Flat grade share
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 86.9% Favoured
Paavo Nurmi Marathon vs Helsinki City Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofPaavo Nurmi Marathon or Helsinki City Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Paavo Nurmi Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.
Route comparison snapshot
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.3% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 86.9% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 179 m
- climbing density
- 4.2 m/km
- net elevation
- -2 m
- maximum grade
- 10.9%
Helsinki City Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.4%
- flat grade share
- 82.4%
- lower ascent
- 226 m
- climbing density
- 5.4 m/km
- net elevation
- 6 m
- maximum grade
- 8.3%
| Metric | Paavo Nurmi Marathon | Helsinki City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 86.9% ✓ | 82.4% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.3% ✓ | 0.4% |
| Uphill share | 6.3% | 8.7% |
| Steep-up share | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Downhill share | 6.8% | 9.0% |
| Total ascent (m) | 179 m | 226 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 4.2 m/km | 5.4 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 310 m | 1,580 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 11 m | 19 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 3.7% | 1.2% |
| Total descent (m) | 181 m | 220 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -2 m | 6 m |
| Max absolute grade | 10.9% | 8.3% |
| Start elevation (m) | 10 m | 4 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 8 m | 9 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Conditions | 64/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 0.3% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 179 m
Climbing density (m/km)
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 5.4 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 310 m
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 1,580 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 181 m
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 10.9%
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Scenic score
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 100/100
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 100/100
Conditions
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 64/100
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 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 | Paavo Nurmi Marathon | Helsinki City Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-14 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-07 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Turku, Finland | Helsinki, Finland |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Laps | Loop |
| Surface | Road / paved streets and park roads | Road |
| Elevation character | Flat | Flat |
| Terrain | Road | Road, Trail |
| Scenery | Riverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Island, Coastal, Waterfront, Forest | City, Historic, Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Island |
| Atmosphere | Community, Festival, Scenic Tour | Big City, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 179 m | 226 m |
| Climbing density | 4.2 m/km | 5.4 m/km |
| Total descent | 181 m | 220 m |
| Net elevation | -2 m | 6 m |
| Max absolute grade | 10.9% | 8.3% |
| Flat grade share | 86.9% | 82.4% |
| GAP factor | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Cutoff | 6:00:00 | 6:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-14 (legacy event-level date).
- Helsinki City Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-07 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Turku, Finland
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Helsinki, Finland
Actual distance
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Held
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Held
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Laps
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Loop
Surface
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Road / paved streets and park roads
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Road
Elevation character
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Flat
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Road
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Road, Trail
Scenery
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Riverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Island, Coastal, Waterfront, Forest
- Helsinki City Marathon
- City, Historic, Coastal, Waterfront, Parkland, Island
Atmosphere
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Community, Festival, Scenic Tour
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Big City, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Non Technical
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 179 m
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 226 m
Climbing density
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 4.2 m/km
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 5.4 m/km
Total descent
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 181 m
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 220 m
Net elevation
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- -2 m
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 6 m
Max absolute grade
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 10.9%
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 8.3%
Flat grade share
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 86.9%
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 82.4%
GAP factor
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 0.3%
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 0.4%
Cutoff
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- 6:00:00
- Helsinki City Marathon
- 6:00:00
Entry model
- Paavo Nurmi Marathon
- Open
- Helsinki City Marathon
- Open
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, Paavo Nurmi Marathon or Helsinki City Marathon?
Paavo Nurmi Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.