Story and photos by Darl DeVault, contributing editor
Because of a week-long stretch of on-again-off-again thunderstorms, sometimes with hail across the OKC metro, the “Run to Remember” Senior Marathon was postponed. On the day it was finally run, senior participants expressed their delight with sunny skies and calm winds.
The field of seniors gathered for the rescheduled event at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 8th, at a new course because of traffic on a weekday. They showed the Oklahoma Standard for adaptability when they ran on the improvised course laid out in lower Scissortail Park.
The Senior Marathoners’ finish line was still in Scissortail Park, except in the southern part, across the interstate. The park’s large pavilion there proved to be ideally suited to provide a stage and support.
In a heartwarming display of resilience, senior citizens aged 65 or older came together to walk or run in the third Senior Marathon as part of the 25th annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Their participation allowed seniors to support the nonprofit Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. This institution has served the community for 25 years in honor of the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all those affected by the devastating April 19, 1995, bombing.
Cheryl, 69, and husband Steve Childers, 67, of Yukon expressed their delight with the day. “We must have been excited by the crowd because we both ran our last leg of the marathon faster than any previously in the build-up to today.”
By showing up for an event moved in location and time from early morning to afternoon, the event was an outstanding testament to the indomitable spirit of the senior community. By lacing up their running shoes and embarking on their walks or runs, they honored the memory of the Oklahoma City bombing by showing their dedication to supporting their community while seeking a healthy and active lifestyle.
The participants undertook a unique training regimen: they walked or ran 25 miles before the race weekend and recorded their progress by completing 1.5 miles each week starting in January. On their race day, they completed their 26.2-mile marathon.
Designed to be an untimed event, allowing the participants to savor the experience without any pressure or competition, this does not mean senior athletes did not take their times and earning a medal seriously.
In addition to the run, they had the opportunity to partake in the Health and Fitness Expo at the Oklahoma City Convention Center as scheduled when they first picked up their packets. The OKC Convention and Visitors Bureau and OU Health presented the Expo, which offered a platform for them to interact, show their support, and gain insights into health and fitness.
Expo announcer and 25-year volunteer Mark Bravo ran his third Senior Marathon this year at the event.
“The senior marathon is another example of the best traits of the OKC Memorial Marathon race weekend,” Bravo said. “It illustrates inclusion, where now there’s truly a “race for everyone.” We all know this is so much more than a race, and now in its third year, the Senior is highly anticipated, and a true celebration of life and the Oklahoma Standard.”
“There’s so much pride shown by the participants, and the wellness initiative created by our marathon is no more present than when the seniors take to the road walking, running and succeeding just like the athletes in the other races!”
Bravo explained in an interview that even beyond the running/walking events, with something for everyone, the entire community helps make it a first-class event now recognized on the national stage. He said that the two-day Health and Fitness Expo offers a list of “Running Legends” rivaling any marathon in the country.
Expert speakers on topics such as senior and women’s wellness allowed athletes to ask them questions. He stated that whether an athlete is a novice walker/runner or a student of the sport, the entire weekend serves as an inclusive celebration that leaves participants feeling like they’ve made the world a better place by taking part.
The events are the largest fundraiser for the privately owned and operated National Park Service-affiliated Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Over two scheduled days, the events welcomed more than 20,000 runners and walkers from across the United States and several foreign countries. In addition to the Senior Marathon, the event featured a marathon, a half marathon, a quarter marathon run individually or as a team, a 5K, a Kid’s marathon, and a wheelchair division.
Mercy, a nonprofit Catholic health system serving Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, presented the event. It has grown significantly since its inaugural year, during which over 1,000 seniors participated. Building on that initial success, the event now features a Senior Groups program for at least 20 participants, offering two $500 cash awards for the groups with the most runners.
