Tulsa Tough

The annual Tulsa Tough 2009 event is coming up at the end of this month, on May 29th through the 31st.  It promises to be another action packed weekend here in Tulsa, OK with live music and street vendors, in addition to the three day cycling festival with competitions to promote fitness and healthy lifestyles.  Put on by The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis, there will be professional-level races, Tulsa townie ride and, non-competitive rides.

The Tulsa Tough features some of the unique Tulsa, OK real estate districts, where the races are criterium style, closed course circuits that are less than a mile, so they are fun and easy to watch.  Announcers are on hand to explain the different levels of difficulty and the strategies or the up and comers to keep an eye on.  There are no entry fees to watch the races, and you can enjoy the live music and browse the booths of vendors and take full advantage of the festival food.
 
The three days involve three intense Criterium courses and $150,000 in cash prizes.  Field limits were hit during pre-registration last year, so hurry up and register to get a chance at the prizes.  The races start on Friday, the 29th with the Blue Dome Criterium under the lights of downtown Tulsa’s Blue Dome entertainment district.  Spectators will love watching the race wind through the crowded streets with live music and street vendors all along the route.

On Saturday, the 30th, the Brady Village Criterium run through the heart of the historic Brady Arts district, and the whole family can participate in races, rides, kids events activity zones and more.  There are different skill levels and Saturday is a day dedicated to family activities.

One Sunday, the winners will be crowned after Sunday’s races through the Riverview Criterium, which runs along the scenic Arkansas River and is a grueling course, staged from the River Parks.  These are the races that lend the “Tulsa Tough” festival its name.

Of course, don’t forget The Tulsa Townie Ride is on Sunday, May 31st at 1:00pm.  This is designed as a family event, so just bring your own bike and get ready for some fun.  Every participant gets a free t-shirt, finisher’s medal and refreshments at the Zink Park Rest Stop.  The entry fee is $20.00, and there are options for children 12 and under at $10.00 each.  Tough kids ride free to complete their obligation for their free bike. 

This ride covers 8 miles of city streets with a police escort and the Zink Park rest stop is the half way mark.  You must pass through the Tough Turn at 31st and Cincinnati by 2:00pm, and anyone arriving after 2:00pm will be directed to finish the Tiny Townie route, which is a 5.4 mile route back to the finish.  You can register online or at the registration table on Sunday from 10:00am to 12:45pm, before the race.

Tulsa Tough has one of the largest cash purses in cycle racing in the United States, so plan to attend this great event that is in the third year of their kids’ bike programs.  This next year they will top 1,000 bikes given to the kids of the Tulsa community.  Come out and show your support and have a great fun-filled family weekend in Tulsa’s unique districts.