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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon

Most descent marathons

The most descent marathons, ranked from trusted raw-elevation route profiles across 138 qualifying races.

Ranking current as of

Which race ranks first — and why is it Olympus Marathon (Litochoro)?

Olympus Marathon (Litochoro) leads this ranking on total descent (3,192 m).

Compare Olympus Marathon (Litochoro) vs Podbrdo Trail Running Festival

#RaceTotal descentAscentClimb densityNet elevationMax absolute gradeAs of
1Olympus Marathon (Litochoro) - greece3,192 m3,465 m78.7 m/km273 m84.1%
2Podbrdo Trail Running Festival Marathon - slovenia3,104 m3,081 m75.9 m/km-24 m55.7%
3Garda Trentino Trail Marathon - italy3,063 m2,497 m56.8 m/km-565 m49.1%
4adidas Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival Marathon - austria2,738 m2,366 m54.5 m/km-371 m59.1%
5Zegama-Aizkorri Mendi Maratoia Marathon - spain2,591 m2,591 m61.4 m/km-0 m62.0%
6Ultra Trail Učka Marathon - croatia2,227 m2,224 m53.0 m/km-3 m52.8%
7Sljemenski Maraton (Zagreb) Marathon - croatia2,188 m2,187 m52.1 m/km-1 m54.7%
8Mohawk Mountain Race (Cornwall) Marathon - connecticut1,990 m1,991 m47.2 m/km1 m37.1%
9MIUT - Madeira Island Ultra-Trail Marathon - portugal1,984 m1,392 m34.8 m/km-592 m64.2%
10Var Verdon Trail Canyon Marathon - france1,807 m1,807 m45.2 m/km-0 m41.7%
11Tatra SkyMarathon (Zakopane) Marathon - poland1,675 m2,011 m50.3 m/km336 m41.9%
12Endurancelife Peak District (Castleton) Marathon - east-midlands1,665 m1,665 m39.5 m/km-0 m42.6%
13Salomon Ultra-Trail Hungary Marathon - hungary1,633 m1,303 m31.0 m/km-330 m60.3%
14Catalina Island Marathon - california1,526 m1,530 m36.3 m/km4 m44.6%
15Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon - virginia1,523 m1,523 m36.1 m/km0 m92.0%
16Davos X-Trails Marathon - switzerland1,513 m1,513 m35.2 m/km0 m37.7%
17Unicaja Ultra Sierra Nevada Marathon - spain1,406 m2,694 m64.6 m/km1,288 m49.7%
18Moab Trail Marathon - utah1,405 m1,404 m33.3 m/km-2 m53.1%
19Plitvički maraton (Plitvice Marathon) - croatia1,314 m1,313 m31.1 m/km-1 m38.9%
20Beachy Head Marathon - south-east1,143 m1,144 m27.1 m/km1 m31.2%
21Tollymore Extreme (Tollymore Trail Marathon), Newcastle - northern-ireland1,092 m1,084 m25.7 m/km-7 m28.1%
22Girdwood Marathon - alaska1,073 m1,076 m25.5 m/km4 m34.7%
23Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon & Half - washington1,051 m783 m18.5 m/km-268 m31.0%
24Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series - North York Moors (Ravenscar) Marathon - yorkshire1,032 m1,032 m24.2 m/km0 m40.6%
25Endurancelife Pembrokeshire Marathon - wales1,015 m1,015 m23.1 m/km-0 m28.8%
26Tecumseh Trail Marathon (Tecumseh Trail Challenge), Nashville Indiana - indiana998 m998 m23.7 m/km1 m24.5%
27Mohican Trail 100 Mile Run Marathon - ohio980 m993 m23.5 m/km13 m33.1%
28Three Forts Challenge Marathon - south-east922 m922 m21.1 m/km-0 m13.5%
29Trondheim Skogsmaraton Marathon - norway907 m907 m21.5 m/km0 m17.0%
30Lakeland Trails Coniston Marathon, Half, Mini-10k & 5k - north-west899 m900 m21.3 m/km0 m21.8%
31Stavanger Marathon - norway887 m862 m20.4 m/km-25 m87.3%
32NipMuck Trail Marathon - connecticut863 m878 m20.7 m/km15 m29.4%
33Balaton Szupermaraton (Siófok) Marathon - hungary823 m803 m19.0 m/km-20 m24.3%
34Snowdonia Marathon - wales801 m786 m18.6 m/km-15 m25.2%
35Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon - oregon780 m747 m17.7 m/km-33 m19.7%
36Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon - norway779 m781 m18.5 m/km1 m24.1%
37Columbia Gorge Marathon - oregon778 m696 m16.5 m/km-82 m25.5%
38Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon - colorado735 m256 m6.1 m/km-479 m15.1%
39Lake Tahoe Marathon - nevada733 m737 m17.5 m/km4 m46.1%
40Portland Coastal Marathon - south-west715 m715 m16.9 m/km-0 m33.0%
41Internationaler Schwarzwald-Marathon Bräunlingen - germany688 m681 m16.1 m/km-7 m27.8%
42The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon - hawaii612 m607 m14.4 m/km-5 m24.0%
43Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon - east-of-england558 m558 m13.2 m/km-0 m9.8%
44Reims Champagne Run Marathon - france551 m389 m9.3 m/km-161 m17.4%
