Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Kickoff Run set for Saturday

The kickoff training run for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is set for Saturday morning. The 5K route, which begins at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, will take participants over the Sky Dance Bridge.

The event, originally scheduled for last week, was postponed due to weather conditions but will now take place Saturday at 8 a.m. The first 500 participants who arrive will have the chance to join the run. While pre-registration is closed, runners and walkers are welcome to show up and take part in the training session.

Mark Bravo, race analyst and trainer, emphasized that the training event offers a great opportunity for participants to experience the energy and excitement of running with a crowd, helping to build both performance and enjoyment for race day.

As participants gear up for the marathon, Bravo also advised that pushing too hard during training can lead to injury, which is the biggest barrier to success. He recommended capping long training runs at 20 miles to avoid burnout, leaving the full marathon distance for race day.

The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon weekend, set for April 25-27, features various events, including the 5K, kids' marathon, senior marathon, and a new 6.55-mile quarter marathon. The full and half marathons will take place on Sunday.