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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 141 to 151]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 13 14 15 16 17 .. 26 > ]

 

Dick White from Cocoa Beach, Florida (11/20/2007)
"Thanks for the Hills!" (about: 2007)

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


I usually have to walk some in the last 5 miles, so you provided my focus - walk the inclines and run the flat and downhill sections! HELL on the quads, but GREAT on the psyche! Tulsa Route 66 was #37 in my ongoing quest for 50 states + DC, and it ranks top 5 in city marathons. Expo was WELL DONE, with good variety and local vendors. We bought 2 pairs of NB shoes, socks, gloves (though unneeded), a medal display board, tech shirt Christmas gifts, and nifty headbands - all at GREAT PRICES! Saturday, while out "checking out" the course, we discovered TREK bicycle reps at the end of 41st street setting up hour-long FREE rides on BRAND NEW TREK racers on the bike path ! In all of our marathon travels we have found no hospitality quite as good as in the Midwest. Thanks so much to all of the WONDERFUL volunteers and the race directors for your laborious efforts. There was plenty of beer waiting when I finished in 4:06:15 and my wife in 4:34; the beer was on ice back at the Double Tree with no charge for late checkout - now that's a host hotel. Best wishes for a long and successful series of marathons. I will wholeheartedly recommend this race to all runners looking for a race to ENJOY!
 

D. P. from Colorado Springs (11/20/2007)
"Another great marathon, Tulsa" (about: 2007)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 Route 66 Marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


The weather was great. Volunteers were superb. The route was good, until those hills at the end.... There actually were more spectators than last year, so keep encouraging people to be on the sides of the streets! Maybe The Tulsa World could run an article next year, letting people know that many runners appreciate some noisy support along the route. The 2 shirts are marvelous, but could the word "FINISHER" be larger on future shirts? The medal is really great. I like this year's larger medal size.

I agree with other postings that the route should be reversed. We'll still run up and down lots of hills, but it won't be at the end. I liked the better route through Jenks.

Three improvements: make a family meeting area in the park by posting letter signs (A,B,C...) in a large circle, or in two straight lines, on poles. This works at other marathons. Put a very clear route map in the goody bag.

Get some more food for the finishers. Lots more.

Thanks, Tulsa, for another great marathon. I did not post my best marathon time, but I had fun. I will be back in future years.
 

J. W. from Des Moines, IA (11/20/2007)
"Enjoyable Running Atmosphere" (about: 2007)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


There were a tremendous number of positives for me regarding this marathon. The organization was very good, with very helpful and pleasant volunteers. I am so thankful those folks take a day out of their life to be there for us runners. I am very impressed with the two shirts - and what a medal! I have no problem paying what I did to get a finisher's shirt of the quality that were being handed out. It was an added bonus to get the participant shirt as well. And I can't figure out why other marathons don't separate the 1/2 marathon start from the marathon start. What a pleasant, stress-free start.

The course elevation map is true - it is virtually flat for the first 22.5 miles. I'm not serious racer, but at 200 lbs, I'm happy I can run a 3:30 marathon. The hills at the end are very challenging. I wouldn't know about running up them since I ended up walking at mile 22 through 25. Although the course is flat, you run on the right side of the road for the first 15 miles, which is crowned. Thus, could cause a knee or hip pain due long repetition of running on an uneven surface without a change. Then you get about a two-mile break running back on the same side, but then switch over to the right side again from about miles 17 through miles 21 or 22. I didn't realize how bad it was until I check out my shoes afterward and noticed the left shoe heel had worn down on the outside lip to half the size of my right shoe heel, which is a lot! This explained why my left knee and hip were killing me.

The fans were great - although not terribly numerous, there were some characters, especially the guy with three girls at the top of the last hill at mile 24.5, extremely animated about encouraging me and others to run up that last hill. Even at about 4 hours he was still going for us. Tulsa has a somewhat-small-town feel and the people were great. I would recommend folks run this marathon. My only suggestion would be looking at how you can balance the course to be more friendly to the body due to the crowning of the roads. Would I do it again? You bet; I would love to try to run up those hills at the end! Keep the hills at the end; it adds character to this race. Never mind those who want the hills over at mile 2 or 3 - many of us don't warm up until mile 3.
 

