Story and photos by Darl DeVault, contributing editor
Tinker Air Force Base and its “Tinker Strong” philosophy were capably represented by Col. Tamilyn S. Dismukes, Deputy Commander, 72d Air Base Wing, at the 2026 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon’s three events on Saturday, April 25, in downtown OKC. She draped finishing medals over participants in the 5K run and the Senior and Kids cumulative-mile finishes of their marathons.
“Handing out medals at the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon finish line was a humbling reminder of Oklahoma’s incredible dedication and passion for community,” Col. Dismukes said. “Witnessing thousands of participants—including our service members, veterans, retirees, and their families—vividly illustrates the enduring resilience of Oklahomans. This profound shared experience reinforces the unbreakable, supportive partnership between our military and the local community.”
Spanish Cove Retirement Village and Vietnam Veterans were also well represented on April 25.
The 75-strong contingent from Spanish Cove in Yukon, Oklahoma, won a $500 cash prize for having the most participants in the Senior Marathon. The prize money is directly designated to fund and enhance the winning group’s community wellness programs.
The Senior Marathon and Kids Marathon use a “couch-to-marathon” remote compilation structure. Participants aged 60 and older walk or run a total of 25 miles incrementally starting in January (averaging roughly 1.5 miles per week).
On Saturday, April 25, at 8 a.m., the Spanish Cove team, all wearing team T-shirts, started from outside the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum to complete their final 1.2 miles together in downtown OKC.
The course guided the seniors through the streets of downtown Oklahoma City, concluding with celebratory finish medals at Scissortail Park.
The team’s efforts were spearheaded by their Wellness Director, Debbie Miller, who coordinated the training schedules, group registration, and race logistics to foster active aging.
Miller has also assembled many Dragon Boat crews since 2012 to race on the Oklahoma River downtown in RIVERSPORT’s Dragon Boat League. Spanish Cove now fields multiple specialized crews, including the Golden Dragons, Silver Dragons, and even specialized co-ed and all-women’s rosters.
In a heartwarming display of resilience, Vietnam Veteran retired Marine Capt. John Bisbee, who recently gained 100% disabled Veteran status for his Agent Orange exposure at 76, walked for the second year in the Senior Marathon with his wife Peggy.
Bisbee said he saw the event as a way to support the nonprofit Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum that opened in 2001. It has been serving the community for 25 years in honor of the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all those affected by the devastating April 19, 1995, bombing.
Just by walking its unique cumulative 25-mile training regimen before the race weekend, by completing 1.5 miles each week starting in January, they were ready. On the day of the race, they completed their marathon by walking the final 1.2 miles at the “Run to Remember.”
Bisbee said participating in the Memorial Marathon weekend holds a profound significance. “My wife and I enjoy being a part of all that the Memorial Marathon represents—our community coming together to remember those killed, those who survived, and those permanently changed by the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.”
Their unwavering commitment to the event serves to inspire others, showing that with perseverance and the right mindset, anyone can achieve their goals and positively impact their community.
The Senior Marathon is an untimed event, allowing runners to savor the experience without pressure or competition. In addition to the race, the Senior Marathoners had the opportunity to participate in the Health and Fitness Expo at the Oklahoma City Convention Center on Saturday. The Expo, presented by the OKC Convention and Visitors Bureau and OU Health, was located adjacent to the finish line. It offered a platform for Senior Marathoners to interact, show their support, and gain insights into health and fitness.
The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is the largest fundraiser for the privately owned and operated Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, a National Park Service-affiliated site. Runners received free admission to tour the Museum that day.
Over two days, the event welcomed more than 20,000 runners and walkers from across the United States and several foreign countries. In addition to the Senior Marathon, a 5K and a kids’ marathon, the event featured a half-marathon, a marathon relay (comprising five-member teams) and a wheelchair division.
The Senior Marathon was presented by Mercy, a nonprofit Catholic health system serving Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, as the event’s presenting sponsor.
