Tulsa Riverparks Trail along the Arkansas River
The Golden Driller Marathon is a road race along the Arkansas River in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Course uses the paved trails in the city’s River Parks system.
Because the course follows park paths along the river, you experience waterfront scenery unlike races that repeatedly cross major city roads and intersections.
The organisers describe the event as small and welcoming,
appealing to participants who want to run a long distance at a relatively intimate event rather than in the crowded start of a major city marathon.
The name comes from the Golden Driller statue at Tulsa’s Expo Square.
The statue is also featured on the finisher finisher medal, preserving a local symbol as a race keepsake.
This does not mean that course passes directly by the statue;
the actual course primarily follows the paved riverside trails.
You encounter the city’s symbol in the event name and finisher medal, while the run itself offers open views of the Arkansas River and the parkland.
Full marathon, half marathon and shorter events are held together.
All course are USATF-certified, and full marathon can be used as a Boston Marathon qualifying time.
The terrain is generally described as flat, but full marathon includes hills, while the other event is described as a flat course.
Even participants gathered along the same river encounter different terrain depending on the distance they enter.
Food and drinks are available after the finish, giving you time to stay with local runners after the riverside run.
