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This is the second year in a row Derks took first place in the Williams Route 66 Marathon.  A member of the Michelob Ultra team, Derks improved his time from 2010 by approximately four minutes.

“This is becoming one of my favorite races,” Derks said. “It’s a good size and it’s a fun, friendly atmosphere.  Thanks to the race directors for putting on a great race.”

Maggie Nelsen, 29, was the overall female winner of the marathon, with a time of 2:57:03. From Tulsa, she now holds the course record, and is the first woman to run the Williams Route 66 Marathon in under three hours.

Jennifer McConnell, also of Tulsa was the overall female winner of the half marathon, finishing in 1:28:57.

Janelle Stevens of Mission, KS was the first female in 20:40.

The award recognizes an individual who impacts the world in an uplifting way and is named in honor of Kjell Tovander who died while trying to complete the Williams Route 66 Half Marathon on Nov. 16, 2008.  Tovander, only 21 at the time of his death, spent three years studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was preparing for a career in the Navy.

“Kjell was filled with joy and passion and always happy, a rare person indeed,” said Margaux Tovander, Kjell’s mother.  “He was always inspiring or teaching and helping others and never complained about his adversities. Kjell never wanted recognition or asked for anything in return. As a mother I am proud to know that the Williams Route 66 Marathon will recognize and honor my son Kjell every year with this honorable award and that is a wonderful gift to me and my family.”

At age 7, Davis, (34), was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD), or Legg Perthes disease, a form of osteonecrosis of the hip that is found only in children.

“I remember laying in bed crying at night because of the pain,” said Davis.

The pain led to multiple hospital visits, but no relief, as doctors were unable to accurately diagnose the rare disease until Davis was referred to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

“I can’t emphasize enough how much the Shriners changed my life,” said Davis. “I fully intend to send them a letter once I finish the marathon and let them know none of this would have been possible without their help.”

The Shriners selected Davis for their family assistance program, which entailed taking care of his entire medical costs; transportation for treatment, which took place in Shreveport, La.; and complete living assistance while being treated.

While a cure was available, the road to recovery was not easy.  The degenerative disease left Davis nearly immobile for almost two years as he endured multiple surgeries that included recovery time in a full body cast.  Before the age of 14 Davis had two hip surgeries, a knee surgery and two different stints in a full body cast.

It was years before Davis would fully recover, but once he did, he was unstoppable. He went on to play high school football and later joined the Marines after a little persistence.

“The Marines didn’t want to take me because of the disease, but I knew if they just let me take the physical exam I would pass,” said Davis.

Determined, Davis wrote a letter to his congressman asking to be given the chance to submit to a full physical exam.

“I wrote our state representative and said, ‘I’m not asking you to get me in, I’m asking you to get me an exam.’”

Davis served in the Marines for eight years before returning to Elk City, near his hometown of Sayre, Okla., and settling down with his wife, Kristina, and starting a family.

After years of inactivity and unhealthy eating, Davis saw an episode of The Biggest Loser featuring Broken Arrow native Danny Cahill in which the statistic was given that one-tenth of 1 percent of people complete a marathon. Viewing this as a challenge, Davis made the decision that day to stop making excuses and get healthy again.

“I realized I was making excuses to not do things with my kids because I was too lazy to get out of the recliner,” said Davis.

In January of this year Davis weighed 227 pounds. A lean 158-pound Davis will cross the finish line of his first marathon at the Williams Route 66 Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 20.  His journey has inspired others including his wife; 10-year-old daughter, McKenzie; and friends and coworkers who have a combined weight loss of approximately 200 pounds.

On Friday, Nov. 25, Davis’s influence will spread to approximately 200 more people and hundreds of kids when Elk City holds its inaugural Christmas Wishes 5K organized by Davis and a co-worker, Shaun Maniatakes, and benefitting the local Toys for Tots. Overwhelming support from the community has allowed him to lead the way in raising nearly $6,000 for the charity, nearly double the budget shortfall of last year.

“Tom Davis was chosen to be this year’s recipient for the Kjell Tovander Award because I feel he deserves to be recognized for a life full of strife and for being so humble,” said Tovander.  ‘Tom overcame disease and he also served in the Marines honorably and did the things he felt he needed to do even though it probably never entered his mind that he couldn’t do them. He did them anyway and he did them well. Tom is an all around good person without any thought of recognition and has helped his community and a lot of people, especially kids.”

Participants can register for the marathon, half marathon and marathon relay at the expo.

The marathon relay shuttle buses will leave approximately every 20 minutes as needed. You should arrive at the Veterans Park shuttle stop at least one hour before you expect to start running your leg of the relay. You are responsible for getting to the exchange zone on time. The timing of the relay shuttle service is not guaranteed.

A complete map of shuttle stops and shuttle bus operation times is available in the participant guide you will receive in your packet.

The marathon, half marathon and marathon relay start line is located at 7^th and Main Street downtown. There are surface parking lots located to the south and east of the start line. Please do not park in church parking lots on Sunday.

There is no shuttle bus provided from the finish line to the start line prior to the race. Shuttles from the finish line to the start line are available after the race to return participants to their vehicles. However, for participants riding their bike to the races on Sunday and utilizing the free bike check located at the finish line at Veterans Park, a free VIP shuttle will be provided to transport participants to the start line on Sunday.

Q:  Where do I pick up my packet?
A:  Packet pick-up is at the Williams Route 66 Marathon Health, Fitness and Sustainability Expo, presented by St. John Health System.  The Health and Fitness Expo is located at the Tulsa Convention Center, 100 Civic Center, in downtown Tulsa.  The hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Q:  What if I haven’t registered yet?
A:  Runners can still register for any event at the expo.  Race day registration is not available, so participants for Saturday races (the 5K and fun run) must register and/or pick up their packets on Friday.

Q: I’m running the relay.  Do all team members have to pick up their packet, or can one team member do it?
A: One team member can pick up packets for the whole team.  But come on out and enjoy the fun of the expo!

Q:  I’m injured.  Do you offer refunds?
A:  Unfortunately, due to the nature of the event and the cost of putting on a race of this size, we cannot offered refunds.  Deferrals to future races closed on Nov. 1, 2011.

Q: Can I change races at this point?
A:  You may change races at the Health, Fitness and Sustainability Expo, under the “Registration Problems and Changes” banner.  You must change races at the expo.  Any changes made on the course will result in an untimed/unofficial finish.

Q:  Do you offer shuttle service?
A:  Yes.  Shuttle service is offered between major downtown hotels and the pasta dinner/pre-race concert on Saturday; and between the hotels and the start/finish line on race day.  Shuttle service is also offered among the marathon relay exchange zones. More information on shuttle services and hotels is located in your Participant Guide.  Shuttles are available AFTER the race to transport participants from the finish line back to their cars near the start line.

Q:  I paid for the Pasta Dinner, but didn’t get a ticket.  How do I get in?
A:  Your name will be on a list at the door of the Cain’s Ballroom.

Q:  The start and finish lines are in different places. Where do runners and spectators park?
A:  There is plenty of free parking on the streets in downtown and parking lots north of Veteran’s Park. Please see the parking article for more information.

Q:  What time does my race start?
A:  On Saturday, the 5K starts at 8 a.m. and the fun run starts at 9 a.m.  On Sunday, the marathon, half marathon and marathon relay start at 8 a.m.

Q:  What food and drinks will be on course?
A: Water, Gatorade, pretzels, Gu, oranges and bananas will all be on the course.