raceindex.org
Explore
Explore RaceIndex

Find your race. Make your plan.

Find a race

Choose your distance and destination.

Compare courses

See what changes from race to race.

Enter and prepare

Turn your choice into a race plan.

Race weekend

Plan travel, support and the finish.

Your next goal

Find a race that fits your experience.

Find a race
Compare courses
Enter and prepare
Race weekend
Your next goal
My Season Save races, keep preparation tasks and plan what comes next.
About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon

Lowest GAP factor marathons

The lowest gap factor marathons, ranked from trusted raw-elevation route profiles across 124 qualifying races.

Ranking current as of

Which race ranks first — and why is it Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon?

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon leads this ranking on gap factor (-4.6%).

Compare Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon vs Montana Marathon (Billings)

#RaceGAP factorAscentClimb densityDescentNet elevationMax absolute gradeAs of
1Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon - colorado-4.6%256 m6.1 m/km735 m-479 m15.1%
2Montana Marathon (Billings) - montana-2.5%193 m4.6 m/km446 m-253 m15.6%
3Windermere Marathon (Spokane) - washington-0.5%226 m5.4 m/km304 m-78 m13.4%
4Reims Champagne Run Marathon - france-0.4%389 m9.3 m/km551 m-161 m17.4%
5Maratona do Funchal (Funchal Marathon) - portugal-0.4%134 m3.2 m/km181 m-46 m6.2%
6Generali Genève Marathon - switzerland-0.3%183 m4.3 m/km236 m-53 m9.0%
7Belfast City Marathon - northern-ireland-0.1%177 m4.2 m/km198 m-22 m5.4%
8Hoag OC Marathon Running Festival - california-0.1%182 m4.3 m/km214 m-32 m8.7%
9The Asheville Marathon & Half - north-carolina-0.0%312 m7.4 m/km374 m-61 m8.9%
10Naturosa Catania Marathon - italy0.0%12 m0.3 m/km12 m0 m2.0%
11The Woodlands Marathon - texas0.0%86 m2.0 m/km88 m-2 m3.6%
12Zürich Marathon - switzerland0.0%66 m1.6 m/km68 m-2 m5.9%
13Jersey City Marathon & Half Marathon - new-jersey0.1%68 m1.6 m/km69 m0 m4.9%
14Run Rome The Marathon - italy0.1%135 m3.2 m/km144 m-9 m9.9%
15Mississippi River Marathon - mississippi0.1%59 m1.4 m/km57 m2 m6.1%
16Padova Marathon - italy0.1%96 m2.3 m/km97 m-1 m7.2%
17Bath & Bristol Railway Races Marathon - south-west0.1%98 m2.3 m/km97 m1 m6.7%
18Novant Health Wilmington Marathon - north-carolina0.1%109 m2.6 m/km110 m-0 m6.8%
19NLB Ljubljana Marathon - slovenia0.1%112 m2.7 m/km113 m-1 m7.0%
20Allianz Richmond Marathon - virginia0.1%236 m5.6 m/km272 m-36 m16.1%
21Debrecen Maraton Marathon - hungary0.1%119 m2.8 m/km119 m0 m2.9%
22Poznań Maraton im. Macieja Frankiewicza Marathon - poland0.1%156 m3.7 m/km157 m-1 m3.9%
23Martian Invasion of Races Marathon - michigan0.1%124 m2.9 m/km124 m0 m6.6%
24MountainOne Steel Rail Races (Adams) Marathon - massachusetts0.2%128 m3.0 m/km128 m-0 m6.8%
25Toulouse Métropole Run Experience Marathon - france0.2%209 m5.0 m/km219 m-10 m8.5%
26Maratona di Pisa Marathon - italy0.2%105 m2.5 m/km101 m5 m5.3%
27Stockholm Marathon - sweden0.2%166 m3.9 m/km166 m-0 m5.2%
28Haspa Marathon Hamburg - germany0.2%155 m3.7 m/km155 m0 m5.5%
29Nagyerdei Terep Maraton (Debrecen) Marathon - hungary0.2%125 m2.9 m/km121 m3 m8.0%
30Sunrise Marathon | Halfmarathon Brno - czechia0.2%176 m4.2 m/km176 m-0 m6.4%
31Mercy Health Glass City Marathon - ohio0.2%177 m4.2 m/km176 m1 m6.7%
32Mein Freiburg Marathon - germany0.2%211 m5.0 m/km210 m1 m6.2%
33TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon - iowa0.2%180 m4.3 m/km185 m-5 m9.0%
34Wizz Air Milano Marathon - italy0.3%145 m3.4 m/km136 m9 m6.2%
35DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon - pennsylvania0.3%154 m3.6 m/km154 m0 m12.0%
36Vienna City Marathon - austria0.3%118 m2.8 m/km108 m11 m6.6%
37YMCA Harrisburg Marathon, Half, and Relay Presented by Enders Insurance - pennsylvania0.3%176 m4.2 m/km176 m-0 m11.8%
38Copenhagen Marathon - denmark0.3%220 m5.2 m/km219 m-0 m5.4%
39SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon - switzerland0.3%162 m3.8 m/km163 m-2 m7.8%
40Garmin New Forest Marathon - south-east0.3%246 m5.8 m/km247 m-1 m5.5%
41Idaho Falls Marathon - idaho0.3%69 m1.6 m/km52 m15 m10.9%
42Marathon Vert Rennes - france0.3%192 m4.6 m/km191 m1 m7.8%
43Paavo Nurmi Marathon - finland0.3%179 m4.2 m/km181 m-2 m10.9%
44The Great Bangor Marathon & Half (Bangor, Maine) - maine0.3%269 m6.4 m/km280 m-10 m9.9%
45Energa Gdańsk Maraton Marathon - poland0.3%227 m5.4 m/km228 m-1 m7.8%
