Flat grade share
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 98.1% Favoured
The Woodlands Marathon vs Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofThe Woodlands Marathon or Novant Health Wilmington Marathon — which comes out ahead?
The Woodlands Marathon and Novant Health Wilmington Marathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
The Woodlands Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.0% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 98.1% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 86 m
- climbing density
- 2.0 m/km
- net elevation
- -2 m
- maximum grade
- 3.6%
Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.1%
- flat grade share
- 94.8%
- lower ascent
- 109 m
- climbing density
- 2.6 m/km
- net elevation
- -0 m
- maximum grade
- 6.8%
| Metric | The Woodlands Marathon | Novant Health Wilmington Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 98.1% ✓ | 94.8% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.0% ✓ | 0.1% |
| Uphill share | 1.1% | 2.7% |
| Steep-up share | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Downhill share | 0.8% | 2.4% |
| Total ascent (m) | 86 m | 109 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 2.0 m/km | 2.6 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,500 m | 410 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 15 m | 9 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.0% | 2.1% |
| Total descent (m) | 88 m | 110 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -2 m | -0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 3.6% | 6.8% |
| Start elevation (m) | 44 m | 2 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 41 m | 2 m |
| Scenic score | 83/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 67/100 | 83/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 0.0% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 2.0 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 1,500 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
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 83/100
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 67/100
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 83/100 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 Woodlands Marathon | Novant Health Wilmington Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-27 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-27 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | The Woodlands, Texas | Wilmington, 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 | Loop | Point To Point |
| Surface | Unavailable | Road |
| Elevation character | Flat | Pancake Flat |
| Terrain | Road | Road, Beach |
| Scenery | City, Forest, Parkland, Waterfront, Lakeside | Coastal, Lakeside, Countryside, Riverside, Waterfront, City, Historic |
| Atmosphere | Community, Festival, Destination | Community, Competitive, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 86 m | 109 m |
| Climbing density | 2.0 m/km | 2.6 m/km |
| Total descent | 88 m | 110 m |
| Net elevation | -2 m | -0 m |
| Max absolute grade | 3.6% | 6.8% |
| Flat grade share | 98.1% | 94.8% |
| GAP factor | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Cutoff | 6:40:00 | 6:30:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- The Woodlands Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-27 (legacy event-level date).
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-02-27 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- The Woodlands Marathon
- The Woodlands, Texas
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Wilmington, North Carolina
Actual distance
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Held
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Held
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Held
Course type
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Loop
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Unavailable
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Road
Elevation character
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Flat
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Pancake Flat
Terrain
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Road
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Road, Beach
Scenery
- The Woodlands Marathon
- City, Forest, Parkland, Waterfront, Lakeside
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Coastal, Lakeside, Countryside, Riverside, Waterfront, City, Historic
Atmosphere
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Community, Festival, Destination
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Community, Competitive, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Non Technical
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 86 m
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 109 m
Climbing density
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 2.0 m/km
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 2.6 m/km
Total descent
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 88 m
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 110 m
Net elevation
- The Woodlands Marathon
- -2 m
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- -0 m
Max absolute grade
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 3.6%
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 6.8%
Flat grade share
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 98.1%
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 94.8%
GAP factor
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 0.0%
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 0.1%
Cutoff
- The Woodlands Marathon
- 6:40:00
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- 6:30:00
Entry model
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Open
- Novant Health Wilmington Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- The Woodlands Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- Novant Health Wilmington 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, The Woodlands Marathon or Novant Health Wilmington Marathon?
The Woodlands Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.