Tulsa, OK - This weekend, thousands of people will be getting their kicks on Route 66.  The marathon kicks off Sunday morning, but they're holding events all weekend.

The marathon begins and ends at Tulsa's Veterans Park and hits just about everywhere in between, from downtown to west Tulsa to Riverside Drive and Route 66.  But it's not just about the race, as the event has gone high tech.

Duston Lansford has big plans this weekend.  He's running the Tulsa's Route 66 Marathon.

"I look forward to it.  This is the second time I've run it.  I like the course changes - vary it up a little bit," he says.

7,000 runners from 50 states and 5 countries are also gearing up for the marathon.  They'll be wearing something that may actually surprise you: a special micro chip to track their progress.

"You put it on your shoe and at several places along the route it will check where you are and provides updates on runners," explains Frank Muller with the Route 66 Marathon.

Mike Erickson is running a half marathon and says wearing a chip will help those stuck at the back of the pack before the race even begins.

"You could have several minutes before you cross the start line this will give a real accurate time for the entire race," explains Erickson.

Time is one thing.  Mindset is another.  So what is the motivation to run some 26 miles.

"There's sometimes you hit a wall and feel like.. but you concentrate on crossing the finish line," explains Landsford.

The weekend is filled with activities leading up to Sunday's big race.  Runners will attend a pasta dinner Saturday night at Cain's Ballroom and the marathon kicks off Sunday morning at 7:30.

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