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| H (°F) | 77 | 58 | 75 | 76 | 80 |
| L (°F) | 67 | 50 | 48 | 65 | 62 |
One of the greatest experiences I've ever had. It was my first marathon and has been my favorite so far. Between the atmosphere, purpose, sunrise service, spectators, and much more, … MORE
One of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. It was my first marathon and has been my favorite so far. Between the atmosphere, purpose, sunrise service, spectators, and much more, I don’t know if I will ever top it! Highly recommend!
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Easy terrain and hardly any elevation gain. Fun and spirited people lining the sides to support you almost the whole way. Great and emotional cause. Check out the memorial while … MORE
Easy terrain and hardly any elevation gain. Fun and spirited people lining the sides to support you almost the whole way. Great and emotional cause. Check out the memorial while you’re in town. You get free entry with your race bib.
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Difficulty: As of April 2023, this race is my Marathon PR (overtaking Houston). I went into the race not expecting to PR, but the weather and course set up the … MORE
Difficulty: As of April 2023, this race is my Marathon PR (overtaking Houston). I went into the race not expecting to PR, but the weather and course set up the perfect opportunity to excel. The toughest part is Gorilla Hill, but the insanely awesome crowd support helped pull me through.
Scenery: While Oklahoma City may not be the most scenic, the course was laid out to where there were no out and backs and therefore you got to truly see different areas for the full 26.2 miles.
Production: The expo, start, course support, finish, medical, were all top notch with some of the nicest humans I have ever encountered. The production alone would make me recommend this race as I can not stress enough how truly friendly everyone was.
Swag: Both the shirt and medal were a bit lack-luster compared to the majority of races I have done. I do not blame them though as the race is to raise money for a good cause and in memory of those lost.
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This was an enjoyable, easy-going race for me. I did not rush and spent the entire course time walking and talking with a friend. The race production and course is … MORE
This was an enjoyable, easy-going race for me. I did not rush and spent the entire course time walking and talking with a friend. The race production and course is super supported by volunteers and the local community.
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Awesome run as usual. There are some detail reviews this year so I won't repeat what has already been said. This is a 1st class, city wide event. Everyone is … MORE
Awesome run as usual. There are some detail reviews this year so I won’t repeat what has already been said. This is a 1st class, city wide event. Everyone is super friendly.
There was a significant hiccup this year when it came to the Sunday morning bag-drop. Prior to the bag-drop cut-off time, the “contractors” handling this responsibility ran out of labeling tags, and thus shut down the bag drop. I thought there might be a riot from a few hundred people. Eventually this was sorted out and the organizers must be well aware of this situation by now.
I’ll do OKC again anytime!
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This race is really powerful - done in honor of all those affected by the OKC bombing on 4/19/1995 and raises money for the Memorial Museum. Runners get free admission … MORE
This race is really powerful – done in honor of all those affected by the OKC bombing on 4/19/1995 and raises money for the Memorial Museum. Runners get free admission to the museum and I went after the race – very touching.
The race itself was well organized, from the podcast in the months leading up to the event, to the large expo, sunrise service at the survivor tree before the race, and the many wonderful volunteers. Water stops were placed at almost every mile which was fantastic, and lots of spectators in the various neighborhoods had unofficial water stops/other treats. The weather this year was great, mostly in the 50s and sunny, but from what I hear the weather in Oklahoma is quite unpredictable so I understand how different conditions could really affect one’s run time. I thoroughly enjoyed this race and recommend it as the OK race if you’re trying to do the 50 states!
