Last year was the inaugural race and they had issues with timing/distance. It seems that any first year kinks have worked out and the half distance was spot on; I haven't heard of any issues with the full distance.

This was my sister-in-law's first half marathon so I decided to run it with her, since I'm usually the running instigator. I love doing any race in Chatt because it's so accessible to Atlanta, it's a great town to visit, and I have several free places to stay. :-)

The website provided clear schedule of events, shuttle bus/parking info, and course maps, so everything on race morning was very clear and simple. There's plenty of parking at the finish area at Finley Stadium and they provide school buses from the finish to the start line. It was clear but chilly that morning. Starting in downtown Chattanooga was great though since many of the local businesses were open and we were able to stay warm in a coffee shop right at the start. There were plenty of port-o-johns as well as several public restroom options at the visitor bureau, aquarium, and local businesses. It's not the prettiest course through Chatt but I very much enjoyed the varied neighborhoods and rolling hills. There's definitely a high point in the middle of the half course that made miles 5-7 kinda tough but overall I think the course can run pretty fast because you get a lot of great down hills and rollers.

The finish line was seriously impressive, with a veritable red carpet experience. The finish chute food was set up just like a mini grocery store, with everything neatly stacked and ordered on shelves. It was seriously impressive; great job Food City! After the race, bib tickets can be used for meals at several different food trucks, as well as free beer tickets. I gave my beer tickets away since they only offered Bud Light (beggars can't be choosers I guess).

I'll definitely be adding this race to my spring rotation and will consider doing the full course next year.

Final Verdict: This makes for a great Spring getaway to an amazing southern city. DO IT!