I had the pleasure of running the One Run for Boston relay in 2013, a cross-country event that was led by the same organizers as the United Relay for America. I had such a fun experience with One Run, that I immediately signed up to run a few stages of United Relay with my closest running friends. Myself and two other Runhers paid the registration fee for each of the stages and identified Girl Rising and Arms Around the Child as our charities. I asked each participant to make a donation to the charities in order to run. Overall, we raised about $200 for each charity.

We chose to run White Route stages 200-202 for a total of about 20 miles. The White Route was passing through downtown Oklahoma City on the night of May 20th and into the early morning hours of May 21st. While running in the middle of the night is not something everyone is willing to do, the familiarity of our city made it worthwhile.

Since our running group was participating in three different stages with three different distances, it had something to offer every level of runner. I knew from my experience with One Run that we would have to provide our own support vehicles for runners, especially on the busy city streets on a Friday night. We decided to contact the local police departments just to inform them of our intentions to run on the streets. They were so incredibly supportive and cooperative! In fact, the Midwest City police escorted our group in the final 8 miles of our last leg of the relay. This made it so easy for us to relax and enjoy the experience.

We had at 8-10 runners participate in each of the stages we ran as a group. It was a warm, clear night that made running enjoyable.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW IF YOU DO THIS RELAY:
- Plan your own route. While United Relay provided a suggested route, I recommend previewing the area prior to running, just to make sure it's the SAFEST way to run. (This may be difficult if you are not running locally, but make the effort to contact someone familiar with the area.)
- Bring your own water/fuel. If you are not in a group or with a partner, you really are on your own. Luckily we were in a major city, but many stages of this relay were through very rural areas with no support.
- It's about the experience, not about the time or the medal. This relay is designed to bring runners together to support a cause outside themselves. There are no timing chips or medals to show your accomplishment.
- Be careful of committing to fundraising. Initially, the relay had a fundraising minimum of $300 per participant. I didn't realize that when I registered. United Relay eventually dropped that requirement, making fundraising optional. Just beware when registering in the future.

SUGGESTIONS FOR UNITED RELAY IN THE FUTURE
- While the three routes to NYC make it accessible to more people, I think having one route filled with runners might be more successful.
- On the other hand, if you keep the three routes, open it up to cyclists sooner! This could be a joint effort of the running and cycling communities to come together for one cause if we had been aware cyclists were welcome sooner.
- While I had a wonderful experience with Mikey and Fran as our White Route Support Crew, it would be helpful to have more support from the organizers. I could see how exhausted Mikey and Fran were by the time they reached us. As a participant, I do like having a representative of the race present while I'm running (or cycling), just to make sure we are safe.
- Invite local running communities/celebrities to participate along the way. While it is cool that Alicia Keys hosted a concert in NYC, participants who ran many miles in the middle of the country did not get to attend. It might be cool if local running celebs made "special appearances" along the way. It might help participation in each state, too.

Overall, I really had a blast and would love to participate in a future United Relay event.

The Run Lucky 5K and Mission Mile Fun Run is an outstanding event in OKC! Highly recommend it to any runner or walker. The entire event is a fundraiser for LLS, which is quite evident in every aspect of the race.

PROS
1) Over a 1000 runners participate in this event! Many of them have raised money to support LLS and are running or walking in honor of a loved one.
2) Awards are given to the top 3 in every age group. Prizes include beautiful pint glasses and gift cards to the amazing OKC running store, Red Coyote.
3) The after party is fabulous! Four types of beer were available to runners of age and cookies and bananas were available to all. The finish line is in the parking lot of the Classen Curve shopping center which makes it safe for spectators as well as participants to hang out and enjoy the atmosphere.
4) Volunteers are so enthusiastic! There was no shortage of people trying to help.
5) Every finisher got a medal
6) Race shirt is a long-sleeve tech shirt of nice quality
7) 2:00 pm start time allows people to sleep in a bit and enjoy the party in the late afternoon hours.

CONS
1) Porta potties were very hard to find at the start. I actually never even saw them so I ran into a grocery store before the race to use their bathroom.
2) Only one water stop that handed out full 12oz water bottles. I realize the water bottles were probably donated but it was difficult to open the bottle while running and then I didn't need the entire bottle for a 5K.
3) Difficult course with 3 major hills. This doesn't need to be a CON, per se, but runners should know it's very challenging.

If you are in town the first weekend of March, it is worth checking out!

