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May 13, 2024

Oklahoma Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Oklahoma Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.9

Organization 4.4

Spectators 2.8

Number of comments: 28 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 > ]

L. S. from Dallas, Texas (11/21/2005) "Nice course, very small-town-feel race" (about: 2005) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The best thing about the course, aside from it's being flat and so scenic running with the river, was the fact that I got to pass all the other runners so many times! I tried to cheer them all on each time I saw them. Course, by the third time, my cheers were a bit sloppy and I had stopped clapping mostly, but I still had time to give most a 'good run,' or something. Aside from a few folks at the aid stations with words of encouragement, there were no spectators at all to cheer us on. I also really enjoyed the pre-race dinner. The speaker was exceptional. Not a single one of his wonderful stories crossed my mind during the race, though! I think the biggest disappointment was the post-race party. I fully expected there to be one, since I paid extra for it. However, when I finished, there was no party; very few people were hanging around the tent, and I got one piece of pizza for my money. One. And as I understand it, a number of people didn't get any at all. So, I guess I was lucky! Also, the course was supposed to be open for 8 hours. I finished in under 7. So, you would think that the aid stations would still be open and staffed well into the seventh hour. But, they were abandoned prior to the seventh hour, and out of Gatorade on my 3rd pass. All in all, I had a great time. I was more interested in my time for the half (which they didn't offer, but I understand they will next year), and I did set a PR. It is a great charity that they support, and well worth the effort.
J. V. from Dallas, Texas (11/21/2005) "New course coming!" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 The race was just okay at best. I have run several small marathons this year and the quality differences are dramatic. I have also started attending the pre-race meals. Thank goodness, that was the best part of this race. The course doesn't matter as they have decided to make this a big event next year, complete with a great new course from little I know of the area. Jenks has a great looking downtown! Okay, the rest stops were abandoned hours before the course closed.... They stayed at the finish line and announced each one of the finisher's names for eight hours, but the last hour and a half they had been out there all alone. There was zero crowd, so without a rest stop crew you were doing a training run. I ran back down the course after the race and came back to empty (not just abandoned) rest stops. Bad choice on my part & but they were still announcing names of finishers! They lucked into great weather.... A touch more wind than I'd like, and from the wrong direction! Again, new course next year, so not an issue. Not sure that this team can handle a larger format race; they did not do that well with a 300-person event on a "closed" course. I mean their best accomplishment was a catered meal.... Thank goodness that the host hotel had a good food service department. Can they handle having a half and relay as well as a full marathon? Time will tell. Would I run this race again? Sure! I am looking forward to the new course. This race was expensive for what you got, but the cause was good and people were nice.... But nice doesn't make for a good race, I have learned. Many race directors are great people, but lousy race directors. Oh, the worst part may have been the post-race party. You had the option to add pizza to your finish for $5. You had to have good timing to make that work for you. A caterer would have helped here as well. There were only small windows of opportunity to luck into getting that pizza from what I saw. I am still not sure what the dead rubber chicken giveaway was all about.... It was not part of the race, but an outsider. I am sure that there was some alcohol invloved in that idea... but it did make the event very unique. All and all, a very-average-at-best event, but a nice time of year, a nice location, and I am looking forward to 2006! Well maybe 2007 or 2008 when they work out some of the kinks of a new course and a new format.
J. A. from Minnesota (11/20/2005) "Friendly runners make for a good day" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 We had a perfect day weather-wise. The course is little boring with a double out-and-back on a park trail. This race is a fundraiser for a good cause and had quite a few first-timers as well as the veterans. Lots of '50-staters' who are great at supporting each other and everyone else in the race. Met a lot of great people who I hope to see again as I work my way through the rest of the states.
D. N. from Utah (11/20/2005) "Great small marathon" (about: 2005) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Fantastic organization and tradition for a marathon that has only been around for 7 or 8 years. I was concerned about the double out-and-back but it was great. The wind was a bit strong on the 'back legs' but besides that it was a great course and great people. I would definitely recommend it!