45Run Woodstock Marathon - michigan546 m547 m13.0 m/km1 m13.5%
46Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay - maine527 m526 m12.5 m/km-1 m18.7%
47Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon - ireland497 m493 m11.7 m/km-4 m13.0%
48The Hawk Hundred (Lawrence) Marathon - kansas487 m495 m11.7 m/km8 m14.3%
49Bay of Fundy International Marathon - maine484 m456 m10.8 m/km-27 m12.5%
50Cedar Rapids Marathon - iowa455 m454 m10.8 m/km-1 m15.8%
51Montana Marathon (Billings) - montana446 m193 m4.6 m/km-253 m15.6%
52Connemara International Marathon (Connemarathon) - ireland443 m451 m10.7 m/km8 m19.5%
53Flying Pig Marathon - ohio427 m424 m10.0 m/km-4 m32.4%
546 sjöar (Uppsala) Marathon - sweden427 m426 m10.1 m/km-1 m22.4%
55Richmond Park Marathon (London) - london417 m423 m10.0 m/km6 m15.3%
56Maui Oceanfront Marathon - hawaii413 m392 m9.3 m/km-21 m17.4%
57Two Tunnels Railway Races Marathon - south-west413 m415 m9.8 m/km2 m21.0%
58The New Hampshire Marathon at Newfound Lake - new-hampshire408 m412 m9.8 m/km4 m12.0%
59Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon - mississippi407 m407 m9.7 m/km0 m10.6%
60Gornergrat Zermatt Marathon - switzerland404 m1,876 m44.5 m/km1,473 m26.2%
61Mississippi Blues Marathon - mississippi399 m401 m9.5 m/km2 m10.2%
62Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) - finland391 m392 m9.3 m/km-0 m11.9%
63Bend Marathon and Half - oregon388 m388 m9.2 m/km0 m16.6%
64The Asheville Marathon & Half - north-carolina374 m312 m7.4 m/km-61 m8.9%
65Zurich Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Madrid Marathon - spain362 m335 m7.9 m/km-26 m8.7%
66Maine Marathon (Portland) - maine358 m357 m8.5 m/km0 m15.5%
67FirstEnergy Akron Marathon - ohio355 m350 m8.3 m/km-6 m13.8%
68Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon - georgia337 m333 m7.9 m/km-4 m13.0%
69Marshall University Marathon - west-virginia332 m330 m7.8 m/km-2 m18.7%
70The Original Las Vegas Marathon - nevada331 m331 m7.8 m/km0 m11.9%
71Milton Keynes Marathon - south-east320 m318 m7.5 m/km-2 m7.8%
72Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes - france310 m308 m7.3 m/km-2 m11.8%
73DNB Oslo Marathon - norway308 m307 m7.3 m/km-0 m6.7%
74Sioux Falls Marathon - south-dakota307 m305 m7.2 m/km-2 m13.6%
75Windermere Marathon (Spokane) - washington304 m226 m5.4 m/km-78 m13.4%
76TUI Μαραθώνιος Ρόδου (TUI Rhodes Marathon) - greece294 m296 m7.0 m/km3 m10.1%
77Montpellier Run Festival Marathon - france290 m303 m7.2 m/km12 m9.7%
78The Great Bangor Marathon & Half (Bangor, Maine) - maine280 m269 m6.4 m/km-10 m9.9%
79Thames Meander Marathon (London) - london274 m274 m6.5 m/km0 m6.1%
80Athens Marathon. The Authentic - greece274 m333 m7.9 m/km59 m7.6%
81Rimi Riga Marathon - latvia272 m273 m6.5 m/km1 m20.5%
82Allianz Richmond Marathon - virginia272 m236 m5.6 m/km-36 m16.1%
83Amica Newport Marathon & Half Marathon - rhode-island271 m270 m6.4 m/km-0 m8.1%
84Southampton Marathon - south-east265 m279 m6.6 m/km14 m9.7%
85Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon - texas255 m256 m6.1 m/km1 m12.5%
86Trondheim Maraton Marathon - norway252 m253 m6.0 m/km1 m10.7%
87Regensburg Marathon - germany247 m247 m5.9 m/km-0 m9.3%
88Garmin New Forest Marathon - south-east247 m246 m5.8 m/km-1 m5.5%
89Tupelo Marathon - mississippi242 m243 m5.8 m/km1 m7.1%
90Midnattssolmaraton (Midnight Sun Marathon), Tromsø - norway241 m242 m5.7 m/km2 m7.5%
91Generali Genève Marathon - switzerland236 m183 m4.3 m/km-53 m9.0%
92Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) - wisconsin236 m243 m5.7 m/km6 m12.1%
93Cleveland Marathon - ohio233 m232 m5.5 m/km0 m31.4%
94Energa Gdańsk Maraton Marathon - poland228 m227 m5.4 m/km-1 m7.8%
95Helsinki City Marathon - finland220 m226 m5.4 m/km6 m8.3%
96Copenhagen Marathon - denmark219 m220 m5.2 m/km-0 m5.4%
97Toulouse Métropole Run Experience Marathon - france219 m209 m5.0 m/km-10 m8.5%
98Endurancelife Suffolk (Dunwich) Marathon - east-of-england218 m219 m5.1 m/km0 m7.7%
99Chester Marathon - north-west217 m220 m5.2 m/km3 m7.8%
100Maine Coast Marathon - maine217 m219 m5.2 m/km1 m8.6%
1
Olympus Marathon (Litochoro)greece
Total descent
3,192 m
Ascent
3,465 m
Climb density
78.7 m/km
Net elevation
273 m
Max absolute grade
84.1%

