TULSA, Oklahoma - The gun sounded at midnight as 174 runners pounded the pavement all with the same cause of finishing a 50 mile race. The five loop course started at 41st and Riverside and went north to the 31st bridge then south up Turkey Mtn, and back across 71st to the rivertrail. Many of these runners had never run a full 26.2 mile marathon. In some cases ignorance is bliss, happy faces gave way to tired blistered feet. The winning runner was Steven Richard who clocked a time of 7 hours 20 minutes.
Race Director's Words of Thanks
Midnight Madness 50 Mile Race Directors Comments
Words cannot describe how much I appreciate the 120+ volunteers that it took to put on this epic race. Here are just a few of the amazing people that made this race happen.
My wife Kathy who designed the medals and helped me with every stage of this race. To Mitch Drummond who showed up at 2pm on Friday to help set up the entire finish line area and run home two to three times and get more extensions cords, lights etc.
To River Parks who allowed us to break curfew, override the timers on the water features/fountains and trail lights. They also set up the big white finish line tent to keep our aid station dry and the two smaller blue River Parks tents. To Susan Westmoreland who helped setup, cook food, take the wrappers off of all the medals etc. To Earl Blewett who was out there for over 24 hours to collect select times.
Doug "Unicycle" Massey stayed up all night hauling 40 pound bags of ice and 50 pound water jugs to make sure that none of the aid stations and water drop hydration jugs ran out. He was going non-stop and we only ran out at one place for a short period of time. Thanks Doug. Two great girls took over for Doug after he had been out there for over eight hours. Sorry I forgot their names.
To Don Garrett from DG Production Timing Company who basically timed the race for free. Joe McDaniels from Glen's Road Racing who was out there from 3pm on Friday till 3pm on Saturday inputting all the timing data into the computer.
To all the media, especially Jason Shackleford who covered many of the great stories of the runners' ordeals for Channel 2. To Jason and Lisa McGinnis who were not planning on manning the aid station for all fourteen hours of the race but did so because they knew that no one else would be able to be so attentive to all the runners' needs as they would be. To the fantastic ultra/trail running group out of Oklahoma City OTRA, who not only stayed up all night at the "over the top" aid station at Turkey Mountain, they also set up and tore down all the supplies, tents, tables food, ice chests etc. To the myriad of people who made trips to the store to get more ice, Gatorade and other supplies.
To all the pacers and crew members who stayed up all night to run and/or cheer all their friends and family members . To all ten of the RunnersWorld Tulsa marathon training group who slaved away in the kitchen to cook all those wonderful breakfast casseroles and serve them up to the hungry runners. To Sean Stevens and his wife for setting up the Hollywood Cold Tub to soothe all the swelling muscles of the runners. To Adele Baker and Amanda George who stood out in the pouring rain for hours rain capturing the runners times and pulltags. To Susan Michaels for hanging medals around the finishers' necks.
To Chuck Zoellner who went back out on the course after the race andf picked up all 100 orange cones/pylons and the mile markers. Chuck also made two life saving coffee runs.
And most of all to all the people who hung out long enough after the race was over to help pack up the mountain of supplies into the vehicles. The tear down process is ALWAYS the hardest part of any race on me and I apologize to all who saw me at my worst and to those that I may have showed a "bit of attitude" towards. At that point I had gotten less then four hours sleep in the past three days and I had been hauling supplies for over 72 hours and was approaching both physical and mental breakdown.
I also want to thank the nearly 180 people who signed up for the race. Most 5K's do not even have that type of support.
When I first thought about organizing a 50 mile race, I was worried that I may not have more than 50 people sign up. This just goes to show how mentally and physically tough runners are. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS RACE SUCH A GREAT SUCCESS !!!
Important Updates
All race entrants, pacers and crew members, please read these updates
The Inaugural TATUR Midnight Madness 50 Mile Road Race is a celebration of health and
fitness that will challenge runners to take their physical and mental fitness to the next level.
168 people have signed up to "Kick It Up A Notch"
Start finish - QuikTrip Plaza - 41st & Riverside Drive
Course - Five alternating loops of ten miles (course may change due to construction)
Time Limit - 14 hours - Race ends at 2 P.M. on Sat. afternoon.
Flat & fast course - 80% paved running trail
Actual Course distance is 51.5 miles (10.3 mile loops)
Pre-Race Party at New OneOK Field
We're Giving Away 20 Free Tickets
Field Level Reserve tickets (Sect. 118)
First come first serve
For race entrant and one guest.
