Get Ready, Get Set…
Last year’s inaugural Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon did not go the distance — literally. A misplaced orange cone at one turnaround left the course 0.28 miles short, meaning marathon finishers could not qualify for other elite events such as the Boston Marathon.Tim Morgan, president of the Chattanooga Sports Committee, which organized the event, calls the mistake a “black eye on an otherwise extremely well-operated and well-run event in its inaugural year.”The second annual event, scheduled for March 3-5, will take precautions to guarantee it does not happen again, he says.For instance, the marathon route has been adjusted and re-certified, says Morgan. Officials will return on race weekend to again ensure the route’s signage and markers.Also this year, Morgan says the event will be even more community-driven and family-friendly.“We created this thing to help define the qualities of who we are as a community,” he says. And that includes characteristics such as the city’s commitment to fitness, natural beauty and, of course, creativity.“The runner trying to qualify for Boston [Marathon] or the runner dressed as Superman who stops and high-fives all the cops, they both add value and character to what we are trying to create here,” says Morgan.Here are a few fun new features to which to look forward:For racers: Professional photographers from Gameface Media will be strategically located along the marathon, half-marathon and relay course to capture each runner in action. Competitors will receive a link where they can search by name, time or bib number to find their portrait and download for free.For spectators: The Sports Committee is currently helping to develop an interactive app, unofficially named the “Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon” app, powered by EPB fiber optics. Features will include live GPS tracking of athletes, predicted finish times, real-time progress and more. To stay up to date on the app’s progress, follow Chattanooga Marathon on Facebook.
Last October, on the fifth day of the seven-day, seven-state Mainly Marathons Appalachian Series, Courtney Bird crossed the finish line wearing a star-spangled cape and tawny-colored horse head mask.
“The hardest part was not being able to see. You’re looking through the nose holes and have no peripheral vision,” says Bird, noting it was also hard to breathe.
So then, why?
“Any time I can cover 26.2 miles, that’s an accomplishment. So I can either suffer my way through it, or I can have a good time and make people smile,” says Bird, founder and director of Run Chattanooga.
Run Chattanooga is one of several local clubs whose focus is running for fun. Anybody can join, regardless of skill level – or lack thereof. In addition to its weekly group runs, Run Chattanooga organizes annual races, including the upcoming Raccoon Mountain half-marathon, full-marathon and relay – races which Bird describes as a party, though nonetheless challenging.
During the Raccoon Mountain event, each aid station is given a theme. One might be “Alice and Wonderland,” designed like the Mad Hatter’s tea party. Another, “Wizard of Oz,” featuring black-and-white striped witch legs stuck beneath the porta-potty. Along the course, trees are festooned with stuffed animals and cheerful signs.
“There was a sign for every runner – words of encouragement and your name,” says Kara Teichroew, a 45-year-old Chattanooga woman who competed in the Raccoon Mountain Marathon last year. A competitive runner in her youth and now a mother of seven, Teichroew says she returned to running four years ago with one goal: to enjoy running again.
“If you’re running a long distance, it’s not all physical. It’s mental, too,” Teichroew says, and looking forward to those fun details helped her stay motivated during last year’s marathon.
Susanna Kirby, now the organizer of Running for Brews’ Chattanooga Chapter, another fun-run group, says she got into running as a way to meet people.
“The first [Running for Brews event] I went to I was like, I won’t know anybody! Now, I haven’t missed a week in three years. I mean, it’s running for beer,” says Kirby.
Every week, members meet downtown and run a 5k together. Afterward, they regroup for beers at Brewhaus. As organizer, Kirby hosts a monthly themed run: superheroes, ugly sweaters or “shark week,” for example.
“We had one girl come dressed as Sharknado. She had crepe paper wrapped all around her and sharks taped to her. By the end of the run she’d sweated through the whole costume and just ripped it off,” Kirby says.
Silliness aside, both Kirby and Bird say their groups attract a range of runners – from those trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon to those running that one 5k a week. Bird likens the group to a mullet haircut.
“It’s business in the front, party in the back,” she says.
For that reason, Run Chattanooga’s races tend to have longer time limits so that racers who just want to have a good time may move at their own pace.
“I’m a slow runner. I couldn’t tell you what my run time is for most races,” says Bird.
In fact, Run Chattanooga’s annual January half-marathon, Freeze Your Half Off, has no time limit at all. When the last person crosses the finish line, there is a post-race potluck. Every runner receives a medal constructed from a paper plate.
“If you want to attract fun people,” Bird says, “you have to be willing to be wacky.”