Route 66 is a fun marathon and half marathon. Truly the whole city turns up to cheer runners and…read morethe number of unofficial - alcohol-laden - stops is very impressive. What's more impressive are the number of spectators who showed up for the 2018 race because it was 32F, windy and damp. Miserable to run in, miserable to stand outside if you didn't have to. Packet pick up is easy at the Cox Business Center. You can pick up a friend's packet of you want, you just need their bib number. The start line is located 5ish blocks away from the expo. The finish line is about 3/4 mile from the expo, so think through what hotel to overnight in based on when you want to walk. My husband did the center of the universe detour because he knew he wasn't going to PR. This is important because you take the detour before the finish line and there's not an official finish time to account for this adjustment. This is definitely a race to run and plan to have fun. Lots of rolling hills can be a blessing or a curse depending on where you train.

Route 66 marathon I…read morejust got done running the Williams Route 66 Marathon on 11/18/2012. It was my 51st lifetime marathon completed and 31st state in my personal quest to rock marathons in all 50 states. Signing up and coming to this marathon was sort of a no brainer. It was a choice between the Philadelphia Marathon or the Route 66 Marathon. Both were new states for me, but this one in Tulsa, Oklahoma boasted something unique that I could not ever resist. The idea of joining all three clubs that I am apart of was amazing. The Marathon Maniacs, the Half Fanatics, and the 50 State Marathon Club (with a lot of members in 2 or all 3 clubs) all converge to this very race, making the Route 66 marathon the largest single gathering in the club's history. Early estimates are about 300 strong of us on the course that Sunday morning and it was an absolute delight to see many many friends out there at the expo, at dinner, and on the race course itself. It was a sea of yellow that morning at the Maniac VIP tent that morning and it was amazing. Plenty of folks I do know well and those newbies in the club whom I have yet to meet up in person. All good to know we were there to run the marathon for our health, or well being, our stress relief, and the bonds that tie us up in this sport we love and cherish. Thank you to the Route 66 Marathon for making this happen this year 2012, when I heard of the great response from the membership of last year's event, I just needed to pick up OK for my 50 states marathon quest from Hawaii. I felt that I didn't really like the course all that much, due to the much adieu of the hills of Tulsa. The weather was perfect at the start, but it warmed up considerably in the later miles. I did like the out and back section along the course where you could see the maniacs and 50 staters. It was magnificent, to say the least. Saw a bunch of friends that way, and it inspired me to keep on trucking especially when I tripped and fell at mile 3 on the speed bumps and needed some motivation to keep it going. The course ran through beautiful neighborhoods, commercial districts, but also ran into the industrial sections of the city as well. Not a big fan of desolate streets on a lazy Sunday in the industrial sections, especially when you feel unwanted in some levels. I thought of quitting at mile 15, but after finishing 50 marathons, I should know better not to give up hope. The aid stations were adequate with water, Gatorade, and enthusiastic volunteers that made the later miles more tolerable. I am thankful for the pretzels at mile 25, since my stomach was grumbling and my sanity was starting to wain a bit. Thankful for the Tulsa Police who made sure that the runners were safe from crazy ass drivers. Seeing the finish line area, as I approached from the top of the hill, was a sight for sore legs. I picked up the pace and saw a few my friends waiting for me there. After turning the corner and saw that fabulous finish line in sight, it was clear to me that all that hard work paid off and I crossed off OK at this marathon! I wouldn't say that this marathon wasn't as bad as people would say, but the hills made it more challenging than I would have liked it to be. Maybe it's because I have ran 2 marathons the weekend before in Richmond VA and the Outer Banks NC before and the marathon traveling in between took its toll. Thankful that I got in under 7 1/2 hours to receive an official time. I would recommend this marathon if you love the challenge of hills and more hills. Granted that I have more training to do in the future, the lure of the Marathon will forever persist within me. Thank you to the Route 66 Marathon also for the Maniac Corner, which was nearby the finish line. Although there was not much stuff left there when I went, it was good to see friends there before they left to do other things. I received my custom made Marathon Maniac Route 66 marathon finisher's medal and that was awesome. Many fun times here and hope to return here after finishing my 50 states quest and run this one again to see my extended family again. Run more! B