As of

3
Garda Trentino Trail Marathonitaly
Total descent
3,063 m
Ascent
2,497 m
Climb density
56.8 m/km
Net elevation
-565 m
Max absolute grade
49.1%

As of

6
Ultra Trail Učka Marathoncroatia
Total descent
2,227 m
Ascent
2,224 m
Climb density
53.0 m/km
Net elevation
-3 m
Max absolute grade
52.8%

As of

14
Catalina Island Marathoncalifornia
Total descent
1,526 m
Ascent
1,530 m
Climb density
36.3 m/km
Net elevation
4 m
Max absolute grade
44.6%

As of

16
Davos X-Trails Marathonswitzerland
Total descent
1,513 m
Ascent
1,513 m
Climb density
35.2 m/km
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
37.7%

As of

18
Moab Trail Marathonutah
Total descent
1,405 m
Ascent
1,404 m
Climb density
33.3 m/km
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
53.1%

As of

20
Beachy Head Marathonsouth-east
Total descent
1,143 m
Ascent
1,144 m
Climb density
27.1 m/km
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
31.2%

As of

22
Girdwood Marathonalaska
Total descent
1,073 m
Ascent
1,076 m
Climb density
25.5 m/km
Net elevation
4 m
Max absolute grade
34.7%

As of

31
Stavanger Marathonnorway
Total descent
887 m
Ascent
862 m
Climb density
20.4 m/km
Net elevation
-25 m
Max absolute grade
87.3%

As of

32
NipMuck Trail Marathonconnecticut
Total descent
863 m
Ascent
878 m
Climb density
20.7 m/km
Net elevation
15 m
Max absolute grade
29.4%

As of

34
Snowdonia Marathonwales
Total descent
801 m
Ascent
786 m
Climb density
18.6 m/km
Net elevation
-15 m
Max absolute grade
25.2%

As of

37
Columbia Gorge Marathonoregon
Total descent
778 m
Ascent
696 m
Climb density
16.5 m/km
Net elevation
-82 m
Max absolute grade
25.5%

As of

39
Lake Tahoe Marathonnevada
Total descent
733 m
Ascent
737 m
Climb density
17.5 m/km
Net elevation
4 m
Max absolute grade
46.1%

As of

40
Portland Coastal Marathonsouth-west
Total descent
715 m
Ascent
715 m
Climb density
16.9 m/km
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
33.0%

As of

44
Reims Champagne Run Marathonfrance
Total descent
551 m
Ascent
389 m
Climb density
9.3 m/km
Net elevation
-161 m
Max absolute grade
17.4%

As of

45
Run Woodstock Marathonmichigan
Total descent
546 m
Ascent
547 m
Climb density
13.0 m/km
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
13.5%

As of

50
Cedar Rapids Marathoniowa
Total descent
455 m
Ascent
454 m
Climb density
10.8 m/km
Net elevation
-1 m
Max absolute grade
15.8%

As of

51
Montana Marathon (Billings)montana
Total descent
446 m
Ascent
193 m
Climb density
4.6 m/km
Net elevation
-253 m
Max absolute grade
15.6%

As of

53
Flying Pig Marathonohio
Total descent
427 m
Ascent
424 m
Climb density
10.0 m/km
Net elevation
-4 m
Max absolute grade
32.4%

As of

54
6 sjöar (Uppsala) Marathonsweden
Total descent
427 m
Ascent
426 m
Climb density
10.1 m/km
Net elevation
-1 m
Max absolute grade
22.4%