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This is a race in Oklahoma City that serves as a memorial to those affected by the bombing in 1995. It is held in late April and starts at the … MORE
This is a race in Oklahoma City that serves as a memorial to those affected by the bombing in 1995. It is held in late April and starts at the Oklahoma City Memorial. I chose this race because I have heard great things and it’s in a bigger city so easier to fly to. I only had the weekend so this was a very quick trip to OK so I didn’t have any time to spend in the city. I have been to Oklahoma City a couple of times in the past and it is a nice city so I wish I had more vacation days and could have spent more time there. For the race there is great pre-race communication with a pre-race guide and a nice app for the phone with information. I flew in Saturday morning. I was supposed to arrive at 1pm but my flight was delayed so I wasn’t getting in until 4 to 5pm. Packet pick-up is required before the race and the expo closes at 6pm. Since I would be cutting it close with the delayed flight I had a fellow runner from one of my running clubs pick up my packet for me (thank you if you are reading this review) so I didn’t get to go to the expo. Packet include bib, pancake mix, race guide and a nice short-sleeved tech shirt. Simple design but I liked the color and will use it. I stayed at the host hotel the Omni. I think it was a bit pricey but typical price for a host hotel in a downtown area and not too expensive for one night. The Omni is right at the finish and about 3/4 mile from the start which is perfect to get a warm-up to start and not have to walk far at the end. The race starts at 6:30am. It’s kind of early but there was time to shower before my flight so I liked the early start. There were corrals based off predicted times. Pretty much my only production complaint is there were not enough porta potties and I did not have time to use it before the race. The corrals went off efficiently I was in the last one and started around 6:45. There is the anthem and moment of silent before the race. This is a very large race with thousands of runners and the atmosphere was great! I think this race may have had the most spectators for any race I have done. Race weather was absolutely perfect this weekend as well. The race is all on closed streets or streets with multiple lanes blocked off. The half and full start together and diverge around mile 8. The first couple miles are in downtown Oklahoma City passed the memorial and basketball stadium. I was initially sticking between the 2:55 half marathon and 6:00 full marathon pace group but then around mile 3 you go into some neighborhoods and some of the residents had their pet chickens out and you could take chicken selfies and I couldn’t resist and decided to give up on my 3 hour finishing time goal and just have fun. The next few miles are mostly though neighborhoods. All of which had tons of spectators and many had themes. There was one street that was all orange with orange juice and mimosa and gorilla hill where people where dressed as gorillas and they handed out bananas. This part of the course is small hills. Nothing too bad. I walked them since I was more in party mode than speed mode. Then there is the split. The worst part of the course was a bit after the split and is a long incline. It is not steep but it’s a mile or 2 and a slog. Luckily there are still a lot of spectators and the final miles are downhill. Still some spectators but it did thin out a bit at the end until the finish line. Everything on the course was well marked. There were tons of aid stations. I carried water but didn’t really need it. All had water. Most had electrolyte drink. Many had snacks like pretzels and fruit and at least one had gels. This was a very back of the pack friendly race and everything was well stocked when I passed by. There were also a ton of back of packers. Almost too many. One thing I did not enjoy about the race which is somewhat outside the race company’s control is there was not great running etiquette on course. I was run-walking and with run-walkers but everyone kept walking in the middle of the course in lines of 3 to 4 people and not going to the right when slowing down. It was a bit frustrating as I had to weave around people and occasionally there was a whole blockade of walkers. I think it is great for people to be out there walking the course just please go to the right so faster people can pass you. Whenever I take a walking interval I always move over so people can pass me. This was most frustrating in the beginning when I was going for under 3 hours and less frustrating when I decided to just have fun. I was also worried when the marathoners converged it would make things worse but luckily they had half marathoners on the left and full on the right so the 3 hour marathoners were not mixing with us. The finish chute was very well done and emotional with pictures of all the victims of the bombing. A somber way to finish but it made you appreciate being able to run and get out there. You got your medal. It is okay. Kind of plain but a respectful medal for the event. There were typical finish line snacks like water, gatorade, chips and nutrigrain bars. They also had burgers but they were all beef and no veggie burgers. There was a nice finish area. I didn’t have a lot of time to hang out as I had to catch a 1:50pm flight and wanted to shower but it seemed like a fun area. Overall this was a fantastic race. Great production with an interesting urban course and possible the most fun race environment I have experience. Of the ~80 half marathons I have done, this is top 10 for sure and would probably be top 5 if they had veggie burgers. I would definitely recommend this race. I assumed it would be a one and done since Oklahoma is not very close to me but I would definitely consider coming back and 100% recommend it to 50 staters.
