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Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 4.4
Number of comments: 330 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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D. K. from Madison, WI
(5/3/2017)
 "A top-10 must run event" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The OKC marathon lives up to the reputation of a top-10 event. Thanks to the organizers, volunteers, and spectators - you were wonderful. Thank you to the crews who cleared the Saturday extensive storm damage (trees, roofs) from the course. It was an honor to run to remember. | |
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R. H. from Houston, TX
(5/2/2017)
 "Race was well worth the trip" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my first time to run this marathon, it's always been on my list to do and I finally got around to it this year. Wish I had done it sooner because it's a really good event. Pro's: -Course starts at the Memorial with 168 seconds of silence. Really helps get your mind straight about why you're there and the really important things in life -This event is the main fundraiser for the Memorial and Museum, and it's such a great way for the OKC community to come together and help support it -Banners along the course with the names of each of the 168 victims -Course takes you around the sights in OKC (Chesapeake Arena, Bricktown, State capitol, Lake Hefner, Chinatown) -My hotel (Embassy Suites) opened their breakfast buffet at 4am on race morning, and also had free spare supplies for runners like band-aids, vaseline, chap-stick, etc... -Shuttles from hotels to race start, and back to hotels after the race was really efficient and saved us out-of-towners from having to drive and find parking on race morning...really nice! -On the shuttle buses they played inspirational videos about the memorial and the marathon while we were driving to the start -City of OKC and marathon organizers did a great job getting the course ready. There was some uber nasty weather that came through the day before and they had to work throughout the night to clear fallen trees from the course. Cons: -Spectator support was lacking. This was probably due to the weather (it was in the 40's and drizzly when the race started). If the weather had been better I think the crowd support would have been too. -Wind at the lake was brutal! This isn't a PR course, and I still liked running by the lake. Just be aware that the wind can really kick your tail -Wish there had been a better selection of race merchandise. I would have liked to purchase additional race merchandise but the selection was almost non-existent. -Maybe don't have the race shirt be a blue pastel color Great race, great cause, and a great community. This was my first time to visit OKC, and based on our experience this past weekend we'll definitely come back. | |
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L. G. from AZ
(4/30/2017)
"windy race with enthusiastic volunteers" (about: 2017)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The weather reports were right on target that this was going to be a very windy, overcast day with intermittent rain showers and much cooler than normal temperatures. That made a PR impossible for me, but it was a fun race overall. OKC is a great town to explore with many museums and interesting areas of town. The race ran through many neighborhoods where the residents came out to cheer and support the runners. In fact, the entire city gets behind this race that remembers the OKC bombing. There is a lot going on on race day: marathon and half-marathon start at the same time; 5k starts a few minutes later, a marathon relay and a kids race. The organizers handled the crowds well, and while the course at times felt very crowded it never became a problem. I love the medal and getting a second, finisher's shirt is a bonus. The post-race water and food were great. I didn't like having to walk an extra 3 blocks back to pick up my gear check bag but that's the only negative to this race. | |
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C. S. from Orlando, Florida
(9/15/2016)
 "Tough but worthwhile." (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I think you must run this race because of the emotions you will feel being that it is the OKC Memorial Marathon. Just visiting the Memorial is worth the trip in of itself. To start and finish by there is a very special feeling. Seeing runners leave their bibs and medals on the Memorial chairs was very touching. The course was tough. The wind around the lake ended any chances I had of PRing. It's a warm time of year, the first day of tornado season and it's somewhat hilly. I don't normally comment about swag, but it was the best finisher shirt I've ever received. Carl's Jr burgers at the finish was cool. Very inspiring experience. Not a PR race, but one of the most memorable races you'll ever have. | |
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K. V. from Kansas
(7/12/2016)
"Amazing race" (about: 2016)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I used this as part of my 50 starters, and Marathon Maniac entry. Great organization. Crowd support the entire length of the course. It wasn't my best race, as my hamstring cramped up, but they had several aid stations which staff was very helpful, and willing to help stretch it out. They had a 3D topographic map on display at the expo. So, no more reading about hills, or anything, you can see it to scale. The only downside to the race. We took the bus to the start, and once the race was over, some of the volunteers didn't know where the bus pickup was to take us back. They were willing to help us find someone who did know the answer. if you are looking for an April race, or for an Oklahoma race, I suggest this one. | |
