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May 9, 2024

Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.4

Organization 4.5

Spectators 4.4

Number of comments: 330 [displaying comments 271 to 281]

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C. T. from Keller, Texas (4/27/2004) "Great Organization and Volunteers" (about: 2004) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Second time at OKC for me, the weather and wind were much better this year than last year. To give you an idea of how these people go all-out to put on the event, 2 examples: first, every time I told someone (volunteer, policeman, whoever) thanks for being out there, they told me 'no, thanks to you for coming to our event' - second, at the later water stops, not only did they have plenty of PowerAde, it was the real stuff, not made from powder which makes me sick. Plus, it was COLD, a couple of cups I took even had ice in them! Need I say more? You gotta do this race!
R. C. from The Woodlands, Texas (4/27/2004) "Every runner should do this marathon at least once" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have never been thanked for participating in a race. The people of Oklahoma City were very supportive even though I wore a Texas flag singlet and shorts. The 'Bricktown' area was a fun area to relax in especially Sunday evening. Make sure you run some hills before you go because they sneak up on you.
C. G. from Austin, TX (4/27/2004) "Great Overall Experience" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 As has been said before, come for the memorial and run the race. The 168 seconds of silence before the start of the race really set the tone for the day. A very moving tribute. Very scenic course, nice run at the lake (thank goodness the wind was down this year). Great expo. No lines to get my packet. Running in memory of a victim really hit home with me. Thanks Oklahoma City for a great race!
guy rodgers from Cleburne, Texas (4/26/2004) "Great race for Clydesdales with big rectangular fe" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I weigh about (let's just say I fall in the Clydesdale Division) and have been training hard for several months. This marathon was a life changing event for me. I enjoyed the many free snacks along the route. I can't wait until next year to run again.
Jerry Wood from Ft. Smith, Arkansas (4/26/2004) "A 'must do' marathon" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My 5th marathon and the best. From start to finish they take care of your every need. Friendly volunteers and plenty of them. Water stations were great with plenty of refreshments. Finish line food was plenty and everyone just so happy you came to OKC. When you stop and think about the reason for the race you cannot help but be moved. A wonderful weekend and the weather was perfect. I recommend this race to everyone regardless of the state you live in. Certainly worth the travel and expense if you must fly. I will be back.
R. B. from Fort Worth, Texas (4/26/2004) "Flawless in every way!" (about: 2004) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a must do! As an experienced marathoner and long-course triathlete, I can say that OKC has everything figured out perfectly! Ivy-league civil engineers could not have done a better job at event management. The Memorial site provides for an awe-inspiring start; the course runs through historic neighborhoods, by the lake, through parks, and crosses numerous cultural districts; it is mostly flat with a few very mild hills; and the weather was great for 2004, though I heard it could have been really windy. The entire course is closed to traffic and monitored closely by tons of OKC cops and volunteers, which is not an easy task in a metro area of 1 million people. OKC residents and local businesses really support this race and a local TV affiliate covers with helicopters and on-site reporters the first few hours of the race on live TV! Pre-race event organization was excellent, with plenty of packet pick up and race day free parking, and the finish area had abundant food and beverage reserved for runners. I stayed at the Marriott Waterford and they gave me a 2pm checkout that allowed for a post-race shower and nap. For carb loading, Flip?s, Bellini?s, and Hideway are the best. A really cool thing I enjoyed was running through the four relay transition areas: Hundreds of relayers lined the course and it was like running through a tunnel of fans ? very much like the cycling on the Tour de France. The only thing I?d like to see the race add is beer at the finish.
Bobby Delise from New Orleans (4/26/2004) "Great Time - Great People - Great Cause" (about: 2004) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I can tell you that it was a wonderful experience - a severe charlie horse in my calf not withstanding. The people were superlative. I also would like to thank the volunteers who tried to help me along the way when I was staggering on one leg for the last seven miles. The organization was superior. My only complaints were that the course was not marked well the night before so it was very difficult to scout the course the night before - and I wish they had something other than GU and cookies later in the race. Other than those very MINOR complaints, I was very moved and touched by the people of Oklahoma City. They are wonderful people galvinized by a horrific event. Lesser people would have let this tragedy knock them down - this lifted them up.
V. B. from Houston, Texas (4/26/2004) "Fantastic First Marathon" (about: 2004) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 After running my first half-marathon in January I felt like I needed something more. And so I started looking for my first marathon. The OKC Marathon was not too far from home and it was not too close or too far away in terms of time to train. I am so glad I chose this marathon!! I think the biggest push was I actually felt like I was running for something as opposed to just running in a race for myself. It just added a different dimension to the event. For example, you have the option of running in the honor of one of the victims of the tragic event and you wear their name on a bib on your back. Something hit me when I passed one runner who's bib merely stated the word 'Mom' on it. Really brings you down to Earth. The city was very easy to navigate and everything was pretty close (we stayed near the airport which was less than 20 min from the race). The course had nice variety to it (running through downtown, by the lake, and through lots of nice subdivisions). Was a bit surprised by the rises in elevation. Good thing I had read an article about how to run on hills as I didn't train on any (other wise I'm sure I would have had a hard time finishing the race). The weather was great (a bit chilly at the start though, but not noticeable as you got into the run). There's also lots of tourist type things to do in the city to add to the event (the Memorial of course, but there was a festival going on and other museums nearby). OKC, you did a great job! I truly plan to come back and am looking forward to this race receiving more notoriety.
B. B. from Norman, Okla., USA (4/25/2004) "Good marathon for personal accomplishments" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 OKC Memorial Marathon is a great run for inspirational, personal victories. Currently in it's 4th year, the race is in memorial of the 168 people killed in the 1995 federal building bombing. This year (2004) had around 6,000 participants including marathoners and 2-people and 5-people relay teams. I ran the OKC marathon relay twice (5-person in 2002; 2-person in 2004). Organization is much better in 2004 than in 2002. Buses take participants to checkpoints often and I had no problem getting there on time. Don't expect big crowds to cheer you on; most spectators have little experience with running (unless it's of the < 100-yd variety on grass in front of 80k people) and are there to cheer on a friend or family member. Still, the inspiration and motivation comes from the reason behind the race. I recommend to all who like a break from the mega-marathons and want a well-organized small to mid-sized race.
mike burke from redondo beach, ca (11/5/2003) "Great Expo" (about: 2002) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Awesome course, flat. Fun expo. It was really cool how you could run in honor of one of the victims of the bombing.

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