Flat grade share
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 60.6% Favoured
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon vs Catalina Island Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofRun the Rainbow for Children's Marathon or Catalina Island Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon and Catalina Island Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.9% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 60.6% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 407 m
- climbing density
- 9.7 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 10.6%
Catalina Island Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 11.8%
- flat grade share
- 19.7%
- lower ascent
- 1,530 m
- climbing density
- 36.3 m/km
- net elevation
- 4 m
- maximum grade
- 44.6%
| Metric | Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon | Catalina Island Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 60.6% ✓ | 19.7% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.9% ✓ | 11.8% |
| Uphill share | 19.7% | 41.5% |
| Steep-up share | 1.2% | 25.8% |
| Downhill share | 19.7% | 38.8% |
| Total ascent (m) | 407 m | 1,530 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 9.7 m/km | 36.3 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 730 m | 810 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 24 m | 83 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 3.3% | 10.2% |
| Total descent (m) | 407 m | 1,526 m |
| Net elevation (m) | 0 m | 4 m |
| Max absolute grade | 10.6% | 44.6% |
| Start elevation (m) | 89 m | 6 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 89 m | 10 m |
| Scenic score | 69/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 68/100 | 75/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 0.9% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 1,530 m
Climbing density (m/km)
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 36.3 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 1,526 m
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Scenic score
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 75/100 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 | Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon | Catalina Island Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-03-21 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-13 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Jackson, Mississippi | Avalon, California |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Unavailable | Point To Point |
| Surface | Paved city streets through downtown Jackson and surrounding neighborhoods. | Trail |
| Elevation character | Rolling | Hilly |
| Terrain | Road, Beach | Trail, Road, Gravel |
| Scenery | City, Waterfront, Historic, Desert | Coastal, Island, Waterfront, Mountain, Countryside |
| Atmosphere | Charity, Community | Wilderness, Destination, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 407 m | 1,530 m |
| Climbing density | 9.7 m/km | 36.3 m/km |
| Total descent | 407 m | 1,526 m |
| Net elevation | 0 m | 4 m |
| Max absolute grade | 10.6% | 44.6% |
| Flat grade share | 60.6% | 19.7% |
| GAP factor | 0.9% | 11.8% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 8:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-03-21 (legacy event-level date).
- Catalina Island Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-13 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Avalon, California
Actual distance
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Held
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Held
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Unavailable
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Paved city streets through downtown Jackson and surrounding neighborhoods.
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Trail
Elevation character
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Rolling
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Hilly
Terrain
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Road, Beach
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Trail, Road, Gravel
Scenery
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- City, Waterfront, Historic, Desert
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Coastal, Island, Waterfront, Mountain, Countryside
Atmosphere
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Charity, Community
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Wilderness, Destination, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Non Technical
- Catalina Island Marathon
- Moderate
Total ascent
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 407 m
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 1,530 m
Climbing density
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 9.7 m/km
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 36.3 m/km
Total descent
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 407 m
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 1,526 m
Net elevation
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 0 m
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 4 m
Max absolute grade
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 10.6%
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 44.6%
Flat grade share
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 60.6%
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 19.7%
GAP factor
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- 0.9%
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 11.8%
Cutoff
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Unavailable
- Catalina Island Marathon
- 8:00:00
Entry model
- Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon
- Open
- Catalina Island 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, Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon or Catalina Island Marathon?
Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.