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Marathon Details - Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > GA > Chickamauga > Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon

Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon

Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K

Chickamauga, GA USA

November 9, 2024

http://www.battlefieldmarathon.com

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Race Details

scenic two-loop course in history chickamauga battlefield. USTAF certified. Gentle rolling terrain but not extraordinarily difficult

Contact Information

Name:	Mike Leary
Address:	Chattanooga Track Club 1014 Dallas Rd. Suite 101 Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone Number:	(423) 635-3513
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (205)

Course 4.6

Organization 4.4

Spectators 3.5

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Number of comments: 205 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 21 > ]

M. C. from Warrenton, VA (11/18/2022) "Highly recommend. It was my 21st state." (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I agree with the posts from 2019-21. I highly recommend this marathon. My 24th marathon, 21st state. We arrived at the Wingate Hotel just off I75 late Fri night from VA. Maybe another hotel would have been cleaner and more updated, but for the price it was fine. Packet pick up Sat am was great. My husband dropped me off and later parked on the field adjacent to the start/finish after the 5k runners had left, so after a much longer time on my feet than I anticipated, I was able to walk just feet to our car. The volunteers were fabulous! The group at the turn-around at miles 4 and 16 was fantastic! They gave me so much energy. The 4:30 pace leader, Suman was top notch. I couldn't stay with him past 9 miles, but up to that point, he was spot on every mile and he was so entertaining with his conversation and music! The announcer who gave instructions at the start and announced every name at the finish gave a tremendous amount of energy and personal touch - and stayed the duration! So impressed by all this Southern hospitality! After race, we had a nice stay at the Doubletree downtown Chattanooga. Walked the Market St Bridge and had dinner at Whitebird at the Edwin Hotel. Ruby Falls tour the next day. For all 50 State Marathoners and all other runners, I highly recommend this race!
B. B. from CA (11/15/2021) "What a little gem of a marathon!" (about: 2021) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My 13th marathon, and this one might be my favorite. If you're looking for a big, flashy marathon with lots of spectators and entertainment, this one isn't for you. If you're looking for a quiet, reflective run through beautiful, hallowed grounds, this is definitely the one to do. Everything about this race was superbly organized: easy packet pick up (even available the morning of the race!); plenty of parking practically right next to the start/finish line; plenty of portapotties (first race I've been to with NO giant porta potty line before the race!); and well-stocked aid stations. This was the first race I've ever been to with volunteers on bikes riding around the course ready to help - brilliant idea! The course starts at the 6th Cavalry museum, runs a quick loop around it, then heads onto a bumpy semi-paved path for a mile or so before heading into the national park for two loops. Half-marathoners and marathoners both start at the same time, but with only 250 or so full marathoners and maybe 1000 half marathoners, it never felt too crowded or like you needed to dodge other runners. The full marathoners split off around mile 4 for a quick out and back segment before re-joining with the half marathoners. Then it's two loops around the park, with the half marathoners splitting off at the end of the first loop. I was a little worried that doing two loops would be mentally tough, but I actually think it helped a bit to know what was coming the 2nd time around. (It also helped we didn't have to run through the start line when starting loop 2 - I find going through the start/finish area with another 13 miles to go to be extremely demoralizing...) The course is just beautiful, with lots of gently rolling hills through wooded areas and the occasional grassy field. Running past canons, markers, and monuments was a moving experience. We had absolutely perfect running weather this year with nice crisp 45 degree temps, sunshine, and little wind. Fall foliage was maybe a week past its prime but still gorgeous. Two deer jumped out at various points in the course. The course is definitely not flat, but most of the elevation is