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Water stations: Superb. Community crowd support (snacks- drinks- cheering - etc.) Better than any race I have completed. Only negative: Starting corrals did not have enough porta johns for the … MORE
Water stations: Superb. Community crowd support (snacks- drinks- cheering – etc.) Better than any race I have completed.
Only negative: Starting corrals did not have enough porta johns for the crowd. Plan ahead.
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This race was a well organized, highly supported, and relatively inexpensive race compared to the larger marathons. The race honors the 168 victims of the OKC homing which took place … MORE
This race was a well organized, highly supported, and relatively inexpensive race compared to the larger marathons.
The race honors the 168 victims of the OKC homing which took place in 1995. It feels as if the entire city is out supporting this race. As you run through neighborhoods and cities there are numerous supporters and different areas. My personal favorite was running through the Lakehurst subdivision because of the numerous families out supporting.
My two and only critiques of the race were One, the relay, half, and full all start at the same time on the same starting line. They all have different bib colors but it’s difficult for runners and spectators to tell who is running which race. If you’re not careful the full marathoners can get stuck running with a half or relay marathoner and go to fast at the start. Two, at the finish line you are required to walk at least a quarter mile which to me felt like another mile after just running 26 through the streets to the after party area. When I finished I just wanted to see my family but they were not allowed in the finishing area.
For competitive racers
I’ve been told the course difficulty is highly dependent on the weather. Luckily in 2023, the weather was perfect. I could see how the wind, rain, cold, or heat could put a damper on your race time. The hills are not terrible until around mile 20 there is a 3.5 mile section which is all uphill. The website has a great interactive app. I recommend reviewing the elevation map and creating your plan from this. Make sure to bank some pace in the downhill portions early as the 20-23.5 miles hill you may have to slow down. But the good news is the last 2 miles or so is downhill to finish. They had plenty of water stations which also had Powerade.
Overall I’m very happy with the experience. My friend and family enjoyed the tracking app as well.
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Thank you OKC for rolling out the carpet for us runners. Everything about this race was top notch. Great course, great crowd support throughout, completely closed course so no interference … MORE
Thank you OKC for rolling out the carpet for us runners. Everything about this race was top notch. Great course, great crowd support throughout, completely closed course so no interference from vehicles, plenty of official aid stations (and enough unofficial to get a pretty good buzz going if that’s your thing!). And OKC is a pretty neat city – stay in Bricktown.
Only complaint would be not enough porta-potties at start area, and that bag check was woefully mismanaged. They assigned tags to the bags (rather than use your bib number) and when they ran out of tags, they said they couldn’t take any more bags. This was a case of the person in charge having no clue how to modify their procedure when situation calls for it. I had to scramble to get to the other bag check spot and ended up being practically the last runner to start (17 minutes after gun). All good though thanks to chip timing.
I would do this race every year if it were easier to get to. This is a must for 50 staters needing Oklahoma.
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Everything was first-class all the way through. Thousands of people all over. Lots of crowd support along the course. Yet several things need to be addressed. One male runner in … MORE
Everything was first-class all the way through. Thousands of people all over. Lots of crowd support along the course. Yet several things need to be addressed. One male runner in the top 20 cheated during the race as an unregistered male was running from point to point to feed him energy bars, etc. It’s illegal per USATF rules. Two, I had to yell at a guy to get off the course repeatedly because he was walking toward me, obstructing my way. Three, many broke down in the final 5 miles because of the super long incline. The problem was there were water stations on the left side for the half marathon race but almost nothing on the right side for the marathon race. If you wanted one, you had to go through densely crowded half marathon “runners” which was pretty unfair. The race organizers need to fix the issues by completely forbidding any unregistered runners and cyclists on the course and setting up water stations on the RIGHT side of the marathon path.
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I have to preface this race with the OKC bombing museum. We came into OKC a day early and went to the museum which was absolutely eye opening. I remember … MORE
I have to preface this race with the OKC bombing museum. We came into OKC a day early and went to the museum which was absolutely eye opening. I remember when the bombing happened but I wasn’t old enough to really comprehend it. Going through the museum really put things into perspective for me and made this run a bit more emotional than I anticipated. Seeing finisher medals draped over the chairs of those lost was an insightful reminder not to take life and running for granted.
