Reading through Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon results for the last seven years is a bit like taking a world geography class.
Since the marathon's inception in 2000, athletes from more than 15 countries, spanning four continents, have trod — or rather run — the streets of Oklahoma City.
From Sweden to Mexico to Nigeria they've come to test their mettle on the 26.2-mile loop that winds through downtown, around the state capitol, beside Lake Hefner and ends at "9:01.”
But until this year, one very important locale had been left out of the results and off the map.
Rhode Island.
"Every year we keep track of where people are coming from,” said Thomas Hill, co-founder and president of the marathon. "This year, it occurred to (us) that in seven years, we had not had anybody from Rhode Island register for the event.”
Having seen runners from the 49 other states — and Puerto Rico — pass through the starting gates at NW 6th Street and Robinson Ave. Hill set out to complete the Union.
He e-mailed every road-running club in Rhode Island pleading for participants. He even offered to cover the $85 entry fee for the first pair interested.
"It literally took about six hours from when I sent out that e-mail to hear back from five people,” Hill said. "A couple of them signed up right there. We finally got all 50.”
It's a humorous story, but Hill says it underlies something very significant.
The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon has stepped fully into the running world spotlight. It has grabbed the attention of America.
From Alabama to Wyoming and now everywhere in between.
"It's not just about family ties,” said Diane Thomas of Riverside, R.I. The Norman native has run the marathon twice before while a resident of California. She and her sister will meet in Oklahoma City this weekend. "We all know what happened at the Murrah Building and what it means.”
Thomas and two other Rhode Islanders will join an estimated 16,000-plus participants for the 6:30 a.m. starting gun. She is running alone, but more than 600 relay teams will join her on the course.
Both are marathon participation records.
"We're close to reaching our maximum number of relay teams,” said marathon PR chairman Randy Swanson. "Our pre-registration closed 14 percent over last year in the marathon and 21 percent over in the half-marathon. It's growing in a big way.”
The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon recently drew the interest of running aficionado Bart Yasso with Runner's World Magazine.
Yasso, a veteran of more than 150 marathons worldwide, called the event "one race you have to put on your lifetime racing to-do (list) because of the cause.”
The cause is what drew the first participants to Oklahoma City seven years ago, and it still plays a role today.
This spring, it drew the folks of Rhode Island. To complete the Union.
"The events of April 19, 1995 mean a lot to me,” said Heath Brightman of Middletown, R.I. "I've wanted to run this marathon for a long time — for the meaning, for the cause.”
