Flat grade share
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 85.6%
The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland) vs Cleveland Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofThe Towpath Marathon (Cleveland) or Cleveland Marathon — which comes out ahead?
The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland) and Cleveland Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Not held
- course flatness
- Unavailable
- flat grade share
- Unavailable
- lower ascent
- Unavailable
- climbing density
- Unavailable
- net elevation
- Unavailable
- maximum grade
- Unavailable
Cleveland Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held Favoured
- course flatness
- 0.8%
- flat grade share
- 85.6%
- lower ascent
- 232 m
- climbing density
- 5.5 m/km
- net elevation
- 0 m
- maximum grade
- 31.4%
| Metric | The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland) | Cleveland Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | Unavailable | 85.6% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | Unavailable | 0.8% |
| Uphill share | Unavailable | 8.0% |
| Steep-up share | Unavailable | 1.5% |
| Downhill share | Unavailable | 6.4% |
| Total ascent (m) | Unavailable | 232 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | Unavailable | 5.5 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | Unavailable | 940 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | Unavailable | 28 m |
| Longest climb average grade | Unavailable | 2.9% |
| Total descent (m) | Unavailable | 233 m |
| Net elevation (m) | Unavailable | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | Unavailable | 31.4% |
| Start elevation (m) | Unavailable | 198 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | Unavailable | 198 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 77/100 |
| Conditions | 64/100 | 69/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Uphill share
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Steep-up share
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Downhill share
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Total ascent (m)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 232 m
Climbing density (m/km)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 5.5 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 940 m
Longest climb gain (m)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Longest climb average grade
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Total descent (m)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 233 m
Net elevation (m)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
Max absolute grade
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 31.4%
Start elevation (m)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 198 m
Finish elevation (m)
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 198 m
Scenic score
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 100/100 Favoured
- Cleveland Marathon
- 77/100
Conditions
- Cleveland Marathon
- 69/100 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 | The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland) | Cleveland Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-03 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-16 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Not held | Held |
| Course type | Out And Back | Loop |
| Surface | Paved trail surface throughout, except the section within Cuyahoga Valley National Park (full marathon only), which is crushed limestone. | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Flat | Flat |
| Terrain | Trail, Towpath, Mixed | Road |
| Scenery | Riverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Waterfront, Forest | City, Waterfront, Lakeside, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour, Charity | Big City, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 181 m | 232 m |
| Climbing density | Unavailable | 5.5 m/km |
| Total descent | 181 m | 233 m |
| Net elevation | 0 m | 0 m |
| Max absolute grade | Unavailable | 31.4% |
| Flat grade share | Unavailable | 85.6% |
| GAP factor | Unavailable | 0.8% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | 7:00:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-03 (legacy event-level date).
- Cleveland Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-16 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Cleveland Marathon
- Cleveland, Ohio
Actual distance
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 42.2 km
- Cleveland Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Held
- Cleveland Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Not held
- Cleveland Marathon
- Held
Course type
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Out And Back
- Cleveland Marathon
- Loop
Surface
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Paved trail surface throughout, except the section within Cuyahoga Valley National Park (full marathon only), which is crushed limestone.
- Cleveland Marathon
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Flat
- Cleveland Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Trail, Towpath, Mixed
- Cleveland Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Riverside, City, Historic, Parkland, Waterfront, Forest
- Cleveland Marathon
- City, Waterfront, Lakeside, Riverside
Atmosphere
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Scenic Tour, Charity
- Cleveland Marathon
- Big City, Community
Technicality
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Non Technical
- Cleveland Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 181 m
- Cleveland Marathon
- 232 m
Climbing density
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 5.5 m/km
Total descent
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 181 m
- Cleveland Marathon
- 233 m
Net elevation
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 0 m
- Cleveland Marathon
- 0 m
Max absolute grade
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 31.4%
Flat grade share
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 85.6%
GAP factor
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Unavailable
- Cleveland Marathon
- 0.8%
Cutoff
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- 6:30:00
- Cleveland Marathon
- 7:00:00
Entry model
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Open
- Cleveland Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- The Towpath Marathon (Cleveland)
- Boston_equivalent
- Cleveland 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.