The course on race day was good I hadn’t spent any time in OKC before this run and it was a great tour of the city. The spectators were awesome! Several people out just watching and cheering people on, passing out snacks and the occasional shot!
My only complaint for this run actually isn’t with the run itself, but the night before the race when we were trying to find an early dinner, we were met with high school prom goers and packed restaurants that made it more difficult to find food close to the race hotels. We were also met with a tornado warning that evening in the restaurant but that is just April in Oklahoma!
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Despite the tornado warning the night before, the weather on race day was beautiful. The event staff adapted the start time based on if it would rain/thunderstorm and it worked … MORE
Despite the tornado warning the night before, the weather on race day was beautiful. The event staff adapted the start time based on if it would rain/thunderstorm and it worked out in the end. The half course was well laid out and had pacers up to the 1:30 for half. Really liked the race and I’d gladly do it again next year.
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This race is pretty well known for having unpredictable weather. this year, we had tornado sirens and hail around oklahoma city the night before the race but pretty great weather … MORE
This race is pretty well known for having unpredictable weather. this year, we had tornado sirens and hail around oklahoma city the night before the race but pretty great weather the day of the race. Plan for everything from sleet to full sun! Course was pretty great and the community support was truly among the best. Plenty of official and un-official snack and hydration stops along the way and lots of cheering. I parked in between the start and finish areas in the Arts garage. It made for an uncomfortable walk afterward but not too bad. Friends asked afterward if it was sad running by the memorial and, ya know, it wasn’t. It was respectful. 168 seconds of silence at the beginning, 168 flags along the course and banners of the 168 lined the finish approach. Great community and great race.
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Course had several hills throughout but most of them were short. The spectators along the course were awesome. The energy throughout the day was amazing from both the runners and … MORE
Course had several hills throughout but most of them were short. The spectators along the course were awesome. The energy throughout the day was amazing from both the runners and the spectators. The swag included free entry to the Memorial Museum, which was very powerful!
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The crowd support this race was awesome. From Mimsoa Beach to Gorilla Hill, every neighborhood was out supporting all of the runners. Bathrooms were plentiful, I could grab a drink … MORE
The crowd support this race was awesome. From Mimsoa Beach to Gorilla Hill, every neighborhood was out supporting all of the runners. Bathrooms were plentiful, I could grab a drink or snack from just about anywhere and it was full of life. The lowest support was the last couple of miles and then it picked back up around the finish line. A great race that I highly recommend, and OKC was a great little “clean” city to visit. Lots to do and see!
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This race will always have a special place in my heart because first, it is my hometown race, but more importantly, the emotional impact of the sight of the Memorial … MORE
This race will always have a special place in my heart because first, it is my hometown race, but more importantly, the emotional impact of the sight of the Memorial in the early morning before the race starts, the 168 seconds of silence, and the banners and pictures of all those who were lost that day that you see as you approach the finish line make it an event like no other.
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This race is an absolute gem. Great course, city, cause, neighborhood support, super volunteers, etc. etc. This is a top notch race and a must do especially if you are … MORE
This race is an absolute gem. Great course, city, cause, neighborhood support, super volunteers, etc. etc. This is a top notch race and a must do especially if you are a 50 Stater.
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The OKC run to remember is a fundraiser for the Oklahoma City Bombing memorial. The race starts at the memorial and runs through a town still very impacted by that … MORE
The OKC run to remember is a fundraiser for the Oklahoma City Bombing memorial. The race starts at the memorial and runs through a town still very impacted by that tragedy. So you feel very connected to the cause.
The community involvement on this race was FANTASTIC. So many spectators and great aid stations (official and otherwise). I felt supported every single mile.
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Lots of little rolling hills but great crowd support. Wonderful weather. We lucked out. Emotional seeing all the pictures at the end. Appreciate all the people cheering us on. MORE
Lots of little rolling hills but great crowd support. Wonderful weather. We lucked out. Emotional seeing all the pictures at the end. Appreciate all the people cheering us on.
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Incredible Race and Experience!
