Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon

Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon takes place in Chickamauga, Georgia, on November 14, 2026, with a marathon (26.2 miles), a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a 5K on the program. The marathon starts and finishes at the 6th Cavalry Museum near the park visitor center and runs two loops inside Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, with roughly 23 of the 26.2 miles winding through the historic grounds. The course is mostly paved and demanding without being brutal, traffic inside the park is generally light, and results are sent to the Boston Athletic Association; many runners have qualified for Boston here.

That makes it a credible BQ attempt as well as a sound first marathon, since a two-loop layout lets you learn the second half while you run the first. Build with a 16-week block, a long run reaching 20 miles, and a couple of marathon-pace efforts of 8 to 10 miles.