FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More Than 9,000 Run the Fifth Williams Route 66 Marathon and Other Events
Tulsa, Okla. (Nov. 22, 2010) – More than 9,000 runners and walkers
convened in downtown Tulsa for the fifth annual Williams Route 66 Marathon
and related events on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010. Starting and finishing at
Veteran's Park, race day events included the marathon, half marathon,
marathon relay, 5K and one-mile fun run.
Registration grew 30 percent in 2010, and more than 600 runners ran their
first marathon on the mother road. Those finishing their first marathon
received the special My First Marathon medal in the Williams Route 66
family of medals. The newly-designed 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.
"The growth of the Williams Route 66 Marathon to more than 9,000 in just
five years is incredible," said Chris Lieberman, executive director of the
Williams Route 66 Marathon. "The family of races offers something for
everyone, and today we welcomed registrants from all 50 states and several
countries."
Andy Derks was the overall winner of the marathon, finishing in a time of
2:32:29. Laine Summers was the female winner of the marathon, after
finishing in 3:15:33. Jerry Faulkner crossed the finish line first for the
half marathon in 1:10:03. Faulkner previously won the Williams Route 66
Marathon in 2008, the Williams Route 66 Quarter Marathon in 2009, and the
Williams Route 66 Quarter Marathon 5K and "The Double" races in 2010. The
overall female winner of the half marathon, with a time of 1:27:17, was
Sara Major.
The male winner of the 5K finished in 17:22. Hellois Scheeres of Tulsa was
the overall female winner of the 5K with a time of 20:39.
New for 2010 included a new course that wound through the historic Tulsa
neighborhood of Swan Lake and the grounds of Cascia Hall Preparatory
School. Additionally, the Williams Route 66 Marathon offered a new Maniac
Corner and a 0.3-mile detour to Tulsa's Center of the Universe.
Maniac Corner offered members of the Marathon Maniacs and the 50 States
Marathon Club a special hospitality area, including food, drinks, and a
private gear check. The Maniac Corner tent drew runners from across the
country to the Williams Route 66 Marathon. Terry Nelson, from Kansas
City, is a member of both Marathon Maniacs and the 50 States Marathon Club.
This marathon was his fifty-first marathon.
"Maniac Corner was one of the reasons I decided to run Route 66," Nelson
said. "I had already run the Oklahoma City race, but I have a sister in
Tulsa, so I decided to come to this race. "The Williams Route 66 did a
great job of welcoming us, and Maniac Corner was great."
The Center of the Universe detour offered runners a unique opportunity to
run an extra 0.3 mile to visit Tulsa's historic Center of the Universe.
The distinctive quality of the landmark is an eerie echo that is heard by
someone standing in the center of the circle. Participants who stand at the
center of the brick circle and talk will hear themselves echo, but others
outside the circle can hear no such echo.
More than 400 runners took the detour, and received a 2.25 inch
commemorative coin to mark the occasion.
In addition to thousands of spectators lining the course, more than 1,200
community members volunteered time to register participants, man water
stops, work at the Health and Fitness Expo presented by St. John Health
System, and pass out medals.
The course included 43 entertainment acts, including local bands and
student organizations. Eric and the Adams headlined the Finish Line
Festival. Tulsa's own "voice of running," Jack Wing, helped kick off the
race and welcome the first runners to the finish line. Whit Raymond, an
internationally-known race announcer, officially called the race.
The 2010 Williams Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa, Okla., is set for Sunday,
Nov. 21, 2010, and the 2011 Williams Route 66 Quarter Marathon is Saturday,
Oct. 15, 2011. Events are held annually the Sunday before Thanksgiving and
third to last Saturday in October, respectively. The fifth anniversary of
the Williams Route 66 Marathon weekend includes a two-day health and
fitness expo, pasta dinner, marathon, half marathon, five-person marathon
relay, 5K run/walk, and a one-mile fun run/walk. Post-race festivities
include concerts and a classic car show. To learn more about the events,
sponsoring, training or volunteering, please e-mail
, call (918) 409-2828, or visit
www.route66marathon.com and www.quartermarathon.com.
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