The Course

Turkey Mountain is an "Urban Wilderness Area". You will find beautiful lush surroundings that run alongside the Arkansas River. As you approach from the north, you will be able to see it's peak that juts 300 feet above the Arkansas River. Elevation is between 600-900 ft. above sea level. Ninety percent of the course is on narrow single-track trails.

Most of the trails are under a a canopy of deciduous tress and amidst a thick layer of vegetation The trails have the sand /gravel /rock surface common to this area and can easily be run on after hard rains.The course has varying degrees of difficulty. There are easy-going non-technical areas, mostly flat and thoroughly negotiable, and there are intense, highly difficult technical areas with short, hard and very rocky climbs.

We will cut back some areas of the trail that have vegetation growing close to the path but beware that you will be brushing up against all types of flora. Trail shoes are not required, but if you have a pair it would be wise to bring them. There are no long hills and unless we have an extraordinary amount of rain there should be no stream crossings. The course will be marked with fluorescent pink flagging tape.

Turkey mountain has literally hundreds of trails that branch off into a spider-web of secondary and tertiary trails. The course will be heavily marked, but as in any trail race you need to pay attention to the different trail markers, (flagging tape, spray paint, flour etc.) One of the best ways to get lost is to follow another runner who is going the wrong way. If you do not see the a trail marker within 50ft. you are most likely off course and simply racking up bonus miles. If you do get off course you must back track and re-enter the course from the spot that you left. Anyone spotted cutting across adjacent trails will be disqualified. If you are breaking spider webs on this course, congratulations, you are in first place or you are off-course.

This race will be heavily marked with pink ribbon. There will be at least one pink ribbon in view at all times while you are on the course. If you do not see a pink ribbon you need to backtrack and retrace your steps. We will spend about an extra six hours marking this course in pink ribbon so that there is NO WAY that you can get lost. The only way to get lost on this course is to keep going when you lose sight of the pink ribbons. DO NOT follow other people who are not following the pink ribbons. There may be other ribbons, but if they are not pink, do not follow them!!

It is our goal at this race that nobody gets off course at all.!!! This is almost an impossible task given the huge amount of trails at Turkey Mtn, however we think if you pay attention to the pink ribbons, you will stay on course. This is a 25K loop course (except for the 10Kers) There are no out and backs and if you are doing the 10K or 25K you will never set foot on the same trail twice.

Turkey Mountain is not only a trail runners paradise but it also is a mountain biker's dream. This is all public land and you will encounter many mountain bikers, hikers, and maybe even a few horses. Please give all of them the right of way. It is much easier and for a runner to step off to the side of the trail than it is for a biker or horseback rider. There will be sections of the course that will be very rocky and/or steep. It is highly recommended to walk these areas. The seconds that you may lose is certainly less than the time it takes to wrap a twisted ankle.

10K Course

The 10K course will difficult, but not as technical. We said not as technical..."yet it is not easy!!!! We designed the 10k to be very walker and hiker friendly. The 10K will only have one aid station located close to mile three. Be prepared to carry a bottle of water and any food that you may require.

Checklist:

For this race here are some of the items you may drive off without:

1) Checkbook/Cash: If you are not pre-registered you will need this. If you forget, you cannot wash dishes to pay for the race.

2) Shoes, in any kind of race, shoes are a definite plus. For a race like Turkey Mountain I would highly recommend them.

3) Water bottles/Hydration System. It may be hot. While most of the course will be in the shade. Oklahoma can get a bit humid and hot in the shade. Check the forecasts and come prepared for any type of weather. The area of Oklahoma that we will run in is called Green Country. This definition may clue ya that it rains sometimes.

4) The Family. This is a very family oriented race. There will be a playground to engage and entertain the non-running members of the family. If you forget them at home you may never hear the end of it!!!!

5)Shorts and Shirt. This is NOT a clothing optional race!!!! Trail runners as a breed are not the type that look good sans threads.

6) Hat/Cap/Bandana. I can think of hundreds of great uses for a bandana. They keep sweat out your eyes, Soaked with cold water they keep you cool. They can be worn over your mouth to filter dust, smoke, and any other airborne pollutants. They can be used as bandages, tourniquets, wash rags, sweatbands, sunscreens, kotex, face masks, dog leashes, bow ties, ear warmers, chafe protectors, belts, bathing suit tops, diapers, toilet paper, trail markers, bottle holders, gear tie downs, suspenders, and even fashion statements. Don't leave home without one. Oh, by the way, they even look cool.

