The
2012 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, which took place this past Saturday, is
an event that has taken place for 12 consecutive years in Oklahoma City to
honor those fallen in the April 1995 bombings. Each year, more and more contestants have run in the race,
and each year the cause seems to be reaching the younger generation more and
more.
In
2011, more than 25,000 runners participated in the Oklahoma City Marathon, a
steady climb from just 5,000 in the race’s inaugural year. However, every year, more and more
college students have decided to participate. OU student, Corbin Wallace, says that he’s astounded by the
amount of college students that run. “When I was out there this year, it really
was incredible how many people I knew, from school and stuff, and how many
young people were running for this cause.”
The
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon was founded in 2001, by two business men who
liked to run and came up with the idea.
There is the half marathon, which is 13.1 miles, and the full marathon,
which is 26.2 miles. Many people
run just because they like to run, while some run for a greater cause. “I saw a man carrying 168 pounds of
extra weight with him, to honor the 168 people that died in the bombings” said
Wallace.
“The
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is not about running, it is about life,
honoring the memory of life lost through tragedy, celebrating the gift of life
given equally to each person, and reaching forward into the future to life yet
to be lived” according to the marathon’s website. With the newer generation of runners participating in this
event, it seems that this marathon can carry for years to come.
You
can find more information for the run and facts at okcmarathon.com
Corbin Wallace
OU Student/OKC Marathon Participant
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