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Jul 2, 2024

Route 66 Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 3.9

Organization 4.5

Spectators 3.7

Number of comments: 254 [displaying comments 91 to 101]

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Knud Hermansen from Boulder, CO (11/23/2009) "Well organized and has good potential" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Route 66 Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Bottom line: This was a decently run marathon with nothing really standing out as good or bad. The course does a nice job of showing off the city of Tulsa. Pre-race pasta dinner and post-race activities were fairly well done, but also nothing that really stood out as good or bad. This is a good, medium-sized marathon if you are looking for one to do in Oklahoma. Fan support was pretty meager; it almost feels like the city does not realize there's a race going on. Sign-up, website and pre-marathon: Decent website. They do not bug you with a lot training e-mails. Sign up was easy and the information sufficient. Expo: A little underwhelming, but easy to find and efficient number pick-up. There were a pretty small number of booths and there were not any great running deals that I usually hope to find at these race expos. The pasta dinner was at a nice location: the Cain Ballroom. It was pretty standard fare. They had some nice presentations. There was a band that night, but I did not stay. Start: The race ran a shuttle between all of the hotels and they were waiting outside my hotel at 0600. There were plenty of porta-potties, and there was even a trough for the men, which moved really quickly. Baggage check was easy and conveniently located near the start. Course: The first six miles went through some very pretty residential areas. Miles 7 and 8 were on the west side of the river and were a little industrial for my taste. Miles 9-11 went through more of the downtown/entertainment areas. The first 11 miles were mildly rolling hills. The one thing that I did not really like was that around mile 11, the marathoners split from the half-marathoners. But then we rejoined them around mile 12. This was rather annoying both because I could not see the marathoners that I was racing and I was also briefly worried that I was on the wrong course. Miles 11-20 were gradually uphill (and slightly into the wind) along the river. Then you turn around and come back downhill along the river. You get two free beers (although it's a Michelob) and some pizza and oranges. Overall, a decent course that does not really stand out as great, and seems to do a good job of showcasing the city. Water and porta-john stops: water stops were about every two miles and had ample water and Gatorade. Porta-johns were about every three miles or so. Hotel and transportation: I stayed at the Doubletree. The location was great but the price was not the cheapest in Tulsa. The room was nice and they had a great shuttle service that went to the pasta dinner. Support: The volunteers did a great job and I thought the Tulsa Police did a great job with traffic control.
Leonard Hart from OKC (11/23/2009) "Great weather! Disappointing race." (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Route 66 Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Where are the toilets? My buddy and I kept uttering this phrase throughout the entire race. Race directors need to address this issue. Water stations were not much better. Some were too close together; others were too far apart. I expected better from the wonderful people of Tulsa, but left town totally unfulfilled. Almost forgot: what's up with the turquoise packet shirts? Weren't the finisher's shirts supposed to be long-sleeved?
Z. R. from Kansas (11/23/2009) "Course much improved" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Route 66 Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My thanks to the race director for the new course. I was one last year who said I probably wouldn't come back if they left those hills at the end. I thought the course through downtown was a nice change. It is the out-and-back along the river that I thought was a little boring. The stretch through the nice neighborhoods at the beginning was scenic and the hills are manageable at that part of the race. This race is getting better each year. Crowd support was good, volunteers great, pasta dinner great. A really neat race atmosphere. Just one nit: last year there were plenty of porta-potties lined up along the course. This year there were hardly any, it seemed, and a line of runners 10-deep was waiting in line.
S. M. from Wichita, KS (11/23/2009) "Tougher course than advertised" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Route 66 Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Most pre-race comments mentioned the switching of the course this year with gently rolling hills for the first 4-6 miles. The hills are not gentle and they last until 11 miles. You need to do hill work for this marathon or you will feel it later in the race. Probably one of the best, high-quality medals I have got. Nice organization pre- and post-race; it gave the race the feel of a big-city marathon.
