Disclaimer: I received entry to the Tulsa Federal Credit Union Tulsa Run to review as part of being a BibRave Pro.

Although I have lived in Oklahoma for 7 years, this was the first time I have ever run the Tulsa Run. Many of my Oklahoma running friends spoke with nostalgia about the history of the race, but many had expressed disappointment in their personal race experiences in recent years (frequent course change, lack of organization, unsupported course were some of the specific complaints). I am happy to report that my experience at the 2015 Tulsa Run did not disappoint in any way! I give this race a 5-Star overall rating and is a definite "Must Run" for all Oklahoma runners!

T-Shirts/SWAG : The long-sleeved technical shirt was a great perk of the Tulsa Run. It was a perfect fit, true to size, and much better than any cotton t-shirt most races provide.

Aid Stations: This year's race used a new kind of water distribution system called WaterMonster. It holds 125 gallons of clean water that can be accessed using multiple spouts around the large container. Not only does it speed up cup refilling at the water stations, it encourages people to refill their water bottles as well. There were 3 water stops along the 15K course and every station was well stocked with supplies and volunteers. 2 of the aid stations offered Gatorade as well.

Course Scenery: The course begins right in downtown Tulsa and winds through some gorgeous neighborhoods. Local residents sat out on their driveways to cheer and support runners.

Expo Quality: I was not able to attend the expo prior to the race so I did not rate it. I will note that I greatly appreciated the opportunity to pick up my bib the morning of the race. It was quick, easy and saved me a 2 hour drive one way from my home in Norman. The race also offered a Gear Check at the start line that they transported to the finish line a few blocks away.

Elevation Difficulty: This course is extremely HILLY! It is very challenging and may not conducive for a PR. The hills are not exactly rolling, they are steep and some are quite long. I would recommend that runners train for hills prior to this race.

Parking/Access: I am not familiar with Downtown Tulsa so I was not sure what to expect for parking. I wish the website provided a little more guidance for out-of-towners like me. I ended up parking on the street 2 blocks from the start, but I ended up being about 6 blocks from the finish! I asked a local police officer about the best places to park and he said the street was safer than parking lots because many of the lots are privately owned and you had to be careful not to get towed or get a ticket.

Race Management: I felt the race was extremely well-organzied. The staggered start for the 2K/5K an hour before the 15K meant that there was never a large crowd for the porta-johns or an excessive crowd to navigate at the start. I found it exciting to know that national level runners were racing before we started. I loved that we got to see the race leaders heading toward me after the turn-around at mile 6. The clocks displayed their official race time, which was fine to me. I just look at my watch for my own time anyway. At the finish, each runner received a box of post-race food that also advertised the date of next year's race. I thought that was clever:)

This year's race was held on Halloween Day which was a ton of fun! I was happy to dress up and join in the celebration. The party at the finish line with a stage and DJ kept the energy flowing after a tough race. I will definitely be back next year and look forward to bringing my OKC friends with me!