THE COURSE OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY MEMORIAL MARATHON WILL CHANGE IN 2019.
Runners of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon will get to take in some new scenery starting with the 2019 race.
Race organizers announced Wednesday a new Memorial Marathon course that will take runners south of Interstate 40 on Walker Avenue and near what will be the new Lower Scissortail Park and the Oklahoma River.
The location of the finish line will also be changing. For the 2019 race, the finish line will be at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Sheridan Avenue — between the Devon Tower and the Bank of Oklahoma tower. For the 2020 race and beyond, all five races of the OKC Memorial Marathon will finish at the new Scissortail Park.
"We're very excited to be one Oklahoma City. Running south is a very big move for us," said Kari Watkins, the executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.
Oklahoma City mayor David Holt said the changes to the marathon course were intentional and important.
"On April 19, 1995, 21 victims of the bombing came from south Oklahoma City. Five of the bombing victims were of Latino descent," Holt said.
"When you go south on this course now, you're entering south Oklahoma City. You're entering the heart of the Latino community. These are important gestures that need to be made in every way we can. (The changes) are about that all parts of this city matter and that all people in this city matter."
The biggest change on the north side of the course will be that runners will no longer run to
ners will no longer run to and along Lake Hefner.
"That's a big deal because, while it's beautiful, it's also the most windy part of the course," Watkins said. "We've heard you runners loud and clear. You're tired of the lake."
Gorilla Hill, a favorite course section for runners and fans, will still be part of the marathon course.
Among the other changes announced Wednesday:
•After an 18-year run, the marathon will no longer end in Automobile Alley. Organizers said the race has simply outgrown that area.
•The new streetcars and EMBARK buses will have Sunday service for runners and fans.
•The 5K race will now run through downtown and Automobile Alley and will end at the new finish lines.
•The kids' marathon will change routes to avoid construction but will still run through downtown and end in the newly redesigned Kerr Park.
Registration for the 2019 marathon opened Wednesday at www.okcmarathon.com.
The first 500 runners who sign up with the coupon code "2018" will register at last year's prices.
The 2019 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is set for April 28.