Andy Payne Marathon - Race Reviews

I enjoyed the course. It was a nice track around Lake Hefner in OKC. Flat. I'm not going to complain about the weather like many do since OBVIOUSLY it's nearly summer in the south on race day, so it is going to be what it is going to be and should be expected. The staff was friendly and water/Gatorade stations were at every mile. That was great! It's a smaller race with few spectators, but that allowed me to meet up with my own 'cheerleaders' easily for a quick hug and few words of encouragement. There was no hoopla at the finish, but a few adequate snacks and drinks. I'm not sure what happened to the Indian Tacos I'd read about, unless that's a synonym for hot dogs. I'll do it again for sure.

I have run this race many times. The Race Director nor anyone else can control the weather. It's the Southern U.S. at the end of May. Get over it. I run near the back on most of my marathons. The course staff makes sure that all of the runners are taken care of. Water, gatorade, and wet sponges, helps to handle the heat. Going around Lake Hefner is a great experience. I plan on returning next time (2013)

I really, really wanted to like this race because it is the oldest continuously running marathon in the state, and for the races' namesake. (Google Andy Payne or the Great American Footrace.) OK. It is Oklahoma and it's Memorial Day weekend. 90% chance it's going to be hot. This year (2012) it was 75 at the start and almost 90 by noon with 20-25 mph sustained south winds and full sun. Only a small portion (2 miles?) is protected from the sun and wind, the rest is exposed to the elements. But it is what it is. The course is two out-and-backs (horse shoe shape), on a bike path/road, around a lake. it is flat, but not all too interesting so i rated it a 2. The aid-station workers and other volunteers worked really hard with what they had, and i would have given them a 5 if i could rate them, separately, based on effort and hospitality. Aid stations were well placed with water and gatorade. Easy to park close to start/finish line. But, if you're a medal collector, you will be disappointed with this one, because the medal is really cheap (my 10 year old asked if it was plastic), and there is no finisher shirt. Race shirt is cotton. Not much in the way of a post-race celebration. most folks seemed ready to leave soon after finishing. There was water and gatorade at the end, with hot-dogs and a snack bag which was nice, but no Indian Tacos or ice treats I read so much about in previous race reports. Not much for spectators. There are not many comfortable places for them to be, but the ones that were there were enthusiastic. So, I really want to see this race be successful, but it seems like this would be better as a trail race/ultra event, as setting a road PR would be really tough in these conditions.

This was my first marathon ever...and it was brutal! The course was beautiful...around Lake Hefner and back, twice. The brutal part was the wind! It was like running against a wall for the last half of the course...twice! The race staff was awesome! Plenty of water, Gatorade, snacks, and encouragement throughout the whole race! I loved every minute of it...plan to do it again!

A very small, inexpensive, no frills race. Parking/bathroom situation at the start were not an issue. Plenty of accommodations and restaurants within a few miles of the race start/finish. Less than 30 minutes from the airport. Conditions were hot and humid, which is to be expected for Oklahoma at the end of May. Run next to Lake Hefner, very windy-again this is to be expected. The aid stations were well spaced. They only had water and gatorade, there was no GU. They did have packages of peanut butter crackers and bottles of gatorade at the half way point, but you had to unwrap them yourself.There were a few aid stations were you had to grab your own gatorade/water from the table while the volunteers just sat there. If you are looking to cross Oklahoma off your 50 states list, this may be your race. If you are looking for a cool race experience, you might want to look elsewhere.

Great race considering the heat, wind, and available resources for the event.

I have run this marathon many times. Each year is a little different. The course was relocated due to construction. Very windy the whole way and a sandstorm. The Race Director didn't plan it that way. Well placed water stations approximately every mile to mile and 1/2. Water, gatorade, pretzels, orange sections and banana slices. I finished near the back of the pack, and the water stations were up and running right up to the last runner. The finish line was great even for us stragglers. Cold water, gatorade, and those wonderful giant Indian Tacos. Plan to be back for 2012.

The wind was bad and they can't help that but I have run this before and the medals were the BEST but now they look like they cost a buck out of a gum machine. NO food at the end of the race...NONE. I am done with this race, waste of my time.

