OKC Memorial Marathon 2006
RUNS TO REMEMBER FOR THE SIXTH YEAR

Preparations well underway for biggest event yet!

Over 4,000 community volunteers are readying for the sixth annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. The marathon is expecting a record-setting 11,000 runners, walkers, and young marathoners for the Sunday, April 30 event. They will be running to remember those lost in the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Downtown Oklahoma City.

“We’re on pace to meet or exceed participation from last year’s event, which reached 10,000 participants,” said race director Chet Collier. “Runners from Oklahoma, around the nation and across the world have come to love this event for the cause it represents, as well as the first-class race our volunteers put on.”

Serious runners to recreational walkers can choose from five events, including the full Marathon (26.2 miles), Half Marathon, Five-person relay, 5K Memorial Walk and the Kid’s Marathon.

Famed marathoners Bill Rodgers and Dick Beardsley will join the activities again in 2006. These legends of running are always ready and accessible to share their unique running experiences with marathon event participants.

Shannon Miller, Olympic Champion and Oklahoman is serving as the Honorary Chairman of The Kid’s Marathon.

The Marathon Health and Fitness Expo will be held April 28 and 29 at the Cox Convention Center, with shoe and apparel vendors, running clinics and other event of interest to everyone – runners or not.

“We’re looking forward to another great event in 2006,” said Collier. “Ours is a special event – one of a kind in the nation, really – because we organize a run that is not about running.

“Ours is held for the expressed purpose of honoring those friends and neighbors lost in the 1995 Murrah Bombing, and what better way to do that than to celebrate life through fitness,” he continued.

“We invite runners and walkers of all ages to join us downtown for the 2006 Run to Remember. It’s an event you won’t forget,” Collier concluded.

The full marathon, the half marathon, the marathon relay and the 5K Memorial Walk start at 6:30 a.m. The Kid’s Marathon starts at 8:15 a.m. All starts are from 5th and Robinson at the 9:01 Gate of Time. The finish is along 5th and Harvey at the 9:03 Gate of Time.

The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Health and Fitness Expo at the Cox Center runs Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. On-site registration for any of the marathon events is available at the Expo.

For more information visit okcmarathon.com.