'More than a race:' Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon unites community in purpose and motion

The community will come together in about a week for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon: Run to Remember.

Race analyst Mark Bravo stopped by News 9 to share why this event is more than just a marathon.

“It’s so much more than a race, that’s documented,” Bravo said. “The premise under which it was created has people wanting to be a part of it in one way or another.”

Bravo says the marathon has sparked a statewide wellness movement.

“People have gotten moving, they’ve inserted motion into their lives, because it is so important to them to be some sort of participant in this race,” he said.

The Memorial Marathon was first imagined in 2001 by Thomas Hill, Chet Collier, and David Hill. That year, about 5,000 people took part. In 2025, organizers expect around 25,000 participants across all race events.

Bravo says the marathon was the Memorial’s first major partnership and continues to embody a unique energy.

“The camaraderie, the meaning behind this one, different than anything on earth,” he said.