All about the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon

Your comprehensive guide to Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon weekend, whether you're running or just stopping by to watch:
Health and Fitness Expo
When: Today
Where: Cox Convention Center
Cost: Expo and booths are free and open to the public
On tap: Running clinics from marathon legends Bill Rodgers and Dick Beardsley, Course/Relay instruction booths, discussion forum with race announcer Whit Raymond, medical tips from Dr. Tom Coniglione, music by Edgar Cruz, and a Pasta Party for runners at the National Memorial Plaza from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday
Race Day schedule5:30 a.m. — Sunrise prayer service, begin check-in
6:00 a.m. — Opening Ceremony
6:20 a.m. — National Anthem
6:25 a.m. — Wheelchair marathon start
6:30 a.m. — Full and half-marathon and five-person relay start*
6:40 a.m. — 5K Memorial Walk start
8:15 a.m. — Kid's Memorial Marathon start
10:00 a.m. — Awards ceremony at the finish line
*official time limit will be seven hours
Previous winners2001: Peter Euler, Pittsburg (Kan.), 2:37:11 and Kim A. Bricker, Edmond, 3:12:29
2002: Jesse Williams, Seattle, 2:39:36 and Shawna Doty-Myers, Richmond (Texas), 3:05:35
2003: Conor Holt, Norman, 2:26:55 and Kristen Jett, Coppell (Texas), 3:15:44
2004: Conor Holt, Norman, 2:22:54 and Tracy Evans, Woodward, 3:13:53
2005: Matt Aguero, Poteau, 2:31:41 and Sara Pizzochero, Austin (Texas), 3:05:08
2006: Jerry Faulkner, Edmond, 2:36:03 and Sara Pizzochero, Austin (Texas), 3:02:07
2007: Niklas Kroehn, Austria, 2:37:38 and Amanda Luksetich, Richmond (Va.), 3:11:31
10 best places to watch the race1. The Start: This will be the only place you see all 16,000-plus runners grouped together. The stampede at the starting gun is breathtaking.
2. Bricktown: Here, marathoners face their toughest climb — up the Mickey Mantle Bridge and into middle of Oklahoma City's downtown revitalization.
3. State Capitol: Sunlight barely peeks over the Native American atop the Capitol Dome to greet runners as they turn toward the center of the city.
4. Edgemere Park: Century-old oak and maple trees tower over viewers gathered to watch the race.
5. Crown Heights: Last year, a few residents of this stately neighborhood set up a mini-bar in the front yard on marathon morning.
6. Nichols Hills: Enormous and extravagant homes make up for lack of tree-shade in this oil-born neighborhood.
7. Lake Hefner: Sparse runners blur together between sailboat masts and wind-chopped water in the background.
8. Classen Boulevard: 13-block stretch is grueling as runners near the 20-mile mark. Check out live music and other festivities on Classen.
9. Heritage Hills: Yet another beautiful neighborhood setting and the beginning of the final leg of the race.
10. The Finish: The most dramatic of all scenes. Runners cross the finish line to a chorus of cheers. Some gasp. Others collapse. All in the shadow of the "Gates of Time.”
Compiled by Blake Jackson
Source: newsok.com