Williams Route 66 Marathon & Half Marathon
Tulsa, OK
- 26.5 Miler, Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 5K, 1 Miler, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Williams Route 66 Marathon is a Boston-qualifying race that is run on a USATF certified course throughout 26.2 miles of the historic and scenic streets of Tulsa. All participants are timed electronically, and first-time marathoners will receive a special “My First Marathon” Finisher’s Medal. The Center of the Universe … MORE
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Good Race Could Use More Energy At End
The expo and swag were great! The race was good overall, but not my favorite. I was a little disappointed at the lack of aid stations toward the end. I … MORE
The expo and swag were great! The race was good overall, but not my favorite.
I was a little disappointed at the lack of aid stations toward the end. I needed water and there was nothing after like mile 9. There was also a lack of energy for like the last half.
Holy Hills!
This was a really great race and was very well put together. The swag was nice, scenery was decent, and the course support was on point. The only thing to … MORE
This was a really great race and was very well put together. The swag was nice, scenery was decent, and the course support was on point. The only thing to keep in mind about this race were the hills! Definitely train for hills if you are going to do this race.
I got my kicks...on Route 66
Not my best run - but had a great time! I started in Corral C - the announcer described Corral C -consistent, challengers, courageous - then we started doing the … MORE
Not my best run – but had a great time! I started in Corral C – the announcer described Corral C -consistent, challengers, courageous – then we started doing the wave and he changed it to Crazy! I had not been in Oklahoma before but I did see the musical and remembered the song “O-O-Oklahoma where the wind goes sweepin down the plain”. Plain- a flat prairie like place, right? So when people warned me about the hills I just assumed they lived on a (windswept) plain and weren’t used to bumps. Wrong!!! Tulsa’s hills – the Hills from Hell. Totally kicked my butt – like running a roller coaster. Then my *#% stomach decided to treat miles 2-4 as a Teaching Moment. The lesson – never ever carb load with Mexican food the night before a race no matter how good it looks. Duly noted. So, my time was rather dismal – but I had fun! The crowd was fantastic- and as others have observed I have never been offered so much liquor during a race in my life! (I didn’t dare with the above stomach stuff). The course was surprisingly scenic- we ran through older elegant neighborhoods and by a river, under a bright blue sky and trees blazing with fall colors. Epic after party with a great band (played all the classics), dogs and kids running around exhausted parents, and I met some great 50 staters who gave me some good recommendations for future races. All in all – I recommend this race highly and hope to do it again in the future and conquer the hills!
Love Route 66
The weather was warm this year, so support along the way was really awesome - especially in the first 13.1. The hills are relentless on the 2nd half of the … MORE
The weather was warm this year, so support along the way was really awesome – especially in the first 13.1. The hills are relentless on the 2nd half of the run and warm temps and wind did not help this year. Still an awesome finish experience and the post-race party at the Guthrie Green is awesome. We continue to love our hometown race.
Quite the Experience
The one word that kept coming back to me to describe this race was "experience". I signed up for the half marathon on a whim -- four days before the … MORE
The one word that kept coming back to me to describe this race was “experience”. I signed up for the half marathon on a whim — four days before the race — and I am so glad I did. This race was a blast. The expo was big with many great vendors and nice people. Packet pickup was so easy, and I love the puffer vest that we received with our race registration. Really good start.
Then, the race. It leaves downtown Tulsa pretty quickly, but weaves its way through really pretty neighborhoods and parks, then onto a long road with these cool tunnels, and then of course on the nation’s most famous highway, Route 66, before finishing back downtown. I loved the variety this course had to offer, but be warned — the hills are brutal! I was not anticipating so many hills, and had not trained for them, and they are TOUGH. Even still, I really liked this course.
Put simply, this whole race is a party. Each corral got its own confetti shower upon starting. There were a good amount of spectators most of the way, and I’ve never seen so much alcohol out on the course! There were so many people offering beers and shots, I couldn’t believe it! It really added to the vibe, even if I didn’t partake myself. The finish area is so fun too, in a city park with a stage and a band playing with finish line pizza and beers. And a cool medal!