due to gentle inclines/declines. A lot of the time I didn't even realize that I was running up or down hill. There are a couple of short, steeper hills in the second half of the loop, but nothing too taxing. I think the hills actually help by working different leg muscles -- I finished the race with my legs still feeling relatively good, and I was barely sore later that day or the next day. The second half of the race can be a bit lonely without the half marathoners out there and relatively few other marathoners. I do most of my training on my own, so I'm used to long quiet runs by myself and enjoyed the solitude of the second half. But if you're the type of person who prefers running in a crowd to help energize you, this might not be the race for you. Spectators are pretty sparse, but the ones out there were enthusiastic. God bless the two women in full Southern belle costumes cheering their hearts out for us runners! The quietness of the course and relatively few spectators also helped provide opportunity for reflection on just where exactly it is that you're running and what momentous events took place there 150 years ago. Post-race area was small, but had an announcer calling off names as runners crossed the finish line. The post-race food was excellent: pizza, Georgia peanuts, moon pies, and my personal favorite, hot salty soup. Usually I don't want to eat much immediately after a marathon, but that hot soup tasted so good...They also had banana pudding but that sounded too much like eating another Gu so I didn't try any. Overall, I cannot say enough great things about this race. It was well worth every penny (and cost a lot less than most other races I've done!). Highly recommend.
Glenn Schade from Pittsburgh (11/13/2019) "Many small hills, great volunteers, few spectators" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I'm very happy I made the trip from Pennsylvania to run this marathon. I felt honored to run through such sacred ground. I took the free shuttle from the Spring-hill Suites in Ringold to the start. My wife was able to sleep-in for a change. It took about 20 minutes for the shuttle to get to the start. The 2:00pm hotel check-out was very welcomed! Plenty of parking near the start/finish as well. This is an extremely well organized event. Volunteers were awesome. You can pick up your bib and shirt the morning of the race if you like!! Very quiet run on paved roads. The course is well marked. Approximately 250 marathon finishers. Temperature at start was 23 degrees! It was a sunny day and temperatures warmed-up by mid-race. Great medal, shirt and water glass. Plenty of food during and after the race. Be aware there are about fifty, small elevation changes. The other runners were mainly from TN and GA and they were very friendly. I would highly, highly recommend this race for anyone trying to run a marathon in every state. My wife and I used the trip to visit the Biltmore Estate in Ashville (3-1/2 hrs) as well as going to Nashville (2-1/2 hrs) for fun on Broadway. This was a fantastic trip!. THANKS
M. R. from Atlanta, GA (11/12/2019) "Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon is a great race" (about: 2019) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon so I don't have much of a comparison point, but I loved everything about this race. It was well organized and the logistics were seamless, right down to the on-site parking. The course was beautiful with minimal traffic and officers assisting at the few road crossings. The changing leaves, historical markers, monuments, and deer bounding through open fields made for a contemplative, lovely run. Spectators were few but supportive and the race was relatively small, which I prefer over noise and jostling for position. I liked that the marathon consisted of a double loop; it was nice to know what was ahead at the end of the race. Full and half marathon runners start together but there was a brief out and back around mile 3 that created a bit more space. It was a chilly 27 degree start with temperatures in the mid 40's at the conclusion of the race but layers and hand warmers made the temperature a non-issue. The long-sleeved tee, pint glass, medal, and framed bib were all good quality and nice mementos. Be sure to bring your own nutrition; Powerade and water ware available with bananas and oranges along the route but Gu was limited.