46Zurich Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Madrid Marathon - spain0.3%335 m7.9 m/km362 m-26 m8.7%
47Omaha Marathon - nebraska0.3%215 m5.1 m/km216 m-1 m11.5%
48SPAR Budapest Marathon - hungary0.3%188 m4.5 m/km182 m5 m15.5%
49Chester Marathon - north-west0.3%220 m5.2 m/km217 m3 m7.8%
50Maine Coast Marathon - maine0.4%219 m5.2 m/km217 m1 m8.6%
51Thames Meander Marathon (London) - london0.4%274 m6.5 m/km274 m0 m6.1%
52Tupelo Marathon - mississippi0.4%243 m5.8 m/km242 m1 m7.1%
53Endurancelife Suffolk (Dunwich) Marathon - east-of-england0.4%219 m5.1 m/km218 m0 m7.7%
54Helsinki City Marathon - finland0.4%226 m5.4 m/km220 m6 m8.3%
55Termal Bologna Marathon - italy0.4%187 m4.4 m/km171 m16 m5.6%
56Trondheim Maraton Marathon - norway0.4%253 m6.0 m/km252 m1 m10.7%
57Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon - texas0.4%256 m6.1 m/km255 m1 m12.5%
58Regensburg Marathon - germany0.4%247 m5.9 m/km247 m-0 m9.3%
59Midnattssolmaraton (Midnight Sun Marathon), Tromsø - norway0.5%242 m5.7 m/km241 m2 m7.5%
60Trieste Spring Run Marathon - italy0.5%205 m4.9 m/km204 m0 m21.0%
61Amica Newport Marathon & Half Marathon - rhode-island0.5%270 m6.4 m/km271 m-0 m8.1%
62DNB Oslo Marathon - norway0.5%307 m7.3 m/km308 m-0 m6.7%
63The Original Las Vegas Marathon - nevada0.6%331 m7.8 m/km331 m0 m11.9%
64Milton Keynes Marathon - south-east0.6%318 m7.5 m/km320 m-2 m7.8%
65Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon - georgia0.6%333 m7.9 m/km337 m-4 m13.0%
66Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) - wisconsin0.6%243 m5.7 m/km236 m6 m12.1%
67Rimi Riga Marathon - latvia0.6%273 m6.5 m/km272 m1 m20.5%
68Sioux Falls Marathon - south-dakota0.6%305 m7.2 m/km307 m-2 m13.6%
69Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes - france0.6%308 m7.3 m/km310 m-2 m11.8%
70Southampton Marathon - south-east0.7%279 m6.6 m/km265 m14 m9.7%
71Montpellier Run Festival Marathon - france0.7%303 m7.2 m/km290 m12 m9.7%
72TUI Μαραθώνιος Ρόδου (TUI Rhodes Marathon) - greece0.7%296 m7.0 m/km294 m3 m10.1%
73FirstEnergy Akron Marathon - ohio0.7%350 m8.3 m/km355 m-6 m13.8%
74Cleveland Marathon - ohio0.8%232 m5.5 m/km233 m0 m31.4%
75Mississippi Blues Marathon - mississippi0.8%401 m9.5 m/km399 m2 m10.2%
76Maine Marathon (Portland) - maine0.9%357 m8.5 m/km358 m0 m15.5%
77Bay of Fundy International Marathon - maine0.9%456 m10.8 m/km484 m-27 m12.5%
78Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon - mississippi0.9%407 m9.7 m/km407 m0 m10.6%
79Bend Marathon and Half - oregon0.9%388 m9.2 m/km388 m0 m16.6%
80Maui Oceanfront Marathon - hawaii0.9%392 m9.3 m/km413 m-21 m17.4%
81Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) - finland1.1%392 m9.3 m/km391 m-0 m11.9%
826 sjöar (Uppsala) Marathon - sweden1.1%426 m10.1 m/km427 m-1 m22.4%
83The New Hampshire Marathon at Newfound Lake - new-hampshire1.1%412 m9.8 m/km408 m4 m12.0%
84Richmond Park Marathon (London) - london1.2%423 m10.0 m/km417 m6 m15.3%
85Marshall University Marathon - west-virginia1.2%330 m7.8 m/km332 m-2 m18.7%
86Connemara International Marathon (Connemarathon) - ireland1.3%451 m10.7 m/km443 m8 m19.5%
87Athens Marathon. The Authentic - greece1.3%333 m7.9 m/km274 m59 m7.6%
88Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon - ireland1.4%493 m11.7 m/km497 m-4 m13.0%
89Cedar Rapids Marathon - iowa1.4%454 m10.8 m/km455 m-1 m15.8%
90Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon & Half - washington1.5%783 m18.5 m/km1,051 m-268 m31.0%
91Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay - maine1.5%526 m12.5 m/km527 m-1 m18.7%
92Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon - east-of-england1.6%558 m13.2 m/km558 m-0 m9.8%
93Flying Pig Marathon - ohio1.6%424 m10.0 m/km427 m-4 m32.4%
94Run Woodstock Marathon - michigan1.7%547 m13.0 m/km546 m1 m13.5%
95The Hawk Hundred (Lawrence) Marathon - kansas1.9%495 m11.7 m/km487 m8 m14.3%
96The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon - hawaii1.9%607 m14.4 m/km612 m-5 m24.0%
97Two Tunnels Railway Races Marathon - south-west2.0%415 m9.8 m/km413 m2 m21.0%
98Columbia Gorge Marathon - oregon2.1%696 m16.5 m/km778 m-82 m25.5%
99Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon - oregon2.4%747 m17.7 m/km780 m-33 m19.7%
100Internationaler Schwarzwald-Marathon Bräunlingen - germany2.5%681 m16.1 m/km688 m-7 m27.8%
2
Montana Marathon (Billings)montana
GAP factor
-2.5%
Ascent
193 m
Climb density
4.6 m/km
Descent
446 m
Net elevation
-253 m
Max absolute grade
15.6%

