This was my second half marathon and it was AWESOME. Beautiful weather, beautiful course, great food afterward, and lots of history! I loved how you could just park right there basically at the start and finish line. The band was decent and the hot soup was incredible. I was super disappointed with the "pasta dinner" the night before that we paid $10 for. They put a minimal amount of food on a plate and handed it to you and refused to let you get seconds. The pasta was super greasy (which I found pretty weird) and the other sides were the same quality as cafeteria food. Good thing I didn't run the full because I would've been majorly annoyed that they were going to limit me to one cup of pasta and a cup of salad and that's it. However, the bluegrass band playing was excellent and it set a really cool scene in the historical countryside! Next year, have an all-you-can-eat buffet for the runners. We could've gone to Olive Garden and paid $9.99 for endless pasta the night before and it would've been sans grease. The pre-race food is the reason I'm giving it a four.

Great marathon! Easy packet pickup; nice, long-sleeved tech tee; beautiful course with gently rolling hills; and, for a smaller marathon, surprisingly great crowd support! The best thing, though, was the gathering on the lawn post-race. Great food (typical cookies, muffins, bagels, fruit, but they also had PIZZA!!), they had chairs set up out in the sunshine and in shade under a tent, and there was a fab band! Oh, and can't forget the inflatables for the kids to play on - that was great, too. There were lots of great giveaways/door prizes, too. Great job, race director!!

This was my 50th marathon and one of my favorites. Gently rolling, double-loop course is fast - this being my second fastest marathon. The run started at sunrise, with a crescent moon above and a light fog hanging in the air. Light beams streamed through the trees bearing the last colors of autumn. The color guard presented the colors, the bugle sounded the national anthem and the cannon boomed the runners forward on a mostly wooded course steeped in military history. Adequate aid stations were manned by enthusiastic volunteers. At a point halfway on the loop course, people lined the road to give the runners a lift. At the finish line the marathoner received a nice, heavy medal and a plaque with bib number for first marathoners. A live band welcomed the finishers. Food was plentiful and the banana pudding was worth running for. No waiting lines. Many prizes were given out including a lightweight road bike. Each marathoner received a long-sleeve tech shirt plus coupons for running gear. In conclusion, the runner received great value on their modest registration fee.

***BOOM*** thundered the cannon, manned by approximately six cannoneers from Marshall's Tennessee Battery, all dressed in authentic Civil War soldier attire. The 1,500 startled runners jumped and leaped forward in unison on an absolutely picture-perfect autumn morning in North Georgia to begin the 30th annual Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon and Half Marathon through the nation's oldest military park.

Any kinks from last year seem to have been ironed out - as the race started on time among the imposing military barracks in historical Barnhardt Circle, and the expo was bigger and better than ever. The volunteers were wonderful, and there was plenty of PowerAde and water on the gently rolling course - which meandered past the numerous cannons and monuments (and, no doubt, ghosts) of the old Battlefield. No city streetsm so not many spectators out here, but the scenery was lovely. The pasta dinner the night before the race, provided by Carraba's Italian Grill, was fabulous, and the venue (a school cafeteria by day) was decorated to the hilt with a Civil War theme. Entertainment was provided by the Barefoot Nellies, an amazing bluegrass trio out of Chattanooga (all appropriately dressed in Civil War attire), and a fabulous time was definitely had by this runner.

Last but not least was the great finisher's medal! I understand that, in 2007, the race introduced a series of commemorative marathon finisher's medals featuring a different state monument from the Chickamauga Battlefield each year. The 2009 medal featured the South Carolina monument, and it was definitely a collector's item that I was proud to add to my existing marathon finisher's medals. This was one great race in every way; everyone should try it at least once!

My fifth marathon, and my first time running "Chickee," as I call it. Well organized. The course was beautiful with gentle hills that weren't bad. The starting gun was a real cannon shot from the civil war reenactors... AWESOME! Course was well marked with mile markers and turns for full and half runners. The water stops had full strength PowerAde, as compared to watered down sports drink at other marathons. Volunteers also wore latex gloves, which is better than what I've seen at other marathons. The course was beautiful, with hay bales spread throughout the fields. Very few porta-potties. Are they that expensive to rent? The post-race festivities were great. Coke fountain drinks, soup, pizza, Moon Pies, Honey Buns, energy drinks, PowerAde, water, etc!!! Humbling to run along the battle site where thousands died. I will definitely run this in 2010. Well done, "Chickee!"

This marathon just gets better every year. The course is a mixture of trails, roads and great scenery. This marathon is well orginized and is one of the best I have run.

This race is two hours from my house in the Atlanta area, so I drove up race morning. Packet pickup was easy, there were plenty of indoor restrooms, they had a nice, wide starting area, and the cannon went off on time. It was probably 45 degrees at the start with very little wind. Perfect conditions. Race did a lap of the park/staging area and then into the Battlefield area, which is beautiful. Trees and leaves are at peak colors, fog was rolling over fields early, and deer were out. I've done 25 marathons and this was one of the prettiest of the bunch. Just a beautiful setting for a race. First loop I figured out there were some hills, but they really only helped to stretch out the legs and did not slow you down. After halfers finished, it was lonelier on the course, but that didn't bother me. There was still plenty of excitement at the finish line area. I got a new PR and BQ time (age 41) and think anybody who is serious about holding pace for BQ can do it here as long as you prepare for hills. No monster climbs, but rollers to flats entire time. I thought organization was excellent. Race medal and gloves were nice touch, as well as technical long-sleeve shirt. I would do this race again, especially for $60 entry fee. Huge value and experience for the price. Well done!

This was my first marathon and I was not prepared. I stupidly ran the first half around 1:50 but did not take fluids soon enough causing my calves to cramp, which led to my hobbling in at just under 5 hours. I was glad to finish, but my experience was not pleasant. That is not the fault of this well-organized event, however. Just make sure to sign up early. The race normally closes out at only 600 entrants.

I have recently reduced my marathons to half-marathons - including this one - so my experience may be a little different from the other comments. It was a pretty morning to run, and a very pretty course with the leaves changing, sun just coming through the trees, etc. The check-in was a little chaotic, and the available bathrooms were really crappy. Also, the late start was not too good, especially if, like it seemed, they were waiting on late registrants. That should never be a reason to hold up a race! That's why you get there early. One thing that should never, ever happen is to be directed the wrong way in race. That is unacceptable! Overall, a good race on a pretty course - very different from most city courses. I recommend it.

It's amusing seeing all of the descriptions of the "hills" on this course. For those of us who train in the Atlanta area, this is a relatively flat course. Access to the course is difficult for spectators, so don't expect much encouragement from them along the route. If you need motivation from others to do your best, then you will definitely want to join one of the pace groups. Given some of the problems cited by others, I would suggest that you study the course map before the race to learn the locations of the toilets and the few not-so-well marked turns on this two-loop course. I ran this one on the recommendation of a friend, and would pass that same recommendation on to others.