By our 5-axis Green Score, the CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental is the easier race — 8.8/10 vs 7.1/10 for the Boston Marathon (a 1.7-point gap). The biggest difference is entry, where the CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental has the edge. Scores come from elevation profiles, 10 years of race-morning weather, entry odds, and field size — the full method is on the methodology page.
| Score (10 = easiest) | Boston Marathon | CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental |
|---|---|---|
| Green Score (overall) | 7.1 | 8.8 |
| First-timer score | 8.0 | 9.4 |
| Terrain | 6.9 | 8.8 |
| Climate | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Entry | 2.0 | 10.0 |
| Travel | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Field & support | 10.0 | 9.5 |
| Distance | marathon | marathon |
| Date | April 19, 2027 | November 7, 2026 |
| Location | Hopkinton, MA | Indianapolis, IN |
| Typical race-day weather (10-yr) | 49°F / dew 41°F | 44°F / dew 38°F |
| Elevation gain | 820 ft | 377 ft |
| Field size | 30,000 | 20,000 |
| Entry | qualifier | open |
| Entry fee | $255 | $140 |
| Boston qualifier course | No | Yes |
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