Williams Route 66 Marathon

More than 2,000 runners and walkers from 11 states and the Netherlands convened in downtown Tulsa for the second annual Williams Route 66 Quarter Marathon on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010.  Tulsa’s hottest summer race, the Williams Route 66 Quarter Marathon officially kicks off the fall training season for the Williams Route 66 Marathon and gives participants a preview of the marathon course.

Starting and finishing in the Blue Dome District, race day events included the 6.55 mile Quarter Marathon, a 5K and a one-mile fun run.  Additionally, 400 participants also chose to run “The Double,” running in both the Quarter Marathon and the 5K in the same morning.

“We are very pleased that the Quarter Marathon, which was originally envisioned as a training kickoff event for the Route 66 Marathon in November, has blossomed into one of the state’s largest races,” said Chris Lieberman, executive director of Tulsa Route 66 Marathon, Inc.  “In just two years, Tulsa has helped us turn it into an event that can stand on its own.”

Scott MacPherson was the overall winner of the Quarter Marathon, finishing in a time of 33:01.  Amanda Erwin was the female winner of the Quarter Marathon, after finishing in 45:09.  Jerry Faulkner crossed the finish line first for the 5K race in 16:02.  The 5K female winner, with a time of 20:19, was Lisa Lake.  Winners of “The Double” were Faulkner, finishing in 52:31, and Muge Park, with a time of 1:11:34.   Full results are located at www.quartermarathon.com under the participants tab.

To beat the Oklahoma heat, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma employees provided ice-water soaked sponges to participants.  Williams employees provided ice-water refills and a cold water spray to cool down runners at a later Gatorade stop.  Additionally, The University of Tulsa also provided mist-spraying fans at the finish line.

 More than 400 community members volunteered time to register participants, man Gatorade stops and pass out medals.  Additionally, the course included nine entertainment acts including the bands Blue Flames, Atomic 22, Ganzar, Swan and Sword, Re-Agent, and Waving Not Drowning.

Race directors revealed the 2010 Williams Route 66 Marathon family of medals for the first time today, at the second annual Williams Route 66 Quarter Marathon.  Finishers of the marathon, half marathon, marathon relay will all receive a medal unique to each race.  First-time marathoners receive the My First Marathon medal to commemorate their special accomplishment.

The 2010 medals draw on the history of Route 66 while incorporating the modern aspect of the race.  Classic cars and chrome wheels inspired the design, and the marathon and half marathon medals include a spinning feature, mimicking a wheel in motion.

Past medals are treasured by runners for the quality designs and historic ties to Route 66.  Marathon & Beyond additionally recognized the 2009 medals, placing the medal second in the country.  The 2010 medals follow in this tradition and are sure to be a hit with participants.

The Doubletree Hotel Tulsa-Downtown will sell out again this year so register today!

Click here to book your room today.

You must register online using the link above to receive the special marathon rates and guaranteed late checkout on race day.

Doubletree Hotel Tulsa-Downtown

1.4 miles from start/finish
616 W. Seventh Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127
(918) 587-8000

As a parent of two young children, a full-time student at the OU College of Pharmacy in Tulsa and a high school football coach, Caleb Meacham needed a way to relieve stress.  In 2008, he turned to running to clear his head and regain focus for his various responsibilities.

"I played baseball and football in high school and college, so I've always been active," Meacham said.  "I had never really tried running, but started running to relieve the stress of my daily life."

After running in 5K events, Meacham decided to pursue training for the Williams Route 66 Marathon in 2008.  Reality soon set in.

"I just didn't have the time.  I was really disappointed in myself, but I had to back out of the training," he said.  "It was my second year of pharmacy school, and school and my family were the priorities.  I didn't think I could commit."

Meacham resumed training in the summer of 2009 for the next Williams Route 66 Marathon.  He approached training that year with a newfound commit level to finish what he started the previous year.

"I entered my third year of school with three priorities: kids, school and running," Meacham said.  "I cut back on my extracurricular activities and realized that I might have to say 'no' to a few things along the way to keep these three priorities at the top."

After training with Fleet Feet Sports, he tried his distance legs with the Williams Route 66 Quarter Marathon in August 2009.  He then finished the 2009 Williams Route 66 Marathon in just over four hours.   All of the familiar faces, his family waiting at the finish line and the help of his coach during the last few miles made running a hometown race truly enjoyable.

After taking a short break from running to concentrate on class and training for Oklahoma FreeWheel, Meacham is now training for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon this fall.  He hopes to one day qualify for the Boston Marathon.

It's all about mental toughness, he says.

"You have to set your priorities and stick to them, during training and the race.  It's possible to set the goal and finish, no matter what else is going on."

If you would like to share why you run, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your story.  You might be featured in an upcoming Williams Route 66 Marathon newsletter or campaign.

At the age of 51 years old, Pam O’Neal fell in love with running.  The affair began in January of 2009, and by summer she and her younger sister were training for the Williams Route 66 Marathon.

O’Neal, from Tulsa, could not even walk around LaFortune Park, a three mile loop, without suffering from shortness of breath.  As a registered nurse, she realized the long-term effects of her high blood pressure and weight.

“I was pre-diabetic, my doctor kept telling me,” O’Neal said.  “I took a hard look at myself and realized that I didn’t want that to be my life anymore.”

Her first goal was to walk one LaFortune loop.  She then added a few running intervals.

“I couldn’t believe when I ran a mile for the first time.  We just kept adding distance, and before I knew it, I ran a 5K,” she said.

Thanks to encouragement from her sister, O’Neal signed up for the Williams Route 66 Marathon.  The experience was life-changing, she said.