OKC Memorial Marathon: Racing schedules, street closures, weather outlook for Race Weekend

Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman
·6 min read

Runners from at least 11 countries participated

UPDATE, 1 p.m. Sunday: Thousands of people from across the United States took part in the Run to Remember, honoring the 168 victims who died as a result of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.

According to officials, runners from 11 countries participated in Sunday's Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.

The Emergency Medical Services Authority staged several teams at the event in order to more quickly respond to marathon-related calls regarding fatigue, overexertion or any other potential health needs.

A runner hydrates using a water stop along the 2021 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon route in northeast Oklahoma City.
A runner hydrates using a water stop along the 2021 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon route in northeast Oklahoma City.

Adam Paluka, chief public affairs officer for EMSA, said by noon four people had been taken to local hospitals for further treatment, but that "all patients were transported non-emergency." He added that teams did not use any trucks from Oklahoma City's 911 system.

Nursing students with OU Health were also seen volunteering their services during the marathon.

More: COVID-19 protocols for OKC Marathon will be a reminder of pandemic's impact on Oklahoma

-------------------------

Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon winners declared

UPDATE, 11:25 a.m. Sunday: Winners of each race for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon's main event have been declared.

  • Al Maeder, of Oklahoma City, was announced as the first Race Day winner, securing victory in the half-marathon for men with a runtime of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 39 seconds.

  • Kristi Coleman, of Yukon, was declared the winner of the half marathon for women, with a running time of 1 hour, 17 minutes and 47 seconds.

  • The team representing My OK Runner, the family-owned walking and running store servicing central Oklahoma, won the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Relay, with a winning time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 38 seconds.

  • Bryant Keirns, of Stillwater, won the full marathon for men with a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 52 seconds.

  • McKale Montgomery, of Stillwater, broke records for women runners in the full marathon Sunday morning, finishing with a winning time of 2 hours, 41 minutes, and 6 seconds, beating the previous marathon record of 2 hours, 45 minutes and 7 seconds. This was Montgomery's second marathon victory, after also winning in 2013.

Related: McKale Montgomery breaks record in women's race; Bryant Kierns wins men's race

-------------------------

Runners from all over are gathering in Oklahoma City Saturday and Sunday for the annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, held in honor of those who died in the 1995 bombing of downtown's Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

The marathon event, called Run to Remember, is the chief fundraiser for the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, which is privately-owned and doesn't receive annual funding from governments within the state or at the federal level.

When the marathon first launched two decades ago, it drew just under 5,000 participants, but now it averages 25,000 runners and walkers every year. The marathon begins with 168 seconds of silence in memory of the bombing's 168 victims.

Related: Family plans to run in memory of pastor who was prominent in the aftermath of OKC bombing

To better help participants prepare, The Oklahoman is taking a look at marathon schedules, road closures and weather outlooks for the busy race weekend.

The routes for both the full and the half-marathons for Race Weekend 2022 follow the same path as the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in late 2021.
The routes for both the full and the half-marathons for Race Weekend 2022 follow the same path as the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in late 2021.

More: Check out a route map and see what roads will be closed for the 2022 OKC Memorial Marathon

What streets will be closed during the OKC Memorial Marathon?

Traffic is expected to be denser throughout "Race Weekend," with several streets and roads closed to accommodate marathon participants.

Saturday, 5K marathon routes will begin closing as early as 5:30 a.m., including Harvey Ave, SW 15 and Walker Ave. Routes. The first mile marker will reopen its street by 8:25 a.m., with the last reopening expected at noon for the race's starting line.

Sunday will see streets begin closing for the first mile of the full marathon at 4:30 a.m., including sections of Harvey Ave, Park, Robinson and Reno. By 7 a.m., all streets along the route should be closed. The earliest reopening is expected around 8:30 a.m. for the first-mile marker, and the last reopening isn't scheduled until 1:40 p.m. at the end of the race's 26-mile mark.

In addition to routes closed throughout downtown Oklahoma City to accommodate marathon participants, streets around Bicentennial Park were also closed out of consideration for the Festival of the Arts, Oklahoma City's other springtime annual event.
In addition to routes closed throughout downtown Oklahoma City to accommodate marathon participants, streets around Bicentennial Park were also closed out of consideration for the Festival of the Arts, Oklahoma City's other springtime annual event.

"Race Weekend 2022" coincides with downtown Oklahoma City's yearly Festival of the Arts, a springtime tradition held in nearby Bicentennial Park. The festival will end Sunday, the same day as the full and half-marathons and relays.

Streets were also closed around the park in consideration for the festival, with sections of Colcord Drive, Couch Drive, and Lee and Walker avenues not expected to reopen until April 30.

More: What Oklahoma City streets are closing for the Festival of the Arts?

City officials have advised drivers plan ahead with their travel times, keeping both events in mind from mid-to-late April.

What will weather be like during the OKC Memorial Marathon?

Meteorologists say the highest chance for severe weather is late Saturday, hours after the event's 5K prelude races and before the main marathons Sunday morning.
Meteorologists say the highest chance for severe weather is late Saturday, hours after the event's 5K prelude races and before the main marathons Sunday morning.

"There's probably going to be some lingering showers early Sunday, but the severe weather should be confined to Saturday evening," said Mark Fox, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Norman. "The wind is what will definitely be there."

High-speed wind is the most pressing concern to meteorologists throughout the entire weekend, with an average of 20 mph sustained winds and up to 40 mph wind gusts Saturday and Sunday.

"If they could maybe change the marathon course so it's all downwind, that would be great, but it's going to be slow-going into that wind for sure," Fox said.

Marathon officials say they have the right to cancel the race "if weather conditions or other physical conditions present a danger to participants."

According to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the marathon's website, rain alone is not sufficient reason to cancel the marathon, but "less-threatening conditions could cause alteration of the race and/or race course or length of the race to ensure participant, volunteer and community safety."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Memorial Marathon: Race routes, street closures, weather forecast