As of

3
Windermere Marathon (Spokane)washington
GAP factor
-0.5%
Ascent
226 m
Climb density
5.4 m/km
Descent
304 m
Net elevation
-78 m
Max absolute grade
13.4%

As of

4
Reims Champagne Run Marathonfrance
GAP factor
-0.4%
Ascent
389 m
Climb density
9.3 m/km
Descent
551 m
Net elevation
-161 m
Max absolute grade
17.4%

As of

6
Generali Genève Marathonswitzerland
GAP factor
-0.3%
Ascent
183 m
Climb density
4.3 m/km
Descent
236 m
Net elevation
-53 m
Max absolute grade
9.0%

As of

7
Belfast City Marathonnorthern-ireland
GAP factor
-0.1%
Ascent
177 m
Climb density
4.2 m/km
Descent
198 m
Net elevation
-22 m
Max absolute grade
5.4%

As of

9
The Asheville Marathon & Halfnorth-carolina
GAP factor
-0.0%
Ascent
312 m
Climb density
7.4 m/km
Descent
374 m
Net elevation
-61 m
Max absolute grade
8.9%

As of

10
Naturosa Catania Marathonitaly
GAP factor
0.0%
Ascent
12 m
Climb density
0.3 m/km
Descent
12 m
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
2.0%

As of

11
The Woodlands Marathontexas
GAP factor
0.0%
Ascent
86 m
Climb density
2.0 m/km
Descent
88 m
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
3.6%

As of

12
Zürich Marathonswitzerland
GAP factor
0.0%
Ascent
66 m
Climb density
1.6 m/km
Descent
68 m
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
5.9%

As of

14
Run Rome The Marathonitaly
GAP factor
0.1%
Ascent
135 m
Climb density
3.2 m/km
Descent
144 m
Net elevation
-9 m
Max absolute grade
9.9%

As of

15
Mississippi River Marathonmississippi
GAP factor
0.1%
Ascent
59 m
Climb density
1.4 m/km
Descent
57 m
Net elevation
2 m
Max absolute grade
6.1%

