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Route 66 Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Route 66 Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 3.9 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.5 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.7 
 
 
Number of comments: 254 [displaying comments 111 to 121]
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B. S. from Nashville, TN (11/19/2008)
"A Great Event - Don't Miss It!" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Although I participated in the quarter marathon, I've run in enough of these to know the real deal and this is one of them. Just the fact that you are running along the famous "Route 66" is enticing enough, but I enjoyed everything about this race. The logistics are wonderful with the expo right across the street from the host hotel, The Doubletree, which gave runners a checkout as late as 3:00. The expo was very decent with good guest speakers and a fair amount of vendors. The pasta dinner was right there in the expo hall, making it very convenient. One of the best perks is the start time. The full marathoners started at 8:00 and the half and quarter marathoners started at 9:00, which was a wonderful start time and certainly welcome since it was a cold brisk morning.

The later start time really helped out temperature wise which was such a benefit. Also, there were free shuttle buses to take you to and from the race although it was such a pretty day that I walked back to the host hotel, which was just over one mile. Great music at the start line was just what we needed to get going (Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" and Rihanna's "Please Don't Stop The Music" is enough to get anybody warmed up and ready to go!) Great volunteers, great organization and great communication from the race director clear up to the day before the race all helped to make this a special event all the way around. If you are a 50-stater and need to get an Oklahoma race completed, look no further - Tulsa is the one you want to do. Thanks to Chris and all of the volunteers who helped make this such a wonderful event!
 

E. M. from Toronto ON Canada (11/18/2008)
"A Terrific Race" (about: 2008)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


Tulsa has a marathon it can be proud of. Great organization and a unique Route 66 theme to the race. The marathon route is just about the best a mainly out-and-back route can be. A beautiful, flat, scenic course along the Arkansas River lined with parks, art sculpture and beautiful homes. The only thing that stops me from rating it a five-star course is due to the concrete roads along Riverside Dr. So I would recommend wearing a good pair of cushioned shoes, rather than lightweight trainers or racers. How that guy who ran the marathon in bare feet did it, I can't imagine. I didn't mind the hills at the end after all of the flat miles before; it changed the muscle tension and the scenery.

Great volunteers, good bands, cheerful spectators and lots of potta-potties on the course. A great medal design. Cotton t-shirt for entering and a tech finisher shirt. Seems there was plenty of pizza, fruit and cookies at the end this year. Only problem was the line for burgers slowed everything up. They need an express grab-and-go line for the ready made food and a separate line to wait for burgers (or get some more grills going) next year. Thanks to everyone who put together a first-class event.
 

S. P. from Orlando, FL (11/18/2008)
"My 50th marathon and a winner!" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Ideal cold weather for running. Mostly flat course, except for hills between miles 23-25 - a unique challenge that makes the finish even sweeter. Several nice big-race perks without the big-race hassle: race clocks every mile, nice entertainment along the course, pace groups, well stocked aid stations, two shirts (cotton participant and tech finisher), wonderful race medal, lots of friendly volunteers, excellent course control, efficient bag check, the list goes on and on. One warning is that a large portion of the course is run on a concrete road surface, not asphalt, so make sure to wear good cushioned shoes. Also, the lines at the food tent seemed quite long (there are half and quarter marathon events too) so I didn't bother getting any post-race food. No biggie for me, though, as I'd packed food in the bag I checked.
 

A. T. from Chicago (11/17/2008)
"Nice, small race" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


Weather was perfect. Course was nice, although a path closer to the river (rather than road) would have been nice. Be prepared for hills near the end; great downhill finish. Lots of food (even hamburgers!) at the end (but no beer for 4:50 finishers). Nice expo; lots of volunteers along course. Host hotel (Doubletree) has 3:00 checkout! Met lots of 50-staters.
 

