)0.0%0.1%
Uphill share0.0%0.9%
Steep-up share0.0%0.0%
Downhill share0.0%1.6%
Total ascent (m)12 m59 m
Climbing density (m/km)0.3 m/km1.4 m/km
Longest climb length (m)1,800 m2,300 m
Longest climb gain (m)1 m13 m
Longest climb average grade0.1%0.6%
Total descent (m)12 m57 m
Net elevation (m)0 m2 m
Max absolute grade2.0%6.1%
Start elevation (m)4 m37 m
Finish elevation (m)4 m39 m
Scenic score83/100Unavailable
Conditions88/100Unavailable

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
FactNaturosa Catania MarathonMississippi River Marathon
Schedule

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

Exact race date not confirmed.

LocationCatania, ItalyGreenville, Mississippi
Actual distance42.2 km42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeLapsPoint To Point
SurfaceRoad / asphalt throughout the city circuit and the Kennedy seafront.Road
Elevation characterPancake FlatPancake Flat
TerrainRoadRoad
SceneryCoastal, City, Historic, WaterfrontRiverside, Countryside, Lakeside, City, Historic, Waterfront
AtmosphereScenic Tour, Festival, Big CityCommunity, Destination
TechnicalityNon TechnicalNon Technical
Total ascent12 m59 m
Climbing density0.3 m/km1.4 m/km
Total descent12 m57 m
Net elevation0 m2 m
Max absolute grade2.0%6.1%
Flat grade share100.0%97.5%
GAP factor0.0%0.1%
CutoffUnavailable7:00:00
Entry modelOpenOpen
Qualifying statusUnavailableBoston_equivalent

Schedule

Naturosa Catania Marathon

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

Mississippi River Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed.

Location

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

Actual distance

Naturosa Catania Marathon
42.2 km
Mississippi River Marathon
42.2 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Naturosa Catania Marathon
Held
Mississippi River Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Naturosa Catania Marathon
Held
Mississippi River Marathon
Held

Course type

Naturosa Catania Marathon
Laps
Mississippi River Marathon
Point To Point

Surface

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

Elevation character

Naturosa Catania Marathon
Pancake Flat
Mississippi River Marathon
Pancake Flat

Terrain

Naturosa Catania Marathon
Road
Mississippi River Marathon
Road

Scenery

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

Atmosphere

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

Technicality

Naturosa Catania Marathon
Non Technical
Mississippi River Marathon
Non Technical

Total ascent

Naturosa Catania Marathon
12 m
Mississippi River Marathon
59 m

Climbing density

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

Total descent

Naturosa Catania Marathon
12 m
Mississippi River Marathon
57 m

Net elevation

Naturosa Catania Marathon
0 m
Mississippi River Marathon
2 m

Max absolute grade

Naturosa Catania Marathon
2.0%
Mississippi River Marathon
6.1%

Flat grade share

Naturosa Catania Marathon
100.0%
Mississippi River Marathon
97.5%

GAP factor

Naturosa Catania Marathon
0.0%
Mississippi River Marathon
0.1%

Cutoff

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

Entry model

Naturosa Catania Marathon
Open
Mississippi River Marathon
Open

Qualifying status

Naturosa Catania Marathon
Unavailable
Mississippi River 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, Naturosa Catania Marathon or Mississippi River Marathon?

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

Read the full pages

How figures are calculated →