#18 was the Oklahoma City Memorial 5K which funds the OKC Memorial in downtown Oklahoma City. Entitled "A Run to Remember", it is held in honor of the 168 people who lost their lives when a truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Building in April 1995. Housing numerous governmental agencies, the building also housed a daycare center for federal employees. 19 children were among the victims.
The race begins at dawn near the Field of Empty Chairs which are lit in the darkness. Each chair represents one of the 168 people. The starting line is next to the memorial and the race route is marked with individual banners naming each person who lost their life. It is impossible to get a bib number lower than 168. Those numbers are reserved every year for the victims of the attack.
As my sister and I arrived at the race site, the officials have declared a race delay of 30 minutes due to SEVERE WEATHER. If more lightening is detected, they will delay again. They announce that all participants should seek shelter in various parking garages near the race route and hunker down and wait out the storm.
Severe weather in Oklahoma can means only one thing. Clouds, wind, rain, wind, lightening, thunder, hail, wind, more wind, and finally, TORNADO.
After several delays, lots of wind, some hail, and more rain, the officials announce the start of the race. Actually, we don't hear the announcement as everything is echoing in the parking garages. We are "shushed" into silence when someone in the garage recognizes the National Anthem. We have missed the 168 seconds of silence, which is the beginning of the ceremonial start. Unfortunately, I (and everyone else in my personal parking garage) did not hear it. (If it is possible to hear silence, that is...)
At this point, I just want to get started or have it cancelled.
The marathoners and half-marathoners take off at 8:20. At 8:45, they are still crossing the start line. We (the 5k participants) finally cross the start line at 9:05. There are over 26,000 people in this event which includes a marathon, half-marathon, relay and 5K.
Along the route, I stopped to take a picture at the Johnny Bench statue outside the ballpark near Bricktown.
Johnny Bench is the iconic catcher for the legendary Cincinnati Red's "Big Red Machine". Born and raised in Binger, OK, he played his entire professional life for the Reds. He is Cincinnati.
However, those of us born and raised in Oklahoma understand a slightly different truth. We know he was a Red. We know he hasn't lived in Oklahoma for decades... but he is still one of us. We're just letting' you borrow him for a while. Awfully nice of us, don't ya think?
My friend Stephania accompanied me in this walk. She bitched and complained for a month that she wasn't in good shape and we wouldn't finish with a good time.
Liar.
She power-walked the entire way...often leaving me in the dust. The only reason she didn't completely abandon me was because I promised her mimosas afterward. A truer friend I could not have.
Because of Stephania's goading, I would have beaten my personal best time...however there was a train. Seriously...there was a train that passed through the course. If the race had started when it was scheduled, the race would have been long over by the time the train crossed the path, however a 2+ hour delay threw everything into disarray. I couldn't see the end of the train. We were stopped for 6 minutes and 42 seconds.
Many firefighters take part in the marathon or half-marathon. They suit up in full gear (that's an extra 85 pounds...I googled it!) and go. Later, after I had finished my race and meandered back to sip mimosas with family, we cheered the firefighters and other runners as the course meandered back through my sister's neighborhood.
I go home to Oklahoma a few times every year. This race seems to epitomize all that Oklahoma is. Honor, family, patriotism, laughter, bad weather, patience, and commitment. And mimosas and fried chicken.
Not bad.
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