This was my first Andy Payne, and yes, it was hot, but the course and the marathon were a great experience!! I was ready for the heat with a CamelBak full of water and a hand-held bottle with Gatorade - and I needed it! There are great water stops, but not frequent enough for me. DG Road Racing did a pretty good job of the set-up and the 3-loop course was good, so that you knew what to expect after the first 8 miles. However, the DG road-racing staff weren't very friendly or encouraging to a runner after a long, hot run on the course. One of them, monitoring one of the chip mats on the course, asked me, as I was suffering around the last lap, "Are there many people behind you?" And he hadn't said, "good job" on any of the other lap - she just SAT there staring at us. Also, at the end, I checked my time and the DG road-racing timer staff told me I was SLOW and then laughed in my face! Sure, I was an HOUR off of my PR, but it was a hot day with brutal sun. THE STAFF could be MUCH more helpful, and they just weren't.

I like the 3-loop course. The first loop was hit-or-miss on the water stations. After that, things smoothed out, with lots of cold water, Gatorade and orange sections. I finished near the back of the pack and there were water stations up to about one mile out. There were great refreshments at the finish line, flavored ices, and also freshly-made tacos. The race management can't control the weather. It gets hot at the end of May; get over it. I plan on returning for the 2011 marathon.

This was my 21st marathon and one I would not revisit. I ran it 12 years ago and again this year, and the organization and support has not improved with the change in management. There were not nearly enough water stops, with long stretches without any water. The weather was 90+ degrees and 90% humidity, where water is really necessary to perform well. Advantages are the flat course and occasional breeze off the lake. Long stretches have no wind, and the heat off of the pavement must have been 100+. For the later finishers, the water stops had packed up and left. The high points were the frozen ice treats and the Indian tacos. Almost worth the dehydration and heat exhaustion.

This was my first full marathon and I found the route to be a little boring. When I came to the water toward the end, it was all gone. If you do not finish fast, you will be forgotten. I did get a finisher's medal, though; it's cool.

This a great race and a great course to run if you are new to the marathon experience. I stayed close to home (the course is where I train) and was pleasantly surprised with the organization of the event. The staff was extremely helpful and encouraging. You will see me back in 2010!

This race continues to improve each year. Yes, it's hot in the southern U.S. on the Memorial Day Weekend . The UNITY organization provided cold water, cold Gatorade and sections of oranges. During the last three miles, two race vans drove by to ask if I wanted any more water. I have run this race before and I will be back for 2010. All the best to this group for conducting a quality running event

There aren't a lot of things I can say that I didn't like about this race. The fact that there weren't a lot of spectators was discouraging to begin with, but the spectators that were there were great. My best friend had come with me, and made a sign that said, "Respect the Distance" and I saw a lot of other signs too. One guy had one that said, "Today you are going to finish a marathon." That was great. I can't say enough about the people who organize and time this event. At one point, there was a police officer who stopped between aid stations to hand out water. It was very hot! When I had finished the race, the guys doing the time followed me to my car to tell me that I had gotten second in my age division; they gave me Gatorade. Everyone was so nice and eager to help in anyway that they could. I would have to say that, out of the 3 marathons I have done, this was my favorite! I will do it again next year!

This was my third marathon. The organization was good. I was worried about the monotony of three laps around the lake but found it quite nice. Lap one was easy, lay two was focused, and lap three was a challenge. I'm thankful for the flat course. The drink stations were adequate and the spectators, while few in number, were positive and supportive. I recommend this one.

Thanks to everyone - runners, organizers, even spectators who set up ad hoc aid stations - who helped me to the finish line.

I wanted to run a marathon following my half at the OKC Memorial. Decided to stay close to home after reading the positive feedback on this forum. Was pleasantly surprised by the low entry fee of $35. Here is a list of the positives and negatives: Positives 1) Well marked course with little vehicle traffic. 2) Well organized packet pickup and start. 3) Route 66 Park is a great venue for this event, with plenty of parking and a good atmosphere. 4) Cool t-shirt and finisher's medal. 5) For the small number of spectators that were there, they were all great. Negatives 1) With three laps around the lake... it is what it is. 2) Poorly placed and lacking aid stations. 3) Refreshments were warm for the first couple of laps. 4) Some stations were unmanned and I actually had to fill my cup on the last lap. 5) Some volunteers seemed reluctant to be there and I actually had a volunteer tell me she was tired at mile 20! 6) No post-race snacks. Just water and small bottles of Gatorade. 7) Post-race awards ceremony was unorganized and the race director forgot to bring some of the trophies, so I have to wait for mine to be mailed. Overall, you get what you pay for with this race. If the price stays the same, I will do this one again. Next time, the iPod and Fuelbelt will be worn to combat the monotony and dehydration.

