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| Running crowd in 2019: Route 66 Marathon |
Tulsa is a neat town. I met Caroline at the airport on flight day and chatted while she was waiting on her dad. He was running this marathon in his 66th year! Wow!! That is pretty amazing because 26.2 miles in one run can wreck your body.
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| Wait, what is this antiquated device? |
Plan ahead if you are not a local and are travelling for this race. The half and full marathons are popular and hotels in the area are booked a year in advance. Downtown Tulsa is pedestrian-friendly, so pick a hotel close to the start/finish areas and to dining, and that provides shuttle transportation. There is no need to rent a car with the transportation and Lime scooters in town. Consider downloading the application before you travel so you can use a scooter on the fly.
The race draws a large crowd and some streakers in the sense of repeat runners. This is the first marathon where I saw both Marathon Maniacs and the 50 States Marathon have their own booths and separate tent. I was one shy of running my 10th marathon and had yet to pay for the Marathon Maniacs membership. Expect a lot at the convention: packet pick-up, getting your race shirt, and any other swag you can. There was also an opportunity for puppy cuddles at the expo.
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| Proof I was at the expo. Are you ready to run!?! |
The pre-race dinner was fun - I met up with Caroline, her dad, and Caroline's friend, Loan. We had our carb load (beer required!) as well as sharing stories about life and prepare for the next day.
Race day was COLD. Like 30 degrees cold. I was not prepared to layer up so much. Thank goodness for the heated tents that came with the VIP package the DH purchased for me (a birthday present). Members of the 50 states Marathon Club and Marathon Maniacs also had access to these - as long as they donned a wrist band given out at the expo. You never know what kind of weather you are going to get- the 2018 marathon had ice, so I'll take the cold start as a bonus.
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| This race is magical. There were unicorns! |
The finish line was warm and I was not prepared because I did not pack sunscreen! It was close to 70 degrees at the finish. Yeah, big temperature difference from the start. Lesson: pack two sets of clothes or some throw away layers.
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| Why is it so hot? |
Not only did I complete a marathon, but it was an Ultra Marathon! 26.5 miles of self-powered movement. Obviously, the goal was to finish, not accomplish any PRs for a couple of reasons: Jell-o shots, block parties, beer, shots, and the Center of the Universe detour. But hey, I finished!
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| Miss Unfortunate at The Center of the Universe |
Time on the course: 5:13:27. The post race Bloody Mary (at the indoor after party) was soooo delicious!
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| Post race indoor party thanks to VIP access. Not pictured: Post-race Bloody Mary |
Travel Cost:
Flight: $600 plus airport parking
Travel food: $200 since I stayed an extra night
In-town transportation: None; Walked everywhere!
Race Expo Purchases: Snagged freebies for the kiddos
Hotel: $300-ish, possibly more for two nights
Race Entry Fee: Around $100
VIP Package: A gift :)
Total cost: $1200 for two days of travel. $1300 or more if you include the VIP package.
Curious about the gear, pros and cons? Here is a readers digest synopsis of my experience with this race:
Shoes: Altra Torin 4
Shades: Goodr OGs in Pool Party Pregame
Race Day Shirt: Raw Threads Long Run from the Toy Story 4 collection
Compression: CEP Compression sleeves
Pros: Jello shots, manageable hills, pedestrian-friendly city
Cons: Limited flight options from Tulsa to Connecticut. I stayed an extra day to get a flight that arrived at a reasonable time.
Race injuries: None... but I see the predictor of future injuries in one of my pictures.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 running shoes. I would go back to repeat the state as a half marathon.
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