J. S. from ND (11/11/2019) "Great Marathon" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great marathon. It's small (240 marathon finishers). It's a two looper run in conjunction with a larger half. It loops around a historic Civil War Battlefield which is now a National Park. There are monuments and cannons everywhere. In fact, they set off a cannon to start the race which is very cool. it's not a super difficult course but it is a challenge. It's run on small paved roads through woods and fields. I loved everything about it and am glad that I used it for Georgia on my 50 state goal. The Chattanooga area is awesome with lots to see and do (lookout Mountain, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Ruby Falls and great food).
S. P. from Georgia (11/12/2018) "A nature lover's perfect marathon" (about: 2018) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my very first marathon, and so I don't have much to compare it to, however: the reason I picked it is because it was small, and would surround me with natural beauty at a time of year that is ideal for the colors of autumn. It did NOT dissapoint. The aid stations were plentiful and frequent. The spectators were few but awesome. I LOVED the fact that they had a framed plaque of my bib for me with my name on it for my first marathon. I live in Kennesaw and am used to running hills, so I did not really notice the hills until I was super tired later in the race. It is nothing that can't be mentally worked through. The ONLY thing that left me a bit disappointed was the visibility of the different pacers at the start of the race. I wanted to align myself further back, but could not locate that particular pacer. Overall though, It was lovely and I am going to make this an annual event for sure.
K. S. from North Augusta, SC (11/22/2017) "Terrific Marathon" (about: 2017) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had a wonderful experience running this marathon. This was my third marathon and definitely the nicest course I've run so far. As the other runners noted, it's peaceful and beautifully scenic. What I liked best though was the tribute paid to veterans (the race was on Veterans Day) and the fact the course takes you through a battlefield that honors the soldiers who fought in the battle. I was concerned about the hills, but they were not a problem on the first loop and slightly challenging by the second. If you're a novice marathoner like me, I'd recommend some hill workouts if you plan to run this course. Weather was over the top beautiful and the temp was 32 at the start. Plenty of water/aid stations. Not a lot of spectators but the ones that were there were great. I highly recommend this marathon!
J. M. from Tennessee (11/13/2017) "My Fifth and Favorite Marathon" (about: 2017) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I absolutely loved this marathon. The course is scenically beautiful, with gentle rolling terrain and no major hills-just enough to keep it interesting. I was afraid that the double loop would be terrible, but it was almost a non-issue. The aid stations were frequent and well stocked, and I really like the medal, shirt, and swag. I will definitely return to Fort Oglethorpe for at LEAST the half next year!
K. M. from NH (11/12/2017) "A wonderful race!" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I loved running through the battlefields. No traffic was a definite plus. The hills were there but not horrible. The volunteers were very supportive and there were no difficulties with the half and full marathon starting together. My only suggestion would be to have the same color arrows throughout the race. In places the arrows were yellow for the half and blue for the marathon yet there were also yellow arrows along the full marathon course. A very small complaint for a wonderfully run race in a beautiful area. I was a little surprised at the cool temps for the start but also appreciated them. The after race food was plentiful and well done. I highly recommend this race.
S. L. from Cincinnati, Ohio (11/11/2017) "Perfect weather, beautiful, small race" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Very small full marathon field, but so well organized for such a small race. Pros: Perfect weather this year Running through the park was really enjoyable. Seeing the monuments and beautiful fall leaves added to the day. Expo small but all you need. Easy to get in and out. Cannon start very cool. Funny signs hung throughout the course I actually enjoyed the 2 loop course Nice swag, long sleeve shirt, nice medal, and choice of blanket or arm warmers. Postrace band was great. Cons Too few portalets. The road from mile 25-26 is in poor repair making a really hard end to the marathon. Easy to trip on uneven surfaces when you are tired and not lifting your feet so well. Spectators almost non-existent. Overall I would highly recommend this marathon if you don't mind a small field and few spectators.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 21 > ]



