Post Oak Challenge

Post Oak Challenge

Post Oak Challenge

( 1 review )
100% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Tulsa,
    Oklahoma,
    United States
  • March
  • 6 miles/10K, 13.1 miles/Half Marathon, 26.2 miles/Marathon, 50K, Other
  • Trail Race
  • Event Website

Jason

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
9 5
2015
"Run Two Races for 3 Opportunities to Win"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Jason 's thoughts:

The Post Oak Challenge is two days of trail racing at the Post Oak Lodge just North of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Both Saturday and Sunday include 3 race distances each. For 2015, Saturday provided 10K, 25K, and 50K distances, and Sunday offered Quarter, Half, and Full Marathon distances. The 50K and Full Marathon are both 2 loops on the 25K and Half Marathon courses.

Being from Tulsa, I didn’t stay at the Post Oak Lodge for race weekend, but my wife spent time there for a corporate retreat last year, and she has nothing but positive things to say about the facilities and staff. If you are not local, Post Oak would make a great destination race where you can wake up and walk straight from your room to the starting line. Other than potentially passing through Tulsa traveling to Post Oak, you wouldn’t even know you were near a city until you reach the top of one of Post Oak’s notorious hills.

The most unique feature of the Post Oak Challenge is that you can enter one event on each day and compete for their “Doubler” awards. I competed in the 25K and Quarter Marathon, but the ultra runners seemed to like the 50K and Marathon. One of my race goals, however, was not to die so I stuck to a Doubler with a few less miles.

To be completely candid, the Post Oak Challenge was not a perfect race. On Saturday, there was a lot of confusion regarding the route markings. I followed runners ahead of me off course twice early in the 25K, but the mistakes were easily corrected and did not affect my time significantly (I blame my calves for my time). Other runners appeared to experience more significant problems staying on course, but I saw a lot of runners jumping caution tape in one area so I’m not sure how much of it was real and how much was self-inflicted. Whatever the root cause, the race staff did a great job of finding and correcting the problems for Sunday’s races. Unlike Saturday, I didn’t see anyone struggling with the routes on Sunday.

In terms of terrain, Post Oak was much more technical than I expected. In this part of Oklahoma, most trail runs come with a healthy assortment of rocks and roots, the kind that like to bend your ankles in ways that they don't bend. Post Oak was no exception, and it added a level of complexity by having some of those rocks covered up by trampled grass. There were also a variety of tight turns built into the early section of the longer courses where you really needed to be looking up to spot the route and down to tiptoe through the rocks and roots.

Post Oak also includes some significant elevation changes for an Oklahoma race. One out-of-town runner I saw on Sunday remarked on how he thought Oklahoma was flat. Not all of Oklahoma is flat, and Post Oak certainly isn't flat.

There are two fairly steep climbs, the Hill from Hell and Holme’s Peak. I find Holme’s Peak worse because it’s steeper, but the Hill from Hell goes on much longer, something like 1/2 a mile or more with a steep section at the end. At the top of both, though, you get some great views of Tulsa and the surrounding areas. Make sure you also train for downhill because what goes up must come down, and it comes down fast at Post Oak.

The volunteers and water stops were amazing. You had people taking their entire weekend, getting up at 4am, and staying out there until dark so all of us can run in circles. Each water stop was a little different, but they were all cheering us on, and they were fully stocked with an array of drinks and foods.

The water stops also included ports-potties which is a welcome surprise for a trail race. Don’t even get me started on the CLEAN bathrooms at the Post Oak Lodge. That was just weird…and awesome.

I don’t take much at water stops other than water, but I did stop during the 25K to spend some time with a salt shaker. It was a unique but welcome find near the end of the 25K. If one had been so inclined, that particular water stop, the one right before the Hill from Hell, also appeared to provide a much wider array of food and beverages than most water stops I’ve seen at any race.

The Medals and Trophies are unique. For finishing, you receive a large steel medal noting that you survived the Hill from Hell. For the trophies, they go a bit old school using a wood tree with wood-burned lettering. I doubt you’ll find anything quite like it at other races.

As for other swag, you get a long sleeve technical tee that can be seen from the surface of the sun along with a nice hat. It’s not a running hat, but it is a nice hat. If I wore hats frequently outside of running, it would be right at the top of the list. I used to wear hats so I know what I’m talking about. It’s a nice hat.

I would be remiss not to mention the photographer. Watt Design Photography has been taking photos of runners suffering on Holme’s Peak the last few years, and he did an awesome job. He does charge for photos, but the price for a digital photo is reasonable (unlike some of the companies runners deal with…they know who they are), and he offers discounts for buying multiple photos.

Alright, we covered the terrain, swag, pictures, and the hat. What else was there? Oh, that’s right. How could I forget? I won a race! I managed to enter the perfect combination of races for the Doubler, and I came out in first place. How often can a mid-pack runner like me make that claim? Maybe some cheetahs left you in the dust on Saturday and Sunday, but did they leave you in the dust on BOTH Saturday and Sunday COMBINED?

Excepting the minor route marking hiccups and my complete physical breakdown during the 25K, the Post Oak Challenge was a great experience. When I start doing more destination races, this is the kind of setup I would love to find: great accommodations a stone’s throw from the starting line.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Latest reviews

Loading Reviews...