P. L. from Tulsa, OK (11/23/2009) "Varied course, fair weather" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Route 66 Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Although the race director cannot control the weather, we've had good luck; this year was very nice: mid 40s at the start, it didn't get over 65, there was a slight breeze, and it was sunny. Being a local, I was already familiar with the course. The hills are rolling and not overly taxing; and Riverside is completely flat. I was most impressed with the aid stations, and attention to us by the cyclists. I was very disappointed with the spectator support through the Maple Ridge area, but very happy with all of the crowd support down Riverside. There was lots of photography, so I can't wait to see how many pictures I have to choose from! It was most disappointing to finish the race and have very little food - only water, pizza, orange slices and bagel crumbs. I've run marathons in 3 other cities - OKC, KC and Dallas - and this has not happened. If we want to be world-class, we need to improve on this. I finished in 4:54, which is early enough to still have food. I liked the order of pick-up after the race; there weren't logjams in the shirt pick-up, or in having your chip removed. There was a long line for the pizza. The last thing a runner wants to do is stand around and have their muscles tighten up. The medals are really pretty and even have lettering on the back.
c. p. from Tulsa OK (11/23/2009) "Awesome job, Route 66 organizers!" (about: 2009) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon, and what a great experience. The course support was excellent, including water stops, med tents, bike personnel, and fans. Great job, Tulsa!
D. D. from Minneapolis, Minnesota (11/23/2009) "I highly recommend running the Tulsa Marathon!" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Route 66 Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Run Tulsa! You will not be disappointed. After having run Chicago a month ago, it was a great experience running Tulsa. Positives: 1. The organization is superb and they really want to put on a first-class event. 2. Pre- and post-race were well done. Music: live bands, great food, message tents, merchandise, pop, Gatorade, beer... top-notch all the way around. 3. Announcer at the start and finish! Great job - awesome enthusiasm. 4. Professional photographers everywhere! You will get some really great pictures of yourself! 5. Awesome medal! Wow! The heaviest and the biggest I have. Finisher tech shirt and cotton shirt are exceptional. 6. Southern hospitality! I really appreciated how nice the volunteers were. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. I liked the medical staff on the course riding their bikes! Very nice and caring. Thanks. 7. The first 13 miles are very enjoyable. Great neighborhood over miles 4-9 or so. Wow, cool homes. I thought the downtown section was good too. Miles 13-20 were flat as a pancake along the river, and then a turnaround to come back. If not for the strong headwind and sun smack in your face, I thought it would have been great. 8. I really liked seeing the first two finishers pushing the strollers. Out-and-backs are nice in that you can get an opportunity to see the elite runners. Wow, 2:35 pushing a stroller with a child - incredible. 9. Nice, ice-cold water bottles at the end. I have been in some marathons where the water is lukewarm. Yuck! 10. Great sound system at the start and finish. 11. Really enjoyed talking to the cop from Edmund, OK who was running his first marathon; Chris from Sweden; and the guy and his wife running their 172nd marathon. Thanks for chatting! 12. I thought having the relay, half-marathon, and 5K is a great idea for Tulsa. It is really a race about participating and getting everyone involved. Even though it is a small race - 3,000 runners or so - there are runners everywhere doing the different distances. Negatives: Ummm... yeah, I mentioned the wind and sun. I can't complain. Turning around at the 20-mile mark was like winning the lottery. If you are thinking of running a race in November, I would definitely run Tulsa. I drove from Minnesota and it was worth every mile of it. Thanks, Tulsa!
B. M. from Tulsa (11/23/2009) "2009 course much better!" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Route 66 Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The pasta party seemed like a class-act at the historic Cains Ballroom, and the food was good. I would have loved some dessert though. I loved the confetti and the fireworks at the beginning of the race! The hills in the first half of the course were fine, if you were cautious. I loved the bands and appreciated the ones near the Route 66 overpass and the Cains Ballroom. It was also nice to have the DJs along the route playing upbeat music. Riverside seemed desolate at times, but the crowd at the finish line was great.
S. C. from United States (11/23/2009) "Great weather and wonderful spectators" (about: 2009) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was running late coming from a small town in OK. I parked at a gas station and had to run about a mile to the start. I was still on the bridge when the gun went off, but that's ok because my pacesetter had not started yet. This was my first half marathon and I was very pleased; when I felt like stopping, there was always a spectator saying, "You can do it!" I enjoyed the weather and the course, and the food and beer at the end were great. It was awesome to cross the finish line close to the stroller winner. I will definitely run in Tulsa again.
N. W. from Kansas City, MO (11/22/2009) "Enjoyable Day" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Route 66 Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The 2009 Route 66 Marathon was a great day. The weather was perfect and the atmosphere was wildly exciting. The stroller world record was fun to be a part of. The course was moderately boring. Downtown Tulsa is not overly excited. The second half of the marathon along the river was nice. Big kudos to the medical staff; they were able to stretch me out and get me back running after the worst hamstring cramp I have ever endured. All in all, a good time and a marathon worth running - the medals were huge and the finishers were nice.

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