One of the greatest experiences I've ever had. It was my first marathon and has been my favorite so far. Between the atmosphere, purpose, sunrise service, spectators, and much more, … MORE
One of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. It was my first marathon and has been my favorite so far. Between the atmosphere, purpose, sunrise service, spectators, and much more, I don’t know if I will ever top it! Highly recommend!
Fun Race
Easy terrain and hardly any elevation gain. Fun and spirited people lining the sides to support you almost the whole way. Great and emotional cause. Check out the memorial while … MORE
Easy terrain and hardly any elevation gain. Fun and spirited people lining the sides to support you almost the whole way. Great and emotional cause. Check out the memorial while you’re in town. You get free entry with your race bib.
Friendliest Race with a Powerful Message
Difficulty: As of April 2023, this race is my Marathon PR (overtaking Houston). I went into the race not expecting to PR, but the weather and course set up the … MORE
Difficulty: As of April 2023, this race is my Marathon PR (overtaking Houston). I went into the race not expecting to PR, but the weather and course set up the perfect opportunity to excel. The toughest part is Gorilla Hill, but the insanely awesome crowd support helped pull me through.
Scenery: While Oklahoma City may not be the most scenic, the course was laid out to where there were no out and backs and therefore you got to truly see different areas for the full 26.2 miles.
Production: The expo, start, course support, finish, medical, were all top notch with some of the nicest humans I have ever encountered. The production alone would make me recommend this race as I can not stress enough how truly friendly everyone was.
Swag: Both the shirt and medal were a bit lack-luster compared to the majority of races I have done. I do not blame them though as the race is to raise money for a good cause and in memory of those lost.
Enjoyable, easy going race
This was an enjoyable, easy-going race for me. I did not rush and spent the entire course time walking and talking with a friend. The race production and course is … MORE
This was an enjoyable, easy-going race for me. I did not rush and spent the entire course time walking and talking with a friend. The race production and course is super supported by volunteers and the local community.
The view from the back of the pack
Awesome run as usual. There are some detail reviews this year so I won't repeat what has already been said. This is a 1st class, city wide event. Everyone is … MORE
Awesome run as usual. There are some detail reviews this year so I won’t repeat what has already been said. This is a 1st class, city wide event. Everyone is super friendly.
There was a significant hiccup this year when it came to the Sunday morning bag-drop. Prior to the bag-drop cut-off time, the “contractors” handling this responsibility ran out of labeling tags, and thus shut down the bag drop. I thought there might be a riot from a few hundred people. Eventually this was sorted out and the organizers must be well aware of this situation by now.
I’ll do OKC again anytime!
Excellent race for a good cause!
This race is really powerful - done in honor of all those affected by the OKC bombing on 4/19/1995 and raises money for the Memorial Museum. Runners get free admission … MORE
This race is really powerful – done in honor of all those affected by the OKC bombing on 4/19/1995 and raises money for the Memorial Museum. Runners get free admission to the museum and I went after the race – very touching.
The race itself was well organized, from the podcast in the months leading up to the event, to the large expo, sunrise service at the survivor tree before the race, and the many wonderful volunteers. Water stops were placed at almost every mile which was fantastic, and lots of spectators in the various neighborhoods had unofficial water stops/other treats. The weather this year was great, mostly in the 50s and sunny, but from what I hear the weather in Oklahoma is quite unpredictable so I understand how different conditions could really affect one’s run time. I thoroughly enjoyed this race and recommend it as the OK race if you’re trying to do the 50 states!
