calendar icon May 19, 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 71 to 81]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 6 7 8 9 10 .. 26 > ]

 

M. R. from Oklahoma (10/20/2010)
"Oklahoma's Best!" (about: 2009)

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


I have run the half in Tulsa 3 times and the full marathon once. The Tulsa Route 66 Marathon is a class-act from start to finish. The course is challenging with some hills mainly in the first few miles. The expo is great; packet pickup easy and well organized. The start is also well organized. The finisher's medal last year was awesome, as was the Brooks finisher's shirt, which is provided in women's sizes as well as men's - much appreciated. Pasta dinner is a great place to socialize and visit with other runners, and last year was at the famous Cain's Ballroom.
 

R. G. from California (7/5/2010)
"Overall, a terrific experience" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Route 66 Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


As others have posted below, the first 13 miles are a series of switchbacks through downtown Tulsa. It's very hard to find your bearings as you are constantly turning corners. It's not particularly comfortable on the joints. Once you enter in to the more residential portions of the first half, it becomes easier to settle in for the run even if those who live in the houses you pass wish that you were anywhere but on their streets.

At mile 13 you make the turn and run along the river. It's very pretty, but there is no shade and at this point the rough becomes rather tedious. When you turn around and begin the double-back return to the finish line, the rough becomes even more grim. There are very few spectators at this point and the very slight incline in most unwelcoming.

The finish at the park was a blast. While there might not have been loads of food, many marathoners were simply hanging out enjoying the sun, free massages, the music, and one another's company.

We stayed at the "host" hotel, which had no information regarding the marathon: no info tables, no volunteers the day before, no pasta dinner the night before, no one the morning of race-day even to point runners in the right direction of the starting line. Next year, whichever hotel becomes the host hotel should give some thought to what they are going to provide to their marathon guests.

The volunteers were great - warm, welcoming, friendly.
 

J. R. from Tulsa, OK (3/3/2010)
"Well done" (about: 2009)

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


Volunteers were great. Course shows most of the things worth running past in Tulsa. Finish area is a park. It's nice to be able to lie in the grass with a beer (and plenty was available). Overall, I'm happy to have this race in my home town.
 

m. k. from Kansas (2/22/2010)
"Worth Running" (about: 2009)

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


Tulsa is a good smaller marathon. The organization was solid, the people nice and the course not bad (the out-and-back at the end was a bit dull). My only complaint was that I didn't realize the full met back up with the half during the first half. I thought I had goofed up until I saw some marathon bibs. I ran a 3:41 and the only food was sparse pizzas. Not my thing, so I just skipped out and went to my hotel (Hotel Ambassador was awesome and just up the street). I would run it again.
 

K. F. from Northern Oklahoma (12/21/2009)
"Nice race, friendly people" (about: 2009)

First Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


This was my fist marathon, so I cannot compare my experience to a previous race. Tulsa is a neat community, and the course was scenic. The hills at the start are the best part of the course. I had more trouble mentally with the 13 mile out and back along riverside than I did with the hills.

Weather was perfect for most. Starting temps in the 50's. About 65F four hours later.

The race seemed well organized, with the exception of the post-race food. I finished in 4:30, and the food tent was completely empty - with a 300-foot-long line of people waiting to eat. Some pizza, I think, showed up later, but not nearly enough. There was food for my friends who ran the half and 5K. I would do it again, but I will plan on bringing an ice chest for something to eat.
 

Glenn McDaniel from Enid, OK (12/11/2009)
"Disappointed" (about: 2009)

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


I truly loved my experience at the Route 66 Marathon. It was my first marathon and it was amazing. I am very disappointed that someone can go buy my finisher's medal online. I busted my tail for four months, put in the time and effort, paid my dues - physically and financially - only to find out anyone can go buy that medal that I was so proud of. I know that I have the story to tell, but it still tends to devalue the event.
 

J. F. from Vernon, Texas (12/10/2009)
"Overall, a great race" (about: 2009)

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


A very well organized race, and I thought the crowd support, volunteers, police, and the community at large were excellent. Be forewarned: you have to hammer out a lot of concrete miles in this race.
 

k. w. from NH (12/4/2009)
"mixed review" (about: 2009)

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


My boyfriend and I traveled to Tulsa to run the full marathon. It is a small-town feel, and everyone that we met before the race was very helpful for out-of-town racers, giving lots of info and help. We had been warned that there would be lots of hills in the front part of the race. There were some hills, but from our training it was not bad. The hard part was the second half being flat and mainly concrete. The lowest part for us was the use of water from hoses at the aid stations in the second half of the race. I was one of many that used the medical tents for fluids, as the chlorine in the water at the aid stations turned my stomach. The volunteers were wonderful, despite the horrible tasting water they had to offer. They kept cheering you on no matter what. Not sure about the food post-race, as there was a line, so we did not stay to see what was offered. I would say the big fix would need to be the water situation, and then figure out a way to entice more spectators to the back half of the marathon. This race has potential in the years to come. Maybe use a paid perks tent like Little Rock.
 

C. B. from k.s. (12/1/2009)
"A great race." (about: 2009)

4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I have no complaints regarding this race. Everything was perfect. It was well organized from the start all the way to the finish. Aid stations were well stocked and the course was perfect. One of the nicest medals I have seen. I highly recommend this race.
 

Mark Abbott from Tulsa,Oklahoma (11/30/2009)
"Overall: A Quality Marathon" (about: 2009)

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


This is the third year in a row that I have run this marathon. Overall, everything was greatly improved. To those with negative comments, keep in mind that this is a relatively new marathon. The new course turned out to be much faster than the old course - I PR'd by more than five minutes. The stretch downtown was great. The miles down and back on Riverside Drive are a little boring, but I have run in several other marathons with stretches that are worse. I saw plenty of porta-johns on the course, and most seasoned runners shouldn't need to stop anyway. The post-race food and beverages were fine when I finished - much better than in the past. I would highly recommend this marathon for anyone hoping to qualify for Boston. It is a very fair course - one you can run negative splits on.

Overall, a job well done, Tulsa.
 

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