I've been at the marathon spectating and helping out at some of the aid stations the last 3 years but finally got off the couch to run it - very well organized, beautiful course, and awesome scenery. By far a best kept secret in the marathon world.

This was my first real race. I did the 10-mile course. I loved the beautiful park and the weather was perfect. The volunteers were encouraging and helpful and the aid riders on bikes were ever-present but not in the way. As always, the city is clean and the people were friendly toward our family. This will become an annual event for us.

This was my first marathon and I loved everything. The Friday registration was organized, quick and easy. The medal and tech shirt were first class. The course, the weather, the spectators and support from volunteers was amazing. I am planning on making this an annual event. The course layout allowed my family to see me numerous times throughout the race. I cannot say enough about my experience! Thanks.

This is a great small race with the course going through the battlefield park. This is a great race for the runner who enjoy a quiet run among friends and deer rather than being cheered on by bands and thousands of spectators. Race entry very inexpensive and we even got a brand-name high-tech shirt plus all the food we could eat. Great race-organization.

Who knew it could get better? The price went up this year - but the medal is the best I've ever received, and we had chip timing and an (attractive) tech shirt. Score!

It was again extremely well run - not many spectators but the ones that were there were very enthusiastic.

The course has some hills - but not bad for North Georgia. The scenery and history is great along the whole course. It is a small race. I like this about it, but if you need the big festival atmosphere, you might feel more comfortable elsewhere.

I think I'm addicted to Chickamauga: already planning going back next year!

(I'm a little cautious telling you all this though - it was larger this year than last year, and it seems the secret is getting out! Please don't change too much as you get famous, Chickamauga Marathon!)

I love double-loop courses because it makes it easier for me to see my husband at different times. The course is great, the people are most gracious and the area is interesting to visit.

A word of caution to "old" Fifty Staters: Don't expect a trophy for running well because the top age group was 60-99.

This will count as one of my favorite races. It was my first marathon. I adore it, and have recommended it to several others searching for their first marathon. I ran it on a whim (decided to run it October 24 after I first heard of its existence). It came highly recommended by everybody I heard speak of it, which is unusual for a race. We all know some people who can't separate how the race was run from how they ran or trained while reviewing!

Small race, but the spectators had this amazing enthusiasm for all the runners, including us slower ones.

The course had a couple hills - but one of the less hilly courses Georgia. I trained at Stone Mountain, and the hills here might as well have not existed.

You get an extra prize as a first-timer, which really makes the experience that much sweeter.

I will definitely be back.... In fact, I think this will be an annual tradition.

The Good:
-Great volunteers
-Well stocked aid stations (ran out of sports drink toward the end, but there was plenty of food to compensate).
-Beautiful historic course on newly black-topped roads; two-loop course, which I thought would bother me, but didn't. A lot of rolling hills.

The Could-Be-Improved:
-Getting a cotton tee rather than a technical tee is a personal gripe of mine, but in this case I won't complain too much because the race was so inexpensively priced.
-I was fixated on the pizza for the last six miles of the race, so of course, they had run out of pizza by the time I got there. As I saw many children and other family members who were definitely not racing stuffing themselves with the finish line food, I can only assume that they enjoyed my slices for me. The remaining food was sufficient, but unspectacular.
-Don't expect a lot of spectators on the course. It is a very beautiful pastoral setting, but not lonely due to the company of the other friendly runners.

This was my 2nd Chickamauga Marathon and it is a well-run marathon. Support staff was very helpful and the fans that were there cheer on everyone. The course changed from last year - now on a lot of recently paved roads; but now a lot more rolling! Water stops plentiful and well-stocked with water, PowerAde, bananas, oranges, etc. I liked the shirt, with a map of the battle on the back. Weather a little warmer and more humid than I would have liked, but can't control that. The after-race food is excellent. Thanks for a great event. The only suggestion I can make is to try to add this event to the Run and See Georgia Grand Prix Series.

I enjoyed the route. It was beautiful. I didn't think that I would like doing a loop, but it wasn't bad at all. The volunteers and the aid stations were great. There are not very many porta-jons. There were about eight or so at the start and one spot along the loop with a couple porta-jons. I didn't stay for the post-race food, but from what I heard it was awesome. One thing that this race lacks is race photos. I really like to buy a photo of every marathon that I participate in, but this race didn't offer that. They post photos on their web page of the race, but there isn't a photo of every runner like in the past marathons that I have run in. Also the shirt was nice, but the map on the back was not very clear or legible. We stayed in LaFayette, GA, and it's only a 15-minute drive, but I wouldn't recommend staying at the Days Inn there. That motel has terrible rooms. Our water was green; and the toilet was plugged and they asked me to fix it myself. Overall, I did enjoy the marathon. It was the first time that I have ever taken 2nd in my age group. Guess I was lucky that so many others ran so slowly. If I am still stationed in Georgia next year, I will run it again.