A RACE TO REMEMBER: HERE IS THIS YEAR’S STORY

May 27, 2025

I didn’t know how to wrap my mind around the experience of the 25th Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. It has taken me four weeks to assimilate the amazing time I had—along with family members—and the events preceding the running of the race.

As I showered following my overnight shift this morning, it came to me! Enumerate my blessings—as simple as that.

I am thankful that 25 years ago, when I was in the throes of a divorce and the challenges of learning to live as a single person, I saw this article in Runner’s World Magazine announcing the first ever Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. I had begun marathon running, something entirely new to me, through the Leukemia Society fundraising effort. I signed up to raise funds in memory of a dear friend, Dr. Roy Moody, and in exchange received extraordinary training from Clark Ensz, a highly esteemed trainer from Wichita, to run the Walt Disney World Marathon, 1999. I would not be where I am now without Clark’s training, and I repeated the experience in 2001. When I returned in January from my second Disney race, I saw this article. I asked Clark what he would advise, and he said to go for it. He had heard there was strong support for this race. He gave me a training schedule to prepare for the race at the end of April.

A little background is in order here. I realize that those born before the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 may need some details.

April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. Inside was a powerful bomb. It consisted of agricultural fertilizer, diesel fuel, and other chemicals. He got out and locked the door. He then headed to his getaway car. At 9:02 am, the bomb exploded. The nine- story building became rubble, and other buildings were damaged or destroyed—over 300—and 168 people were killed. My cousin, Kenneth McCullough, was among the victims, an agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

I ran the first marathon with Kenny’s picture printed on the back of my shirt. I took my disposable camera with me and saw a couple with “Drug Enforcement Administration” on their shirts. They had worked with Kenny. I stopped and we shared a few words, and I got their picture. I certainly had no idea that I would return to run the race as a 78- year-old.

I am grateful for the conversation my family had when we returned from last year’s race. I said that I knew the 25th would be big and I determined then that I would return. Kristy, Don’s daughter, who had joined us, said she would train and run with us. And she did! She ran the Quarter Marathon, equivalent to a 10K, and Don ran the race with her. Laura and I ran the half-marathon. Rebecca was our all-important cheerleader.

Our pre-race meal at Lake Hefner restaurant

I am thankful that one Sunday morning several weeks before the race, I looked at the website for the memorial race. I noted the request for stories, and I answered their questions. I shared that I ran the inaugural in memory of Kenny and that family members were running with me this year and that I felt grateful at my age to be able to run the race. Within 10 minutes of posting these answers, I got a call from Kari Watkins, President & CEO of the OKC National Memorial & Museum, and then a call from Kylie Frakes, News 9 Executive Producer of Special Projects & Sports, “Would I be okay with the news team coming to Topeka to interview me?” After a minute of considering the possibility—I couldn’t believe it—I said “yes.” We set a date.

I am very grateful for the care at the Stormont-Vail Emergency room. Yes, you read that right. When all of this sunk in, my blood pressure (which has been well-treated for over 20 years) shot up and I had Rebecca take me to the ER. After testing, I waited for the word from the doctor. In my mind, I just knew they would say to cancel the race plans. However, the nurse practitioner said she and the doctor recommended a change in my medication dosage—and to continue with my race plans. As I left the ER, the nurse called to me—”Good luck on your marathon!” I thank God that I was given good care, some helpful information, thorough testing, and this encouragement to run the race!

The afternoon arrived for the interview, and I am grateful we had a beautiful, no-wind kind of a day. Amanda Taylor, newscaster, was gracious with her questions and Jorge, the photographer, gave me a fun experience at Gage Park peripheral trail, even using a drone. I told them as they left, that they gave me “A Day to Remember!” Below is the link to the special program that aired the Thursday before the race on Sunday. The first eight minutes give an inspiring story of how the race began. My story follows, then, stories of volunteers and a group of runners who have done every race!

I saw Jorge at the sports expo!

I am thankful the race day weather was perfect—overcast, a mild temperature. It was humid, but this Georgia native knows about humidity! Laura and Don, who live in Tucson, did comment on the humidity!

I am grateful for the meaningful start of the race day. When we walked to the starting line at the MEMORIAL before dawn, I teared up. The lit chairs representing all 168 victims and the lighted windows with a message made me think of what we were running for— “A Race to Remember.”

Another touching aspect of the race is the 168 seconds of silence to remember those lives lost as we waited for the race to begin. 25,000 runners were silent.

I passed through almost continual neighborhood celebrations with food and drinks offered (Laura warned me to be sure it wasn’t alcohol when I picked up the cup at one of the stops!) music, costumes—you name it, we were encouraged by it! The best known is “Gorilla Hill” with a costumed gorilla, children in banana costumes, and guess what the treat was? Yes, bananas!

I am grateful for the inspiration as I neared the end of the 13.1-mile race. I thought of a book a friend gave me (Journeys with the Messiah) with photographs of a person who looked and dressed like Jesus and His interaction with people in daily life. I envisioned Jesus gathering up His robe and running with me!

It was then that I saw a runner in front of me with a shirt that said “I took the hit” with the drawing of Jesus on the cross.

As I passed him, I told him thank you, I had never seen a shirt like that.

I saw Kenny’s banner as I got close to the finish line—and I gave him a wave as I always think of family members in heaven joining him and cheering me on.

This verse inspires me: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders . . . and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

The race ended in Scissortail Park, and I found Laura and Don and Kristy waiting for me—and Laura saw to it that we got this finish line picture! She is the reason I have all these wonderful pictures.

Believe it or not, I got first place in my age group—75 to 99! Yes, I did have competition! I was grateful to finish, not with the 3-hour finish time I had hoped for, but I felt good, and it didn’t matter what the time was. I had done the race I felt the Lord wanted me to do—and I will keep on running as long as He gives me the strength.