7) Camera. Show all your friends the beautiful scenery of Turkey Mountain, while you're at it, you can show them your blue toenails and salt lines around your face.

8) Race Directions. This race starts at a location that your local Tulsa Quick Trip may not be able to give you directions to. It is not in a remote area, but even some locals who have lived in Tulsa for years do not know that there is a YMCA located at the foothills of Turkey Mountain. Please print out the directions. You need to plan on being at the race early in case you make a wrong turn!! If you need help with directions, call the Race Director (Brian Hoover) at 918-244-6918. It is always a good idea to locate the race Start/finish area (the entrance gate to the Westside YMCA) the night before the race.

8b) MapQuest Hotel Directions.

9) Gel Packets, Cliff Bars, Electrolyte replacement drinks. We do not know what type of drinks will be served yet, so plan on bringing your own if you need to. Did I say it may be hot!

#10) Sunscreen. Most of the course will be in the shade. But I have seen some of you before! Can you you say fried LOBSTER!!!

#11) Sunglasses. For those of you that have never seen the bright neon outfits worn at ultras, ya might want to bring those shades.

#12) Change of clothes. We will have a hose to spray you down with after the race, so you may want to get out of that sweaty, stinky, nasty, crawls on it's own outfit.

#13) Lawn Chairs. "Although we will have picnic tables under a shaded shelter, your significant others may want to move around and sit elsewhere while you are running for 1-9 hours.

#14) Electrolyte Caplets. If you don't know what they are, here is a great site that explains how one brand (Succeed) helps you perform. No, not that kind of perform!!!

#15) Your own special foods. While we try to satisfy the nutrient needs of most of ya. We cannot foresee the unique foods that some of you crave. So to summarize, I am sorry to say, we will not have any chipotle peppers, witch hazel, or fried goat ears.

#16) First aid. Check out Zombie Runner Moleskin, Vaseline, Nip-Guards, Body Glide, Band-Aids, splints, poison ivy/oak miracle cures, Advil, Duct tape, Carmex, ankle braces, Handiwipes, bug spray.

17) Drop Bag. We will have limited parking so your vehicle may not be close to the Start/Finish area. You need to plan on setting out a drop bag at the Start/Finish Area if you are running the 50K. Remember how Ma used to write your name on your underwear, well that was a good idea then, and still is. Write your name on your drop bag!!!!

18) Contacts/glasses.

19) Watch. That $150 lap counter, split taker, pulse reader, distance tracker, altitude measurer does you no good sitting at home on the nightstand. (I heard these fancy new running watches will even tell you the time of day)! Even if you remember to bring this modern day invention these fancy bells and whistles watches are also useless unless you remember to hit start and stop.

20) MP3 player. This race is one of the few trail races that actually allows headphones. The reason is that there is no vehicle traffic, avalanches, or earthquakes at Turkey Mountain. I have never seen nor heard of any cougars, mountain lions, bears or rattlesnakes on the hill. So basically if you want to rock out, have fun. Just remember that these are very narrow trails and keep the volume at a level that you can hear faster runners screaming, "Make room", "Coming through", "On your left", or "Get the *@&* out of my way!!"

We have spent hundreds of hours preparing for this race, however, we will make some mistakes, I guarantee it. This is a second year race. Like you, we are learning . Bear with us and suggest ways to improve next year.

Travelocity counts 84 hotels within 20 minutes of the start line. On site camping is not be allowed.

Aid Stations:

There will be three aid stations per loop with an average distance of 3.75 miles between aid stations. Our aid stations will offer an assortment of sweets, sandwiches, salty snacks and drinks. September can be very hot, so it is highly recommended that runners run with at least one hand-held water bottle or other type of hydration system. Littering is strictly prohibited and may cause you to be disqualified. This includes GU packages and torn tops, Power Bar wrappers, candy wrappers or bags, or any item that was not on the course before you arrived. Please take all trash to the aid station garbage sacks. Volunteers are giving up many hours to help with this race, please take the time to thank them.

Our aid station volunteers will be told what distance they are at, how far to the next aid station and will be asked to be active volunteers, by filling up water bottles and/or Camelbacks, handing out paper towels, directing you in the correct direction and other duties. However, we do not pay these great individuals. That is why they are called volunteers. Please do not take them for granted and plan on being as self-sufficient as possible.

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