The inaugural Oklahoma Memorial Marathon on April 29 offers OU students motivation to get in shape, along with a chance to support the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Stephanie Willard, interior design sophomore, plans to run the split relay. She said her motivation for running the race stems from its dedication to the bombing.

"I don't think I would be running 13 miles if I didn't know it was for a good cause," Willard said.

The marathon course, covering 26.2 miles, winds through Oklahoma City's downtown and historic districts. The race, with flat lands and rolling hills, caters to the first-time runner. It also provides a venue to the Boston Marathon, said Dot Hensley, executive director of the marathon.

For those not wishing to run the whole marathon, a split and quad relay is available, Hensley said. In the split relay, two participants each run 13.1 miles of the race, and the quad splits the race between four runners who each run 6.5 miles.

A marathon requires training said Jason Brown, mechanical and electrical engineering junior. Brown, a veteran of the Dallas White Rock Marathon and the Boston Marathon, said he followed a strict running pattern while preparing for these races.

"I tried to do a real long run every other week," Brown said. "I started at 16 (miles) and the next week I would do 18. Then I would work my way up to 24 - that would be three weeks before the marathon."

Norman Running Club President David Schultz said the club has a group preparing for the marathon that meets on Sundays. Schultz, also a meteorologist at OU's north campus, said the marathon will attract a wide range of people.

"I can't think of anything that has more pull than the bombing, other than the Sooners," Schultz said. "I think in that sense it might attract people who wouldn't otherwise try long distance running."

Hensley said the marathon can be walked.

"We welcome walkers and relays," Hensley said. "In fact, that's [relays] really a great way to walk."

Volunteer work provides another way to get involved.

"We will try and find a place for everyone who volunteers," Hensley said.

Other events during the marathon include a wheelchair race, the Kid's Marathon, the Health and Fitness Expo and the Marathon Pasta Party. "We just want everybody, if they're not running the race or volunteering, to come out and cheer," Hensley said.
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