OKC Memorial Marathon guide: 26 things to know, see and love about race weekend
It’s time again for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.
The race to honor those killed, injured and changed forever by the bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building has become a huge community event. Thousands will run while thousands more will volunteer and cheer as runners wind their way through Oklahoma City on April 29 and 30.
In celebration of the 26.2-mile marquee event, here are 26 things to know about the Memorial Marathon.
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Where does the OKC Memorial Marathon start?
1. The starting line for the 23rd running of the Memorial Marathon will be on Harvey Avenue between NW 5th and 6th streets. Runners for all six races ― marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, 5K, kids marathon and senior marathon ― will pass by the 9:03 Gate at the Oklahoma City Memorial and Museum.
2. The senior marathon is new this year. While the format is like the kids marathon ― complete 25 miles, then do the final 1.2 miles on race day ― the age of the participants will be slightly higher. Senior marathoners must be 65 and above.
3. Post-race hamburgers are back! Look for them at the finish line Sunday.
4. Also making a comeback: shuttles for relay runners.
5. Runners and race fans will be able to get around downtown on race weekend a little easier, too. Oklahoma City’s streetcars will be free.
6. The Memorial Marathon has a time limit. The reason? The streets can’t stay blocked forever and have to be reopened to the public. Course support, then, will only be available for 6 ½ hours from the time the last runners cross the starting line. Runners who aren’t finished in that time will be without road closures as well as medical stations and water stops.
7. Marathoners must reach the course split at NW 50th Street, about 7 ½ miles into the race, by 8:45 a.m. Any marathoner who doesn’t get to that point by then will be directed to the half-marathon course.
8. Half marathoners must reach Mile 9 by 10 a.m., or they will be pulled from the course.
9. Marathoners must reach Mile 21 by noon, or they will be pulled from the course.
10. Last year’s Memorial Marathon returned to April after a two-year absence. The 2021 race was moved to October due to COVID concerns earlier in the year while the 2020 race was held virtually because of the pandemic.
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What day is the OKC Memorial Marathon?
11. The races are actually spread over two days. Saturday will be 5K, senior marathon and kids marathon. Sunday will be the marathon, half marathon and marathon relay. That's a pandemic-prompted change that has stuck. In 2021, organizers opted to split the event over two days in an attempt to limit runners’ COVID exposure. The change was a hit and has remained.
12. A massive two-day Health and Fitness Expo is open to anyone, runner or not. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.
13. Can’t-miss panel at the expo? Why We Run at 1:30 Friday, featuring survivors and family members of those killed in the bombing.
14. Another panel worth your time includes some of the biggest names in the history of distance running. The Legends Panel at 4 p.m. Friday includes Joan Benoit Samuelson, Dick Beardsley and Bill Rodgers.
15. Among the traditions during race weekend is the Blessing of the Shoes at First Church, 131 NW 4th, just across the street from the memorial. The service starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
16. Another tradition on race day: the (pre) sunrise service at the Survivor Tree. It starts early Sunday — 5:30 a.m. — but those moments under the mighty American elm will warm your heart.
17. Best race weekend tradition: 168 seconds of silence before the start of the marathon, one second for all the men, women and children who died in the bombing. It will make you cry.
18. Best postrace tradition: Many runners return to the memorial and leave medals, race bibs and more on the chairs representing the 168 people who died in the bombing.
19. Looking for a great place to watch runners? Gorilla Hill along Shartel Avenue is a natural, but don’t sleep on the party scenes near Edgemere Park or in Lakehurst. Another fun option is the Classen Boulevard stretch going through the Asian District. Two words: dragon dancers.
20. The Memorial Marathon course will go through 25 neighborhoods that include every quadrant of Oklahoma City.
21. More than 3,000 volunteers help make the Memorial Marathon go. Twelve have volunteered every year of the race.
22. Thirty-three runners have participated in every Memorial Marathon. They are called the Ran Them All Club.
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How many people run the OKC Memorial Marathon?
23. In total, there will be upwards of 25,000 runners, and they're coming from all 50 states.
24. Want to track a runner? You can follow a runner’s progress in real time by downloading the Memorial Marathon app.
25. The finish line is the best. That’s probably the case for most road races, but with the Memorial Marathon being a first-time race for many runners as well as a race with great meaning, the emotions are always high.
26. All money raised through registrations, sponsorships and any other race-related income goes to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. It is the sole beneficiary of the marathon, which is the memorial’s largest fundraiser.
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
When: 5K, 7 a.m. April 29; senior marathon, 8 a.m. April 29; kids marathon, 9 a.m. April 29; marathon and half marathon wheelchair, 6:25 a.m. April 30; marathon, half marathon and marathon relay, 6:30 a.m. April 30.
Where: Downtown Oklahoma City
Weather: Cloudy, high of 67 on April 29. Cloudy, high of 68 on April 30.
Registration: All races still have open spots, but race officials say the marathon, half marathon, kids marathon and senior marathon are approaching their participant maximums.
More information: OKCMarathon.com
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Memorial Marathon: Everything you need to know about race weekend