As of

16
Padova Marathonitaly
GAP factor
0.1%
Ascent
96 m
Climb density
2.3 m/km
Descent
97 m
Net elevation
-1 m
Max absolute grade
7.2%

As of

19
NLB Ljubljana Marathonslovenia
GAP factor
0.1%
Ascent
112 m
Climb density
2.7 m/km
Descent
113 m
Net elevation
-1 m
Max absolute grade
7.0%

As of

20
Allianz Richmond Marathonvirginia
GAP factor
0.1%
Ascent
236 m
Climb density
5.6 m/km
Descent
272 m
Net elevation
-36 m
Max absolute grade
16.1%

As of

21
Debrecen Maraton Marathonhungary
GAP factor
0.1%
Ascent
119 m
Climb density
2.8 m/km
Descent
119 m
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
2.9%

As of

26
Maratona di Pisa Marathonitaly
GAP factor
0.2%
Ascent
105 m
Climb density
2.5 m/km
Descent
101 m
Net elevation
5 m
Max absolute grade
5.3%

As of

27
Stockholm Marathonsweden
GAP factor
0.2%
Ascent
166 m
Climb density
3.9 m/km
Descent
166 m
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
5.2%

As of

28
Haspa Marathon Hamburggermany
GAP factor
0.2%
Ascent
155 m
Climb density
3.7 m/km
Descent
155 m
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
5.5%

As of

32
Mein Freiburg Marathongermany
GAP factor
0.2%
Ascent
211 m
Climb density
5.0 m/km
Descent
210 m
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
6.2%

As of

33
TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathoniowa
GAP factor
0.2%
Ascent
180 m
Climb density
4.3 m/km
Descent
185 m
Net elevation
-5 m
Max absolute grade
9.0%

As of

34
Wizz Air Milano Marathonitaly
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
145 m
Climb density
3.4 m/km
Descent
136 m
Net elevation
9 m
Max absolute grade
6.2%

As of

36
Vienna City Marathonaustria
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
118 m
Climb density
2.8 m/km
Descent
108 m
Net elevation
11 m
Max absolute grade
6.6%

As of

38
Copenhagen Marathondenmark
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
220 m
Climb density
5.2 m/km
Descent
219 m
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
5.4%

As of

40
Garmin New Forest Marathonsouth-east
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
246 m
Climb density
5.8 m/km
Descent
247 m
Net elevation
-1 m
Max absolute grade
5.5%

As of

41
Idaho Falls Marathonidaho
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
69 m
Climb density
1.6 m/km
Descent
52 m
Net elevation
15 m
Max absolute grade
10.9%

As of

42
Marathon Vert Rennesfrance
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
192 m
Climb density
4.6 m/km
Descent
191 m
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
7.8%

As of

43
Paavo Nurmi Marathonfinland
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
179 m
Climb density
4.2 m/km
Descent
181 m
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
10.9%

As of

47
Omaha Marathonnebraska
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
215 m
Climb density
5.1 m/km
Descent
216 m
Net elevation
-1 m
Max absolute grade
11.5%

As of

48
SPAR Budapest Marathonhungary
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
188 m
Climb density
4.5 m/km
Descent
182 m
Net elevation
5 m
Max absolute grade
15.5%

As of

49
Chester Marathonnorth-west
GAP factor
0.3%
Ascent
220 m
Climb density
5.2 m/km
Descent
217 m
Net elevation
3 m
Max absolute grade
7.8%

As of

50
Maine Coast Marathonmaine
GAP factor
0.4%
Ascent
219 m
Climb density
5.2 m/km
Descent
217 m
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
8.6%

As of

52
Tupelo Marathonmississippi
GAP factor
0.4%
Ascent
243 m
Climb density
5.8 m/km
Descent
242 m
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
7.1%

As of

54
Helsinki City Marathonfinland
GAP factor
0.4%
Ascent
226 m
Climb density
5.4 m/km
Descent
220 m
Net elevation
6 m
Max absolute grade
8.3%

As of

55
Termal Bologna Marathonitaly
GAP factor
0.4%
Ascent
187 m
Climb density
4.4 m/km
Descent
171 m
Net elevation
16 m
Max absolute grade
5.6%

As of

56
Trondheim Maraton Marathonnorway
GAP factor
0.4%
Ascent
253 m
Climb density
6.0 m/km
Descent
252 m
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
10.7%

As of

58
Regensburg Marathongermany
GAP factor
0.4%
Ascent
247 m
Climb density
5.9 m/km
Descent
247 m
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
9.3%