Chickens, gorillas and spectators
This is a race in Oklahoma City that serves as a memorial to those affected by the bombing in 1995. It is held in late April and starts at the … MORE
This is a race in Oklahoma City that serves as a memorial to those affected by the bombing in 1995. It is held in late April and starts at the Oklahoma City Memorial. I chose this race because I have heard great things and it’s in a bigger city so easier to fly to. I only had the weekend so this was a very quick trip to OK so I didn’t have any time to spend in the city. I have been to Oklahoma City a couple of times in the past and it is a nice city so I wish I had more vacation days and could have spent more time there. For the race there is great pre-race communication with a pre-race guide and a nice app for the phone with information. I flew in Saturday morning. I was supposed to arrive at 1pm but my flight was delayed so I wasn’t getting in until 4 to 5pm. Packet pick-up is required before the race and the expo closes at 6pm. Since I would be cutting it close with the delayed flight I had a fellow runner from one of my running clubs pick up my packet for me (thank you if you are reading this review) so I didn’t get to go to the expo. Packet include bib, pancake mix, race guide and a nice short-sleeved tech shirt. Simple design but I liked the color and will use it. I stayed at the host hotel the Omni. I think it was a bit pricey but typical price for a host hotel in a downtown area and not too expensive for one night. The Omni is right at the finish and about 3/4 mile from the start which is perfect to get a warm-up to start and not have to walk far at the end. The race starts at 6:30am. It’s kind of early but there was time to shower before my flight so I liked the early start. There were corrals based off predicted times. Pretty much my only production complaint is there were not enough porta potties and I did not have time to use it before the race. The corrals went off efficiently I was in the last one and started around 6:45. There is the anthem and moment of silent before the race. This is a very large race with thousands of runners and the atmosphere was great! I think this race may have had the most spectators for any race I have done. Race weather was absolutely perfect this weekend as well. The race is all on closed streets or streets with multiple lanes blocked off. The half and full start together and diverge around mile 8. The first couple miles are in downtown Oklahoma City passed the memorial and basketball stadium. I was initially sticking between the 2:55 half marathon and 6:00 full marathon pace group but then around mile 3 you go into some neighborhoods and some of the residents had their pet chickens out and you could take chicken selfies and I couldn’t resist and decided to give up on my 3 hour finishing time goal and just have fun. The next few miles are mostly though neighborhoods. All of which had tons of spectators and many had themes. There was one street that was all orange with orange juice and mimosa and gorilla hill where people where dressed as gorillas and they handed out bananas. This part of the course is small hills. Nothing too bad. I walked them since I was more in party mode than speed mode. Then there is the split. The worst part of the course was a bit after the split and is a long incline. It is not steep but it’s a mile or 2 and a slog. Luckily there are still a lot of spectators and the final miles are downhill. Still some spectators but it did thin out a bit at the end until the finish line. Everything on the course was well marked. There were tons of aid stations. I carried water but didn’t really need it. All had water. Most had electrolyte drink. Many had snacks like pretzels and fruit and at least one had gels. This was a very back of the pack friendly race and everything was well stocked when I passed by. There were also a ton of back of packers. Almost too many. One thing I did not enjoy about the race which is somewhat outside the race company’s control is there was not great running etiquette on course. I was run-walking and with run-walkers but everyone kept walking in the middle of the course in lines of 3 to 4 people and not going to the right when slowing down. It was a bit frustrating as I had to weave around people and occasionally there was a whole blockade of walkers. I think it is great for people to be out there walking the course just please go to the right so faster people can pass you. Whenever I take a walking interval I always move over so people can pass me. This was most frustrating in the beginning when I was going for under 3 hours and less frustrating when I decided to just have fun. I was also worried when the marathoners converged it would make things worse but luckily they had half marathoners on the left and full on the right so the 3 hour marathoners were not mixing with us. The finish chute was very well done and emotional with pictures of all the victims of the bombing. A somber way to finish but it made you appreciate being able to run and get out there. You got your medal. It is okay. Kind of plain but a respectful medal for the event. There were typical finish line snacks like water, gatorade, chips and nutrigrain bars. They also had burgers but they were all beef and no veggie burgers. There was a nice finish area. I didn’t have a lot of time to hang out as I had to catch a 1:50pm flight and wanted to shower but it seemed like a fun area. Overall this was a fantastic race. Great production with an interesting urban course and possible the most fun race environment I have experience. Of the ~80 half marathons I have done, this is top 10 for sure and would probably be top 5 if they had veggie burgers. I would definitely recommend this race. I assumed it would be a one and done since Oklahoma is not very close to me but I would definitely consider coming back and 100% recommend it to 50 staters.
AMAZING crowd support
Water stations: Superb. Community crowd support (snacks- drinks- cheering - etc.) Better than any race I have completed. Only negative: Starting corrals did not have enough porta johns for the … MORE
Water stations: Superb. Community crowd support (snacks- drinks- cheering – etc.) Better than any race I have completed.