I had an awesome time running this race, and I’m so glad I pulled the trigger on this. It was an experience worth remembering. Make this your Oklahoma race!
Kicked my behind
Loved everything about the race except for the many (too many) hills. I had done Nashville the month before and I thought that was bad with the hills and the … MORE
Loved everything about the race except for the many (too many) hills. I had done Nashville the month before and I thought that was bad with the hills and the bridge. Nashville was pleasant in comparison to Tulsa. Other than that it was such a fun race. Great crowd support with lots of fireball shot and donut offerings. Ran past many beautiful homes and the near the river. Never lacked on Gatorade or water. Timing clocks on the course. Really appreciated the slice of pizza at the finish. Did not have to stand in line for pizza unlike at other races where the runner has to get the food with a bib ticket after exiting the finish chute. Packet pickup and expo were great. It was smallish (less than Chicago but more than Nashville). Very generous with gloves being handed out. And the delicious cans of Not Beer fizzy water was really nice extra swag. We received puffer vests which was different from getting the usual tshirt. Nothing I would have worn on race day but will be nice for the cold months. Warning about the parking on race day. There is a lot of parking near the course but be careful even if looks ok to park. We ended up with a $50 parking ticket!
The detour is worth it
I would recommend taking the center of the universe detour. It does not add much distance to the race, and you can say you ran an ultra marathon. They do … MORE
I would recommend taking the center of the universe detour. It does not add much distance to the race, and you can say you ran an ultra marathon. They do give you a coin/medal and a half a cup of beer for running the detour.
There is not a lot of options on where to eat if you are staying downtown. I found myself walking all day trying to find a place to eat as a lot of the restaurants downtown are only open Monday through Friday.
The marathon course is rolling hills, which was not particularly challenging or easy. Just make sure you include hills on your long runs and you should be fine.
The official race gear for sale seemed already picked over by Saturday mourning.
The hills are worth it.
The city, the race and the people were generous beyond belief, with all T's crossed and I's dotted. Now, as for the course...that's a whole other opinion.. **** The Tulsa … MORE
The city, the race and the people were generous beyond belief, with all T’s crossed and I’s dotted. Now, as for the course…that’s a whole other opinion..
**** The Tulsa Route 66 Marathon ****
Here’s the scoop: Hills, Heat, WIND and more hills, and heat. It’s not Everest, but it’s no pancake either. I did not expect so many ‘friendly’ hills to keep things interesting—starting with a warm-up incline downtown, rolling hills through scenic spots (only 14 real hills the first 5 miles), and a few ‘why did I sign up for this?’ moments near the university. The final stretch was kind enough to let me sort of catch my breath (or what was left of it). And, adding an additional 0.3 mile to tag the Center of the universe and get the special coin 🪙 is worth not missing the opportunity to never be here again. Hill training = highly recommended. Next time I’ll try to plan ahead, but that takes the exciting mystery out of it…
Epic party during and after!
It was quite a gloomy and rainy morning during this race, off and on. It was windy at times and walking back to the hotel was pretty cold once I … MORE
It was quite a gloomy and rainy morning during this race, off and on. It was windy at times and walking back to the hotel was pretty cold once I cooled down. That did not stop this party from happening even during the race! I appreciate all of the spectator support even though it wasnt ideal to stand out in at times. Plenty of hydration stations and other “hydration stations” if you know what I mean. Haha. Some of the neighborhoods were gorgeous to run through. They provided well and enjoyed running on the historic Route 66 for part of this. Swag was very nice with a long sleeved shirt included.
Really well ran race!
While I kinda fell apart towards the end of the race, the marathon itself was pretty great. The course support was top-notch. The city of Tulsa was great! I also … MORE
While I kinda fell apart towards the end of the race, the marathon itself was pretty great. The course support was top-notch. The city of Tulsa was great! I also completed the Oklahoma Standard challenge!
Like the Course along waterfront
I ran this race years ago and the course went east of the city and was much more hilly. THe course winds on the waterfront more and stays nearer the … MORE
I ran this race years ago and the course went east of the city and was much more hilly. THe course winds on the waterfront more and stays nearer the city. I met a lot of fun people along the way and convinced some to be drinking buddies along the way, didn’t go for a fast time, just a good time. Had a good time as alcohol and snacks along the way are top notch, some official and other non-official. Nice race, do the center of the universe add-on, it is worth it for the extra bling.
