As a runner for almost 5 years and long-time Tulsa resident, it’s odd that 2014 was my first Tulsa Run. The Tulsa Run draws crowds of a scale similar to the Route 66 Marathon, and it’s a great in-between distance for testing both speed and endurance during marathon training season. This being my first Tulsa Run, I had few expectations for the event beyond setting a reasonably ambitious pace of 7:30/mile to cover the 15k distance.

One thing I’ve learned in the past year is that I’m running paces dictating a closer to the front starting position when running races where traffic will be an issue. If not, all of the weaving in and out of runners and taking outside corners will take its toll on my legs. So it was at the Tulsa Run where I found myself lined up across from the 1:25:00 pacer and within site of the 1:10:00 pacer (my goal pace) several rows ahead of me. There might have been 500 runners in front of me and some 4,000 behind me.

Even that close to the front, the first mile was exactly what I’ve come to expect from big races. Runners of a variety of different paces were in front of me, but the wide streets of downtown Tulsa allowed me to find my way to an area where I could run with few disruptions. By the end of the first mile, the pack had thinned allowing me to run straight ahead with few concerns for traffic.

The route continued the full width of the street for the first 5k, but as we started the second 5k, it turned South on Peoria which the race used as a 2k loop. As I ran South on Peoria, I saw some of the elites and faster runners heading North. It was slightly congested due to the narrowing of the road along with the presence of race walkers from the earlier USATF start, but it was manageable.

After running the 1k South on Peoria, I turned North and soon saw the reason many runners experienced a much difference race than I did. There were literally runners shoulder to shoulder heading South on Peoria. Based on my pace, I assume they were running in the low-8’s so the pack had to go on for a significant distance given the prevalence of 8-10 minute pace in recreational runners. The pack was so thick they were crossing over into our side of the road frequently enough that I abandoned the relatively comfortable camber of the center of the road for a spot near the curb.

Normally, I carry all of my own fluids and rarely stop at water stops, but due to issues I was having with my drink mix, I did stop for water twice near the end of the race. Both stops were well organized and easy to run through without stopping. From what I’ve heard from other runners, the huge pack I saw on Peoria must have overwhelmed the stops resulting in delays for many runners. The challenges were likely exacerbated by unseasonably warm temperatures. My own experience, though, was that the water stops were well stocked and organized.

In addition to the heat, the course this year was hillier than normal. In the past, it was an out and back on Riverside which is very flat save one hill into and out of downtown. This year’s race traversed areas familiar to any Route 66 Marathon runner, and the hills aren’t so much big as they are continuous. I can only remember about 3k of continuous level running. The rest of the time we were either going up or going down or mentally prepping for the next hill.

The pacer who caught me on the final turn was very accurate. When I saw the 1:10:00 pacer on my left, I was able to see the finish line timer 3 blocks ahead already rolling over, but based on chip time, the pacer and I both crossed just before 1:10:00. There were special awards for men under 60 minutes and women under 70 minutes so many runners were working hard to make those numbers by relying on the pacers.

The finish line included pictures with the official race photographer, but I never saw the setup. I wouldn’t have used it regardless, but somehow I didn’t see it and wasn’t told about it by any race staff. That was likely my own weariness and not any fault of the race.

Speaking of the race photographer, this was the first time I’ve been to a race that used their services. I didn’t buy any photos, but I did find their site a bit frustrating. Between the various forms of watermarks and low preview resolution, it was hard to judge the quality of the photos. They may have been incredible, but I honestly couldn’t make out enough from the previews to tell.

Due to food sensitivities, I didn’t sample any of the food at the finish line and opted only for a bottle of water. It sounds like they ran low on water later in the race, but that may be as much a fault of overheated racers needing more water than normal as it was planning. Races need to plan for heat, especially in Oklahoma where it’s not unusual for temperatures to swing 30 degrees overnight, but I can imagine heat instead of cold is a logistical nightmare for any race.

Regardless of the experience, I can’t imagine not coming back to the Tulsa Run. I really enjoy the distance. It’s short enough to run fast but long enough to test endurance. I hope they keep the hills and the heat for next year, but I’ll try hard to stay ahead of the hordes on Peoria.