Route 66 Marathon on its way to world-class status
BY MICHAEL OVERALL World Staff Writer
Monday, November 19, 2012
11/19/12 at 7:07 AM
Route 66 Marathon: Get all the latest on the Williams Route 66
Marathon.
Tulsa hopes to make the Route 66 Marathon a "world-class event," and judging by the reviews Sunday, it's well on the way toward that goal.
After just seven years, the marathon has already grown enough to rival the size of the well-established Tulsa Run, which attracted more than 10,000 people last month.
Sunday's marathon and half-marathon "sold out" with a capacity crowd of 6,700 runners, in addition to thousands of people who participated in shorter events Saturday.
After running 57 marathons all over the country, 33-year-old Tony Stafford would easily put Route 66 in the Top 10.
"It's a good course," he said. "A little windy today, and they have some challenging hills, but nothing I'm not used to."
Chicago offers a flatter, and therefore faster, course.
Boston and New York are classic events with established reputations.
"But Tulsa puts on a good event," said Stafford, who's from Boulder, Colo. "The hospitality is more personal. The people are very friendly."
Organizers hope to double the size of the marathon in the next four years, reaching 20,000 runners by 2016.
"We're trying to create a world-class event that lives on forever in Tulsa," said Executive Director Chris Lieberman.
"That's always been our goal."
One notable complaint: Runners endured long lines for porta-potties near the starting line at Seventh and Main streets.
The full course took runners though Cherry Street, Swan Lake, Utica Square, Woodward Park, Brookside, Riverside Drive, the Brady District and the University of Tulsa before ending at Veterans Park near 21st Street and Boulder Avenue.
Michael Mosher, head of the political science department at the University of Tulsa, wanted to run this year's New York City Marathon.
But damage from last month's hurricane Sandy forced a rare cancellation.
It would have been "a terrible spectacle" if New York officials had gone ahead with the race, Mosher said.
"I thought they would throw rocks at us if we ran," he said. "I feel sorry for all the foreign runners and the expenses they had."
Since joining a track team wasn't an option for home-school student Luis Balli, the Bartlesville teenager started training for marathons instead.
Sunday's Route 66 event was the fifth time that he has finished a long-distance race since he was 12 years old.
"It's fun and I make a lot of friends," said Balli, now 15. "I just love it."
He finished the half-marathon in an unofficial 1 hour, 29 minutes, a personal best.
Now 74 years old, Bill Harris of Grabill, Ind., started running when he was "only" 58.
"Hey, if I don't start running now," he asked himself, "when am I going to start?"
Now the question is: When is he going to stop?
Harris has run at least one marathon in all 50 states.
This time, he took it easy and did only the half-marathon.
"I was slumming it today," Harris joked. "As long as I'm healthy enough, I'll keep doing it."
Original Print Headline: Running for best
Michael Overall 918-581-8383
michael.overall@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Action from the Williams Route 66 Marathon on Sunday. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
Runners begin the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa on Sunday. JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World
Runners participate in the Route 66 Marathon. JOHN LEW / for The Tulsa World
The widow of Tulsa racing icon Jack Wing, Sharon Wing (left), is comforted by Assistant Executive Director of the Route 66 Marathon Kim Hann during a moment of silence. JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World
Runners begin the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa on Sunday. JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World
A runner participates in the Route 66 Marathon. JOHN LEW / for The Tulsa World
|