De'Anne Carmichael from Carrollton, TX (11/20/2007)
"I'll be back for more!" (about: 2007)

3 previous marathons | 2 Route 66 Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Tulsa knows how to do a marathon right! The organization was great, the tech shirts are so much better than the sweatshirts last year, the support stations were excellent, and the bands were really good this year too (loved the kid at the Jenks Bridge with his trap set!!)! The hills in the last few miles were tougher than I expected, but the decline on Cherry Street was great compared to last year's uphill finish. Riverside, coming back into Tulsa, was lonely - I would have loved more spectators there, but most were probably complaining about the traffic problems we marathoners caused! I was disappointed with the finish line food tent - did all the 1/4's eat the food or what? I never even saw the beer. But it was a great day for a race. I asked for snow after the heat in Chicago, but the cool cloud cover was perfect! I will be back every year for this race, bringing as many Texans as I can back home with me!!
 

K. P. from Belleville, WI (11/20/2007)
"Overall, a good race" (about: 2007)

1 previous marathon | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


This was my first marathon, and overall it was a great experience. They advertise a "mostly flat" course, which means that it's totally flat until about mile 20 and after that it's extremely hilly. Luckily, the last part is downhill.

The volunteers were very supportive, and they had plenty of water and sports drink. There were hardly any spectators on the course, though. The fruit near the halfway point was a nice touch, especially since they were out of food at the finish line by the time I got there (around the 5-hour mark).

Suggestion for next year: offer shuttles to and from area hotels.
 

d. m. from missouri (11/20/2007)
"great first marathon" (about: 2007)

First Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my first, and I thought it was good. I didn't care about the food at the finish, and they had plenty to drink. The volunteers were great - very encouraging. The ones at the finish were so nice; they put the blanket and medal on me, and even cracked the top on the water bottle they gave me. My family was able to go to multiple spots to watch. Thanks for a terrific first marathon.
 

T. R. from Muskogee, OK (11/20/2007)
"Great Race!!" (about: 2007)

3 previous marathons | 2 Route 66 Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


I just wanted to let you know that I ran the half-marathon yesterday and I think this race was much better than last year. The food was great and there was plenty of it (I was finished at 11:00 a.m.). The entertainment was awesome too! I liked all the bands along the road, especially the one at Woodward Park. It really helped me get up that hill. Even though there were more hills this year, I liked this course better than last years. The only thing that was disappointing was the crowd support. I had wished more Tulsans would make it out to support this event. Anyways, thank you for your hard work and bringing such a first-class event to Tulsa!
 

R. K. from Lee's Summit, Missouri (11/20/2007)
"Concrete and Hills" (about: 2007)

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


The glory of running the majority of the marathon miles on a flat course is taken away because it seems to be all on concrete roads. Miles 22-25 you are faced with incredible hills. The aid stations and volunteers throughout the race were great. What happened to the spectators? Did someone forget to tell Tulsa there was a marathon going on? Great technical t-shirts (2) and medal. There was not much food at the end. Christmas cookies (you got 1), out of pizza, and Mexican food. You only got one bottle of water or Accelerade after crossing the finish, and they were out of beer. I finished at 4:41. I can't imagine what was left for the folks that came in after me. I will not try this one again.
 

B. P. from Colorado (11/20/2007)
"difficult course" (about: 2007)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I loved the organization and race director - offered quick answers and were very helpful! The medical help was great as well, which I ended up needing a lot. The reason that I would never do this race again would be if I were trying to PR again - tons of concrete running and nearly 5 miles of HILLS at the END! I was on my best time ever (had trained very hard to qualify for Boston) but hit the hills and it trashed me. I went from 7:14 per mile to 25-minute miles I was barely able to walk straight, and needed help even for that. The medical staff tried to get me to stop - that's how bad it was. They were a great help in my misery. This was a hard course and I don't understand the need for the hills when there is plenty of flat ground around Tulsa.
 

J. W. from Kansas City, KS (11/20/2007)
"VERY well organized event." (about: 2007)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I ran the half marathon. I was amazed that not only did they have every mile marked for both the half and full marathon, but they had a timing clock at every mile as well. Aid stations were very well stocked with lots of volunteers. Tulsa did a great job. The first half of the course is very fast, but the second half they make you work for it.
 

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