Marathon schedule
Events will be held at First Tennessee Pavilion unless otherwise noted.Friday3-7 p.m.: Expo/packet pickup/registration4-6 p.m.: Michelob Ultra Happy Hour5-7 p.m.: Live music by Strung Like a HorseSaturday7-8:30 a.m.: Registration and packet pick-up for Classic 150 5K9-10 a.m.: 5K (one-hour time limit)9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Expo/packet pickup/registration10 a.m.: 5K awards11 a.m.: Kids’ race (one mile)Sunday6-7 a.m.: Emergency packet pickup6-7:30 a.m.: Bag drop at race finish6-7:30 a.m.: Busing from finish line to start8 a.m.: Marathon, marathon relay and half marathon start at Broad Street and Aquarium Way9-9:45 a.m.: Live music performed by the Knob Creek Girls9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Race expo/post-race party/food/awards10-10:45 a.m.: Live music performed by Rick Rushing and the Blues Strangers11 a.m.: Half marathon awardsNoon to 12:45 p.m.: Live music performed by Kofi Mawuko and the Ogya World Music Band1 p.m.: Marathon awards
A misplaced turnaround marker that left the full marathon course 0.28 miles short stole many of the post-race headlines from last year's inaugural Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon.
However, the positives from the debut event left race officials plenty to build on for year two.
The Chattanooga Marathon returns this weekend with a fresh infusion of local energy, a new method for laying out the course, and a field of thousands of runners prepared to spend their Sunday racing through the heart of the city.
"We had a wonderful production last year, so we're only looking to increase the quality this year," Chattanooga Sports Committee President Tim Morgan said. "We've got a lot of people working together to make that happen."
Downtown buzzed with a combined 3,000 runners across the Saturday kids run and 5K, and Sunday's half and full marathons. Thousands more cheered from the finish line outside Finley Stadium or from neighborhoods around town.
Forecasts Wednesday called for dry, cloudy weather and high temperatures around 60 degrees for this year's race. Weather is unpredictable, but Morgan issued a hopeful outlook for the number of participants.
Last year's full marathon featured 639 runners while the half included 1,601.
"We're a little down on the marathon, but that's more of a national trend with races themselves," he said of the number of runners expected to attend. "We're definitely higher on the half marathon and higher on the 5K. So we're on pace to exceed last year's number of runners."
Runners who planned to use last year's Chattanooga Marathon as their Tennessee race for entry into the 50 States Marathon Club had to find another race to complete in the state after the course miscue invalidated their ability to count the race towards entry into the club.
Others who hoped to use their time to qualify for high-profile events such as the Boston Marathon had to wait for time adjustments. Those affected by the error were offered a discounted rate for this year's event.
Morgan added that, instead of relying on volunteers to place course markers and turnarounds, the USA Track and Field course certifier is returning on race day to lay the course out himself and make sure the distances are exactly right.
The full marathon's jaunt through St. Elmo early in the race has been re-arranged and is followed by a new section of the Tennessee Riverwalk. Full marathoners also hit the North Shore, Fort Wood, Highland Park, and Jefferson Heights before arriving on the Southside, where a festive atmosphere awaits finishers along Reggie White Boulevard.
Both the half and full marathon courses start in the center of downtown at Broad and Fifth streets, and the half marathon course is unchanged from last year.
Chattanooga Track Club manager Stacey Malecky said there has been little trouble recruiting the 500-600 volunteers needed to work the courses.
"Because it covers so many different corners, the number of people on the course and the number of aid stations is really high," she said. "There are 100 people just pointing on both courses. It's a huge number."
First Tennessee Pavilion will host live music, an expo and food. The festivities kick off Friday afternoon.
"I think last year there was a bit of a learning curve in terms of the expo," Malecky said. "Our happy hour on Friday should be great. Even if you're not running, there's so much energy around these events that make it fun to come out."
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.
Road Closures
Saturday The following streets will be closed between 8-10:30 a.m. - Main Street from Reggie White Boulevard to Market Street - Eastbound Main Street from Market Street to Madison Street - Main Street from Reggie White Boulevard to Market Street - Cowart Street from Main Street to West 13th Street - West 13th Street from Cowart Street to Carter Street - Northbound Carter Street from Main Street to West 13th Street - No parking on the south side of Main Street from 1 a.m. to noon. CPD will be directing traffic at Broad and Market streets. to allow traffic to cross between runners. The following streets will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Main Street from Reggie White Boulevard to Broad Street - Chestnut Street from West 20th Street to West 13th Street - West 13th Street from Chestnut Street to Carter Street - Northbound Carter Street from Main Street to West 13th Street Sunday The following roads will be closed from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. (roads and lanes will be re-opened as runners clear each area): - Aquarium Way from Chestnut Street to Market Street, 7:30-9 a.m. - Broad Street from Aquarium Way to M.L. King Boulevard, 7:30-9 a.m. - M.L. King Boulevard from Broad Street to Market Street, 7:30-9 a.m. - Market Street from West 20th Street to M.L. King Boulevard will be one lane each direction, 7:30-9 a.m. - Westbound traffic on Riverfront Parkway from Lindsay Street to Molly Lane - Eastbound West 13th Street from Carter Street to Broad Street - Northbound Carter Street from Main Street to West 13th Street - Access between River Street and Frazier Avenue (use Manufacturers Road for access) - The Barton Avenue ramp from Frazier Avenue ' The Battery Place exit ramp - St. Elmo Avenue between Tennessee Avenue and West 38th Street