Rocked the Route - Tulsa's Biggest Party
The weather, to include the light rain, was perfect race weather — a mild and damp 51° F with a gentle 6 mph breeze. Each corral crossed the starting line … MORE
The weather, to include the light rain, was perfect race weather — a mild and damp 51° F with a gentle 6 mph breeze. Each corral crossed the starting line to the fanfare of music and confetti, which was a nice reminder of the colorful, exciting, and lively atmosphere that was Tulsa’s biggest party. We started our 13.1 mile tour of Tulsa downtown, which is renowned for the second largest collection of Art Deco architecture outside of Miami. The first mile was a very gentle, very gradual easy downhill, and I savored every minute of it while my muscles warmed up.
Once we hit the neighborhoods of Tulsa, we came across a few unofficial aid stations offering alcoholic beverages and unconventional treats, and my favorite aid station of them all was one in which a woman was offering “nose napkins and mimosas.” The rain had subsided to a barely perceptible light mist, and so I loaded up on tissues and thanked the tissue and mimosa lady profusely. Other runners made their approval known as well, concurring that this had been their favorite aid station.
After mile 1, the journey to mile 2 was a gradual uphill, and all throughout the rest of the course there were frequent elevation changes with noticeable uphill and barely noticeable declines. I hesitate to call them “gently rolling hills,” because some of the hills, especially the last one preceding mile 12, were far from gentle. We ran past some of the most beautiful houses I’d ever seen in the Midwest while we were passing through the neighborhoods of Tulsa, and I mentally made a note of at least two mansions to look up on Zillow later.
Aid stations were spaced out approximately every two miles, and each aid station was manned with friendly and engaging volunteers ready to shower us with water and Gatorade. The course continued through Midtown, and then we ran along the Arkansas River with beautiful views of damp fall foliage before crossing the historic Route 66 around mile 11. There were some great opportunities to get photos with the famous Route 66 sign, and a race photographer was positioned to capture some candid shots of runners in front of the sign.
Mile 11 began in a decline and then we started to ascend again up the monstrosity known as “Crybaby Hill.” My legs were already fatigued from the previous 10 miles’ worth of hills, so by the time I began to crest Crybaby Hill, I was nearly in tears, lending credence to the hill’s moniker. The final two miles took us back towards the Tulsa Arts District, where we finished at Guthrie Green. Underneath the canopy in the finisher’s corral, volunteers handed out warm slices of pepperoni pizza, which had been delivered that morning in heat bags by Simple Simon’s Pizza. It was one of the best slices of pizza I’d ever eaten in my calorie-deprived and muscle-fatigued state.
Before heading back to my hotel for some rest, I swung by the Route 66 Historical Village and snapped a photo of my medal with the iconic sign for which the medal was inspired. 10/10 would recommend this race to anyone looking for a great race in Oklahoma. Pre-race communication and race production were phenomenal, and the expo was fun with lots of awesome vendors!
Would recommend; prob wouldnt run again
Difficulty: -- This course is deceptively hilly. If you live & train in a flat area (like me), I definitely would NOT recommend this race. That should be obvious, but … MORE
Difficulty:
— This course is deceptively hilly. If you live & train in a flat area (like me), I definitely would NOT recommend this race. That should be obvious, but I stupidly underestimated the impact of the hills & it really hurt my race experience as a whole.
Scenery:
— Scenery is nice, some miles were kinda bland, but you get to see a lot of Tulsa which is neat!
Race production:
— I was very impressed with the race production. Exceptional job. Very organized altogether; I never ONCE got confused about turns, mile markers, or anything the route; volunteers were kind and helpful; expo/packet pick up was super cool with tons of products to shop…overall, very well done. My only complaints: 1.) After the half marathon marker, portapotties are SPARSE. I had to use a McDonald’s bathroom at mile 19… 2.) By the time I finished, the whole after party was over. No food, drinks, nothing. Honestly, that was really disappointing. I think after running 26.2 miles, no matter how long it takes you, you should get to participate in an after party. Especially after paying almost $200 to run it. 3.) I was in the last corral & it took 15mins just for us to get to the start line. The confetti pop I was so excited for didn’t even happen — only for the earlier corrals…
Race swag:
— Medal is DOPE, I love it!! Pullover, not so much – it’s kinda ugly lol, & I really wanted something that says “route 66 marathon finisher.” It just has the tiny logo in the corner.
