Very historic race. You spend about 90% of the race running through the park. It’s basically two loops around the park. The first loop you will be with half marathoners … MORE
Very historic race. You spend about 90% of the race running through the park. It’s basically two loops around the park. The first loop you will be with half marathoners and will have a good amount of people around you. The second loop really thins out. I had large amount of times especially in the more wooded areas were I’d not see anyone for a mile plus. There some spectators, but not many. It was very cool running through the park with no one on site for over a mile at time. Very well organized and put together race. It was decently hilly though. So parts of it are a challenge. However, weather should be good and not to hot. Would recommend.
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Very historic race
Very historic race. You spend about 90% of the race running through the park. It’s basically two loops around the park. The first loop you will be with half marathoners … MORE
Very historic race. You spend about 90% of the race running through the park. It’s basically two loops around the park. The first loop you will be with half marathoners and will have a good amount of people around you. The second loop really thins out. I had large amount of times especially in the more wooded areas were I’d not see anyone for a mile plus. There some spectators, but not many. It was very cool running through the park with no one on site for over a mile at time. Very well organized and put together race. It was decently hilly though. So parts of it are a challenge. However, weather should be good and not to hot. Would recommend.
Awesome little race!
Very well-organized race in a beautiful setting. I'm a history geek so this run was right up my alley. Loved the canon start and running through the park and seeing … MORE
Very well-organized race in a beautiful setting. I’m a history geek so this run was right up my alley. Loved the canon start and running through the park and seeing monuments and canons throughout. Perfect running weather (mid 40s, sunny, not windy) this year. There are some hills but nothing scary – I think they helped keep my legs fresh because I finished strong and felt pretty good after the race. Smaller race of about 250-300 full marathoners, so it never felt crowded and gave opportunity for reflection when running through a place where men gave their lives 150+ years ago. Highly recommend this race!
Historic AND scenic
Cannon start kicks off this historical half marathon. The leaves were just past prime but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the scenic woodsy course. The entire path is paved. … MORE
Cannon start kicks off this historical half marathon. The leaves were just past prime but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the scenic woodsy course. The entire path is paved. I loved the monuments and memorials and mini tours. The miles ticked by quickly. Nice sized crowd/group of fellow runners. Enough for camaraderie without feeling bottlenecked. The banana puddin’ was a great post race touch for an upper Midwestern gal like myself.
First time running this course
Great running through trails and woods. Pavement will keep you on your toes in places, and the cannon will catch you off guard at times which adds to the fun. … MORE
Great running through trails and woods. Pavement will keep you on your toes in places, and the cannon will catch you off guard at times which adds to the fun. Friendly and upbeat volunteers.
Loved this course !
Beautiful place to run a marathon! The pacers were helpful as well . I chose to run without the pacing group and it became tough to maintain the pace . … MORE
Beautiful place to run a marathon! The pacers were helpful as well . I chose to run without the pacing group and it became tough to maintain the pace . I wanted to qualify for Boston and I’m glad I chose this gentle rolling course . The organizers and volunteers were great!
Nice race.
Most of the course is shaded by trees. No need for sunscreen. Two loops through the battlefield with reasonable crowd support. Beautiful and fairly flat. MORE
Most of the course is shaded by trees. No need for sunscreen. Two loops through the battlefield with reasonable crowd support. Beautiful and fairly flat.
Beautiful Battlefield Run
I quite enjoyed this race (despite the cold! Don't let GA fool you - November can be quite chilly). It's run through a national military park that was a Civil … MORE
I quite enjoyed this race (despite the cold! Don’t let GA fool you – November can be quite chilly). It’s run through a national military park that was a Civil War battlefield, so you’re surrounded by history and quiet, natural beauty. As a result, there aren’t really any spectators cheering you on, so if you’re looking for that sort of course support this isn’t the race for you. It’s also quite hilly, so be prepared for tired legs toward the end. They do such a great job with the swag and the post-race celebration (literal trays of homemade foods, soups, desserts – I’ve never been so impressed with a post-race spread). Packet pickup was easy too. Overall, would definitely recommend this race and would love to run it again!
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.