Only negative: Starting corrals did not have enough porta johns for the crowd. Plan ahead.
Boston Qualified
This race was a well organized, highly supported, and relatively inexpensive race compared to the larger marathons. The race honors the 168 victims of the OKC homing which took place … MORE
This race was a well organized, highly supported, and relatively inexpensive race compared to the larger marathons.
The race honors the 168 victims of the OKC homing which took place in 1995. It feels as if the entire city is out supporting this race. As you run through neighborhoods and cities there are numerous supporters and different areas. My personal favorite was running through the Lakehurst subdivision because of the numerous families out supporting.
My two and only critiques of the race were One, the relay, half, and full all start at the same time on the same starting line. They all have different bib colors but it’s difficult for runners and spectators to tell who is running which race. If you’re not careful the full marathoners can get stuck running with a half or relay marathoner and go to fast at the start. Two, at the finish line you are required to walk at least a quarter mile which to me felt like another mile after just running 26 through the streets to the after party area. When I finished I just wanted to see my family but they were not allowed in the finishing area.
For competitive racers
I’ve been told the course difficulty is highly dependent on the weather. Luckily in 2023, the weather was perfect. I could see how the wind, rain, cold, or heat could put a damper on your race time. The hills are not terrible until around mile 20 there is a 3.5 mile section which is all uphill. The website has a great interactive app. I recommend reviewing the elevation map and creating your plan from this. Make sure to bank some pace in the downhill portions early as the 20-23.5 miles hill you may have to slow down. But the good news is the last 2 miles or so is downhill to finish. They had plenty of water stations which also had Powerade.
Overall I’m very happy with the experience. My friend and family enjoyed the tracking app as well.
This is a must do race
Thank you OKC for rolling out the carpet for us runners. Everything about this race was top notch. Great course, great crowd support throughout, completely closed course so no interference … MORE
Thank you OKC for rolling out the carpet for us runners. Everything about this race was top notch. Great course, great crowd support throughout, completely closed course so no interference from vehicles, plenty of official aid stations (and enough unofficial to get a pretty good buzz going if that’s your thing!). And OKC is a pretty neat city – stay in Bricktown.
Only complaint would be not enough porta-potties at start area, and that bag check was woefully mismanaged. They assigned tags to the bags (rather than use your bib number) and when they ran out of tags, they said they couldn’t take any more bags. This was a case of the person in charge having no clue how to modify their procedure when situation calls for it. I had to scramble to get to the other bag check spot and ended up being practically the last runner to start (17 minutes after gun). All good though thanks to chip timing.
I would do this race every year if it were easier to get to. This is a must for 50 staters needing Oklahoma.
Great but Needs Improvement.
Everything was first-class all the way through. Thousands of people all over. Lots of crowd support along the course. Yet several things need to be addressed. One male runner in … MORE
Everything was first-class all the way through. Thousands of people all over. Lots of crowd support along the course. Yet several things need to be addressed. One male runner in the top 20 cheated during the race as an unregistered male was running from point to point to feed him energy bars, etc. It’s illegal per USATF rules. Two, I had to yell at a guy to get off the course repeatedly because he was walking toward me, obstructing my way. Three, many broke down in the final 5 miles because of the super long incline. The problem was there were water stations on the left side for the half marathon race but almost nothing on the right side for the marathon race. If you wanted one, you had to go through densely crowded half marathon “runners” which was pretty unfair. The race organizers need to fix the issues by completely forbidding any unregistered runners and cyclists on the course and setting up water stations on the RIGHT side of the marathon path.
A really awesome way to remember
I have to preface this race with the OKC bombing museum. We came into OKC a day early and went to the museum which was absolutely eye opening. I remember … MORE
I have to preface this race with the OKC bombing museum. We came into OKC a day early and went to the museum which was absolutely eye opening. I remember when the bombing happened but I wasn’t old enough to really comprehend it. Going through the museum really put things into perspective for me and made this run a bit more emotional than I anticipated. Seeing finisher medals draped over the chairs of those lost was an insightful reminder not to take life and running for granted.