Other notes:
— I was most excited about the amazing crowd support I heard about. That was true for the first 13.1 miles; it really was amazing, honestly! I felt the love from Tulsa locals & it was very special. But then…the next 13.1 miles were dead. Especially miles 19-26!! Lonely, kinda eerie, felt like a ghost town. I wasn’t expecting that so I really struggled. Basically, this is a super hype HALF marathon. If I run it again, I will definitely not be doing the full distance, mostly for that reason. Also, my watch clocked 26.8 miles…be sure to hug the corners!!
Fun half!!
The race swag was almost the same as the years in the past. The hills in the end are killer, but manageable. I overall really enjoy this race, it’s always … MORE
The race swag was almost the same as the years in the past. The hills in the end are killer, but manageable. I overall really enjoy this race, it’s always so much fun.
A great first experience!
The organization was great and not confusing at all! There were so many people cheering you on and handing out water so you felt very supported! The course has a … MORE
The organization was great and not confusing at all! There were so many people cheering you on and handing out water so you felt very supported! The course has a few big hills but you’ll feel great about completing it at the end. Overall a wonderful experience!
Okay q
Everything was nice except for the finish line i finished my marathon and try to hydrate myself but they didn’t give me a bottle of water because I had a … MORE
Everything was nice except for the finish line i finished my marathon and try to hydrate myself but they didn’t give me a bottle of water because I had a Gatorade already. They were really cheap at the finish line one slice of pizza one 1/4 of the banana one bottle of Gatorade or Water you can’t have both and their price for the marathon is not cheap. I’m very disappointed I have been running the marathon since 2017 and it use to be very good but not this year
Great First Race
This was my first half marathon and the experience was so good that it won’t be my last. The thing about this race is that you run through neighborhoods. There … MORE
This was my first half marathon and the experience was so good that it won’t be my last. The thing about this race is that you run through neighborhoods. There are many unofficial aid stations and just a multitude of people cheering throughout the entirety of the race. The volunteers were extremely friendly and helpful. The medal was also really nice. The marathon and half marathon runners received a blue quarter zip. It wasn’t the worst thing but I most definitely would not have chosen it for myself. The entire race was a 10/10 experience and I would definitely recommend checking it out if you haven’t already.
Wonderful race through Tulsa!
It’s a beautiful and fun route through Tulsa. The route is hilly through the first several miles, but the neighborhood cheering crowds were so encouraging. I would have loved to … MORE
It’s a beautiful and fun route through Tulsa. The route is hilly through the first several miles, but the neighborhood cheering crowds were so encouraging. I would have loved to have a choice for the swag, but appreciated that the size choices were inclusive. One note is that the start and finish are not at the same spot, so check the map to plan ahead if needed. Overall, it was a positive experience and I look forward to running the race again in the future.
Most energetic race!
This is one of the most energetic and supportive races you will run! Neighborhoods throughout Tulsa set up in their own front yard with signs, snacks and costumes to join … MORE
This is one of the most energetic and supportive races you will run! Neighborhoods throughout Tulsa set up in their own front yard with signs, snacks and costumes to join in on the fun.
A Party at Every Turn! Fantastic Race!
This race treats Maniacs and Fanatics right! If you are a maniac, fanatic or 50 stater you’ll love the perks at this race! It’s a very well put on race … MORE
This race treats Maniacs and Fanatics right! If you are a maniac, fanatic or 50 stater you’ll love the perks at this race! It’s a very well put on race for all! No detail is spared. The spectators are some of the very best! Tulsa does not disappoint! I’ve ran this race multiple times and they are always working to improve and it gets better every time! They work with the hotel partners for late check outs and they have a good expo.