Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon

From Shannon Miller, Olympic Champion and Oklahoman
Kids Memorial Marathon Honorary Chairman:

Hi! It’s Shannon Miller, Olympic Champion and fellow Oklahoman. I am honored for the 4th year now to be the Honorary Chairman of The 2009 Oklahoma City Kids Memorial Marathon. The Kids Marathon is great way to finish a marathon, learn more about healthy living and be part of a great Oklahoma cause.

I want to give you a few pointers on what you can do. First of all, you can do this!! You set the goal to run the 25 miles in training with a parent, teacher, grandparent or older siblings and then join me for the 1.2 miles on April 26th to get the FULL marathon distance of 26.2 miles!! And the sense of accomplishment you will feel crossing that finish line! You will have a lot to be proud of. And you set an example for yourself and others that you are doing your best to live a healthy lifestyle, which gives you more self confidence. EVERYTHING you do, you do better when you are living healthily!

When I started training in gymnastics, all I had was a dream and the will to go for it. I didn’t realize until I began that I could be anything I wanted to be and go as far as I did! And you can too! You have to do two things; believe AND begin!! I believe in you. I know what potential you have. Go for it! Inspire others and we will see you at the start line April 26th! I can’t wait. Start training today! And be looking for updates from me soon where I will be giving you training tips, nutrition tips and some of my personal secrets that helped me reach the Olympics twice and win gold! Together we can train, stay fit and run for a reason! Believe!

 

Participants download a Runner’s Log when they register and keep track of each mile they run prior to the event on April 26th, 2009. Each kid logs 25 miles on his or her log by having a parent or teacher sign for each mile run. On the day of the Marathon the kids will run the final 1.2 miles on a special course that will take them through the streets of Oklahoma City on a closed and safe course. There is a “safety-net” of people that run with the kids, ensuring safety at all times. It is a wonderful sight to see and all the kids love to be able to tell people they ran a marathon and show off their finisher’s medal.

The event is for kids through 6th grade, including physically and mentally challenged athletes (buddies may be used as needed). Parents can accompany their children without registering for any of the other events. We do recommend parents sign up (see link below) for the walk and then just stay with their child so that they can get a participants t-shirt and access to refreshments and finish line food.

• Please use our Online Registration

All kid's marathon participants receive a goody bag, t-shirt, poster, and heartland hospitality both on and off the course. Kids marathon finishers also receive a custom Kids Marathon finisher’s medal.

You must present the completed logs at the Expo to get a Kids Marathon race number to qualify to receive a medal at the finish line.

Mayor's Fitness Challenge for Schools

The school with the highest percentage of participation in the OKC Memorial Kids Marathon will receive The Oklahoma City Memorial Kids Marathon Mayor's Fitness Challenge Cup (approximately 4 feet tall!) and $500 for their P.E. department! The percentages are calculated the night before the Marathon using the registered entries and each schools' total enrollment. Winner is announced on race day right before the start at 8:15!

If you have already registered your child online or through the mail and did not indicate his/her school on the entry form, you can do so at the expo. Thank you!


Congratulations to the 2008 Mayor's Fitness Challenge Winning School:

• Madison Elementary School (Oklahoma City)