There are so many PROS to this race I don't even know where to start!
1) BEAUTIFUL COURSE! They changed the course from last year and I really loved this one much better. It wove through scenic and historic OKC neighborhoods. The police did an amazing job controlling traffic for us and the crowd support was amazing!

2) SWAG! The shirts! The wine glass! The smoothies! The beer! THE MEDAL!! I've never been to a race that truly takes care of its runners like the Go Girl Run OKC.

3) THE RUNNERS! The 2000 or so ladies who ran this race supported each other like we had all been friends for ages. The vibe was one of community, camaraderie, joy and celebration! The pacers were all energetic and positive. Ladies were competitive but never lost the spirit of what this event is all about. Everyone still stays until the last finisher crosses the line. That kind of support is unmatched.

4) INDOOR PLUMBING! This year, the course started and ended at the OKC Dodgers Ballpark. They opened up the stadium to allow us to use the restrooms. In my book, anytime indoor plumbing is available at a race, it is a HUGE PRO!

5) PARKING! We arrived about 45 minutes before the start of the race and found free parking within 1 block of the start/finish line. It was super easy and convenient, especially on a chilly day when we wanted to change clothes after the race and still get back for the after party.

6) FREE RACE PHOTOS!! For real...they send you free, downloaded race photos for you to keep! This is a major perk for me as I never buy the official race photos of races due to cost.

CONS

1) The only con that I noticed with this race was the sports drink they served on the course. They used Scratch Labs Hydration, which I have heard good things about but have never tried. It was NOT good. I tried it at several of the aid stations and it really didn't get any better. Perhaps it was a mixing error, but I heard many other runners complaining about the horrible taste. Luckily, I wore my Orange Mud Hydraquiver with my own electrolyte drink so it was not a major thing for me, but it is worth including on this review due to the amount of complaints heard by other runners.

BOTTOM LINE: Don't miss out on this race. Go Girl Run OKC reportedly had runners from 22 states participate this year so word is clearly spreading that this is a must-run race for every woman!

2015 was my first St. Jude Marathon experience and it won't be my last! A good friend of mine was walking the half as a St. Jude Hero (fundraiser) and several other friends were planning a trip to join her. I had a disappointing Chicago Marathon in October and was not able to run my best so my legs felt fresh enough to run the full without risking injury.

Upon arriving at the expo, the first thing I noticed about the St. Jude Marathon is that every aspect of this race is centered around the cause: Raising money for St. Jude Children's Hospital. Each and every fundraiser was treated like an elite athlete. There was a special Red Carpet packet pick-up for the Heroes. Every volunteer thanked them for their contribution. At every turn, runners were reminded that all proceeds from the race go straight to the hospital. Some lucky Heroes were even allowed to tour the hospital grounds, further giving reason to why we were there. I mention all this because the feeling of purpose was palpable, something I have never felt before at any of my previous 14 marathon experiences.

The expo had loads of vendors and was very well organized. The race shirt was a long-sleeve tech shirt that has a loose fit. The half marathoners had blue shirts while the full marathon had maroon. The finishing medals also had the same corresponding colors.

The race course was beautiful! There were some hills throughout but nothing too severe. Runners are truly given a tour through downtown and Midtown Memphis. Every mile marker sign showed art by St. Jude patients that once again reminded runners why we were there. The most moving part of the race was running through the hospital campus and seeing the children who were well enough to come outside cheering for all the runners. How could I complain about my legs hurting from doing something I love when these kids are fighting for their lives!?

The support along the route was amazing! Fans, volunteers and even course marshals cheered on runners every mile. The race ended inside AutoZone Park, the minor league baseball stadium. Finishers were shown on the jumbo screen and runners' names were announced on the loud speaker. It was a very cool experience for sure!

The only disappointing factor for me was the goodie bag for marathon finishers. As I climbed to the top of the stairs from the field (yes, that was not easy but it wasn't too bad either), I was handed a white plastic bag that was to have post-race food. Inside were two bottles of chocolate milk and two nutrigrain bars. That's it. I really needed a bottle of water or some type of fruit. I don't eat dairy so I was struggling a bit until I got my gear check bag where I had stashed some "just in case" food. They also had no beer at the finish line! I had three tickets on my race bib for beer and by the time I finished, there was absolutely no beer to be found. That was truly disappointing.

Overall, this race is a MUST for every runner who has ever wondered why the heck they run long distances. It really reminds you that runners can do great things for worthy organizations and that running for a purpose is truly worthwhile.

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!