As of

56
Maui Oceanfront Marathonhawaii
Total descent
413 m
Ascent
392 m
Climb density
9.3 m/km
Net elevation
-21 m
Max absolute grade
17.4%

As of

60
Gornergrat Zermatt Marathonswitzerland
Total descent
404 m
Ascent
1,876 m
Climb density
44.5 m/km
Net elevation
1,473 m
Max absolute grade
26.2%

As of

61
Mississippi Blues Marathonmississippi
Total descent
399 m
Ascent
401 m
Climb density
9.5 m/km
Net elevation
2 m
Max absolute grade
10.2%

As of

62
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)finland
Total descent
391 m
Ascent
392 m
Climb density
9.3 m/km
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
11.9%

As of

63
Bend Marathon and Halforegon
Total descent
388 m
Ascent
388 m
Climb density
9.2 m/km
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
16.6%

As of

64
The Asheville Marathon & Halfnorth-carolina
Total descent
374 m
Ascent
312 m
Climb density
7.4 m/km
Net elevation
-61 m
Max absolute grade
8.9%

As of

66
Maine Marathon (Portland)maine
Total descent
358 m
Ascent
357 m
Climb density
8.5 m/km
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
15.5%

As of

67
FirstEnergy Akron Marathonohio
Total descent
355 m
Ascent
350 m
Climb density
8.3 m/km
Net elevation
-6 m
Max absolute grade
13.8%

As of

69
Marshall University Marathonwest-virginia
Total descent
332 m
Ascent
330 m
Climb density
7.8 m/km
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
18.7%

As of

71
Milton Keynes Marathonsouth-east
Total descent
320 m
Ascent
318 m
Climb density
7.5 m/km
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
7.8%

As of

73
DNB Oslo Marathonnorway
Total descent
308 m
Ascent
307 m
Climb density
7.3 m/km
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
6.7%

As of

74
Sioux Falls Marathonsouth-dakota
Total descent
307 m
Ascent
305 m
Climb density
7.2 m/km
Net elevation
-2 m
Max absolute grade
13.6%

As of

75
Windermere Marathon (Spokane)washington
Total descent
304 m
Ascent
226 m
Climb density
5.4 m/km
Net elevation
-78 m
Max absolute grade
13.4%

As of

81
Rimi Riga Marathonlatvia
Total descent
272 m
Ascent
273 m
Climb density
6.5 m/km
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
20.5%

As of

82
Allianz Richmond Marathonvirginia
Total descent
272 m
Ascent
236 m
Climb density
5.6 m/km
Net elevation
-36 m
Max absolute grade
16.1%

As of

84
Southampton Marathonsouth-east
Total descent
265 m
Ascent
279 m
Climb density
6.6 m/km
Net elevation
14 m
Max absolute grade
9.7%

As of

86
Trondheim Maraton Marathonnorway
Total descent
252 m
Ascent
253 m
Climb density
6.0 m/km
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
10.7%

As of

87
Regensburg Marathongermany
Total descent
247 m
Ascent
247 m
Climb density
5.9 m/km
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
9.3%

As of

88
Garmin New Forest Marathonsouth-east
Total descent
247 m
Ascent
246 m
Climb density
5.8 m/km
Net elevation
-1 m
Max absolute grade
5.5%

As of

89
Tupelo Marathonmississippi
Total descent
242 m
Ascent
243 m
Climb density
5.8 m/km
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
7.1%

As of

91
Generali Genève Marathonswitzerland
Total descent
236 m
Ascent
183 m
Climb density
4.3 m/km
Net elevation
-53 m
Max absolute grade
9.0%

As of

93
Cleveland Marathonohio
Total descent
233 m
Ascent
232 m
Climb density
5.5 m/km
Net elevation
0 m
Max absolute grade
31.4%

As of

95
Helsinki City Marathonfinland
Total descent
220 m
Ascent
226 m
Climb density
5.4 m/km
Net elevation
6 m
Max absolute grade
8.3%

As of

96
Copenhagen Marathondenmark
Total descent
219 m
Ascent
220 m
Climb density
5.2 m/km
Net elevation
-0 m
Max absolute grade
5.4%

As of

99
Chester Marathonnorth-west
Total descent
217 m
Ascent
220 m
Climb density
5.2 m/km
Net elevation
3 m
Max absolute grade
7.8%

As of

100
Maine Coast Marathonmaine
Total descent
217 m
Ascent
219 m
Climb density
5.2 m/km
Net elevation
1 m
Max absolute grade
8.6%

As of

Showing the top 100 of 138 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 Total descent. 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 (140)

Read the full methodology →

Common questions

What is the most descent marathons?

Olympus Marathon (Litochoro) ranks first by total descent, from 138 qualifying races compared under our published methodology.