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J. S. from Fargo ND
(4/26/2016)
"Great Race" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am an aspiring 50 stater and this is a great Oklahoma option. OKC is a very nice medium sized city. Everything I saw was new, clean and/or redone. Transportation and lodging options are easy and reasonable. The expo is well spaced and organized. The merchandise selection is solid. Be sure to take the time to go to the memorial/museum. It is beautifully done. The start is organized into corrals and has a gear check. It starts right at the memorial which is a great place to start. The 168 seconds of silence is a cool experience. The course takes you by interesting areas (Bricktown, Downtown), landmarks (Dodger Stadium, State Capital) and neighborhoods (Nichols Hills, Gorilla Hill etc). You also run along a big lake on a paved bike trail which is very nice touch. We ate a little wind there but that's part of marathoning. The finish area down automobile alley is fun and there is thick, vocal crowd support into the finish. There is consistent support on the course too. There were a lot of aid stations which were well staffed and had good offerings. The finish area was well organized and easy to navigate. I didn't get confused like an earlier commentator did. The medal is great and so is the finishers shirt. The organizers did a great job so did the 3500 volunteers and the community support was awesome. | |
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M. D. from Georgia USA
(4/25/2016)
"April 2016 Race" (about: 2016)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is an excellent well organized race with no issues. The course is a nice out and back around OKC with no loops redundancy, or cutbacks In places fan support is outstanding. The hills can be moderately challenging. The wind, especially around the lake, is an issue to cope with. The morning devotional and race theme are inspiring. If I have any complaints, it is not with the marathon, but with the hotels around downtown OKC. They show runners no mercy, in fact, it appears they increase the prices. There is no public transportation to the airport; therefore, you are left with a taxi or car rental. | |
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R. B. from Katy, Texas
(4/25/2016)
 "Great city, tough course" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 We enjoyed our time doing the OKC half marathon: Pros: 1. The Memorial Museum. Incredible experience. 2. The OKC downtown experience. Great vib and great restaurants 3. The people of OKC. Friendly and helpful, small town feel for a big race. 4. Crowd support and great neighborhood routes. Cons: 1. You will never get a PR here with the current setup. 25,000 people in just 5 gates means that you will not separate from others even if able until perhaps mile 5. Arm to arm running for a good while. 2. Miles 7-9 is a tough experience, running uphill into a strong south wind will zap you. The course has its hills and this stretch is too long and unforgiving. | |
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Tim Fisher from Pampa, TX
(8/19/2015)
"Motivation at its absolute finest!!" (about: 2015)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Without doubt the most motivating event I've been a part of since the parade in NYC after Operation Desert Storm! Seriously an awesome event to partake in and I look forward to next year!!! | |
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S. H. from Atlanta, GA
(5/10/2015)
 "Good course with needed improvements at finish" (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Overall this was a good but not great marathon. The course was reasonably flat but there were a few kicker little hills in the last two miles that really kind of hurt. After the second or third of these I was asking the volunteers if the hills were ever going to end. I know the marathon is supposed to be a challenge but it would be nice if these hills could somehow be eliminated by a minor course change. There were plenty of water stations along the course, so no issues there. The remembrance portion and connection to the memorial was very moving. However, the finish really needs some work. I finished in just under 4 hours and the finish was very crowded with full and half marathon finishers. The crowd is not the organizers fault, but the finisher T-Shirt tent was poorly marked and the volunteers were scurrying around in an unorganized fashion. I know they are volunteers but they had really not been set up to succeed. There was no 'Men's Large' line or 'Women's small' line. Just each volunteer was getting a shirt for each separate person. Madness. I ended up with a Women's Large instead of the Men's large I needed and in my pained finishers stupor I didn't realize the mistake until it was too late to go back. Further on, I was unable to find a single sign that would lead me to the Gear pickup. I know it stands to reason that pickup would be where drop off is, but being unfamiliar with Downtown OKC, I didn't know which way to go. There really needs to be better signage and organization in the finishing area. |
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