Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, Half, Jr. & Fort Oglethorpe 5k

A scene from the race course.

Marathon

Event Information

November 11, 2023 - 7:30 (EST) am start time

Start/Finish: 6th Cavalry Museum in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. (directions)

RRCA Southern Championship Race - Marathon Distance

RRCA State Championship

The RRCA Championship Event Series is one of the oldest distance running traditions in the US, dating back to 1958 when the RRCA awarded their first championship designation. The goal of the RRCA Championship Event Series is to shine a spotlight on well-run, community-based events, and to promote the sport of running by recognizing the top performing runners in the Open, Masters (40+), Grand Masters (50+), and Senior Grand Masters (60+) categories for both men and women as RRCA Champions.

The Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon has been designated as the 2023 Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Southern Region Championship Event. Championship medals will be awarded to top overall, master (40+), grandmaster (50+), and senior grandmaster (60+) male and female marathon winners.

Marathon Entry Fees

$ 70 (until Dec 31) 
$ 85 (Jan 1 - April 29)
$ 95 (April 30 - July 30)
$ 105 (July 31 - Oct 30)
$ 115 (Oct 31 - Nov. 2)
$ 125 (Nov. 3-4, Nov 10)

Marathon participants will receive a commemorative long-sleeved quarter-zip shirt and all marathon finishers will receive a commemorative finisher's medal. Runners completing their first ever marathon will also receive a framed copy of their bib at the finish line to mark their achievement.

Military, Law Enforcement & Emergency Responders Discounted Entry

In honor of all the women and men who serve, we offer an online discount entry fee (5 off the marathon beginning with Jan 1st price increase) for all law enforcement, emergency responders and military.

You must show proof of service i.d. at packet pick up.

Marathon Registration

RaceCTC.org.

Online registration closes Nov. 4, 2023 unless the registration limits for the marathon are reached earlier. If the race does not sell out, on-site registration for the marathon will be available Friday Nov. 10 at packet pickup. There is no registration available for the marathon on race morning.

Registrations are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-deferrable.

Registration Limits

The marathon and half marathon are limited to 1,500 total participants to ensure our participants enjoy a safe quality event and to meet the approval of the National Park Service.

Registration will automatically close when the registration cap is reached. No waitlists will be available.

Finisher's Medals

Each year the marathon finisher's medal honors a state that had troops that fought at the battlefield.

Marathon medals have honored the following states:

1st Marathon?

Will this be the first time you run & finish a marathon? If so, let us know when you sign up and we'll have a framed copy of your bib waiting for you at the finish line to commemorative your achievement.

Race Course

The marathon, which starts and finishes at the 6th Cavalry museum located near the park's visitor's center, features two loops in the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park.

The mostly paved course is challenging but not extraordinarily difficult. Numerous runners have qualified for the Boston Marathon on this course. Results will be provided to the Boston Athletic Association. Approximately 23 miles of the double loop portion of the course winds through the historic military park. Traffic is usually light in the park. Sentries will be posted at each major turn and all turns will be marked. Each mile and the half marathon point will be marked.

Modifications for 2023: The out and back portions of the course have been modified to allow the marathon and half marathon to use the same course for lap 1 of the marathon. Runners in both races will stay together for nearly 12 miles, then split as marathoners begin their second loop and half marathons head to the finish. Lap 1 and Lap 2 of the marathon will vary slightly. Lap 1 will include one short out and back section along Jay's Mill Rd. This section will not be used in lap 2. Lap 2 will feature three out and back sections, one on Brotherton Rd, one on Wilder Rd, and one on Chickamauga-Vittoe Rd.

Course Certification is pending. Mile markers, water stops, and the lengths of the out and back sections are approximations at this time. An updated version of the map will be posted once the certification process is complete.

Download a print version of the course.

Race Timing

The marathon will use IPICO Sports timing tags. Runners will receive both a gun time and chip or net time. Overall winners will be based on gun time. Age Group Awards will be based on net time.

Results will be posted on this site as well as ChattanoogaTrackClub.org.

There is a 6 hour time limit for the marathon.

Packet Pick-Up

Packets, including your race number and timing chip, can be picked up:

Awards

Special awards will be given to the overall male and female winners, as well as the male and female masters (40+) winners, the male and female grandmasters (50+) winners, and the male and female senior grandmasters (60+) winners. Awards will also be given to the top three finishers, both male and female, in the following age groups: 19 & Under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & over.

All finishers of the marathon will receive a commemorative marathon finisher's medal. Participants who complete their first marathon at the event will also receive a special award. To receive your special first timer award, please let us know, when you register, if this is your first marathon.

Awards will be available shortly after race results are available.

Safety

Bicycles, skateboards, baby strollers/joggers, roller skates, and animals are not allowed. Headphones are not allowed.

Weather

On average, Fort Oglethorpe's temperature on November 11th ranges from a low of 41 degrees to a high of 63 degrees. The record low for November 11 is 22 degrees while the record high is 79 degrees.

Directions to the Start

The start/finish is located at the 6th Cavalry Museum in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia (6 Barnhardt Circle). Please note, on-site parking closes at 6:45 am (EST).