Family friends and pacers may purchase additional tickets.
Game time at 7:05 pm Friday night, July 2
Fireworks show
Brand new stadium in downtown Tulsa 15 minute drive from race start.
Relax at a ballgame before the race. Sit in a section with other race participants and get to know each other before a long night on the paved trails.
Pacer/Runner Meet Up Forum
Do you need a pacer for the 50 miler. Do you want to participate but not run the whole 50 miles. Do you want to ask some trail veterans what to eat, drink, when to walk, when to run?
TATUR has an online forum/chatroom dedicated to information regarding the 50 mile race. You can post questions, ask for a pacer, volunteer your pacing sevices etc.
The 200 medals have arrived for the finishers. These large medals are 5.5 inches tall, 3 millimeters thick and are the largest medal of any running race in the state of Oklahoma. They weigh over a half pound and are the inaugural medal of Tulsa's longest race.
They are hand crafted by the Wassco Medal Company here in Tulsa and designed by local ultra runner, Kathy Hoover, who has finished five 100 mile races and will also be competing in the Midnight Madness 50 miler.
Tastefully done in two shades of blue, black and silver, they reflect the colors of a midnight run in the Heartland. We think they will make a fabulous centerpiece in your trophy cabinet. Sign up now to be guaranteed one of these collectors items as you cross the finish line.
We are very proud of these large medals and hope this will convince you to push the limits and walk/run in this amazing race.
At the bottom of each medal in small letters are three simple words. Those words are...."I DID IT"
Quit putting it off and go ahead push the button and sign up. You too will be able to say those words at the bottom of the medal.
Aid Station Update
Any quality event is only as special as the people who are involved in it. This race is no exception. The Midnight Madness 50 will have the most experienced ultra runners in the state staffing the two aid stations. OTRA (Oklahoma Trail Runners Association) members have offered to assist the entrants throughout the night at one of the aid stations. Feel free to ask their advice any time throughout the night. These wonderful men and women definitely know their stuff and will take care of you in your "time of need"
(Tatur members will staff the other aid station.)
The OTRA members boast some of the most knowledgeable ultra runners in the Midwest. OTRA has a strong reputation as being a fun, yet professional group of trail and ultra runners. If you have not run with them before, you are really missing out. They train on some fantastic trails in the Oklahoma City region and often travel elsewhere for their training runs. OTRA puts on several great events throughout the year. For more information check out their web page.
Father Will Push His Son 50 Miles
Drew and Holden Crawford's Story
Holden was a typical happy healthy little boy. When Holden was four he was in a near drowning accident, which left him with some substantial deficits. Holden is not able to walk, and only minimally talks, although father and son are able to communicate. Holden has five brothers and sisters, who all are very active. The other kids run track, play baseball/softball, basketball, soccer etc. Since Holden is unable to participate in these activities, his father began pushing him in a stroller at races.
Holdie and his father have run eight marathons together, two or three half marathons and handful of 5k's.
They have a great time, and Holden loves the noise of the crowd at the finish lines!
Know No Boundaries
TATUR is proud to announce that a portion of the proceeds for the Midnight Madness race will go towards the Know No Boundaries Foundation. This is a foundation that is managed and created by local ultra runner and TATUR member Ken Saveth.
Ken and his foundation are truly doing some incredible things across the world.
Know No Boundaries is a 501(c)(3) non profit foundation aimed at helping people "break out" of their self set, self limiting boundaries. Be it emotional, spiritual, educational or even physical, a person is often times limited by their own internal self talk. This then leads to them not becoming what God has planned for them by reaching their full potential as a living, breathing, imagining human being.
Through your participation & completion of ultra-endurance running events, they raise awareness of these needs as well as money to provide the necessary help. Through funds raised & donations made, Know No Boundaries will provide prosthetics, wheelchairs, crutches, counciling or just a sympathetic ear to work with individuals so that they do reach their full God given potential. To find out more about this foundation visit the Know No Boundaries website
First Wheelchair Recipients
Well, Know No Boundaries has targeted its first wheelchair recipients. 12 year old David in Ghana walks to school with crutches...read more
Mohammed is 13 and lost his leg after being hit by a car. He also walks to school and like David, his family cannot afford a wheelchair or even new crutches. Mohammed has dreams of becoming a doctor and to help...read more
TATUR is proud to announce that a portion of the proceeds for the Midnight Madness race will go towards the Know No Boundaries Foundation. This is a foundation that is managed and created by local ultra runner and TATUR member Ken Saveth. 
