This was a very well organized small race. I ended up running it because of a last minute conflict with another race. First marathon of this size I have run. I will look for similar sized races in the future. The travel, lodging, and race day logistics are so simple and low stress compared to large races. The only thing you have to worry about is your run. The course is very good. I liked the short out and backs. Plenty of aid stations with great volunteers. Thought about responding na instead of 5 stars for the spectators, there were none (well very few). Those that came out were great. Nice finishing is the stadium. Makes it very easy for friends and family to see the finish. Its all about the race, not the expo or any of the other stuff. I highly recommend the race. Thanks to the organizers and volunteers.

Tough course, into the most consistent 20+MPH headwind I've ever felt. But it IS Oklahoma. Great organization. Free pasta dinner was a plus, pre-race bus transport was a snap, great aid stations with plentiful, very enthusiastic volunteers. The course was a bit dull, especially miles 9-20 on a perfectly straight 4 lane highway. I could see the water tower in town, and knew we were running to it, but it seemed to never get closer. Niles 21-26 in hte park were easier than the long stretch. My only gripe was the website, which was never updated. I had also signed up for pre-race email updates,and never received a single one. This was my only complaint, which is very minor. The people of Ardmore were fantastic, though, and I would recommend this to anyone who likes smaller races, and don't need a lot of spectators and fanfare.

Beautiful and unique scenery! Really- in Oklahoma! Very nice crowd support. Great drink and goo stops. Volunteers were just awesome. Tough race, wind was a bugger. But folks, that is between you and God! If we wanted to have control of all the possible elements we would run marathons in shopping malls!

This is an excellent small town low key race. I believe there were less than 100 marathon runners. The marathoners, half's and 5K runners are all separate The RD and volunteers are great. I suspect volunteers outnumber runners. The course, is challenging, but great. The first 4 miles are brutally up hill into a sever head wind. Next 7 miles are nice, and the last 15 are up and down into a headwind. At 20 miles you can see the finish, but make a 5 mile loop though a lovely park to a lake. The town of Ardmore is very friendly and make runners fell welcome. This is a point-to-point run starting in a state park by a beautiful waterfall. At 4 miles you are at the top of a hill that you can see where you have been and where you are going. The course is only moderately difficult, but the headwinds make it challenging. The Port-on-Potties are very plentiful. No waits even minutes before the race. Rather than a T-Shirt, runners get a nice wool hoodie.

Top notch organization. Everything was well done from packet pickup, busing, course support, etc. Loved the hoodie (even though it didn't say anything about distance or location). Organizers and community seemed genuinely happy to have us.

Although I generally like point-to-point courses, and this is the perfect size race to do it well, the 9 or so straight south, rolling, full sun miles along Hwy 77 (a 4 lane concrete road) was tough. It would have been tough in the best of conditions, but running into a 20+mph headwind for that length of time on concrete sapped a lot of energy. Loved the first 10 miles of the race, and the last 6 through the park were a welcome change from the concrete wind tunnel.

I am glad I did it and do recommend it to those who like small, well-run point-to-point races with some challenge, but I probably wouldn't do it again myself.

Very well organized, not a run if you are looking for crowd support. Plenty of Porta Johns at the start and along the course. The aid stations and volunteers were OUTSTANDING! It was very hot, plenty of water, sponges, GU, Gatorade, banana's, oranges and encouragement.

Coming from the east coast, I found the wind to be as tough as I expected. Wasn't easy but it IS Oklahoma! Also in 2012, it was warmer than usual- but that is also uncontrollable. What WAS controllable was so well managed. I love marathons where pretty much everything is top-notch. Marathon course was nicely separated from the half course to avoid any congestion.

Marathon started at a beautiful park with waterfalls and we began our point-to-point journey. Running through a ranch (miles 7-11) was very unique and pastoral. Volunteers were so friendly all throughout the way- it appeared as though they included more aid stations due to the heat. Miles 20-25 were run in a pretty quiet city park and were a little lonely but not bad. After the last turn (into the wind) it made me want to run faster to get the windy warm run over with! Nice finish in a football stadium with plenty of food, drink, and timely awards. Loved the race shirts and age group awards. The race director exudes passion for the event- I saw her many times throughout the weekend, talking to runners and making sure everything was running well.

The marathon benefited the local cancer center and it was a good way to put the run in perspective. To the RD's credit (along with all the volunteers!) it DID run well. Nicely done, Ardmore! I would most definitely recommend this marathon to someone looking for a great Oklahoma marathon for 50 states, or simply a small, well-organized marathon. I can think of some larger marathons that could learn some lessons from the folks at Ardmore.

This is a great race. The support that the town shows for this event was excellent. It was a hot and windy day and they did a great job of adding aid stations and keeping a close eye on the runners to make sure everyone stayed safe. I highly recommend this race!

Yes, the wind and warm temperatures were brutal, but I loved the community support. I felt very safe. As I was recuperating in the medical tent, this cute little girl kept making sure I was hydrating myself. I loved the shirts, but I wish they had the distances listed on them. The medal and ribbon were nice.

The race director has a natural gift for organizing this race.

In the future, I hope to pass through Ardmore, OK and run it again (hopefully, with a tailwind).

Yes, it was brutally windy, but that was the only downer of this race. This was a fantastic experience! The race is very well organized from packet pick-up to finish line. The volunteers and everyone around the community really comes out to support the participants. People were very kind to my husband and two small children as well.

Special thank you to every volunteer, Ardmore Chamber and Jud Little Ranch. I signed up 2 weeks before the race when my family travel plans were going to have me traveling through OK and I wanted to run. We couldn't find a hotel closer than 45 miles away so the Chamber and volunteers helped us. We stayed at The INN at Treasure Valley Casino in Davis. Nice, clean place just 7 minutes north of the start. Make sure to go to The Cliff Restaurant for southern fried chicken!

The course is really pretty! Loved running through the ranch and the Ardmore Park. Lot's of horses, cows and other stuff to look at. Awesome volunteers had water stations every 1-2 miles. This is a net downhill; however, I would describe it as rolling - not flat, but not difficult either. If there is a tailwind, it could be pretty fast.

Really liked the short-sleeve participant tech shirt and beautiful long-sleeve finisher's tech shirt! Nice medal.

Finish is one loop around the track. Thanks to the two guys working at the last chip mat who cheered me to finish strong. I was pretty shot after those winds and these guys helped me bring it in. Nice to have the massage too. Unfortunately I had the rare experience of needing medical support, but Tom and the other folks really took good care of me!

I loved this race - wind, IV's and all - and I would do it again! Thank you, Ardmore! My kids keep asking when we can go back to Oklahoma!