Hats off to the handful of people who manage this event. It was a fine marathon. It was worth the trip up to do it. Thank you to everyone.

Just ran this race this morning. Very well organized for the number of participants (95 finishers). Not a lot of spectators but the people who were there were enthusiastic. My one compliant would be the lack of a water stop between the Iron Bridge and the last water stop. Made for a long 3 miles in the heat!

This race was $35! We got a great medal in the shape of the state! We had plenty of well stocked rest stops, friendly volunteers, and a decent course. Granted, there was not much in the way of post-race food that you traditionally get in a lot of small races, but you got so much for so little! This year the weather was a bit tough. I understand that it tends to be a bit warm and humid, so get over it. This year it was also windy; at first I thought that the wind would make up for the heat and humidity... wrong! It was really a tough wind to run in. Oh well, nice event despite the tough conditions. OKC was a great city! I had no idea that they had a canal like San Antonio's Riverwalk. There were beautiful murals, restaurants, a lovely baseball stadium, tour boats and everything was very affordable. This was a wonderful surprise to me! I stayed in the Best Western near the park. They were good to me. They did not flinch when I asked for a late checkout. They had a great breakfast. An indoor pool. My room had a refrigerator, microwave and separate sink for the kitchen area, not to mention a separate area for the couch! A mini suite! Very nice people all the way around. I had a great weekend.

This continues to be a "low-key" race with an excellent organization and staff running it. As for the heat factor, it is what it is: the southern United States at the end of May. The course continues to improve, as more of it is on the asphalt trails rather than the street. I have run this race many times and I plan on returning in 2009.

This race is small but well-organized. There was chip timing and regular aid stations with water, Gatorade, bananas and oranges. The route is a short loop through the Route 66 Park and then 3 loops of about 8 miles each round Lake Overholser. Partly on road, partly on paved trail, a small section on sidewalk. No hills. There is hardly any shade, so be prepared for heat - even with the aid stations I was glad that I carried water with me. There was a strong headwind for about 3 miles of each loop. Everyone was very friendly and supportive. Hardly any spectators, but didn't matter - had a nice time talking to other runners along the way. Medal and T-shirt were nice. Three out of four people in my party got age group awards, thanks to low numbers of participants!

The things that I felt were really good about this marathon were: 1) The registration and package pick-up 2) The t-shirts, the location of the course, the day of the race (it's a Saturday race), 3) The mile markers, 4) Pre-race communication (enough that I know what was going on, but not so much that I felt I was getting SPAM'd constantly), 5) The focus on Andy Payne (I was inspired as I learned about the 1928 Trans-America race and would not have known about it with out this marathon). The things that I though could have been done to improve were: 1) Have a better-marked course. It was pretty intuitive because it is three laps around a lake, but most of the turns and forks in the roads were not marked, and I ended up back-tracking from missed turns three times, which is always frustrating. A bicycle lead pacer for the first lap might help with this, or even more cones and arrow on the road would have help with this. 2) We were chip times, but only our finish times were recorded. I think a mat on the loop to record our time for each lap would have been great additions. 3) Also, I couldn't find the race results when I searched on-line and in the local news papers the next day. A quick posting of the results would have also been a great addition.

This is the second time I've done this race. It was hot and I suffered from heat-related problems at mile 23. But the crew at that aid station gave me royal treatment (ice, drinks, a spot to sit), which enabled me to finish the race. Low-key, economical, certified course, and great people. It can get hot though, so my fellow Yankees should get in heat training prior to trying this.

I have run this race continually since the 1980's. The course has remained basically the same with the staff improving the overall quality of the event. In 2006 the race moved to the new Route 66 Park for the start and finish. (You finish on Andy Payne Lane.) The UNITY organization does a wonderful job conducting this marathon. We spent the entire weekend in the Oklahoma City area. I will be running the 2007 race.