S. D. from Westchester, New York (11/17/2008)
"user friendly" (about: 2008)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


Tulsa is not the most exciting place in this country, but is user friendly. Not a lot to do in Tulsa, but the people are very nice and try to be helpful. The race course is not very exciting, but it is runner friendly in that the boring out-and-back along the river is flat and the hilly end has a lot to look at. The organizer's know their job, and while the expo and pasta party were not spectacular, they did have everything you needed without being exciting. The spectators were there - not too many, but there were enough in general to make you feel that you were not all alone and forgotten. The entertainment was not overboard, but was enough to make you feel that the organizers cared to keep you interested and entertained.

Nothing about this race will overwhelm you, but you will not walk away disappointed by it either. It is not Chicago, but it is also not Huntington. This race has just enough of everything without making you overly impressed but does not leave you disappointed either.

The organizer go out of their way to accommodate you but did not have enough beer or food at the end. It was an interesting touch to have hamburgers and cheeseburgers at the end, but were they really needed at 11:00 a.m. after finishing a marathon. Concentrate on better bagels, snack bars and BEER.

In general, a pleasant race to run in Oklahoma, but do not expect to be overwhelmed by the event.
 

S. M. from Arkansas (11/17/2008)
"boring course" (about: 2008)

3 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 2


On Route 66, you do a huge out-and-back that makes up the majority of the mileage. The last 4 are in downtown Tulsa - and all hills. The volunteers were good, but there was very little crowd support. There was only 1 food stop during the race, and I stopped at 2 aid stations and asked for Advil, and nether had anything. There was very little food and no beer left when I crossed the finish line. (I placed in the upper half of finishers.) I think this has the potential of being a great race, but they really need to work on supporting the runners. They did have great shirts and my medal was very nice!
 

D. M. from Fort Collins, CO (11/17/2008)
"Hitting on most cylinders" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


Excellent marathon. It had a very good course (with a few hills right at the end through an older interesting neighborhood). I liked the run along the Arkansas River. They had interesting wildlife statuary ~ every 1/2 mile (?). Well-stocked, well-run aid stations. OK race t-shirt during packet pick-up, followed by an excellent tech finisher's t-shirt at the end! Cool medal. Minimal spectators (just a few friends or family members out supporting their friend/family runners). Only question is why it's the Route 66 Marathon when it only goes 5% on an uninteresting part of Route 66. Still, not sure going on more of Route 66 would be a course improvement. Excellent post-race food... even with a relatively slow time there was still pizza and delicious grilled hamburgers (I understand the faster finishers had a long line to get post-race food).

Smaller, convenient Tulsa airport and hotel shuttle made for easy travel logistics.
 

T. S. from Superior WI (9/6/2008)
"Of three fall marathons I ran, this was the best." (about: 2007)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


I enjoyed this marathon. I knew there might be some problems (there were, no food at finish), but overall it was a good race. The course was out-and-back, with some interesting scenery and variety. There were actually spectators along the course and I can see that increasing with the next races. There seemed to be a festive air about this marathon, more so than some of the other smaller marathons I had run earlier. The host hotel was great, with a good location - and the same for the expo. I found a Spaghetti Warehouse restaurant across the railroad tracks from downtown. Very good. A local had recommended that. I would do this again, but I still have others to states to conquer. Good luck to the organizers. I think this race has very good growth potential. Hey, I really liked the flashy finisher shirts and awesome medal. The best! Saw lots at the airport next morning!
 

R. L. from Joplin, MO (4/29/2008)
"My first one!" (about: 2007)

First Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my first half marathon to participate in. It was very well organized and I enjoyed the festive atmosphere. For this novice, the last 3.1 miles of hills were a bit of a challenge. But overall, it was an awesome and life-changing experience!
 

Deborah Hoffpauir from Amarillo, TX (1/27/2008)
"My first half; will definitely do again!" (about: 2007)

First Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Like others have added, the hills in the last few miles were a challenge, especially for a girl who is used to the flat terrain of Amarillo. I grew up in Tulsa, so it was nice to go back and run through the streets of my youth. Great memories. Although there wasn't a large number of spectators, the ones that were there were fantastic and very supportive, especially in the neighborhoods. Loved the OU fans (BOOMER!). Plenty of water and Accelerade at the stations. Overall, I was happy this was my first half. Not too large, but not too small either. Will be back.
 

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