As of

60
Trieste Spring Run Marathonitaly
GAP factor
0.5%
Ascent
205 m
Climb density
4.9 m/km
Descent
204 m
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
21.0%

As of

62
DNB Oslo Marathonnorway
GAP factor
0.5%
Ascent
307 m
Climb density
7.3 m/km
Descent
308 m
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
6.7%

As of

64
Milton Keynes Marathonsouth-east
GAP factor
0.6%
Ascent
318 m
Climb density
7.5 m/km
Descent
320 m
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
7.8%

As of

67
Rimi Riga Marathonlatvia
GAP factor
0.6%
Ascent
273 m
Climb density
6.5 m/km
Descent
272 m
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
20.5%

As of

68
Sioux Falls Marathonsouth-dakota
GAP factor
0.6%
Ascent
305 m
Climb density
7.2 m/km
Descent
307 m
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
13.6%

As of

70
Southampton Marathonsouth-east
GAP factor
0.7%
Ascent
279 m
Climb density
6.6 m/km
Descent
265 m
Net elevation
14 m
Max absolute grade
9.7%

As of

73
FirstEnergy Akron Marathonohio
GAP factor
0.7%
Ascent
350 m
Climb density
8.3 m/km
Descent
355 m
Net elevation
-6 m
Max absolute grade
13.8%

As of

74
Cleveland Marathonohio
GAP factor
0.8%
Ascent
232 m
Climb density
5.5 m/km
Descent
233 m
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
31.4%

As of

75
Mississippi Blues Marathonmississippi
GAP factor
0.8%
Ascent
401 m
Climb density
9.5 m/km
Descent
399 m
Net elevation
2 m
Max absolute grade
10.2%

As of

76
Maine Marathon (Portland)maine
GAP factor
0.9%
Ascent
357 m
Climb density
8.5 m/km
Descent
358 m
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
15.5%

As of

79
Bend Marathon and Halforegon
GAP factor
0.9%
Ascent
388 m
Climb density
9.2 m/km
Descent
388 m
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
16.6%

As of

80
Maui Oceanfront Marathonhawaii
GAP factor
0.9%
Ascent
392 m
Climb density
9.3 m/km
Descent
413 m
Net elevation
-21 m
Max absolute grade
17.4%

As of

81
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)finland
GAP factor
1.1%
Ascent
392 m
Climb density
9.3 m/km
Descent
391 m
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
11.9%

As of

82
6 sjöar (Uppsala) Marathonsweden
GAP factor
1.1%
Ascent
426 m
Climb density
10.1 m/km
Descent
427 m
Net elevation
-1 m
Max absolute grade
22.4%

As of

85
Marshall University Marathonwest-virginia
GAP factor
1.2%
Ascent
330 m
Climb density
7.8 m/km
Descent
332 m
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
18.7%

As of

87
Athens Marathon. The Authenticgreece
GAP factor
1.3%
Ascent
333 m
Climb density
7.9 m/km
Descent
274 m
Net elevation
59 m
Max absolute grade
7.6%

As of

88
Clonakilty Waterfront Marathonireland
GAP factor
1.4%
Ascent
493 m
Climb density
11.7 m/km
Descent
497 m
Net elevation
-4 m
Max absolute grade
13.0%

As of

89
Cedar Rapids Marathoniowa
GAP factor
1.4%
Ascent
454 m
Climb density
10.8 m/km
Descent
455 m
Net elevation
-1 m
Max absolute grade
15.8%

As of

93
Flying Pig Marathonohio
GAP factor
1.6%
Ascent
424 m
Climb density
10.0 m/km
Descent
427 m
Net elevation
-4 m
Max absolute grade
32.4%

As of

94
Run Woodstock Marathonmichigan
GAP factor
1.7%
Ascent
547 m
Climb density
13.0 m/km
Descent
546 m
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
13.5%

As of

98
Columbia Gorge Marathonoregon
GAP factor
2.1%
Ascent
696 m
Climb density
16.5 m/km
Descent
778 m
Net elevation
-82 m
Max absolute grade
25.5%

As of

Showing the top 100 of 124 qualifying races; use the distance catalogue for the full searchable list. Scores are out of 100 when present; route, elevation and cost figures are shown in their natural units.

How we ranked these

Races are ranked by GAP factor. Score metrics use methodology scoring-methodology-v1.0. Elevation rankings use only trusted raw-elevation course profiles. A ranking is only published when at least five races qualify, so the table is never padded with thin data.

See exactly how each figure is calculated →

Route maps for this ranking

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (126)

Read the full methodology →

Common questions

What is the lowest gap factor marathons?

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon ranks first by gap factor, from 124 qualifying races compared under our published methodology.