2027 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon - Apr 25 Countdown

Q: When is the 2027 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is on Sunday, April 25, 2027, with the full marathon starting at 6:30 a.m. CDT in downtown Oklahoma City. The start is preceded by 168 seconds of silence and the national anthem at about 6:15 a.m. — one second for each person killed in the 1995 bombing — which runners consistently describe as the most moving race start anywhere.

Q: Why is it called the Run to Remember?

The race is a living memorial to the 168 people killed in the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. It gathers at the Oklahoma City National Memorial — site of the Field of Empty Chairs (168 chairs in nine rows for the building's nine floors), the Gates of Time, the Reflecting Pool, and the Survivor Tree. The course is lined with 168 banners, and the finish area reads aloud the names of all 168 victims. Many runners dedicate their race to a name.

Q: How hard is the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon course?

It is a rolling course rather than flat — about +231 m (758 ft) of total climbing with a near-equal descent. The signature climb is the crowd-packed Gorilla Hill near the midpoint, and a long false flat plus frequent plains wind on the return leg up Classen Boulevard make the second half feel honest. It is well-supported throughout. Map your effort with our pace calculator.

Q: Is the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and a Boston Marathon qualifier, so a qualifying time here counts toward Boston with no downhill adjustment. The rolling profile and wind mean it is not the fastest PR course, but a strong, even-paced effort can absolutely produce a BQ. Check your target time with our Boston qualifying calculator.

Q: What is the time limit for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon?

The full marathon offers 6.5 hours of course support from when the last corral crosses the start. There are intermediate checkpoints: if you have not reached the Mile 7.5 split by about 8:45 a.m. you are directed onto the half-marathon course, and you must reach Mile 20 by noon to continue. Runners behind the cutoff are shuttled to the Scissortail Park finish festival.

Q: Where does the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon start and finish?

The race starts at the Oklahoma City National Memorial in downtown and runs a city loop through Bricktown, Deep Deuce, past the State Capitol and north into Nichols Hills and The Village, then back past Lake Hefner and down Classen Boulevard to finish at Scissortail Park downtown. The whole course is on paved city and neighborhood streets.

Q: What is the weather like for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon?

Late April in Oklahoma City is usually mild — a race-morning start near 57 to 61 F (14 to 16 C) warming into the low 70s F by late morning. The wild card is wind: the southern plains are gusty and a south breeze can make the return leg tough, with the occasional spring storm passing through. Dress for a cool, dark start and the chance of a brisk headwind.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon - Apr 25
City	Oklahoma City
Date	2027-04-25 at 06:30
Time Limit	6 hours 30 min
Cutoff pace	9:15/km
Timezone	America/Chicago
Official Site	Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
Registration	Register · 150 USD

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	17°C / 63°F
Humidity	67%
Wind	30 km/h
Rain Chance	35%
Typical Conditions	Mild, breezy late-April Oklahoma morning — comfortable but with a chance of wind and a passing storm

What to Prepare: Late April in Oklahoma City is usually mild, with a typical race-morning start near 57 to 61 F (14 to 16 C) climbing toward the low 70s F by late morning. The defining variable is wind — the southern plains are gusty, and a stiff south breeze on the return leg up Classen Boulevard can sap your pace. Spring storms occasionally pass through, so check the radar and pack a throwaway layer for the pre-dawn start.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 30 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	11.5°C	17.4°C	22.4°C
Dew point	1.8°C	10.3°C	17.5°C

Wet-day chance: 35% Runnability: 70/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	City loop
Elevation Gain	231m
Terrain	Road (rolling downtown and neighborhood streets, paved throughout)
Profile	An honest, rolling tour of Oklahoma City that doubles as a moving memorial. The course gathers at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and the 6:30 a.m. gun follows 168 seconds of silence for the 168 people killed in the 1995 Murrah Building bombing. From downtown the route runs through Bricktown and Deep Deuce, passes behind the Oklahoma State Capitol, and heads north into the leafy Nichols Hills and The Village neighborhoods before returning past Lake Hefner and down Classen Boulevard to finish at Scissortail Park. The terrain is gently rolling rather than flat, with about +231 m (758 ft) of total climbing and a nearly matching descent — including the famous, crowd-packed Gorilla Hill around the midpoint. It is USATF-certified and a Boston Marathon qualifier, so finish times count toward Boston with no downhill adjustment; the rolling profile and frequent plains wind make it a meaningful, well-supported race rather than a flat PR machine. 168 banners line the route, and the finish area reads the names of all 168 victims.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon - Apr 25

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is on Sunday, April 25, 2027, with the full marathon starting at 6:30 a.m. CDT in downtown Oklahoma City. The start is preceded by 168 seconds of silence and the national anthem at about 6:15 a.m. — one second for each person killed in the 1995 bombing — which runners consistently describe as the most moving race start anywhere.

Why is it called the Run to Remember?

The race is a living memorial to the 168 people killed in the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. It gathers at the Oklahoma City National Memorial — site of the Field of Empty Chairs (168 chairs in nine rows for the building's nine floors), the Gates of Time, the Reflecting Pool, and the Survivor Tree. The course is lined with 168 banners, and the finish area reads aloud the names of all 168 victims. Many runners dedicate their race to a name.

How hard is the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon course?

It is a rolling course rather than flat — about +231 m (758 ft) of total climbing with a near-equal descent. The signature climb is the crowd-packed Gorilla Hill near the midpoint, and a long false flat plus frequent plains wind on the return leg up Classen Boulevard make the second half feel honest. It is well-supported throughout. Map your effort with our pace calculator.

Is the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and a Boston Marathon qualifier, so a qualifying time here counts toward Boston with no downhill adjustment. The rolling profile and wind mean it is not the fastest PR course, but a strong, even-paced effort can absolutely produce a BQ. Check your target time with our Boston qualifying calculator.

What is the time limit for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon?

The full marathon offers 6.5 hours of course support from when the last corral crosses the start. There are intermediate checkpoints: if you have not reached the Mile 7.5 split by about 8:45 a.m. you are directed onto the half-marathon course, and you must reach Mile 20 by noon to continue. Runners behind the cutoff are shuttled to the Scissortail Park finish festival.

Where does the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon start and finish?

The race starts at the Oklahoma City National Memorial in downtown and runs a city loop through Bricktown, Deep Deuce, past the State Capitol and north into Nichols Hills and The Village, then back past Lake Hefner and down Classen Boulevard to finish at Scissortail Park downtown. The whole course is on paved city and neighborhood streets.

How do I register for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and what does it cost?

Registration is handled through the official site (okcmarathon.com) with straightforward English-language online sign-up. The full marathon uses rising price tiers: an opening-promo entry near $125 climbing to roughly $170 for last-minute registration as race weekend approaches, so register early for the best price. Race weekend runs Friday through Sunday with a 5K and Kids Marathon alongside the half and full.

What is the weather like for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon?

Late April in Oklahoma City is usually mild — a race-morning start near 57 to 61 F (14 to 16 C) warming into the low 70s F by late morning. The wild card is wind: the southern plains are gusty and a south breeze can make the return leg tough, with the occasional spring storm passing through. Dress for a cool, dark start and the chance of a brisk headwind.