Race Information: Oklahoma Marathon

Lenore and I revisited Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the third consectuive year in order to participate in the Oklahoma Marathon on Saturday, November 22, 2003.

The day before the race was eventful, and it all started at breakfast at the restaurant of the Southern Hills Hilton Hotel, the race headquarters. At a nearby table three middle-aged couples were eating and obviously enjoying each others company. Eventually, one of the men came to our table and introduced himself as Jerry Roark, 60, from Stockbridge, Georgia. He wanted to know if I had really run 100 marathons…..as was prominently displayed on the 100 Marathon Club T-shirt that I was wearing. I admitted that I had, and then he told us his story.

He was in Tulsa to run his first marathon on the birthday of his late son, Sam, who had been a marathoner and athlete. Sam had died suddently seven years earlier while exercising at a fitness center. Some family members had come from various parts of the country to run with him, and others had come to cheer him on. We wished them well on their upcoming, dedicated run in honor of Sam’s 35th birthday.

For most of the day Lenore was busy helping at packet pickup at the hotel. Among those working with her were Lori Pratt, one of the race directors of the Park City (Utah) Marathon that I ran in June 2001, and Gina Moore, a Dallas runner whom we see often at marathons.

Because Bob Lehew, race director of the Oklahoma Marathon, is also the president of the 50 States Marathon Club, he was supported by the attendance of many club members who came to Tulsa to run the marathon. It is always a pleasure to visit with 50 Staters and 100 Marathon Club members whether they are long-time friends or someone we have just met. They all lead interesting lives involving megamarathoning and frequent traveling.

The pre-race dinner at the hotel was a memorable occasion. Bob Lehew introduced the first-time marathoners and then the leading megamarathoners in the audience. Norm Frank, 72, of Rochester, NY, would be running his 829th marathon the next day. He’s the leader of career marathons in the Western Hemisphere. Ray Scharenbrock, 70, of South Milwaukee, WI, would be completing his 490th marathon as he is closing in on being an 8 time finisher of the 50 States & DC cycle!

Rick Worley of Kingwood, Texas, has his accomplishments listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. He ran 200 marathons in 159 consecutive weekends (that’s 3 years and 3 weeks!) These marathons represented one 50 States & DC cycle per year for three years and one completion of the Canadian provinces in the second year. He also worked full time as an oil compnay executive and made his own travel arrangements during this time.

Rick is the director of a college scholarship foundation for Cal Farley’s Boys & Girls Ranch at Amarillo, Texas. The Oklahoma Marathon and all participants contribute monetary support to this worthy endeavor every year. Rick introduced the dozen or so boys and girls from the ranch who were there to run the marathon (some for the first time).

Guest speaker for the dinner was John Bingham, “The Penguin,” who writes the monthly column “The Chronicles” for Runner’s World Magazine and has the website www.johnbingham.com. He had the audience laughing continuously as he described his running experiences.

At pre-dawn on race day we took the first shuttle bus to the starting area tent in Riverside Drive Park. Lenore continued with packet pickup and answered questions from runners and their families.

Just before 7:30 a.m. we gathered at the start/finish line for a prayer, the national anthem, instructions, well-wishes, and photographs. When the gun sounded, the participants released red, white and blue helium-filled balloons that we had been holding, started our watch timers, and then headed south for a short loop.

After we re-passed the starting line, we headed north on a paved trail adjacent to the Arkansas River. The course was variable in an open, narrow park with scattered cottonwoods and willows, a few buildings and playgrounds. It was flat to gently rolling with minor hills. We crossed footbridges over streams and ran under overpasses for I-44. We climbed a small hill to a sidewalk on the 11th Street bridge that crosses the river. Here we could appreciate the width (1/2 mile), depth (shallow), and flow (slow) of the river. A great blue heron, a few gulls and fishermen were in view.

When we reached the far side, we found the turn-around where our bib numbers were recorded (smart move….catches cheaters!) Then we reversed course to run back to the finish line to record a half marathon. After that we did it again…..and slower for most of us.

One nice thing about an out-and-back course is that we could see everyone often and call out greetings to those going in the opposite direction. I encouraged Jerry Roark on three such passes. He was hurting, but he was determined to finish the race for Sam.

Rick Worley told me to slow down, but that was happening anyway. The temperature was rising to 70 degrees fahrenheit, and the headwinds were reaching 20+ miles per hour. These conditions caused some leg cramps in the last 10K, but it was my 24th time over this stretch of trail, so I knew the way to the finish line and persevered.