I really enjoyed running this marathon... my first one ever. It was not intimidating whatsoever. Just enough aid stations and the staff was so nice and helpful. I love the Saturday vs. the Sunday! I didn't run in 2006 (just had a baby), but I am doing it in 2007 and will continue as long as they keep it on Saturday.

It was a windy day with wonderful temps for running. Going around the lake three times was a bit boring by the third lap. Mileage indicators would be a welcome addition. Having not too many runners made it a good race.

I had absolutely NO expectations for this race and it turned out to be my best one ever. I was only about 5 minutes away from qualifying for Boston. I was surprised by the great race conditions (for myself anyway) and it was just a really good day. I think it was pretty well organized, though VERY small. The course was scenic, but lonely. However, it was FLAT! As for spectators? I really don't remember there being any, so I can't rate the spectators very high. I do have to comment on the t-shirts - they were great, I liked the "No Payne, No Gain" on the back. I don't see this race scheduled for 2006, but if it is, I would like to run it again. Thanks for a great race and I hope to do it again soon!

I racewalked the 2005 version of this race (yes, there was a 2005 version). The course is pancake flat and consisted of a short out-and-back followed by three 8.1-mile lake loops. 6.5 miles of each loop are open to traffic but the vast majority of the drivers were very polite. Each mile of the 8.1 mile-loop is marked and I remember 4 aid stations per loop. Aspects of the race: the course is pretty, the field is tiny (41 finishers in 2005) and therefore quite spread out, and the course is unshaded (not a problem in 2005). I walked a 5:25 and was in dead last place for the first 19 miles or so. Times ranged from 2:53 to 5:31, and the cut-off was 6:00. My only disappointment was that they ran out of diet cola prior to my finishing; that is what I get for taking so long! There was a free shuttle from the race hotel to and from the course; that was a nice touch. I hope that they bring back the spaghetti dinner. There was also a 5K and 10K with lots of participants.

The course is flat and fast – if the weather permits. It was in the low 60s to start with a slight breeze, partly cloudy but 100% humidity. Needless to say this was not a PR day... This is a well-run small marathon race (41 finishers). However, you would think that it was a BIG-TIME marathon from the organization. The course is a mile out-and-back, then three times around Lake Overholser. You run on the Old Route 66 Bridge, around the scenic lake. After the first lap you have seen all the sights so you can concentrate on your form, and pace... since you know what the course is like! There were plenty of aid stations (5 for each lap). Each station had water, Gatorade, bananas, and orange slices. Only complaint was the cups were Styrofoam (now I am being picky). If you need crowd support... bring your own! The only spectators are friends, family members, other cyclists, fishermen and a few farm animals. I did not mind the solitude. This race supports a good cause – UNITY and the history/memory of one of the greatest runners, Andy Payne. Thank you to race director J.R. Cook, and all the VOLUNTEERS, you make this race happen!!

This was my first marathon. I thought the race course was alright. The aid sations were great. The friendly people there and the encouragement from the other runners were great too. I hope you hold in the same place - see you next year.

I ran this marathon and I recommend it to others. Could be termed 'low-key' (less than 100 runners)however, the organization (UNITY) works hard to ensure that all the runners are taken care of. It is sanctioned and certified. Will be back at in '04.

The organizers and volunteers were very nice. This is a small marathon, run around a lake three times on a totally flat course. Spectators were sparse, so bring your own. March would be a much better month for a marathon in OK. Suggest the organizers move it to March, instead of holding it in May.

This was my first marathon in 12 years and I really enjoyed it. I plan on running this one next year. Very good aid stations that provided bananas, oranges, gatorade and water. The stations were located every 2 miles. Not very many spectators so if a lot of clapping gets you to the finish line this marathon won't do it for you but it is very well organized with great volunteers and leadership. I would recommend this one to anyone. We ran 3 loops (approximately 8 miles each with a short out and back at the start of the race). A flat course and of course once you go around the first loop there are no surprises for the later stages of the race. A small group (only 90 finishers) but I prefer it that way. If you get a chance next year do this one.

This group conducts one of the best organized races around. Low-key usually 125-150 for the full marathon. Three loops around the lake, traversing the old Route 66 Iron Bridge, then passing some of the most scenic lakefront areas. Three water stations along the route. We spend the entire Memorial Day weekend in the OK City area. The marathon is always a part of our weekend