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Welcome to the Fourth Annual Spirit of Survival Marathon! This incredible, one-of-a-kind racing event offers several unique and challenging races sure to appeal to the most avid runners and wildlife enthusiasts. Featuring 5 USATF certified races, this event offers scenic and beautiful race routes in the beauty of the Wichita Mountains, a national wildlife sanctuary.
The Spirit of Survival Marathon is unique because it is the only USATF certified race approved to run through one of the nation’s 547 Wildlife Refuges. For the individual looking for the ultimate wildlife racing experience, this event offers the opportunity to run while observing wildlife in its natural habitat.
Saturday’s Mount Scott 5K is a certified hill run that takes place up historic Mount Scott, a paved road with an average incline of 7% all the way up. Sunday’s Marathon and Half Marathon take place on the expansive 60,000-acre Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge teaming with wild buffalo, longhorn, elk and over 200 species of native wildlife roaming free on the open range.
Due to extensive growth, this years’ event has been rerouted 1.5 miles south in the Wichita Mountains. Our new race headquarters, registration and start/finish line is now located at the Lodge on the Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area which features outdoor recreation to include: fishing, paddleboating, miniature golf, sand volleyball, outdoor waterslide at the beach and much, much more. This new venue offers on-site parking, cabins, RV hookups, campsites and picnicking, providing the ultimate outdoor family experience.
With the change in event headquarters, most of the race routes have been slightly modified in some way and some of the races have been rerouted or discontinued.
One change is the Big Rock 10K course. The previous 10K course took place on Big Rock in Medicine Park and was considered extremely challenging. The new Deer Creek Canyon 10K course at Lake Elmer Thomas is a flat and fast out-and-back course. Another new addition is the Lake Elmer Thomas 5K which takes place around the lake along the same route. These two races will take the place of the previous Big Rock 10K and Marathon Team Challenge which were discontinued due to logistical issues. These two certified, chip timed racing events offer an alternative for those who prefer shorter distance races.
- Mountain Marathon
- Holy Half Marathon
- Deer Creek Canyon 10K
- Lake Elmer Thomas 5K
- Mount Scott 5K - (Saturday, October 3) Hill run up MOunt Scott, a paved road to the third highest elevation in Oklahoma with a scenic overlook of one of the oldest mountain ranges on earth.
- 5K Spirit Walk and Family Fun Run
- Super Kid’s Marathon - complete the last 1.2 miles on race day
The Spirit of Survival will take place over a weekend of road racing, outdoor recreation, shopping and entertainment originating at the Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area, approximately one mile south of the Historic Medicine Park community full of quaint bed & breakfast lodging, shopping and dining, and less than two miles down the road from the 60,000 acre Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
If you’re looking for a great marathon, you’re training for another one or are just looking for the running experience of a lifetime, this event offers a race for everyone!
If you’re looking for a great marathon, you’re preparing for another one or are just looking for the running experience of a lifetime, this event offers a race for everyone!
All races USATF sanctioned and certified and ChampionChip timing.
The Full Marathon is a Boston Qualifying event.
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