How do I register for the Chattanooga Marathon?

Registration is open and available online until March 25, 2026 at 3:00 PM. If spots remain, in-person registration is offered at the Expo on Friday and Saturday before the race. There is no race-day registration for the marathon.

Is the Chattanooga Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is USATF certified and qualifies for Boston. That said, the qualifying rate among finishers is low, so the course rewards disciplined pacing rather than relying on favorable terrain.

What is the course like?

It's a multi-loop course with no net elevation change. The highest and lowest points are close together, so expect rolling terrain rather than big climbs or long descents. Running the same ground twice means pacing conservatively in the first loop is important.

How big is the field?

The Chattanooga Marathon is a smaller event, with recent finisher counts in the low hundreds. You won't be navigating massive crowds on the course or at the start line.

What should I expect from the weather on race day?

Late March typically brings a cool morning start and warming temperatures through the afternoon. Race-day highs can reach the upper 60s, so the second loop may feel warmer than you expect. A light throwaway layer at the start and early hydration are both worth planning for.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the Chattanooga Marathon is USATF certified.

Mar 2027 · est.Chattanooga, TNSince 2016

Chattanooga Marathon

The Chattanooga Marathon runs a multi-loop course through downtown and along the Tennessee River, delivering a compact race-day experience with a genuine Boston qualifier on the ticket.

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CHATTANOOGA · US

Chattanooga

MAR 2027

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Race Overview

EST. 2016

The Chattanooga Marathon is a small, straightforward race in a city that's easy to get around. You start at First Horizon Pavilion near the riverfront, and the course runs a multi-loop layout through downtown and along the Tennessee River. Because the field is small, it feels more like a community race than a big-city production. That's not a knock. You'll always know where you stand, aid stations are manageable, and there's none of the corralling chaos you get at larger events.

The course is essentially flat in terms of net elevation, but don't read that as effortless. You're running the same ground twice, and the rolling terrain that felt fine in the first loop will ask something of your legs in the second. Be patient on loop one. The race is a certified Boston qualifier, though the qualifying percentage is low, which tells you the course doesn't hand out fast times on its own. You have to earn it. Entry is open registration, so getting in is the easy part. Show up ready to work.

Field size

~279

279 finishers

BQ rate

4%

Below national average

Time limit

6:00

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

The Course

995 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑995 ft

Total descent

↓995 ft

Net elevation

↑0 ft

Highest point

793 ft

Lowest point

653 ft

Course shape

Multi loop

Start and finish in one place

The course is a multi-loop with equal gain and loss, so you return to the same elevation you started at. The range between low and high point is modest, well under 200 feet of total relief, meaning climbs are rollers rather than sustained grinds. What matters for pacing is the loop structure itself: you will cover the same ground twice, so anything that costs you in the first half will find you again later. There are no big net-downhill gifts here, and no dramatic final descent to bank time. Run the first loop controlled, treat the second loop as your race, and don't let familiarity with the course tempt you into going early.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

45°F

High

68°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Late March in Chattanooga gives you a wide range. The morning gun can be cool enough that you want a throwaway layer, but by the back half of the race temperatures can climb into the mid-to-upper 60s. The second loop is when the warmth tends to catch people. Don't overdress, and start hydrating early rather than waiting until you feel it. It's not reliably a cold race or a hot one, so check the forecast in the final week and plan accordingly.

Entry

OPEN

Online registration closes March 25, 2026 at 3:00 PM. If space is available, in-person registration offered at the Expo Friday and Saturday. No race-day registration for marathon or half marathon.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

BNA

107 mi

from the start

≈ 169 min transferLonger haul

What to expect

Chattanooga lies near the junction of Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. The nearest major airport is Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA), just 10-15 minutes from downtown and the race start at First Horizon Pavilion. Base yourself in downtown Chattanooga for easy access to the scenic riverfront and race venue.

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