A cannon goes off at 7:30 on a November morning and you run into the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, where historical monuments to the 1863 battle stand along the paved park roads and wildlife is a regular sight. This is a small race by design: the half and full share the first 12 miles, then the half peels off and you circle the battlefield a second time with a few hundred other marathoners. The hills are gentle, about 940 feet of climbing in all and never more than 110 feet between high and low points, so a well-paced run can be a Boston qualifier. Bring your own crowd; spectators are sparse past the start at Barnhardt Circle. Register early, since the 1,500-runner cap fills, and plan on the 6.5-hour limit.
Two paved loops through the 9,000-acre Chickamauga Battlefield; the first 12 miles are shared with the half before marathoners run a second loop over gently rolling hills with only about 110 ft between the high and low points. Course map ↗
Registration remains open as of 2026-10-13 ('filling up fast'); current price tier $140 runs Oct 13 - Nov 13, 2026; no race-day registration. First-come via haku. Half and full marathon combined are capped at 1,500. Packet pickup Fri Nov 13 (12-7 PM) and Sat Nov 14 (6-7 AM) at the start. Discounts for active military, veterans, law enforcement and first responders. Register ↗
- Held since 1980 by the nonprofit Chattanooga Track Club; the race has recorded more than 51,600 finishers, including 4,175 first-time marathoners. ↗
- The current marathon course debuted in 2025, is USATF-certified (GA25076WC), is Boston-qualifying, and the 2026 race is the RRCA Georgia State Marathon Championship. ↗
- Every race starts with a Civil War-era cannon blast at 6 Barnhardt Circle in Fort Oglethorpe; the marathon and half go off at 7:30 AM. ↗
- Marathon finishers: 352 in 2025, 282 in 2024, 344 in 2023; BQ rate was 3.4% in 2025 and 7.8-10.4% in 2021-2024. ↗
- The half and full are capped at 1,500 combined and the marathon time limit is 6.5 hours. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.