The course on race day was good I hadn’t spent any time in OKC before this run and it was a great tour of the city. The spectators were awesome! Several people out just watching and cheering people on, passing out snacks and the occasional shot!
My only complaint for this run actually isn’t with the run itself, but the night before the race when we were trying to find an early dinner, we were met with high school prom goers and packed restaurants that made it more difficult to find food close to the race hotels. We were also met with a tornado warning that evening in the restaurant but that is just April in Oklahoma!
Well organized race and great course
Despite the tornado warning the night before, the weather on race day was beautiful. The event staff adapted the start time based on if it would rain/thunderstorm and it worked … MORE
Despite the tornado warning the night before, the weather on race day was beautiful. The event staff adapted the start time based on if it would rain/thunderstorm and it worked out in the end. The half course was well laid out and had pacers up to the 1:30 for half. Really liked the race and I’d gladly do it again next year.
fun community support
This race is pretty well known for having unpredictable weather. this year, we had tornado sirens and hail around oklahoma city the night before the race but pretty great weather … MORE
This race is pretty well known for having unpredictable weather. this year, we had tornado sirens and hail around oklahoma city the night before the race but pretty great weather the day of the race. Plan for everything from sleet to full sun! Course was pretty great and the community support was truly among the best. Plenty of official and un-official snack and hydration stops along the way and lots of cheering. I parked in between the start and finish areas in the Arts garage. It made for an uncomfortable walk afterward but not too bad. Friends asked afterward if it was sad running by the memorial and, ya know, it wasn’t. It was respectful. 168 seconds of silence at the beginning, 168 flags along the course and banners of the 168 lined the finish approach. Great community and great race.
Run To Remember
Course had several hills throughout but most of them were short. The spectators along the course were awesome. The energy throughout the day was amazing from both the runners and … MORE
Course had several hills throughout but most of them were short. The spectators along the course were awesome. The energy throughout the day was amazing from both the runners and the spectators. The swag included free entry to the Memorial Museum, which was very powerful!
Great Race
The crowd support this race was awesome. From Mimsoa Beach to Gorilla Hill, every neighborhood was out supporting all of the runners. Bathrooms were plentiful, I could grab a drink … MORE
The crowd support this race was awesome. From Mimsoa Beach to Gorilla Hill, every neighborhood was out supporting all of the runners. Bathrooms were plentiful, I could grab a drink or snack from just about anywhere and it was full of life. The lowest support was the last couple of miles and then it picked back up around the finish line. A great race that I highly recommend, and OKC was a great little “clean” city to visit. Lots to do and see!
Truly a Run to Remember
This race will always have a special place in my heart because first, it is my hometown race, but more importantly, the emotional impact of the sight of the Memorial … MORE
This race will always have a special place in my heart because first, it is my hometown race, but more importantly, the emotional impact of the sight of the Memorial in the early morning before the race starts, the 168 seconds of silence, and the banners and pictures of all those who were lost that day that you see as you approach the finish line make it an event like no other.
Great Cause and a Must Do
This race is an absolute gem. Great course, city, cause, neighborhood support, super volunteers, etc. etc. This is a top notch race and a must do especially if you are … MORE
This race is an absolute gem. Great course, city, cause, neighborhood support, super volunteers, etc. etc. This is a top notch race and a must do especially if you are a 50 Stater.
Great Community and connected to cause
The OKC run to remember is a fundraiser for the Oklahoma City Bombing memorial. The race starts at the memorial and runs through a town still very impacted by that … MORE
The OKC run to remember is a fundraiser for the Oklahoma City Bombing memorial. The race starts at the memorial and runs through a town still very impacted by that tragedy. So you feel very connected to the cause.
The community involvement on this race was FANTASTIC. So many spectators and great aid stations (official and otherwise). I felt supported every single mile.
Great race
Lots of little rolling hills but great crowd support. Wonderful weather. We lucked out. Emotional seeing all the pictures at the end. Appreciate all the people cheering us on. MORE
Lots of little rolling hills but great crowd support. Wonderful weather. We lucked out. Emotional seeing all the pictures at the end. Appreciate all the people cheering us on.