This is the exact opposite of a big city major marathon experience, and I absolutely loved it. I stayed in a nice downtown Chattanooga hotel at a very affordable rate, … MORE
This is the exact opposite of a big city major marathon experience, and I absolutely loved it. I stayed in a nice downtown Chattanooga hotel at a very affordable rate, and in under 20 minutes was parked, incredibly, less than 150 yards from both the start and finish lines. No need for a bag check! 1,100 at the start self-corralled with no issues (~300 Marathoners and 800+ Half’ers). The weather in 2018 was perfect for me, blue skies and temps in the hi 30s at the start and pushing 50 toward mid-day…a just reward for training in the heat of a Georgia summer.
Pros
– Double loop course through the beautiful Chickamauga Military Park. Mainly flat with a few sections of rolling hills. I appreciated knowing what was coming the second time around as I had a goal time in mind.
– Course is very fair, with nothing too challenging, but I prefer rolling hills to the monotony of flat pavement. All small 2-lane national park asphalt, open to traffic, but I can’t remember more than a handful of cars passing by during the entire 26.2.
– Well supported with aid stations and enthusiastic volunteers. Water and Powerade every 2 miles plus occasional fruit/gels.
– Quick and easy bib pick up in small expo environment. Pasta dinner available but I didn’t participate.
– Family friendly start/finish area, 5k and kids run occur during Marathon, shuttle available for spectators to several viewing points throughout course
Cons
– Advertised as having eight pacing teams from 3:15 to 5:00. I looked everywhere for the 4:00 at the start and only saw the 4:15 pacer. He didn’t know where anyone else was. I never saw any other pacer the entire day.
– The course crosses a railroad track (2x because 2 loops). I heard a train whistle at one point, and understand that some marathoners were blocked by a train for some period of time. If that had happened to me, I’d have been livid.
Even still, I can’t wait to do this one again. If you don’t like running alone for periods of time, this probably isn’t for you. But if you like small community races that are produced just as well, if not better than major events, I highly recommend the Chickamauga Battlefield marathon. It’s 20 minutes from Chattanooga and ~2 hours from downtown Atlanta, so you could make a long weekend out of it really easily.
Please login to reply to this review.
Beautiful course / high quality run
This is the exact opposite of a big city major marathon experience, and I absolutely loved it. I stayed in a nice downtown Chattanooga hotel at a very affordable rate, … MORE
This is the exact opposite of a big city major marathon experience, and I absolutely loved it. I stayed in a nice downtown Chattanooga hotel at a very affordable rate, and in under 20 minutes was parked, incredibly, less than 150 yards from both the start and finish lines. No need for a bag check! 1,100 at the start self-corralled with no issues (~300 Marathoners and 800+ Half’ers). The weather in 2018 was perfect for me, blue skies and temps in the hi 30s at the start and pushing 50 toward mid-day…a just reward for training in the heat of a Georgia summer.
Pros
– Double loop course through the beautiful Chickamauga Military Park. Mainly flat with a few sections of rolling hills. I appreciated knowing what was coming the second time around as I had a goal time in mind.
– Course is very fair, with nothing too challenging, but I prefer rolling hills to the monotony of flat pavement. All small 2-lane national park asphalt, open to traffic, but I can’t remember more than a handful of cars passing by during the entire 26.2.
– Well supported with aid stations and enthusiastic volunteers. Water and Powerade every 2 miles plus occasional fruit/gels.
– Quick and easy bib pick up in small expo environment. Pasta dinner available but I didn’t participate.
– Family friendly start/finish area, 5k and kids run occur during Marathon, shuttle available for spectators to several viewing points throughout course
Cons
– Advertised as having eight pacing teams from 3:15 to 5:00. I looked everywhere for the 4:00 at the start and only saw the 4:15 pacer. He didn’t know where anyone else was. I never saw any other pacer the entire day.
– The course crosses a railroad track (2x because 2 loops). I heard a train whistle at one point, and understand that some marathoners were blocked by a train for some period of time. If that had happened to me, I’d have been livid.
Even still, I can’t wait to do this one again. If you don’t like running alone for periods of time, this probably isn’t for you. But if you like small community races that are produced just as well, if not better than major events, I highly recommend the Chickamauga Battlefield marathon. It’s 20 minutes from Chattanooga and ~2 hours from downtown Atlanta, so you could make a long weekend out of it really easily.
Nice mostly flat
Pre race bugle plays National anthem then a cannon shoots. Mile markers and plenty of water/Powerade stations. A few inclines. Some portapots on course. Course is mostly on asphalt with … MORE
Pre race bugle plays National anthem then a cannon shoots. Mile markers and plenty of water/Powerade stations. A few inclines. Some portapots on course. Course is mostly on asphalt with a few loose gravel and grassy spots. Some spectator signs and folks cheering. Long sleeve shirt and nice medal. Some hot food after race. Results posted quickly. It was cold and windy this year.
Nice race
Plenty of aid stations along the route. Mostly on asphalt through the battlefield memorial. Nice medal and technical long sleeve shirt. Also got choice of blanket or arm sleeves. Good … MORE
Plenty of aid stations along the route. Mostly on asphalt through the battlefield memorial. Nice medal and technical long sleeve shirt. Also got choice of blanket or arm sleeves. Good refreshments after the race. Results posted quickly.
Beautiful course-awesome finisher gift
Long steady hills; choppy uneven start and finish but otherwise nice running surface. They gave the Marathon finishers a really great thin fleece blanket-my fave gift this year!!!! MORE
Long steady hills; choppy uneven start and finish but otherwise nice running surface. They gave the Marathon finishers a really great thin fleece blanket-my fave gift this year!!!!
My Hometown Track Club Marathon
Two 11+ mile loops inside Chickamauga Battlefield National Park plus and entrance and exit for 26.2 miles. Also a half marathon same day. Great paved running surface with lots of … MORE
Two 11+ mile loops inside Chickamauga Battlefield National Park plus and entrance and exit for 26.2 miles. Also a half marathon same day. Great paved running surface with lots of deer standing around watching you pass by.