K. A. from Wichita Falls, TX (11/20/2005) "Not much spectator support" (about: 2005) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This marathon was very small and seemed pretty organized. However, there was absolutely no crowd support. The double out-and-back course was very lonely; it would qualify as a long training run alone. The race staff were not rude, but they weren't overly friendly either. The weather conditions were pretty good, but I couldn't get past the fact that there were no spectators cheering. The entrants in the race weren't friendly either; everyone I cheered on just looked at me as if I were crazy. Now, if you bring along your own fan club there will be many chances for them to see you. There were only 6 porto-johns at the race start; not good. I'm so disappointed in the lack of crowd support; I would not run this race again.
Jim Gould from Kansas City, MO (11/28/2004) "Would recommend" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is my third marathon. It is a small marathon with 300 max runners allowed. The course is a double out-and-back along a paved trail that goes along the Arkansas River. You never have to go onto a road. The weather was perfect; 49 degrees and little wind at the start. The people who organize the race are very friendly and helpful. A great course for friends and family to watch at many spots. The one thing to watch is that the trail is not closed to the public so there are non-racers on the course running, but the good thing is they are very polite and supportive and are some of the biggest cheerers. This year we will be getting shirts in the mail and they will have the names of all the finishers on the back. Neat, unique idea. Very much enjoyed and would recommend to anyone looking for a flat, fast small-town marathon.
S. G. from Leawood, Kansas (11/22/2004) "A Great Little Race!" (about: 2004) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Oklahoma Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed the marathon. They made you feel welcome from the pre-race check-in to the finish line. You get your name called out at the halfway point and the finish. You get your name on the race shirt. Nice personal touches. The pasta dinner was one of the best I've attended. The staff goes out of their way to help, constantly asking what they can do. And, they mean it. We saw all of them many times during the race. I was apprehensive because of the double out-and-back course. However, it is scenic and it did not feel repetitive. If you are looking for a flat course, this certainly qualifies. I gave it four stars only because it was not point-to-point. Not many fans out there, but the ones who were added a great deal of support. If you have your own spectators, it is very easy for them to see you countless times during the race.
Joan Griffin from Gaithersburg, Maryland (11/23/2003) "Oklahoma is OK!" (about: 2003) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this marathon yesterday, and I now know the meaning of the line from 'Oklahoma' that goes 'where the wind comes sweeping 'cross the plain...' This was my 4th marathon -- I've run/walked (OK, I'm slow -- painfully slow -- BUT I FINISH) Marine Corp, Baltimore, and NY -- and this was by far and away the best of the lot. In no way is this a marquee marathon. The course is not the most exciting (although it is remarkably flat). For the most part, the only spectators on the course are other people using the trail (who are very friendly). And it was WINDY -- not breezy; more like blow-you-off-the-trail windy. However, the good points of this marathon more than make up for any alleged deficiencies. This marathon is extremely well-thought-out, well-organized, and well-implemented. I loved every part of this race and the events associated with it -- I loved having dinner the night before and hearing 'the Penguin' speak; I loved wearing a t-shirt that said I represented my state; I loved the balloon release at the start; I loved meeting people from all over the country, people much faster than I who cheered for me as I trudged on and as I finished; I loved the volunteers who had plenty of water, Gatorade and FOOD for slow-pokes like me; and most of all I loved the race organizers who were relentlessly supportive of everyone in the race. I recommend to the Chamber of Commerce in Tulsa that they support this event, if they don't already do so. I probably never would have visited Tulsa if I hadn't run this race. Now I know that Tulsa is a lovely city and its residents are warm and friendly people who can put on a great race.
R. W. from Omaha, Ne (2/2/2003) "A Fantastic well organized small friendly marathon" (about: 2002) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I really recommend this marathon to anyone who wants to run a great well organized small marathon. And by far this was my best marathon at the finish line even though I didn't feel the best, the nice lady at the finish line really was great, she gave everyone who went thru the finish line a nice hug along with your finishing metal. The coarse I think would have been better if you didn't have to go over the same ground, other than that I would really recommend this marathon.
Jackie Morgan from WI (12/3/2002) "Flat and fast!" (about: 2002) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Wow! What a great small race. My previous PR was from Chicago (which is notoriously fast) and I thought I might need the crowd to help me push the pace for the entire distance but the flat course and meeting oncoming runners for most of the race made up for the small field and sparse (but encouraging) spectators! Everything was organized well and went off without a hitch. I would guess that the wind could be a factor on this course but this year it was an absolutely perfect day.

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