Flat grade share
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 94.8% Favoured
Novant Health Wilmington Marathon vs The Asheville Marathon & Half
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofNovant Health Wilmington Marathon or The Asheville Marathon & Half — which comes out ahead?
Novant Health Wilmington Marathon and The Asheville Marathon & Half split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.1%
- flat grade share
- 94.8% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 109 m
- climbing density
- 2.6 m/km
- net elevation
- -0 m
- maximum grade
- 6.8%
The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- -0.0% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 67.6%
- lower ascent
- 312 m
- climbing density
- 7.4 m/km
- net elevation
- -61 m
- maximum grade
- 8.9%
| Metric | Novant Health Wilmington Marathon | The Asheville Marathon & Half |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 94.8% ✓ | 67.6% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.1% | -0.0% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 2.7% | 14.4% |
| Steep-up share | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Downhill share | 2.4% | 18.0% |
| Total ascent (m) | 109 m | 312 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 2.6 m/km | 7.4 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 410 m | 1,010 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 9 m | 42 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.1% | 4.1% |
| Total descent (m) | 110 m | 374 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -0 m | -61 m |
| Max absolute grade | 6.8% | 8.9% |
| Start elevation (m) | 2 m | 672 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 2 m | 611 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 95/100 |
| Conditions | 83/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- -0.0% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 7.4 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
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 87/100 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 | Novant Health Wilmington Marathon | The Asheville Marathon & Half |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-27 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-20 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Wilmington, North Carolina | Asheville, North Carolina |
| 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 | Point To Point |
| Surface | Road | Road |
| Elevation character | Pancake Flat | Net Downhill |
| Terrain | Road, Beach | Road |
| Scenery | Coastal, Lakeside, Countryside, Riverside, Waterfront, City, Historic | City, Mountain, Riverside, Historic, Parkland |
| Atmosphere | Community, Competitive, Scenic Tour | Destination, Festival, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 109 m | 312 m |
| Climbing density | 2.6 m/km | 7.4 m/km |
| Total descent | 110 m | 374 m |
| Net elevation | -0 m | -61 m |
| Max absolute grade | 6.8% | 8.9% |
| Flat grade share | 94.8% | 67.6% |
| GAP factor | 0.1% | -0.0% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 6:30:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-27 (legacy event-level date).
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-20 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Wilmington, North Carolina
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Asheville, North Carolina
Actual distance
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 42.2 km
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Held
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Held
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Held
Course type
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Point To Point
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Point To Point
Surface
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Road
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Road
Elevation character
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Pancake Flat
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Net Downhill
Terrain
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Road, Beach
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Road
Scenery
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Coastal, Lakeside, Countryside, Riverside, Waterfront, City, Historic
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- City, Mountain, Riverside, Historic, Parkland
Atmosphere
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Community, Competitive, Scenic Tour
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Destination, Festival, Community
Technicality
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Non Technical
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 109 m
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 312 m
Climbing density
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 2.6 m/km
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 7.4 m/km
Total descent
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 110 m
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 374 m
Net elevation
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- -0 m
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- -61 m
Max absolute grade
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 6.8%
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 8.9%
Flat grade share
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 94.8%
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 67.6%
GAP factor
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 0.1%
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- -0.0%
Cutoff
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 6:30:00
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 6:30:00
Entry model
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Open
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- Open
Qualifying status
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- The Asheville Marathon & Half
- 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, Novant Health Wilmington Marathon or The Asheville Marathon & Half?
The Asheville Marathon & Half has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.