The only hazard on the course was an occasional swift bicyle that was silent as it passed from the rear. One biker cleared his way by blowing a police whistle. He was the escort for the first runner, Scott Mortimer, of Boulder, Colorado, who won the race in a time of 2:47:38. This was the only sub three hour marathon of the day.

My run was a slow 4:32:52, and I was 180th of 309 finishers. Even so, my time was faster than my previous two Oklahoma Marathons. I found a chair near the finish line and visited with Lenore, 100 Marathon Club members, and others.

Ross Waltzer, 82, of Tulsa, has run 80+ marathons and 80+ ultras before medical problems caused him to retire from running. Ed Burnham, 84, ran the inaugural YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON. He ran his first marathon at the age of 70 and just completed his 170th marathon. He was the oldest participant in the race, but he wasn’t the last to finish.

Don Kern 47, of Martin, Michigan, was congratulated for finishing 50 States & DC at the Oklahoma Marathon. This accomplishment is added to his feat of being a Seven Continent finisher. Don’s article about running the North Pole Marathon will appear soon in “Marathon and Beyond.”

Congratulations to Gene Bandler, 74, of East Meadow on Long Island, New York, as he became a 50 States & DC finisher. Gene walks 22 marathons per year (including the New York City Marathon) and will soon become a member of the 100 Marathon Club North America.

Brenton Floyd, 18, of Harrison, Tennessee, ran a 4:17:39 race. He is the youngest 50 States & DC finisher and has run 186 marathons. He and his uncle Jim Simpson of Huntington Beach, CA, planned to join many others from this race at the marathon in West Kansas City, Kansas, for a weekend double….that’s a full marathon on Saturday followed by a full marathon the next day!

Byron Critchfield of Osawatmie, Kansas, ran this race with his three teenaged sons, Cody, Dallas, and Galen. Two of the boys were first-timers. After the father finished, he ran back on the course to encourage the last son and to accompany him to the finish line.

Ginger Allen, 14, of Cal Farley’s Girls Town USA ran her first marathon in 4:50:49. She is the youngest female marathoner that I’ve seen.

When Jerry Roark neared the finish line, many members of his family who had been waiting crossed it with him. All were wearing bright T-shirts that said, “In Honor of Sam.” It was an emotional occasion.

Thanks go to the director, staff and volunteers of the Oklahoma Marathon for putting on an interesting event. This race has a cap of 300 (the race director “fudged” this year), so it’s good to apply early. See http://www.oklahomamarathon.org for information

Written by Bob Dolphin

Partial Results....Oklahoma Marathon.......November 22, 2003

1.  2:47:38  Scott Mortimer, Boulder, CO
2.  3:01:26  Danny Ponder, Norman, OK
3.  3:03:43  Tom Brennan, Poteau, TX

1.  3:02:41  Lisa Butler, Tulsa, OK
2.  3:21:15  Lisa Voight, Fort Worth, TX
3.  3:34:34  Tina King, Edmond, OK

3:23:26  Glenn, Williams, Dacula, GA
3:45:47  Cody Critchfield, Osawotomie, KS
3:55:14  Francisco Crihiti, Philadelphia, PA
4:09:09  Gina Moore, Dallas, TX
4:15:29  Don Kern, Martin, MI
4:17:39  Brenton Floyd, Harrison, TX
4:20:23  Steve Boone, Humble, TX
4:20:59  Byron Critchfield, Osawotomie, KS
4:23:49  Galen Critchfield, Osawotomie, KS
4:27:43  Richard Irons, Tulsa, OK
4:32:37  Tara Miller, Austin, TX
4:32:52  Bob Dolphin, Renton/Yakima, WA
4:50:49  Ginger Allen, Girls Town USA, TX
4:51:54  Jim Simpson, Huntingtonn Beach, CA
5:02:40  Rick Worley, Kingwood, TX
5:05:16  Paula Boone, Humble, TX
5:22:50  Dallas Critchfield, Osawotomie, KS
5:44:32  John Marconnet, Clarendon Hills, IL
5:56:25  Richard Miller, Tulsa, OK
5:56:37  Eugene Bruckert, Arlington, IL
6:02:56  Gene Bandler, East Meadow, NY
6:20:16  Norm Frank, Rochester, NY
6:25:15  Ray Scharenbrock, South Milwaukee, WI
6:27:52  Jerry Roarck, Stockbridge, GA
7:26:46  Ed Burnham, Kansas City, MO
7:46:31  Susan Daley, Chicago, IL