Williams Route 66 Marathon Reaches Milestone in 2015
The Williams Route 66 Marathon celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a weekend full of events for all ages and skill levels, Nov. 20-22.
Each year, the marathon generates a $5 million economic impact in the community. In addition, the marathon has generated more than $200,000 in direct donations to Tulsa charities. This year, the marathon has a goal of raising $75,000 for Tulsa-area nonprofits with the Charity Challenge.
“The mission we started with nine years ago still stands today,” says Route 66 Marathon Founder Chris Lieberman. “The Williams Route 66 Marathon was created to promote health and fitness while contributing to other nonprofits and generating an economic impact for our community.”
The Williams Route 66 Marathon has grown from 3,000 participants in its first year to an expected sellout race with 15,800 participants for this anniversary year. Runners will be coming from every state and Washington, D.C., with foreign participants traveling from the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Argentina, Italy, Cayman Islands and China.
“So far our youngest participant is 10 and our oldest marathon participant is 85,” Lieberman says. “The Williams Route 66 Marathon attracts thousands of participants from around the world to take an intimate street level tour of our city. We have so much to show off and our participants often tell me how much their experience at the Williams Route 66 Marathon has changed their impression of Tulsa.”
This year, participants can earn free entry in any race by raising funds for one of the marathon’s charity partners: Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Folds of Honor Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Oklahoma Chapter, Tulsa Area United Way or the Tulsa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Williams Route 66 Marathon will match the first $25,000 raised by participants.
The Williams Route 66 Marathon weekend includes the two-day Health, Fitness and Sustainability Expo, marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay, 5K run and walk, a one-mile fun run and walk, and the ever popular mascot dash. Post-race activities at Tulsa’s Guthrie Green in the Brady Arts District include free live music, a car show and fun for the entire family. For more information visit www.route66marathon.com.
Updated 09-28-2015
READER COMMENTS