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M. C. from Warrenton, VA (11/18/2022) "Highly recommend. It was my 21st state." (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I agree with the posts from 2019-21. I highly recommend this marathon. My 24th marathon, 21st state. We arrived at the Wingate Hotel just off I75 late Fri night from VA. Maybe another hotel would have been cleaner and more updated, but for the price it was fine. Packet pick up Sat am was great. My husband dropped me off and later parked on the field adjacent to the start/finish after the 5k runners had left, so after a much longer time on my feet than I anticipated, I was able to walk just feet to our car. The volunteers were fabulous! The group at the turn-around at miles 4 and 16 was fantastic! They gave me so much energy. The 4:30 pace leader, Suman was top notch. I couldn't stay with him past 9 miles, but up to that point, he was spot on every mile and he was so entertaining with his conversation and music! The announcer who gave instructions at the start and announced every name at the finish gave a tremendous amount of energy and personal touch - and stayed the duration! So impressed by all this Southern hospitality! After race, we had a nice stay at the Doubletree downtown Chattanooga. Walked the Market St Bridge and had dinner at Whitebird at the Edwin Hotel. Ruby Falls tour the next day. For all 50 State Marathoners and all other runners, I highly recommend this race!
B. B. from CA (11/15/2021) "What a little gem of a marathon!" (about: 2021) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My 13th marathon, and this one might be my favorite. If you're looking for a big, flashy marathon with lots of spectators and entertainment, this one isn't for you. If you're looking for a quiet, reflective run through beautiful, hallowed grounds, this is definitely the one to do. Everything about this race was superbly organized: easy packet pick up (even available the morning of the race!); plenty of parking practically right next to the start/finish line; plenty of portapotties (first race I've been to with NO giant porta potty line before the race!); and well-stocked aid stations. This was the first race I've ever been to with volunteers on bikes riding around the course ready to help - brilliant idea! The course starts at the 6th Cavalry museum, runs a quick loop around it, then heads onto a bumpy semi-paved path for a mile or so before heading into the national park for two loops. Half-marathoners and marathoners both start at the same time, but with only 250 or so full marathoners and maybe 1000 half marathoners, it never felt too crowded or like you needed to dodge other runners. The full marathoners split off around mile 4 for a quick out and back segment before re-joining with the half marathoners. Then it's two loops around the park, with the half marathoners splitting off at the end of the first loop. I was a little worried that doing two loops would be mentally tough, but I actually think it helped a bit to know what was coming the 2nd time around. (It also helped we didn't have to run through the start line when starting loop 2 - I find going through the start/finish area with another 13 miles to go to be extremely demoralizing...) The course is just beautiful, with lots of gently rolling hills through wooded areas and the occasional grassy field. Running past canons, markers, and monuments was a moving experience. We had absolutely perfect running weather this year with nice crisp 45 degree temps, sunshine, and little wind. Fall foliage was maybe a week past its prime but still gorgeous. Two deer jumped out at various points in the course. The course is definitely not flat, but most of the elevation is due to gentle inclines/declines. A lot of the time I didn't even realize that I was running up or down hill. There are a couple of short, steeper hills in the second half of the loop, but nothing too taxing. I think the hills actually help by working different leg muscles -- I finished the race with my legs still feeling relatively good, and I was barely sore later that day or the next day. The second half of the race can be a bit lonely without the half marathoners out there and relatively few other marathoners. I do most of my training on my own, so I'm used to long quiet runs by myself and enjoyed the solitude of the second half. But if you're the type of person who prefers running in a crowd to help energize you, this might not be the race for you. Spectators are pretty sparse, but the ones out there were enthusiastic. God bless the two women in full Southern belle costumes cheering their hearts out for us runners! The quietness of the course and relatively few spectators also helped provide opportunity for reflection on just where exactly it is that you're running and what momentous events took place there 150 years ago. Post-race area was small, but had an announcer calling off names as runners crossed the finish line. The post-race food was excellent: pizza, Georgia peanuts, moon pies, and my personal favorite, hot salty soup. Usually I don't want to eat much immediately after a marathon, but that hot soup tasted so good...They also had banana pudding but that sounded too much like eating another Gu so I didn't try any. Overall, I cannot say enough great things about this race. It was well worth every penny (and cost a lot less than most other races I've done!). Highly recommend.
Glenn Schade from Pittsburgh (11/13/2019) "Many small hills, great volunteers, few spectators" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I'm very happy I made the trip from Pennsylvania to run this marathon. I felt honored to run through such sacred ground. I took the free shuttle from the Spring-hill Suites in Ringold to the start. My wife was able to sleep-in for a change. It took about 20 minutes for the shuttle to get to the start. The 2:00pm hotel check-out was very welcomed! Plenty of parking near the start/finish as well. This is an extremely well organized event. Volunteers were awesome. You can pick up your bib and shirt the morning of the race if you like!! Very quiet run on paved roads. The course is well marked. Approximately 250 marathon finishers. Temperature at start was 23 degrees! It was a sunny day and temperatures warmed-up by mid-race. Great medal, shirt and water glass. Plenty of food during and after the race. Be aware there are about fifty, small elevation changes. The other runners were mainly from TN and GA and they were very friendly. I would highly, highly recommend this race for anyone trying to run a marathon in every state. My wife and I used the trip to visit the Biltmore Estate in Ashville (3-1/2 hrs) as well as going to Nashville (2-1/2 hrs) for fun on Broadway. This was a fantastic trip!. THANKS
