calendar icon May 6, 2024

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 61 to 71]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 5 6 7 8 9 .. 26 > ]

 

G. S. from Alaska (12/2/2010)
"Small Marathon with Big-Race Support" (about: 2010)

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


Kudos to the people of Tulsa and the Route 66 Marathon organizers.

Adding a health fair to your expo was a nice touch. The marathon course itself was well planned. The hilly portion of the course came early in the race, winding through business and beautiful residential areas. There were plenty of turns so I didn't notice the hills much. After that the course leveled out, then there was only wind to contend with.

The Tulsa race fans were super. The end of race organization, support and food were top-notch. The roadside car show was an unexpected bonus.
 

K. F. from Northern Oklahoma (11/30/2010)
"Race seems to improve each year" (about: 2010)

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


This is my 2nd Route 66. I wasn't all that excited about running this race this year because I wasn't crazy about the course last year. However, the race organizers, each year, listen to the participants and make changes to improve the experience. I was glad they added the extra 2 miles through the hills (Cascia Hall and Swan Lake), and took two off of the Riverside Drive out-and-back at the end. It seemed like there were a few more spectators this year. Also, the corral start, even for a race this small, was a good improvement. I liked the medal, and I really liked the MC at the finish line. Lots of fun. The finish area around Veterans Park is great. Gives you a place to stretch your legs at the end. I finished early enough this time to get some finisher food, so I was happy about that. The course may have been a little slower this year due to the fierce south wind on the out-and-back. Also, there was some congestion where the half-marathoners merged back with the full marathoners from around mile 15 to mile 17. It was a little bit tricky dodging them. Would be nice to have separate lanes for those two miles. Kudos to the host hotel for allowing a 3:00 p.m. late checkout, but I was disappointed that they didn't have any complementary water, bananas, bagels, etc. for the marathoners. You could buy a bagel at the coffee shop for $2, and it was pretty stale.
 

A. T. from Keller, TX (11/27/2010)
"Not Bad At All" (about: 2010)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 Route 66 Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


My second year to run Tulsa. It was a warm and windy day, but no sun, so yea for that. Even with 9K runners, it was easy to get in and and around. Well organized with enthusiastic promoters and volunteers. Good spectators, but I would expect/like more fan support as this young marathon matures.

My two suggestions for improvement would be to have a short swing off of the long Riverside leg to break it up, and intersperse a few more water stops in the later miles.
 

J. B. from St. Louis, MO (11/27/2010)
"Well run event" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


A very enjoyable experience in Tulsa. The expo was smooth; the shuttle buses ran from several downtown hotels; there was a great opening; and we ran a good course that covered what there was to see downtown and was "out and back" for the second half. This made it easy on my legs not having to negotiate a lot of turns in the second half - just running into that Oklahoma wind for five miles before turning back for the finish. The course was well marked.

Thanks to all of the course support. All of the stations had water and Gatorade, and I had no problem at the finish area regarding medal/finisher shirt pick-up/available food and beverage at the end with a 4:40 finish.
 

d. W. from Mesa Arizona (11/26/2010)
"Friendly, organized, and no complaints" (about: 2010)

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


This organization sent out emails weekly, so there were no worries about checking into the hotel, picking up packets, or morning shuttle. The run was not boring at all and we knew what to expect with respect to finishing and eating. Very organized and a very friendly city.
 

K. W. from Tulsa, OK (11/26/2010)
"Solid race" (about: 2010)

50+ previous marathons | 4-5 Route 66 Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


I disagree with Chicago A.B.; a boring course running through parking lots? Really? This course ran through some predominately scenic areas, historic neighborhoods, new construction of the BOK Center, recently rejuvenated downtown, and finally along the natural Arkansas river lined with unique statues of animals commissioned by Nature Works. The course also presented some minor challenges in hills, so it is not like you ran a race with no elevation change; that would be boring. I would be offended if you called the road that ran next to my $2 million-plus home a parking lot. Having run over 115 marathons across the U.S. from the very small to the largest in the nation, this is a good, well run marathon for its size and one that is relatively new to the marathon calendar. Every year it seems to me the organizers have listened to the participants make both bad and good comments, and have endeavored to make improvements. I urge you to come for the scenic and very marginally challenging course, the medal, and to experience a nice and friendly town. Anything you do not like - outside of telling the millionaires to remodel - I believe attempts will be made to correct.
 

a. b. from chicago (11/22/2010)
"Great medal, but that's about it" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 1  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 3


Boring course - mostly out-and-back, running through parking lots and industrial areas. Poor organization. Volunteers were helpful and the medal was worth it!
 

D. R. from Cincinnati Ohio (11/22/2010)
"Tulsa - the new windy city" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


Excellent marathon. Very hilly the first 13 miles and mostly flat (and very windy) the last 13. Great finisher's shirt and medal. If you are one of the slow marathoners like me (just under 5 hours), don't expect any food at the end of the race. Very limited selections. Long lines at the end of the race for food and shirts. Need better planning for crowd control. Overall an excellent experience. Just bring your own food.
 

T. C. from SW Missouri (11/22/2010)
"Fun!" (about: 2010)

1 previous marathon | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was our first, so please take the info with a grain of salt!

We had a blast. The only downside was the host motel and their food service.

The corrals worked well for the most part. You have to run around people on every race at the start and this was no different.

The expo was great, with a lot of helpful people.

The volunteers were amazing and supportive.

The course was great. I would call them "grades" - not "hills." We train on a similar course in our neighborhood and were ready for it.

I highly recommend this race for people who want to have a fun experience put on by supportive fun people. Well organized!
 

A. R. from Springdale, AR (11/21/2010)
"Very warm and windy, but not race organizers' faul" (about: 2010)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


Very warm, humid, and windy, but that's out of the race organizers' control. This was my second fall marathon this year with temps 15 degrees above average. This seems to be the case with most fall marathons in the middle part of the country this year. When looking up weather facts, it would be best to look up record high temp; and that would be close to race-day temp. Maybe race organizers should start their marathons at 6:30 because of global warming.

Anyway, I'm done complaining because late November should be a safe time of year not to be warm. Volunteers and organization of this race were great, but not many spectators. Overall, a well put-together race.
 

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