M. R. from Atlanta, GA (11/12/2019) "Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon is a great race" (about: 2019) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon so I don't have much of a comparison point, but I loved everything about this race. It was well organized and the logistics were seamless, right down to the on-site parking. The course was beautiful with minimal traffic and officers assisting at the few road crossings. The changing leaves, historical markers, monuments, and deer bounding through open fields made for a contemplative, lovely run. Spectators were few but supportive and the race was relatively small, which I prefer over noise and jostling for position. I liked that the marathon consisted of a double loop; it was nice to know what was ahead at the end of the race. Full and half marathon runners start together but there was a brief out and back around mile 3 that created a bit more space. It was a chilly 27 degree start with temperatures in the mid 40's at the conclusion of the race but layers and hand warmers made the temperature a non-issue. The long-sleeved tee, pint glass, medal, and framed bib were all good quality and nice mementos. Be sure to bring your own nutrition; Powerade and water ware available with bananas and oranges along the route but Gu was limited.
J. S. from ND (11/11/2019) "Great Marathon" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great marathon. It's small (240 marathon finishers). It's a two looper run in conjunction with a larger half. It loops around a historic Civil War Battlefield which is now a National Park. There are monuments and cannons everywhere. In fact, they set off a cannon to start the race which is very cool. it's not a super difficult course but it is a challenge. It's run on small paved roads through woods and fields. I loved everything about it and am glad that I used it for Georgia on my 50 state goal. The Chattanooga area is awesome with lots to see and do (lookout Mountain, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Ruby Falls and great food).
S. P. from Georgia (11/12/2018) "A nature lover's perfect marathon" (about: 2018) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my very first marathon, and so I don't have much to compare it to, however: the reason I picked it is because it was small, and would surround me with natural beauty at a time of year that is ideal for the colors of autumn. It did NOT dissapoint. The aid stations were plentiful and frequent. The spectators were few but awesome. I LOVED the fact that they had a framed plaque of my bib for me with my name on it for my first marathon. I live in Kennesaw and am used to running hills, so I did not really notice the hills until I was super tired later in the race. It is nothing that can't be mentally worked through. The ONLY thing that left me a bit disappointed was the visibility of the different pacers at the start of the race. I wanted to align myself further back, but could not locate that particular pacer. Overall though, It was lovely and I am going to make this an annual event for sure.
K. S. from North Augusta, SC (11/22/2017) "Terrific Marathon" (about: 2017) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had a wonderful experience running this marathon. This was my third marathon and definitely the nicest course I've run so far. As the other runners noted, it's peaceful and beautifully scenic. What I liked best though was the tribute paid to veterans (the race was on Veterans Day) and the fact the course takes you through a battlefield that honors the soldiers who fought in the battle. I was concerned about the hills, but they were not a problem on the first loop and slightly challenging by the second. If you're a novice marathoner like me, I'd recommend some hill workouts if you plan to run this course. Weather was over the top beautiful and the temp was 32 at the start. Plenty of water/aid stations. Not a lot of spectators but the ones that were there were great. I highly recommend this marathon!
J. M. from Tennessee (11/13/2017) "My Fifth and Favorite Marathon" (about: 2017) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I absolutely loved this marathon. The course is scenically beautiful, with gentle rolling terrain and no major hills-just enough to keep it interesting. I was afraid that the double loop would be terrible, but it was almost a non-issue. The aid stations were frequent and well stocked, and I really like the medal, shirt, and swag. I will definitely return to Fort Oglethorpe for at LEAST the half next year!
K. M. from NH (11/12/2017) "A wonderful race!" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I loved running through the battlefields. No traffic was a definite plus. The hills were there but not horrible. The volunteers were very supportive and there were no difficulties with the half and full marathon starting together. My only suggestion would be to have the same color arrows throughout the race. In places the arrows were yellow for the half and blue for the marathon yet there were also yellow arrows along the full marathon course. A very small complaint for a wonderfully run race in a beautiful area. I was a little surprised at the cool temps for the start but also appreciated them. The after race food was plentiful and well done. I highly recommend this race.
S. L. from Cincinnati, Ohio (11/11/2017) "Perfect weather, beautiful, small race" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Very small full marathon field, but so well organized for such a small race. Pros: Perfect weather this year Running through the park was really enjoyable. Seeing the monuments and beautiful fall leaves added to the day. Expo small but all you need. Easy to get in and out. Cannon start very cool. Funny signs hung throughout the course I actually enjoyed the 2 loop course Nice swag, long sleeve shirt, nice medal, and choice of blanket or arm warmers. Postrace band was great. Cons Too few portalets. The road from mile 25-26 is in poor repair making a really hard end to the marathon. Easy to trip on uneven surfaces when you are tired and not lifting your feet so well. Spectators almost non-existent. Overall I would highly recommend this marathon if you don't mind a small field and few spectators.

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Marathon Details - Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon